The Good, The Bad & The Blazing (Minor 7 Flat 5, 2005)

Following a string of albums (Five Disciples, Four Rebels, Four the Hard Way, Three Wise Men, We Three Kings, Kings of Zion, Toe 2 Toe, etc.) featuring anywhere from two to five cultural artists -- usually Luciano, Sizzla, Junior Kelly, Anthony B, Capleton, Mikey General, or any combination of the above -- this set stands out by featuring the distinctly un-cultural DJ Bounty Killer.  He is, of course, the "Bad" in the title The Good, The Bad & The Blazing, as the designations for him, Junior Kelly ("Good"), and Capleton ("Blazing") seem more appropriate than Super Cat and company's The Good, The Bad, The Ugly & The Crazy from a decade ago.  Another intriguing aspect about the Killer's appearance is the fact that the German label Minor 7 Flat 5 has become renowned for releasing some of the best roots reggae riddims in recent years, while Bounty Killer, well, has not.  His hardcore dancehall inclination, though, finds a nice cohesion with producer Andreas "Brotherman" Christopherson's music -- in part because Brotherman reserves his more dancehall-leaning rhythms for the Warlord, namely "Threat" and "Hey Yo Yallo" (which ride riddims used on Turbulence's Minor 7 Flat 5 album, Different Thing).  These are solid tunes, but believe it or not, the best Killer track is actually the most rootsy one, the Caribbean anthem "West Indies."  It's one of the most memorable tunes in recent years from the DJ (possibly because it is so laid-back and rootsy), although you probably won't be hearing it played on a board of tourism ad anytime soon:

I'm from the West Indies,
Smoke the most trees;
Ridin' jet skis
In the island breeze.
Flippin' dem keys
To overseas;
It don't make sense,
It don't make G's.
Muthafucka freeze,
Fell to the knees;
No ifs, no buts,
I'm gon' squeeze...

As can be expected, Junior Kelly and Capleton find the porridge of Brotherman's roots music "just right."  Kelly performs two of the best tracks on the album in "Jah Jah's People" and "All I Do," while Capleton gives the most consistent performance, with all four of his cuts scoring.  Overall, I can't say that The Good, The Bad & The Ugly fulfills the full potential of teaming the tremendous talents of Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton with the Minor 7 Flat 5 folks, but if you don't expect an outright classic that adequately summarizes the greatness of the acts involved, you'll find it plenty satisfying.  Certainly beats listening to Lee Van Cleef over a one-drop groove.