Coming Soon

Normally, when I do previews, I tend to focus on one forthcoming project at a time and elaborate on why you should be interested in that piece and why it should be on your list of things to pick up. While I will certainly continue to do that in some cases of something which I fill will be somewhat special, I thought that I'd fill the gaps in between potentially special releases by just telling what else there is. These are albums that I personally may or may not be interested in (and I'll tell you if I am or not) but it's something that you may or may not potentially be interested in and, even more to the point, may not even know is coming. I also will be including recently released material that I probably have no interest in reviewing, at least not at the time and you'll see this type of preview far more often than the one album piece.

Vybz Kartel - Pon Di Gaza [Adidjaheim/Notnice]

Believe it or not but very QUIETLY Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel is set to release his fifth studio album (not including the re-release of Up 2 Di Time), Pon Di Gaza and, at least in part, on his own coin. Album-wise Kartel continues his rather strange methodology as, seemingly by his simple desire, he could be IMMEDIATELY signed up by VP Records or a whole heap of lower level but still well known international labels (think Koch) but, obviously he’d rather split his money in less ways and Pon Di Gaza is a testament of that and it will also be a test of the nature of his fans and their desire and ability to literally go out of their way to find Pon Di Gaza. Musically speaking, the album tops in at a whopping twenty-two tracks and is full of much darker and BORING, to be quite honest, material. I stared at the cover and was quite shocked by the fact that it sans a ‘parental advisory’ label and, thus, as the album to support Kartel’s MASSIVE hit Ramping Shop alongside Spice, it supports it conditionally as a SERIOUSLY edited edition while curiously absent is Kartel’s post Sting 2k8 battle cry, Last Man Standing.

Rated Potential: 3/5

Releases On September 22

The Mighty Right Riddim [Philadub Records]

The boys at Philadub certainly didn’t waste much time getting back into the swing of things following the release of the increasingly MASSIVE Justice album from Lutan Fyah as they now deliver their very first (to my knowledge) riddim album compilation for The Mighty Right riddim. The Mighty Right was featured on Justice and, incidentally, on Selassie I Within which was my choice as the album’s biggest tune overall and it’s featured here as well. Featured alongside Spanish Town’s finest, taken their shots with the very impressive Roots riddim are the usual cast of Reggae characters such as Capleton, Jah Mason, Fantan Mojah, Luciano and Perfect. There are also a few surprises thrown in the mix such as [Lil] Hero, Tony Rebel, Spectacular, RAS SHILOH and, of course, Philadub’s own Gardian.

Rated Potential: 4.25/5

Releases On September 22

Mark Wonder - Battle Axe [Special Delivery]

Almost as if completely oblivious to the fact the he already has an album out, Mark Wonder and the powers that be over at SOLID Frenchie label Special Delivery are planning to release an EP, Battle Axe. The name of the EP is also, incidentally, the name of Mark Wonder’s very own label , which hmay be the reason for such a project which kind of has me vexed by its very existence. It features four tracks from Wonder and the boys of Special Delivery (Let’s Live, Shape The Future, Nothing A Gwaan & Jah Never Fail I) and if they were to use it as a springboard to an album sometime in the future, however, as Special Delivery showed with Queen Omega’s similar release last year, Revolution, such things are not always guaranteed.

Rated Potential: 4/5

Releases On September 18

Dainjamental - Well Prepared [Allmighty Entertainment]

Literally months ago Trini artist Dainjamental released Unexpected which was everything its title suggested and then some as apparently I had been hoodwinked into thinking Dainjamental was someone he either wasn’t at all or someone that he used to be and was no longer. The album did, however, manage to make one of my Lists. Unexpected was seriously a candidate for worst album of 2009 but apparently it sold pretty well as Dainjamental almost INSTANTLY returns with the fourteen tracked Well Prepared, boasting combinations with Hip-Hopper Cappadonna and Jah Bami. The Bami combination definitely had potential, although much less so now as I recently heard a chunk of the tune Force It, which features the UNFORGETTABLE line, “If she dry like the desert just put in the extra effort and force it in her”. Nuff said.

Rated Potential: 1/5

Releases On October 4

In Stores Now

Tanya Stephens Collection Of Hits [VP Records]

It doesn’t seem like she’s gotten much attention for it but, instead of the new release we were hoping for, Tanya Stephens has joined a growing list of VP artists who have gotten BIG Greatest Hits style releases (most recently Lady Saw) and, of course, it’s already a big deal. Many of Stephens’ fans have jumped on during the course of her last two albums, Gangsta Blues and Rebelution and this will definitely give them a bit of background (and a DVD) with earlier hits such as 119, Handle The Ride, Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet and Goggle and then a healthy rinse of post Gangsta Blues material.

Rated: 5/5

Una Morgan - Fight featuring Kelly Love Jones [SIA Entertainment]

And lastly, as if I hadn’t been talking about enough Morgan Heritage material these days, Una Morgan (aka ‘The Girl’) recently dropped the first single of her forthcoming debut solo project in 2010, the very nice Fight. The tune comes in across Shane Brown’s HOT Indiscretions Riddim (wasn’t on the album) and features American soul artist Kelly Love Jones (who sounds AMAZING) and is a very lovely and inspirational song for everyone. It bodes quite well for the forthcoming album early in 2k10 and future endevours from Lady Morgan.

Rated: 4.5/5