The 'You Should Know' a.k.a. 'Better Place'-riddim, is finally released. With a "Jungle JiMuzik"-intro by one of Jamaica's hottest juggling DJs, Bounty Killer protegé Foota Hype.
Album Review
Then suddenly last year his name popped up again as the producer of Junior Kelly's "Better Place" for his own Jungle JiMuzik Global imprint.
And now an entire album of tunes on that brilliant acoustic (guitar) riddim, composed by Sean 'Jungle Jim' Johnson and laid with the help of Pablove Black keyboards, I-Paul Gauntlett's bass and drum programming, Mark Charlton's violins and Dean Frazer's brass section and arrangement of the beautiful angelic backing vocals by the 1st Eye, a.k.a. the Daffodils: Althea Hamilton, Connie Campbell and Sherida Sharpe, the 'You Should Know' a.k.a. 'Better Place'-riddim, is finally released.
With a "Jungle JiMuzik"-intro by one of Jamaica's hottest juggling DJs, Bounty Killer protegé Foota Hype, followed by an excerpt of "Intro - Imperial Speech" by the Coptic Archbishop of Ethiopia from Haile Selassie's coronation.
Jungle Jim contributes the first vocal of the album the (and that is meant as a compliment) Marley-esque title-track "You Should Know" why angry faces looking at you, of which Anthony B's you should know why "Angry Faces" looking at you can be regarded as the singjay version.
It's Junior Kelly next with the heartfelt i'm looking for a "Better Place", but where these 4 tunes are brilliant, nothing in the world has prepared you for Danny English "Even A Dollar". I've heard (and reviewed) a lot of really great tunes in 2005, but no matter what will be released in the remainder of this year, this superb delivered and lyrically heartfelt slow spoken instead of DJed tune is my favorite of the year (even when it belongs in 2004):
Another heartfelt tune is delivered by Gregory Isaacs, who has been waiting on his lady in her parking lot till it's "Almost 2 O'Clock". It's almost folky, and I've indeed heard a lot of people asking me while playing this album why I wasn't listening reggae, but it's pure, it's acoustic, and it grows on you even more every time you spin this album again. Former mentor Sugar Minott contributes the excellent and equally heartfelt "Bad, Bad Girl" and newcomer Marlon Stewart - son of veteran singer Roman Stewart and forming a duo once with Warrior King - delivers the beautiful ballad "I Apologize". Future & Destroyer (I've stopped wondering about Jamaican artists' monikers long ago) also convince with "Trying To Reach Me", and once more attention should be paid to the excellent job 1st Eye a.k.a. the Daffodils do on all these tunes. Danny English has another great tune on the riddim, and pay attention to his lyrics again on "It's All About". Veteran DJ (and in his - real name - Junior Brammer disguise singer & producer) Trinity delivers the old school DJ lovers tune vibe on his "You And Me" before I-Bar contributes a typical Jamaican kitsch tribute to his mother, followed by Tolerance's fine "Journey" and Blade's convincing "Badmind And Envy". The typical US rap approach of K.B. & Mello works out unexpectedly well on their "Babylon", before the small Tye interlude "Guba Click" propels us into the Jungle Jim acoustic guitar only "You Should Know (Acoustic Instrumental)" with its three-and-a-half minutes showcasing how hypnotizing the riff is, and the "You Should Know (Dub)" named clean version of the riddim. Pure magic, and the most slept-over acoustic riddim of the past 12 months, certainly deserving to be heard (and bought) by everyone now that it's released on CD.
And now an entire album of tunes on that brilliant acoustic (guitar) riddim, composed by Sean 'Jungle Jim' Johnson and laid with the help of Pablove Black keyboards, I-Paul Gauntlett's bass and drum programming, Mark Charlton's violins and Dean Frazer's brass section and arrangement of the beautiful angelic backing vocals by the 1st Eye, a.k.a. the Daffodils: Althea Hamilton, Connie Campbell and Sherida Sharpe, the 'You Should Know' a.k.a. 'Better Place'-riddim, is finally released.
With a "Jungle JiMuzik"-intro by one of Jamaica's hottest juggling DJs, Bounty Killer protegé Foota Hype, followed by an excerpt of "Intro - Imperial Speech" by the Coptic Archbishop of Ethiopia from Haile Selassie's coronation.
Jungle Jim contributes the first vocal of the album the (and that is meant as a compliment) Marley-esque title-track "You Should Know" why angry faces looking at you, of which Anthony B's you should know why "Angry Faces" looking at you can be regarded as the singjay version.
It's Junior Kelly next with the heartfelt i'm looking for a "Better Place", but where these 4 tunes are brilliant, nothing in the world has prepared you for Danny English "Even A Dollar". I've heard (and reviewed) a lot of really great tunes in 2005, but no matter what will be released in the remainder of this year, this superb delivered and lyrically heartfelt slow spoken instead of DJed tune is my favorite of the year (even when it belongs in 2004):
Another heartfelt tune is delivered by Gregory Isaacs, who has been waiting on his lady in her parking lot till it's "Almost 2 O'Clock". It's almost folky, and I've indeed heard a lot of people asking me while playing this album why I wasn't listening reggae, but it's pure, it's acoustic, and it grows on you even more every time you spin this album again. Former mentor Sugar Minott contributes the excellent and equally heartfelt "Bad, Bad Girl" and newcomer Marlon Stewart - son of veteran singer Roman Stewart and forming a duo once with Warrior King - delivers the beautiful ballad "I Apologize". Future & Destroyer (I've stopped wondering about Jamaican artists' monikers long ago) also convince with "Trying To Reach Me", and once more attention should be paid to the excellent job 1st Eye a.k.a. the Daffodils do on all these tunes. Danny English has another great tune on the riddim, and pay attention to his lyrics again on "It's All About". Veteran DJ (and in his - real name - Junior Brammer disguise singer & producer) Trinity delivers the old school DJ lovers tune vibe on his "You And Me" before I-Bar contributes a typical Jamaican kitsch tribute to his mother, followed by Tolerance's fine "Journey" and Blade's convincing "Badmind And Envy". The typical US rap approach of K.B. & Mello works out unexpectedly well on their "Babylon", before the small Tye interlude "Guba Click" propels us into the Jungle Jim acoustic guitar only "You Should Know (Acoustic Instrumental)" with its three-and-a-half minutes showcasing how hypnotizing the riff is, and the "You Should Know (Dub)" named clean version of the riddim. Pure magic, and the most slept-over acoustic riddim of the past 12 months, certainly deserving to be heard (and bought) by everyone now that it's released on CD.