Committed to Jah (Orchard, 2000 [orig. released 1996])

Hailing from St. Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles, Tonca is a reggae veteran who is well-known in that portion of the Caribbean (having released 7 albums in addition to opening the first recording studio in St. Maarten), although not so much so in other parts of the world.  You may know him from the global compilation R.A.W. 2000, which included the likeable title cut from his Committed to Jah.  Although he hails from the Caribbean, Tonca's happy, upbeat sound loaded with bouncy horns and cheery female background singers could easily lead you to think he was from Africa.  Needless to say, it's an international sound not suited for everyone: very poppy and easily consumed by the masses, but the more discerning reggae fan will likely be able to stomach only a few of these songs.  Looking at the titles alone -- "Save the Environment," "Stay in School," "Hooray! Hooray!" -- you get a sense of the rather cheesy, After School Special nature of the material, in both style and substance.  Only the celebratory "Hooray!" captures the magic of "Committed to Jah," although "How Can You?" and "My Latin Friend" can be guilty pleasures if you're in the right (i.e., somewhat masochistic) mood.