I find that there is a potentially shrinking and blurring line between what is good Reggae music and what is average Reggae music. Of course, that ultimate decision is to be made by a given individual but to my own observations, I always try to take mental notes (or even literal notes) of exactly who and with what tends to get the lion’s share of the attentions and I’m really happy to say that I find that now, a more educated ‘brand’ of Reggae fan/head is seemingly emerging. With this fan, it is no longer merely acceptable to kind of get a proverbial ‘pass’ with doing mediocre things and, because of that, in my opinion, we’re seeing such an influx of younger artists who are capable of doing much more than their years would seem to dictate. Also, because of this in my opinion, I think we’re seeing more older artists being kind of ‘rushed’ to the next stage of their careers, seemingly unable to gain that next big hit. However, unfortunately, in my opinion, there remains a VERY strong core of artists who, for some reason or another just don’t be able to take that next step into the MASS amounts of public attentions and it is these artists, who certainly aren’t mediocre who really help to make the music as strong as it is today. BY FAR, the greatest example in recent times of an artist like such in my opinion would be someone like Nereus Joseph who absolutely DESTROYED any preconceived notions one might have had regarding the singer when he dropped his 2009 opus, Real Rebels Can’t Die. Prior to that album, Joseph’s name would have seemingly been one of many in the pack of the UK scene who comprise the bunch of those Roots Reggae artists and would have, save for so very few, carried no substantial weight on its own. I would also point to someone like (to stick with the European side for a moment) Ziggy whose In Transit album has pushed his names to such great heights, apparently introducing the international world to ‘Ziggi’ and not just “that guy from Holland”, and in his case specifically, as young as (I THINK) he is, such a project seems poised to set his career into a different category altogether. In the Dancehall, I’ll always use General Degree as a wonderful example of such an artist who, although he has been denied the riches of true international superstardom, resonates so much with Dancehall heads due to his appeal in that market in specific and his undeniable skill level, also. Dancehall just wouldn’t be the same without Degree and nor would Reggae music as a whole without these wonderful artists who show that very high level of skill, far above average, but don’t seem to get justly rewarded for it.
With the way I see it, however, we are on the verge of seeing this ‘type’ of artists virtually wiped out with the aforementioned development of Reggae heads and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Certainly we would the best we have to offer to, even if it isn’t the HUGEST, in terms of being compared to other genres, to receive such attention which is at least comparable to their own peers. I think you’ll start to see (literal) ‘weeding out’ of that kind of BASIC and unspectacular artist, or, at the very least, force them to ‘step up their games’. Unfortunately, in my opinion, one of the LAST such artist to get that attention would be someone like Mikey General who, on the surface, is SO unremarkable its almost as if he exists as just another side or alter ego to his good friend and ‘spiritual brother’ Luciano. However, to any one who has actually paid any real attention to the singer he’s so much more than that and I even know a gentleman in particular (whose opinion concerning Reggae I hold in pretty high esteem) who regards the actual skill of the General to be more than those of his aforementioned superstar comrade and to no small degree mind you. While I’m DEFINITELY not going that far I will say that when his career is done (if it continues going in its current direction) Mikey General’s levels of being underrated, underappreciated and under loved, quite frankly, will be matched by VERY few artists (and actually at this point only someone like Peter Broggs comes to mind but I’m sure there are more). So what is it exactly that the most discerning of listeners will find if they give Mikey General an extra spin or two besides what appears to be kind of the ’standard’ Rastafarian singer? No his voice isn’t mind blowingly amazing (although it is very good) and no he doesn’t dazzle you with his ’persona’ in the way someone like Sizzla or Capleton might. Two things really stand out for the General, however. The first is DEFINITELY one of the sharpest pins and deepest bags of lyrics in modern Roots Reggae. He delivers such beautiful songs and messages that really come across, when at his best, so much unlike many of his peers. And the second thing is the message itself. Whatever overall feeling you take from the UK born singer, you ALWAYS get the vibes that this man not only believes in what he’s singing but he actually LIVES it. I can’t think of a single artist who MORE SO than Mikey General shows a greater spiritual conviction than Mikey General as literally get the thought that, if he had to, he would almost happily give anything he had for his faith. Now, unsurprisingly, just as he, himself, has largely been overlooked, much of the General’s output has also. Outside of some of his very early work for Xterminator (where he and Luciano got their respective starts at the highest levels in the game). Such physical output was this wonderfully pleasant release back in 2003, Red, Green & Gold. The album was produced by the legendary Dean ’Cannon’ Fraser (who still today is showing artists how to distinguish themselves) who also helmed a nice Luciano release from that same year, Serve Jah and released via VP Records. Red, Green & Gold wasn’t the best album I’ve ever heard and it definitely means more to me now than it would have when I got it (which I think must have been two months or so after it was released) but it is a DELIGHTFUL showcase of an artist who so frustratingly hasn’t been given what he easily deserves and it is a trip through the spirituality of one of its greatest exhibitors in Reggae music, which is saying a lot.
If you’ve never heard a Mikey General album (and this would be a nice place to start), you almost have to accept that his music is generally PURE Roots Reggae. Even if he jumps across a differently vibed riddim or even does a cover tune of some kind, what he’s going to do is to present it in a way where it will sound familiar to you but while fitting SQUARELY into the spectrum of Reggae, so know that going in definitely. What you’ll also know first, if you listen to Red, Green & Gold sequentially, is the GLORIOUS opener The Message. The song is basically a spoken word type intro and it is a PERFECT representation of what I just said as it is a remake of the old Teddy Pendergrass tune, Somebody Told Me. Of course, it isn’t a direct cover and its given a very nice Reggae and Rastafarian ‘rinse’ as Mikey General uses the nice 5:07 to put together various biblical scriptures and to announce that someone told him to deliver this message. What message? The album, of course. Nice and even nicer placed start by the General and Fraser. Next is a tune which tries to fulfill on its rather ambitious title and does a nice job of that, Joy. This tune may, in fact, be another remake of sorts but I can quite put my finger on it (and I don’t care really either). This one is very interesting as I don’t necessarily even agree with EVERYTHING the General says in its duration and its not the finest written tune on the album either but it takes a song like this (and Pick Yourself Up later on) which I think really sows off the talent levels as it still shines because of the vibes themselves. You may not agree but you can be SURE Mikey General does and he presents it in such a way that its definitely inspirational (and I do agree with the prevailing message of the song also). The title track sends the opening of Red, Green & Gold on its way and it does so as simply the best tune of the three and eventually one of the best on the album named after it also. This tune speaks strictly to being proud of where one’s home is, especially for the children of Afrika. I had to catch myself a couple of times, listening to it for the sake of this review because it gets downright overwhelming at times. Big tune for a big opening.
You probably don’t even need me (but you have me anyway and you LOVE it) to set it in exacts, you can simply look at the track titles on RG&G to know the direction where it goes. Of course, showing TRUE spirituality in music can be a tricky thing but not for Mikey General apparently. Also thankfully because it is with that ease that he delivers the biggest shot of all on the album, HE THAT KEEPETH. The title is a take of Psalm 121:4 and the General uses it to build some BEAUTIFUL piece of tune which had me tearing up definitely! The song just reminds all to seek refuge and happiness within His Majesty and should you walk that path in life, it really strikes chords in you that music like this, at its finest, is meant to do. LOVELY and not only the album’s best but one of Mikey General’s also. Of course that wouldn’t be the only such vibe on Red, Green & Gold (you know you want to call it Red, Gold & Green, don’t lie) and that’s for the better of it definitely. Check Praise HIS Name which is absolutely STERLING. The song really gives a focus to the album in my opinion as it features the absolute gem of a line, “everything in creation is a manifestation of our Zionly King, the world and those therein”. And its very good throughout also, very inspirational. Give Me Strength should be familiar sounding to quite a few heavy listeners as it comes across Fraser’s Take Up The Cross riddim which you’ll recognize as having backed Duane Stephenson’s hit (and To-Isis‘), Ghetto Pain from a few years back. This tune, unsurprisingly, didn’t garner such attentions but is arguably just as strong from a technical point of view. That riddim, regardless, was RIDICULOUS and would have been hard to flop and Mikey General definitely didn’t do that. The remix of Pick Yourself Up features veteran Daddy Screw and Blessed (out of Canada these days I believe) and is an improvement on the original (which, oddly enough, comes after it on the album). I mentioned this tune earlier because of the way in which it is written from the General’s side (clearly more evident on the original) as it is simply him throwing cliché after cliché so you REALLY REALLY have to listen to this one to get any type of meaning out of it. Or, I may just be wrong and it may just be a bad song (over that sweet ass Singing riddim). ‘You’ is a tune which is so nice that you’ll definitely have to run it a few times. It’s a lovers tune but a spiritual lovers of sorts and it really fits in nicely with the rest of the album in my opinion. You precedes, oddly enough, the jilted lovers tune, Willing To Walk and just in case you had any questions of the direction of the previous tune, Mikey General makes his allegiances CRYSTAL CLEAR immediately on the tune as he says, “well woman I love you but I love Jah more!”. A song, I’m sure, the legendary Peter Tosh would have wholly supported and it’s a very good song to boot. Just Call On Me leaves the lovers section of RG&G on a positive note (its not even a lovers tune inasmuch as it’s a friends or just supportive in general song) before setting up the final stretch. Warning is one of the album’s finest efforts as it finds the General back in a PURELY spiritual mood and it probably is also one of the strongest tunes, from a lyrical perspective, here also. And leaving us with a bit of spiritual (and maybe literal) direction is the closer, Zion We A Go. The tune comes delightfully across the old Studio One Mr. Fix It riddim. Again, its not the best written tune here (I think the second verse, however, is quite good) but its made up for by the way in which its presented and it does take a bit of time to really get but you could very well make an argument that they saved one of the very best for last on Red, Green & Gold.
Overall, Mikey General’s Red, Green & Gold album earned my seal of recommendation, albeit a bit conditional one. There is no way in hell that you’ll be able to even remotely enjoy this album if you are not ALREADY a fan of Reggae music. And not a casual fan but an established one, you shouldn’t even try. When I got it, in 2003, I would have been 21-22 and it didn’t really make much sense to me and subsequently spent three years or so going virtually ignored by me before I gave it a proper chance with the ears to REALLY understand it, so I’d also mention and suppose that it would register on numerically older heads as well. However, if you are all of those things and not even quite a fan of Mikey General’s then you’ll definitely appreciate these working levels on Red, Green & Gold. The General is in fine form and turns quite a few nice phrases and pushes even way more big vibes, always on a spiritual level or not far from one and always DEFINITELY, in praise of His Majesty. Whether you know his name or not, whether you recognize his face or not, Mikey General is turning out pieces like this which one would hope, at some point, have to be recognized in full by the masses. I over stand that, now, its your turn.
Rated 4/5 stars
VP Records
2009
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