Reggae Reviews: JFK and the Conspirators

The Mayor of Ganja City (Stomp, 1998)

*GUEST REVIEW*
Although they've now fully embraced '80s-style dancehall, this debut record from Winnipeg's finest traditionalists finds them fully in the ska arena. Drummer/singer/arranger Dave "JFK" Adams has been an almost permanent fixture on Canada's ska and reggae scene, both with The Conspirators and for a brief stint as vocalist for Montreal ska legends The Kingpins. The Mayor of Ganja City, which includes "Tell Me Baby," still one of my all-time favourite ska tunes, is a bit of a hard one to judge. For almost every brilliant standout ("You Were Leaving," "To You") there's an uninspired dud ("Senorita," "The Fight") that makes listening to the record straight through a bit of a chore. When The Conspirators are on, though, they're ON. "You Were Leaving" is a heart-wrenching ska smash featuring some great vocal and keyboard work from JFK's sidekick Roxy (aka Al Capone), who is no longer a member of the more dancehall-oriented Conspirators of today. The title track is also a highlight -- a slow-burning, largely instrumental reggae ode to the holy herb. Although he's the driving force behind the band, JFK's vocals do leave a little to be desired on some of these tunes, but there's an endearing quality to his singing. Although his band has been progressing more and more toward deep Jamaican roots, JFK has always sounded exactly like who he is, a white guy from the Canadian prairies. Despite some faults, The Mayor of Ganja City still stands as one of the high points in Canadian reggae (which hasn't always had a good reputation, thanks to the critical lambasting of Canucks like Snow), even if The Conspirators sound very different these days.

- Sam Thompson

Track Listing
1. The Mayor of Ganja City
2. Tell Me Baby
3. You Were Leaving
4. Call Me in the Morning
5. Boom Sha La La La
6. The Odd Couple
7. To You
8. Ain't No Sunshine
9. Senorita
10. Behold
11. Liar
12. Madness
13. The Fight

Mash Up the Dance (Bacteria Buffet, 2004)

*GUEST REVIEW*
It may have taken them six years to do it, but prairie ska/reggae heroes JFK and the Conspirators finally followed up their 1998 debut with Mash Up the Dance, a rootsier, heavier collection of dancehall in the style of artists like Tenor Saw...but with a distinctly Canadian feel. Frontman JFK, who played drums on the album but is now strictly a singer at Conspirators live performances, pays tribute to dancehall pioneers with tracks like "Mash Up The Dance" and "The Whole A We A Family," which use classic, well-trod rhythms but manage to build a unique sound. With his unapologetically Caucasian chatting and ska-suited singing voice, JFK is equally taking things seriously and having some fun. On an update of Ras Michael's "None A Jah Jah Children No Cry" (titled here as simply "Jah Children"), the singer lets the listener know he's paying tribute to the sound of Jamaica -- not mocking it with his hoser accent. "No, I'm not trying to talk about Rastafari," he chats. "In case you never know, said I am a white guy." There are a few throwaway tracks here, which seem to be included solely to appease fans of the band's earlier ska work. "Fuck Up" and a few others can be skipped over in favour of songs like "Ah Oh Oo," a surprisingly soulful dancehall powerhouse. The Conspirators have been in high demand lately as a backing group for various high-profile reggae vocalists, and JFK's well-oiled machine (featuring Bacteria Buffet label owner Matt "Rusty Far-I" Henderson on guitar) is in top form on this record. Reggae diehards might have a hard time taking JFK's vocals seriously, but the music is fit to move even the most skeptical of listeners.

- Sam Thompson

Track Listing
1. Wa Da Da
2. Fuck Up
3. Jah Children
4. The Rizla Skank
5. The Code of Silence
6. Fellings
7. Mash Up The Dance
8. The Whole a We a Family
9. Walk and Talk
10. The Younger the Gal
11. Conversation
12. Ah Oh Oo