Not As Bright As It Used To Be: A Review of Soca Gold 2009 by Various Artists

There is a rather clearly defined level of operation when it comes to those who have been paying attention and those who haven’t been paying attention when it comes to music. I would venture to say that specifically when it comes to Caribbean music this phenomenon would be even more clearly defined as opposed to something like Hip-Hop or R&B as one can’t become even SOMEWHAT informed by simply turning on a television or a radio depending on one’s locale. Because of the still ‘underground’ nature of our music, its still a necessity to do further research (like online) because, even if you happen to live in a place which has quite a large Caribbean music loving community and spins the music quite consistently, there is still that (albeit shrinking) time delay factor in terms of hits emerging internationally which are potentially a month or so old, locally. Now this exists in more than one form because in ‘Reggae time’ that time can exist as the aforementioned “month or so”, however, in Soca, you could be dealing with an entire ‘season or so’ (I.e. A YEAR) of delay. Now, what happens because of this is that there are SEVERAL rather well known products featuring Soca music and Caribbean music in general which operate observing this type of situation and when those products release, they’re often full of material that is WELL spun and heard and they do so especially for those who haven’t been paying very close attention and they generally make it no type of mystery that, that is exactly what they’re doing. And, predictably, as someone who does pay pretty good attention MANY of these things find themselves flying more and more over (or under depending on how you look at it) my head, literally. For (PRIME) example, is the case of the most popular independent annual compilation of Caribbean music, Reggae Gold. Released, by VP Records each and every year for the past thirteen years, is the ‘be all, end all’ of Caribbean music compilations and the STANDARD to which all international Reggae compilations are held. Now, as someone who actually pays attention to Reggae all year-round, the Reggae Gold compilation is pretty much either COMPLETELY USELESS or is useful for a tune or two, here or there and occasionally even it’s a pretty good album (like 2007), but ONLY because of the material that is chosen resonating with me at that time. There are also others such as Strictly The Best from the same label, which does a FAR better job generally and anything you’ll find from Greensleeves for the most part which all, because of one reason or another (if not anymore than the fact that the ‘compiling’ portion of the project actually takes a bit of time), operate in the circumstances that those who are most likely to enjoy what is on them, will probably already HAVE what is on them. Problems.

Now of course there is a Soca Gold as well. Soca, inherently, because its less popular than Reggae, doesn’t have to address that problem on as wide of a scale but, just like Reggae, that problem becomes more and more visible as the music becomes more and more popular. Simply put: The bigger you become, the more people will notice. Fortunately for VP I think Soca music is at least a decade away from that point (and Reggae is about five years away) where EVERYTHING they draw to put on the SG album will be internationally big already. Unfortunately for VP, I personally have apparently reached that point and what has been one of my favourite annual compilations for quite awhile, within simply the past two years has become one which I look forward to not so much because, even more so than Reggae Gold, I already pretty much know how its tracklist will look at the end of February, several months before its actual release. And, just like Reggae Gold, I probably won’t be as dedicated to picking it up in future years because of it. Last year, Soca Gold 2008 was built on what was, in my opinion, one of the strongest musical years for Carnival from since I’ve been paying attention to Soca full on and, in retrospect, it was kind of surprising that the album wasn’t as strong as I feel that it could have been. Part of that would definitely be the timing of the matter as Soca Gold is released in the early summer it, for the most part, misses out on anything in that given year that is not TRINIDAD Carnival. Of course, Trinidad’s is the biggest and the BEST, but SERIOUSLY, shooting off throughout the Caribbean in 2008 were BIG vibes from almost every island. So of course that would be reflected in next year’s edition right? Well, next year’s edition is here as we now take a glimpse at VP Records’ Soca Gold 2009. I paid EXTRA close attention this year, even better than last year, I went and had an EXCELLENT time but I would have to admit that the music, in and of itself, was a real letdown following last year. The highlight, of course, was Mrs. Bunji Garlin, Faye-Ann Lyons who DOMINATED the season in pretty much everyway that one could dominate it; taking her second consecutive Road March title (quadrupling her next closest competitor) and her very first Power Soca and Groovy Soca Monarch titles as well on the same night, highlighting what will undoubtedly be regarded as one of the most POWERFUL seasons by one individual in recent years. Now, throughout the years of the series (which is just one year younger than it’s sibling RG) there have been some WORLDCLASS omissions which always confuses me to a degree because one would think that VP being. . . VP with the deepest pockets in this particular business, they would be able to license these tunes for their industry topping Soca Gold album. Not the case. 2007, marked the very first time that Soca SUPERSTAR Destra Garcia made an appearance on a SG album; over the last couple of years since 2005, SUPERSTAR Road March contender/winner Machel Montano has been absent; the same could be said for the equally qualified Shurwayne Winchester also as well as a whole heap of tunes from artists who just haven’t been here (and thus, not internationally introduced as much). But, Soca Gold 2009 definitely isn’t a FULL lost cause and does offer its fair share of genuinely BIG tunes and a few surprises (one in particular) and is pretty good. . . Of course minus its one RIDICULOUSLY GLARING absence.

First, to that absence - Where is Faye-Ann! It just so happens that the same Road Monarch winning UNDISPUTED Soca Monarch is nowhere to be found on Soca Gold 2009! Neither Meet Super Blue nor Heavy T Bumper appear, making its luster, definitely in the eyes of Soca hardcores (which apparently I am these days), MUCH less bright in just picking up the CD and turning it over. What you will find, however, when you pick up Soca Gold 2009 from VP Records first is a line of some of the biggest tunes (including THE biggest) that you’ll find on the album altogether. First up is an artist who never has had any type of extended stay away from SG (he has only, by my count, missed ONE edition in its history, 2002) Edwin Yearwood with his BIG Handle Ya Bizniz tune which I believe took Bajan Road March in ‘08. Bizniz is BEAUTIFUL music, I do think it’s a LITTLE changed in this version (I may be wrong on that), but regardless, it’s a big effort, especially if you haven’t heard it before. I have, and I still love it. The Trini’s take center stage for the next two tunes and THE Trini, my favourite and supplier of the best tune you’ll find on SG 2009 in specific. Destra’s Bacchanal was a PERFECT Road March choice in my opinion this year but it (like everything else) ran into a juggernaut in Meet Super Blue. But I (of course I’m partial) thought it was better anyway. In either case, if you haven’t heard Bacchanal and you do like Soca, this is SPECIFICALLY why you’ll want to pick this one up. Bacchanal is MASSIVE and it may just be the best of its kind that Destra has done in her entire lovely career (and I think they’ll FINALLY give her, her Road March crown in 2010 anyway!). The album’s finest. Next up is a tune from an artist who I thought probably had the best tune on SG 2008 and you could probably make the case here as well if that tune hit you that hard; Blaxx with Tusty. In 2007, Blaxx was Dutty, last year he was Breathless and this year he was Tusty (I’m predicting next year he’s Hungry, you heard it here first) which was a fitting follow-up to the MADNESS that was Breathless. Tusty has a pounding style that is as addictive as it was powerful and Blaxx is just good for albums like this and he should definitely stick around. Big ending to probably the SECOND best stretch of three tunes on the album.

Even if you took away Handle Ya Bizniz, you could replace it with another strong tune which is even better as St. Vincy’s 2008 Soca Monarch, Skinny Fabulous checks in with his INSANE Head Bad. If you know NOTHING of Soca, listen to this tune, if you don’t like it, don’t even bother with this one, or any other album like for that matter. Soca fans, you’ll love it and won’t be able to sit still. TRUST me. After that really there are only a FEW tunes here and there that I like on Soca Gold 2009. I did like Beenie Man and Bunji Garlin’s combination Plenty Gal and having seen the two perform it together this year, the song is really BIG and I love Beenie for being the one Jamaican artist to CONSISTENTLY represent at Carnival every year and doing combinations with artists all over (including Faye-Ann this year). I also love the two future female superstars Patrice Roberts and ESPECIALLY Zoelah from out of St. Vincy (Trini born) representing with Looking Hott and the BIG Wine Up On Me. Both tunes are SMOOTH and just exceptional from two artists you really should keep an eye on for the future as they both have the POTENTIAL to take Soca to a more popular international level. I also have to mention Beenie’s partner in crime at Soca Monarch, KMC who comes to the series for the first time since 2003 by my count with the well SOLID Yeast which did quite well and is probably the only tune here which has a conscious spin (which is probably why it was chosen) as KMC speaks of all the prices rising in town, like Yeast. Big tune. And after that, it’s MEDIOCRE nation! I don’t know about you but I’m WELL tired of the ‘daggering’ sensation and would have appreciated very much had it not made it over to Soca, unfortunately it caught Jamesy P and an appearance from this very talented artist is WASTED with his unnecessary take on the matter, Soca Daggering (Love Your Carnival or Rogaltic would have been better choices), but I know quite a few who liked the tune, so you may. I don’t. I haven’t heard one solid tune from Peter Ram which I have CLEARLY enjoyed since 2007 I believe and the very popular Tight over the Coconut Tree riddim (which I’m not DISLIKING) is example A. That brings us to Jepp Sting Naina. I LOVE this song sometime and other times it annoys me to no end! The song could was probably one of the most popular on this album from Hunter and company (incidentally, part of that ‘company’ is one Ravi B who should have been here with his BIG tune Doolarie). Jamesy P is the only artist on Soca Gold 2009 twice and the second time is better than the first but its still not a BIG tune to my opinion as he joins Sean Caruth on the decent She Sexy Now which can definitely grow on you to some degree. Both (the lovely) Rita Jones and Lil Rick ‘doom’ themselves by riding the same well worn Coconut Tree riddim (again, if you’ve never heard it, you MIGHT like it, I’m so tired of that thing now, however) for their efforts, Put Some Wine On Me and Bashment Winers, respectively. Things do go out on a high note for SG’09 thankfully with first Kenneth Salick’s HIGHLY ADDICTIVE jilted lover’s tune Radica, which is nearly magic and earned the singer his first Chutney Soca Monarch crown to my knowledge. And ending things is the always strong Bajan singer Biggie Irie who sends us out with his Carnival Again over the famed Tempa Wine riddim from Dwaingerous. Irie doesn’t reach the levels of the riddim’s namesake from Machel & Patrice but, as usual, he gives a fine effort and gives us something (MAYBE) to look forward to on Soca Gold 2010.

Also present is the ‘customary’ DVD which contains the usual special features from all over, the best of which is CLEARLY a video of Destra’s Bacchanal (although, now, even that isn’t so special is it?). And I MUST say that 2009’s cover model may be the best since 2003’s!

Overall, while I fully admit that I have quite a bit to learn on the Soca side of things, unfortunately I may have just ‘outgrown’ this series and I don’t think I’m the only one. Soca music is SERIOUSLY some AMAZING vibes and having it so close these days and being completely unable to ignore it, this album coming around at this time didn’t have a single tune that I not only didn’t hear before it’s release but basically just KNEW as well. However, as I know that now I’m not the type of person it is intended for, I would have to say that as someone who doesn’t know this music, I would probably LOVE IT! But as for me, Soca Gold 2009 may just be my LEAST favourite of the series so far and I guess I’ve just discovered what Soca heads have known for years: the ‘gold’ on Soca Gold definitely doesn’t glisten as bright when you’re used to seeing it. And next year, I might not see it at all.

Rated 3/5 stars

VP Records

2009