Friday, March 18, 2011
For reggae fans, the 2000s will go down in history as a decade in which dancehall toasting and reggae singing often went hand-in-hand in much the same way that hip-hop and R&B went hand-in-hand. Dancehall toasters incorporated reggae singing throughout the 2000s, and reggae singers (especially the younger ones) didn't hesitate to feature dancehall toasters.
The prominence of dancehall is evident on REGGAE GOLD 2009, which is by no means dancehall exclusive but is certainly dancehall-friendly.
The compilation spotlights 21st century dancehall with recordings by well-known toasters like Elephant Man ("Dance and Sweep," "Nuh Linga") and Mavado ("So Special"), and the dancehall influence is impossible to miss on British R&B singer Estelle's hit "Come Over" (which features dancehall star Sean Paul).
While REGGAE GOLD 2009 may contain too much crossover action to be recommended to purists, the compilation is well-worth obtaining if one has diverse tastes and appreciates a wide variety of 21st century reggae.
VP and Greensleeves have been spoiling us a little with full length roots albums from Sizzla, Alborosie, and the upcoming third release from Tarrus Riley. But their bread-and-butter in today’s market is still hits compilations.
The 17th edition of their hugely successful Reggae Gold series is an undemanding selection of one-drop and dancehall sides featuring Jamaica’s most popular deejays, singers and producers.
Rap and R&B influences on dancehall (and their accompanying production gimmicks) show no signs of going away. But in today’s linked up world, any sound – from Jamaica’s heritage to contemporary global - is fair game. Busy Signal turns autotune soaked ghetto preacher for the Rivers Of Babylon and Chrome rhythm borrowing Praise And Worship (for Germain Clarke). Elephant Man teams up with hot producer Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor for the UK clubland informed Dance and Sweep. McGregor takes the mic himself during Chino’s Protected.
One the one-drop side of things, of particular note is Queen Ifrica’s tender and moving Far Away (on Rickman Warren’s Movements rhythm) a million miles from the harsher vocals of her deejaying works. Then there’s Etana and Alborosie’s mutual love-in, Blessings (produced by Alborosie and his Escape From Babylon album collaborator Clifton “Specialist” Dillon) and Beres Hammond’s typically effortless sounding See You Again (for the other McGregor, Kemar).
Last year Danes Enur and the late Natasja gave the collection an international flavour. This time US R&B artist Jazmine Sullivan rides a bastardised mashup of the rhythm to Queen Of The Minstrel, while London soul singer Estelle duets with Sean Paul on the Supa Dups creation Come Over.
If you don’t like modern reggae-dancehall production techniques, autotune, or slick sweet “earworm” choruses, there’s really nothing for you here. From the other side of the fence, Jamaican music could be said to be in the throes of a golden age of pop to rival the rocksteady era, or the crossover of dancehall in the 80s and 90s. Either way, you can’t deny the catchiness of these tunes.
Included are 15 big tracks Mavado, Sreani, Estelle feat. Sean Paul, Jasmine Sullivan, Busy Signal, Etana feat. Alborosie, Queen Ifrica, Beres Hammond, and Tarrus Riley.
Audio Remasterers: Paul Shields; Neil Edwards.
To download whole album Click Here. To download Singles, Click On Single Track Title To Download Below
Reggae Gold 2009 Songs
Reggae Gold 2009 Album Track Listing
Reggae Gold 2009 Album Track Listing
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