Total Togetherness Volume 11 (VP, 2001)

A marginal entry in the Total Togetherness series, Volume 11 is dominated by a heavy, fast-paced dancehall sound that sometimes hits -- as with Mr. Lex's (AKA Lexxus) "Bust a Blank" and "Bling" -- and sometimes misses -- as with Ghost's screeching, semi-melodic "She's All" and Frankie Paul's lame attempt to get jiggy, "Party All Night."  Elephant Man provides the best dancehall track, "Vampire," cementing his status as one of the top DJs out there today.  The other best tune is Morgan Heritage's organic roots gem "Doors of My Temple," which could've helped their More Teachings . . . album a bit.  Meanwhile, Luciano gives us another solid roots song in "Cool and Settle," and Mikey Spice's track "One Thought of You" should please lovers fans.  However, too much of this album is generic dancehall hokum like Mad Anju's "Go Look Gal," Beenie Man's "To Live or Die," and General B & Patchy's "The Business," which utilizes, of all things, the melody from "There's No Business Like Show Business."  This latter song and Ce'Cile's "Chagne Z" prove listenable mostly because they call fellow DJs out, often dissing them in the process.