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| Reggae Xplosion: The Remix (Blazing Flames, 2006) I'm not sure if JamDown Records has changed its name to Blazing Flames or if there's just some sort of partnership going on, but if the resulting product is a solid as Reggae Xplosion: The Remix, change away! The Reggae Xplosion product is the more rootsy and lovers rock-y companion to the label's Dancehall Xplosion series and is a welcome cool down compared to JamDown's mostly up-tempo fare. The "remix" portion of this release basically means that the songs are mixed together with a few sound effects, but nothing that distracts from the material at hand. As is typical of the label, riddims are shared between tracks -- in this case, six beats over 20 tracks -- but several are throwback riddims that should prove recognizable to even those who don't usually listen to dancehall. Tracks 12 through 15 borrow from the Lee "Scratch" Perry/Junior Byles classic "Curly Locks," with Lee Kelly's "Baby, I Love You," Luciano's "You Bring Me Joy," and Sizzla's "Just Be Clean" (on Reggae Hits 31) making particularly good use of it. Cuts 16 through 18 meanwhile revisit Dennis Brown's "Money in My Pocket," with "No Special Time" by Tony Curtis and company standing out. And tracks 19 through 21 use Triston Palmer's always engaging "Entertainment" riddim, highlighted by Limey's "Cool Off the Pressure" and Turbulence's "No Doubt." The other riddims are no less "entertaining," though, with Buju Banton's potent, Marley-esque "Brighter Tomorrow", George Nooks' slow jam "I Need to Know," "Breath of Fresh Air" from Warrior King's Virtuous Woman, and reggae veteran Half Pint showing he's still got the touch with "Like You and Me." Easily one of the best releases on the Jamdown -- er, Blazing Flames -- label so far. |
| Track Listing 1. Intro -- Jazzy T 2. Women of Jamaica -- Tony Rebel 3. Brighter Tomorrow -- Buju Banton 4. Live -- Abijah 5. Down Here -- Dasia 6. Don't Cry For Me -- Kirk Davis 7. Breath of Fresh Air -- Warrior King 8. Like You and Me -- Half Pint 9. Baby You -- Ghost 10. I Need to Know -- George Nooks 11. Navel String -- Powerman 12. Baby, I Love You -- Lee Kelly 13. You Bring Me Joy -- Luciano 14. If Love Is Alright With You -- Half Pint 15. Just Be Clean -- Sizzla 16. No Special Time -- Tony Curtis, Gipsy King, Future Troubles 17. I Want You -- Fiona 18. Money in My Pocket -- George Nooks 19. Cool Off the Pressure -- Limey 20. No Doubt -- Turbulence 21. Love and Affection -- Sizzla 22. Outro -- Jazzy T |
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