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Visions of the World (IRS, 1989) Pato Banton, unlike most of the other (unrelated) well-known Bantons (Buju, Mega, Burro, et al.) is not a heavy dancehall DJ. Although he began as a DJ and still does some chatting, he is today more like a modern, less musically gifted Jimmy Cliff. He has a borderline pop, universal, inclusive sound like Cliff (with a bit more dancehall thrown in), but the material on Visions of the World is more consistent with Cliff's later '80s and '90s stuff, when he had reached his prime and strayed a bit too far into the mainstream sound. His popularity in the US sparked this semi-major (i.e., non-reggae) label debut on IRS Records. Like much of Cliff's works, this album has the borderline corny message of love and unity, but Cliff could generally make you overlook it due to his amazing musical talent. Banton displays his talent erratically, at his worst turning songs like the title track into sappy drivel (The fact that he doesn't have a particularly good singing voice doesn't help.). However, like Cliff, he does manage to pull off the feat of making pop reggae somewhat likeable...or, at least, not intolerable. Tunes like "Third World Country," though unabashedly pop, aren't as stomach-turning as you might expect. One thing that really irks me about Banton's style is his slow, deliberate DJ style, which borders on rapping. Nevertheless, this irritant isn't enough to make the songs "Roots, Rock, Reggae" and the mellow "Wishing On a Star" un-listenable. The best track here, however, is easily the jazzy, steel drum-laden "Jah's Reggae." If only he would stay in that vein instead of branching out into pop, generic dancehall, and odd experimental stuff (e.g., the minimal sax and African drums of "Pressure"), Visions of the World might actually be worth a listen. |
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Track Listing |
Collections (Virgin, 1995)
Sometimes I think that if a huge comet were to ever strike the earth, the only remaining life on Earth would likely consist of cockroaches, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Pato Banton. Although I've never met anyone who claims to be a Pato Banton fan (despite his claim in "Go Pato" that he has fans "all over America"), he continues to hang around like a nasty case of herpes. While I can appreciate his simple, old school, non-digital dancehall approach, I can always count on Banton to throw in something corny, whether it be grating pop music, an awful, belabored rap or overly thick sentimentality. You’ll find all of these unnerving elements on this "best of" collection, from the tragically un-hip rap on "Save Your Soul" to his over-wrought spoken-word ballad “Pato’s Opinon Pt. 2” to the icky pop music on a track like "Wize Up!". Listening to his messages often feels like listening to an after-school special ("don't do drugs," "be kind to one another," "don't cut in line," etc.); I have to just grit my teeth sometimes. Occasionally (I want to say accidentally) there actually is a Pato Banton song that actually strikes a chord with me, and to its credit, Collections packs together about as many of these as any of his albums will ever likely have, headed by “Roots Rock Reggae,” the Tiger-like “All Drugs Out,“ and the fun duo of "Tudo de Bom" and "Baby Come Back" (a remake of a tune by Eddy Grant's early band The Equals). Unfortunately, the one song of his that I have most enjoyed, “King Step,” isn’t included here; check it out on Ariwa Sounds Presents. Still, while he has had some fun tunes in his career, for the most part, this is party music for marginal reggae listeners who don't ask for much more than a fast beat and a hook, even a cheesy one. Hardcore reggae fans need not apply.
| Track Listing 1. Baby Come Back 2. Bubbling Hot 3. Don't Sniff Coke 4. Tudo de Bom 5. Wize Up! 6. One World 7. Roots, Rock, Reggae 8. Gwarn! 9. Go Pato 10. Bad Man and Woman 11. Never Give In 12. Save Your Soul 13. All Drugs Out 14. Pato's Opinion Pt. 2 |
Never Give In: 20th Anniversary Edition (Cornerstone R.A.S., 2007 [orig. released 1987])
*GUEST REVIEW*
I am a sucker for deluxe packaging, so when I went to the record store and saw the bright, shiny, 20th Anniversary Edition of Never Give In, I snapped it up. I had never heard any of Pato Banton's music, but judging the album by its cover, I thought it just had to be good. As it turns out, it wasn't. Perhaps Banton should have given in rather than give us this tired, boring, imitation reggae. I'm not even sure if it is reggae. At least, I'm not sure Banton can be considered a reggae singer. He is a British-born DJ and toaster with a thick English accent, mostly forgettable lyrics, and below average, rap-style delivery. He sounds like Birmingham's answer to Young M.C. For those who heard the album upon its original release, this anniversary edition may hold a certain nostalgic appeal, but I doubt it will win Banton any new fans. The songs sound very stale, as if they were the hot new sound way back in...1987. If you've heard the sample of "Don't Sniff Coke" on the Beastie Boys' "Sounds of Science," you've heard all the Pato Banton you need. Not recommended.
- Reggie
| Track Listing 1. Pato & Roger Come Again 2. Never Give In 3. Don't Sniff Coke 4. Settle Satan 5. Hello Tosh 6. Absolute Perfection 7. Don't Worry 8. Handsworth Riot 9. Gwarn! 10. Too Much War 11. Pato's Opinion 12. King Step 13. Drive By Shooting 14. Everybody Has a Dream |
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