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Reggae Select (East Coast, 1997) If East Coast put as much effort into song selection as they did in packaging, this would be a great album. A sharp-looking dancehall compilation that will catch your eye due not only to the cover photography, but also to the star power of the artists on the album, Reggae Select is certain to disappoint. The two best songs here are the Yami Bolo/Capleton smash "Put Down Your Weapon" and Beres Hammond's superb "Spot Light Star Time." Sanchez also contributes a couple of nice cuts in "Always Be True" and "East Coast Lady," with Bounty Killer and featuring a nice, fast rhythm with a ghostly high-pitched background whistle. Meanwhile, Mikey Spice's "Coming Home," Spanner Banner's "What's Going On," and Terror Fabulous' "Jah Works" are all OK, but not great, and so many of the tracks are so. In fact, most of them are worse: just average. And I can't even get through Gregory Isaacs' "Can't Give My Love Alone," because his scratchy, weak voice is sadly so painful to hear. While the production throughout is as sharp as the packaging, like the packaging, the songs are impressive only on the exterior; inside, things are largely hollow. |
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