Coming Soon Vol. 5

Not too much caught my eye this week. There is actually A TON of new(er) stuff already out that I've missed, so I'll probably end up covering that in a 'recently released' type of post sometime next week (definitely a lot of stuff, so check that out), but this is just a few.

Coming Soon

Serani - No Games [Phase One Communications]

Although it may not have been my choice, common sense dictates that up first this week is the very high profile debut album from Mr. Marsh - Serani, No Games. I've never really been much of a fan of the singer's but the anticipation surrounding No Games is literally deafening by even the most casual of Reggae heads. Serani has released about 400 official/not-so-official mixtapes over the last few years, so me personally, I kind of feel like this moment has already occurred, but you won't care what I say, you'll probably pick it up anyway (selfishly, I'm WELL happy this one pops up now because it means that we move closer and closer to the inevitable release of the world's most sinister Reggae artist, Daseca's own Bugle).

Rated Potential 3/5 (again, I'm not a fan)

Releases on October 27

Riddim Driven: Trippple Bounce [VP Records]

This one is another potential big deal. It's been a minute since the last time Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor made an appearance on VP's famed Riddim Driven series (which is a shame really, ALL of his material should funnel through them, in my opinion) and he's back with the Trippple Bounce and he's brought with him some of his most well known and talented of friends. Joining Di Genius (who actually voices a tune alongside his brother Chino), are the likes of Beenie Man, Mavado, Vybz Kartel, Elephant Man, Mr. Vegas, D'Angel, Aidonia, the aforementioned Bugle and, for the very first time to my knowledge, BRUTAL young potential superstar Bramma De Bomma appears on a VP release (hopefully the first of many). With such a line up over the ELECTRICALLY vibed riddim, it's not wonder why VP scooped it up.

Rated Potential 3.75/5

Releases on November 17

In Stores Now

Dynamq - Reggae Feeling [Tune In Crew]

I told you about this one not too long ago and I've surprisingly gotten quite a bit of feedback from not only the artist (who apparently linked my feature on his networking sites), but also one of the producers linked me (biggup Tune In Crew) and I've gotten a little reader response same way. Reggae Feeling is the new single from the outstanding Sudanese born, Atlanta US based singer Dynamq and it is one cool cool tune. But don't take my word for it, press play and enjoy it for yourself. The tune is available on most fine digital retailers right now and we're definitely looking forward to seeing what else Dynamq and Tune In may have in store for us. Very well done.

Rated 4.5/5

Speedy - Gangsta Cry [Blackwarell Sound Inc.]

All of the recent Tiwony fans, who checked his most recent album Viv La Vi (and speaking of feedback, I've gotten a crazy amount from that one and still do to this day), might be interested in one of Tiwony's bredrin from his Blackwarell stable, Speedy. The rather odd sounding singjay impresses throughout his debut album (I THINK), Gangsta Cry, which is no longer a regional release, but is available on worldwide digital retailers as well (and here's hoping Blackwarell continues to do this). The album is quite impressive and besides Tiwony, Gangsta Cry also features the likes of French Reggae mainstays Daddy Mory, Yannis Odua and Lord Kossity joining Speedy on combinations.

Rated 4/5

Jallanzo - Reggae Rockin Tonight [Charmax/Zojak Worldwide]

Jallanzo is a young(er) up and comer and he's now making his debut album on Max Romeo's Charmax imprint (distributed digitally by the wonderful people at Zojak Worldwide) and this one has a HEAVY bit of potential. It's an all around well done predominately Roots piece and while that alone wouldn't have been enough for me to mention it, I do ultimately do so, because it seems as if almost throughout it seems to be well on point (inlcuding a tune, 'Don't Burn Your Bride', which is Jallanzo's take on the same riddim which birthed his boss' class hit 'Chase The Devil'). I'm still tinkering with this one but do check Reggae Rockin Tonight if you're loving the underground and underseen Roots vibes this year because it's just as strong as most of them and yet another sleeper for 2009.

Rated 4.25/5

Focus Riddim [Digital Link International/Zojak Worldwide]

This one, I probably should have held off on until next week, because it's not that it's just awesome and amazing (because it isn't), but it's just so damn interesting and it definitely has a few "a&a" moments. The Focus Riddim (I THINK) comes via Fragga Ranks' Raw Moon label (built by the Top Tier Crew apparently) and it features such an unusual cache of artists in its fourteen vocal tracks. Lutan Fyah and Jah Mason are present and they do outstanding work, of course, but really interesting here is who joins them on the Focus. Freddie McGregor! Ras Myrhdak, Rob Symeon, Bigga Haitian and Shanti Reblah and LEOPARD (<< BIG ARTIST). Just a strange group of artist to put on a riddim and I haven't actually managed to get my hands on this one as of yet and I wouldn't be surprised if there are some dry spots here as well, but just from the artist line up (and the riddim itself, also, is lovely), consider me interested.

Jah Shaka Presents The Positive Message [Greensleeves Records]

And finally this week: In their seemingly never ending crusade to suck all of the usefulness from the VAST catalogue of Greensleeves Records, parent company VP Records has once again struck gold! Musically speaking, Greensleeves' pockets are virtually bottomless at this point, so it's so nice to get a nice compilation which doesn't feature the same old tired ass retreads that so many other such reissue compilations do and, again, if you're armed with Greensleeves' vault, you just have no excuse. NONE! So I was very happy when this one popped up, full of names like EARL SIXTEEN, Fred Locks, Cultural Roots, Hugh Mundell, Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus, Mystic Eyes and Norris Reid. STRONG artists all of them, but not artists whose names are necessarily filling up similar compilations. There are far more well known names as well (Barrington Levy, Black Uhuru, Johnny Osbourne etc.), but even in those cases, for the most part, the tune chosen by the inimitable Jah Shaka isn't the most well known and that so wonderfully helps to boost the EXCLUSIVITY of such a project and really my collection is better for having added it.

Rated 5/5