|
|
Click pic to buy! |
|
Shocking Out (RAS, 1988) Before his reincarnation as a hip-hop reggae "lyrical gangster" in the mid '90s, scoring a pop hit with "Here Comes the Hotstepper," Ini Kamoze was a more conscious, less gimmicky, old school (well, at that time I guess it was current school) dancehall singer during the mid-'80s. While his sleepy, laid-back vocal delivery changed little in that time, his image evolved (or devolved) somewhat. Shocking Out represents the old Kamoze, more palatable to most reggae fans. The dancehall riddims, like his vocals, are light and relaxed here, and while the material is solid, it's almost too laid-back to have much of an effect. The best tracks -- "Come Now" and "Clown Talking" -- are the ones in which the music steps forward, is strong and funky enough to both propel and compliment Kamoze's voice. More bouncy, happy music like that on "Girl 'E'," is OK, but a bit ill-suited to his style. |
| Track Listing 1. Shocking Out 2. Come Now 3. Girl "E" 4. Cool It Off 5. Revolution 6. Clown Talking 7. Boss 8. Color Me Reggae (Spread Out) 9. Hole In The Pumpkin 10. We Run The Country |
Here Comes the Hotstepper (Columbia, 1995)
*GUEST
REVIEW*
When Ini Kamoze achieved Billboard`s Number 1 spot with Here Comes..., few people
knew that he was a reggae artist. but he really was!
And he also did some good work in the 80`s, especially those produced by Sly &
Robbie. But the material here is a little bit confused, because the record label
put together roots tracks from '80s, electronic-style tracks and the title
track, which sounds more hip-hop and, between us, it's not. But
despite all this, we have good stuff here, mainly the roots tracks, like
"World-a-Music," "Trouble You a Trouble Me," and "I
Want Ital," a true vegetarian anthem. The material taken from his Pirate
album is not so good, because they mixed the drums and the
digital effects too loud and Ini`s voice, which is not so powerful, almost
disappears. Anyway, you can't deny that "Burning"
and "Pirate" are, at least, fun
and enjoyable songs.
- Fabricio Tonelli
| Track Listing 1. Call the Police 2. Rough 3. Here Comes the Hotstepper 4. Gunshot 5. World-a-Music 6. Trouble You a Trouble Me 7. General 8. Pull Up the Corn 9. Pirate 10. Babylon, Babylon 11. I Want Ital 12. Burning |
 |