Riddim Eruption: Sleng Teng Progress 2K5 (Big Tune, 2005)

The first in what I assume will be an ongoing series of one-rhythm albums, Sleng Teng Progress resurrects the legendary "Under Mi Sleng Teng" riddim that kick-started the digital dancehall revolution in 1985.  The question that immediately comes to my mind is "Why?"  As classic as the riddim is, it's been done to death, hasn't it?  Can't we retire it for just a few years?  To the producers' credit, though Sleng Teng Progress 2K5 does make some "progress" by accentuating the beat with a few digital flourishes.  Plus, the album features an attractive all-star line-up headed by Sizzla, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and Anthony B (Not surprisingly, they lead off the album, as the recognizability of the artists dwindles down to Singer J and Christopher by the end.).  That said, some of the best tracks come from the somewhat lesser-known cast: namely, the ganja tunes "Weed Anthem," "Bush Weed," and "More Weed," by Zumjay, Jigsy King, and Silver Cat, respectively, plus (Angel) Doolas's catchy "Friend Enemy" and Powerman & Apache's "One World of Enemy."  Any riddim can wear thin after 17 tracks -- especially one that was already so familiar -- but the artists and producers do as good a job as one could hope for in keeping this album from becoming a bore.  Still, it all seems fairly pointless, unless you've never heard the Sleng Teng riddim before...in which case, you need to get out more.