Reggae Hits 33 (Jet Star, 2004)

The 33rd volume of the ever-steady Reggae Hits series is one of the oddest I've heard -- although one that I suppose is the indicative of the popular taste of today.  For one thing, there's a significant block of gospel-toned material here, beginning with the most definitely non-reggae gospel soca sound of Marva Province's "Hear My Cry Oh Lord."  This is one of those out-of-left-field hits that has apparently crossed genre and hit some popular nerve.  I don't know why; it's mildly catchy, but nothing you couldn't hear in any of thousands of churches in the US on any given Sunday (aside from the soca twist).  It's been so popular, in fact, that Elephant Man follows up with his own take, using the same music and melody, but incorporating the maddeningly repetitive lyrics that he's coming to rely on way too often.  George Nooks extends the gospel flavor with a remake of the hymn "How Great Thou Art," which can sound a bit weird if you grew up hearing the song in church like I did.  Sanchez concludes services with the best of the gospel bunch, the uplifting "Show Me a Sign."  (Although you could include Jah Cure's excellent "Jah Bless Me," as it has a hymn-like quality.  However, why is this on a 2004 compilation when it's from his 2000 debut?)  Beyond the gospel inclinations, there's a couple of nods to the R. Kelly-championed R&B "stepping" sound, with Mikey Spice's Barry White-like cover of Kelly's hit "Step in the Name of Love" and Shola Ama's bland attempt to cash in on the sound, "Step It."  Another odd aspect of this volume is the lack of up-tempo digital dancehall riddims.  Only the "Escape Megamix" of eight hits lends the hyper-fun edginess of modern dancehall.  The traditional dancehall artists here perform in non-traditional styles, from the aforementioned "Bun Bad Mind" to the rootsy sound of Chuck Fender's "Haffe Win" (which sounds a lot like Sizzla) and Capleton’s "See Them Quaking" to Flourogon's lovers vibe on Beres Hammond's "Feel Like" to Buju Banton's throwback sound of "Perfect Combination" -- which could've easily been recorded in 1991 -- to Savana's "Pretty Lady," which is more hip-hop than dancehall.  These sounds in and of themselves aren't bad, but the songs are nothing special.  Most of the rest of Reggae Hits 33 has a lovers rock flow, highlighted by Hammond's "There for You," Frankie Paul’s "Call Me" (also an old song, from 1998's Chant a Prayer) Freddie McGregor's "Ask for Your Love," and especially Archie Wonder’s "I Cry."  Richie Spice meanwhile contributes perhaps the ganja anthem of 2004 with "Marijuana Pon de Corner," and Natty King adds the solid "Mr. Greedy."  All in all, this edition of Reggae Hits is mellow, subdued, and only sub-par by the high standards of this series.