Hotter Than Fire Volume One (Artists Only!, 1999)

In an effort to follow up the success of their popular Platinum Reggae releases, Artists Only! released this under-whelming dancehall compilation produced by Bobby "Digital" Dixon.  The material here fails to live up to the talent of the artists contained within.  Sizzla's two tracks, "Good Ways" and "Trust & Love," Sugar Minott's "Never Give Jah Up," and Morgan Heritage & Shabba Ranks' "Dem ah Bawl" are all decent, but not sparkling -- and not as good as we have come to expect from them.  Easily the best cut here is Yami Bolo's emotional lovers tune "Heart Full of Love," one of his best efforts in a long time.  Too much of Hotter Than Fire is just generic dancehall, however, and some of the generic rhythms are even re-used to even more generic effect.  Hopefully, Volume 2 will prove "hotter."