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Mishka (Epic, 1999) Methinks Mishka has listened to Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" and "Time Will Tell" one too many times. His entire debut album carries that same subdued, acoustic guitar-driven sound which, combined with his heavily Marley-influenced vocals, make for a nice yet derivative set. At their best, Mishka's songs -- like "Happy," "Lonely," and "Bring a Man Down" -- are hypnotic and compelling in their simplicity. He crafts "hummable" melodies, and his singing is heartfelt. There is a folk-like (and in the case of "One True," blues-like) edge running through Mishka, as only "Lonely" has what you'd consider a typical hiccup-beat reggae rhythm. The rest are dominated by Mishka's acoustic guitar, with light percussion, bass, organ, and/or even harmonica thrown in here and there. His mix of musical styles is certainly a result of his upbringing, being born in Bermuda to Canadian parents who traveled throughout the Caribbean during his childhood. Unfortunately, you can only take so much of his sound before you start to lose consciousness. By the end of the album, the tracks start to induce narcolepsy, as the final 3 tracks make me envision open mike night at the coffeehouse. Still, Mishka gives a nice effort here, and he should have a future in reggae, though he may want to add some edge to his "unplugged" reggae. |
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