With the wonderful array and range of emotions Reggae music tends to take its listeners through, perhaps the most rare in my particular case would be that of genuine surprise. Be it on record, be it in a particular artist’s actions or even on stage, listening to as much of the music and just generally involving myself in it, true shock is something which I unfortunately don’t get to experience much these days. In fact, even though I’m COMPLETELY easier to please when it comes to Soca (and thus, perhaps, the source of this statement) I would say that genre tends to provide me with the lion’s share of my musical astonishment at this point in time. However, that’s not to say that it’s totally out of the question for something in Reggae to shock me as there have been a few things here and there as of late which have gotten a wide-eyed Achis response. The first that comes to mind would DEFINITELY be the rather abrupt transformation of previously DEMONIC, turned (not quite) angelic, singer Mavado who in the matter of mere months went from (more like ‘taken from’) the strangest and most hardcore singer the Dancehall has ever seen, someone who would stand up at Jam World and battle to the death against preeminent Dancehall bad boy, Vybz Kartel (and do quite well actually), and not too long afterwards declare himself ‘So Special’. Mavado’s international rise to promise definitely was shocking as, probably this time last year even, I would have thought him to be one of the LEAST ‘crossoverable’ stars in the Dancehall (and probably even less so than Kartel himself actually). What else surprises me these days? Well, undoubtedly due to my pride and probably some arrogance but I’m almost continuously shocked at the fact that despite a VERY and CONSISTENTLY high level of talent of our artists, Reggae music is still somewhat regarded as a ‘niche’ type of genre. I’m definitely not ‘asking’ for it to the point of advancing to the levels of something like Pop music or maybe not even Hip-Hop but with the type of vibes I’m hearing, I think its getting very close to the point where the excuse of ‘But I can’t understand what they’re saying’ is simply not going to work anymore. I’m also shocked by smaller but perhaps just as odd phenomenon as well: Like after all of these years, how in the hell are Beenie Man and Bounty Killer still quietly waging war against each other, seemingly oblivious to the fact that it looks dumb and is no longer fun. And I think EVERYONE had to be shocked at Luciano’s (of all people) recent legal troubles (that weren’t marijuana related). However, if you look at all of that stuff, not much of it at all is DIRECTLY involved with the music itself, either those who make it doing something else or it not being promoted as well as it should be. What really shocks me completely musically?
One thing in particular has developed just within the last year or so that has left me quite speechless at times (apparently not too speechless though, as I’m about to write this big ass review) as to how exactly or what exactly had things changed. Enter Morgan Heritage. As I find myself saying more and more these days, the group, which is arguably the most popular Reggae group in the entire world at this point has never made a type of music which I have particularly found enjoyable. That’s not at all to say that I disliked their music but I have, for the most part, maintained a rather neutral (I.e. Canada) like outlook in regard to their music. For example, if the Morgans were to drop ten songs or so, I would probably only like three or so and probably really only like one, if any at all but things have changed apparently. In anticipation of bringing what is reportedly to be their OPUS album which will take them quite awhile to complete, the Morgans have taken the opportunity to work on their solo projects while away from day-to-day activities with the group. And here’s the thing: The stuff that they’re doing - I LIKE IT! Of the three who have made the greatest strides as solo artists, Peter (Peetah), Mojo and, of course, Gramps, they all have some nice material that I have enjoyed and that’s kind of strange. Strangest, definitely, would be Mojo who, in defining his own style has apparently gone to the Rock/Alternative style and, although that, in and of itself, isn’t very strange considering the type of varied crowds which tend to appreciate the Morgans’ music, the fact that I could find ANY of it to be even halfway decent is very strange and astonishing (big tune named Til The End alongside Mischu Laikah & Lazah from LMS). Peter (thankfully) is a lot more ‘usual’ having inked up with Shane Brown’s Juke Boxx Productions and he voices quite regularly for not only Brown but some of his well known peers also. And then there’s the big and burly Gramps Morgan who has outdone his siblings in terms of being the first to actually get a completed FULL album out there to the masses (Mojo has had two different EP’s, Mr. Mojo Rising and Got Mojo?, respectively) as he now brings forth his quietly well anticipated debut solo project, 2 Sides Of My Heart Vol. 1. The album comes on another first for Gramps as he has had established his own record company, Dada Son Entertainment, for quite awhile now (the label, I THINK, is ran in association with Gedion Music, which is the family‘s label). Last year, the label even released a project for a next artist, Hawaiian Reggae songbird Irie Love, her official debut EP, Ehiku (which was EXCELLENT) and now they turn their attentions to the big man, Gramps Morgan. The album is established largely on the strength of one MASSIVE first single (more on that in a minute), an overall upliftment of Gramps’ profile as he appeared on US R&B superstar Irie Love’s last set, and on one of the singles no less AND, for the hardcore Reggae heads, rumours surrounding a potentially even more scintillating combination. Well, it fulfills on all of those things, not only tangibly but as far as the anticipation as well as, from beginning to end Gramps Morgan’s 2 Sides Of My Heart makes non Morgan Heritage fans wonder why they do this ‘solo thing’ a long ass time ago!
You, like me, might have been struck by the ‘Vol. 1’ portion of the title of the album in particular. Apparently Gramps Morgan has not only planned but has already recorded the majority of a HUGE two disc project. Wonderfully (unlike some people, not to name any names) Gramps has chosen to stagger the release of the second disc and give the first a proper chance to flourish. Well, given the first chance to flourish on said flourishing first disc of Gramps Morgan’s 2 Sides Of My Heart is the previously mentioned “MASSIVE first single” , the SPRAWLING Wash The Tears. The tune has been one of my favourites and probably for everyone else lucky enough to hear it within the last few months since its release. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Introduced by none other than the man himself, Peter Tosh, Gramps Morgan comes in with such a lovely and INSPIRATIONAL vibes that you, the listener, simply cannot ignore and neither can I or anyone else. The tune is definitely the class of the entire album in my opinion and although we know Who is washing away Gramps’ tears, who’ll wash away yours when the tune grabs you all about the spirit is another discussion altogether. MASSIVE tune. Having the unenviable task of trying to follow the vibes of Wash The Tears is the still LOVELY unity track All Together. This tune really goes to show a different side that isn’t necessarily so visible on the Morgan Heritage tunes, Gramps’ versatility when it comes the lyrical side of things. Often buried in the background and used to reinforce things more so than to introduce topics, Gramps really shines on All Together and the only thing that it reinforces is the fact that Gramps has crazy skills which is clear straight away from the opener. Another strong piece. Sending out the opening of Gramps Morgan’s 2 Sides Of My Heart Vol. 1 is the rather corny sounding and corny titled Don’t Cry For Jamaica which, despite its rather clichéd foundation, will take all of about half a spin through to grow on you. TRUST ME! The tune is BIG! The song kind of personifies Jamaica as a special woman in Gramps’ life and although it builds nicely throughout its playing time, that rather simple sound and approach never waivers too much if any at all (despite a later infusing of a backup singer) as Gramps gives an EPIC testimonial of the greatest place on earth (and Happy belated Independence Day).
Keeping the surprises going on 2 Sides is the fact that it is sans any definitive collaborations with any other Morgans. However, filling in for the fam are VERY capable artists indeed. The first is none other than Reggae Superstar Buju Banton who joins his good friend Gramps Morgan on the much talked about Power Of Prayer (aka Sweet Hour of Prayer). I was actually surprised (again) that they decided to go on such a tune but the results are SPECTACULAR and if Wash The Tears didn’t wear your ass out, Power Of Prayer will definitely finish the job! Big tune. Also present (unsurprisingly) is the Reggae remix for Therapy, the tune Gramps did alongside the aforementioned India Arie. I’ve always had kind of neutral feeling to the tune but this lick definitely got a rise out of me as more than average and pretty close to a big tune and if I keep listening to it, I’m sure it’ll reach that point as well. I didn’t get very far on 2 Sides before noticing that there were very few, if any at all, merely average tunes on the album and a very nice level of quality control was being exercised on the project. Check the cool Hold On. The tune is very inspirational (and has one of the best choruses on the album altogether) as it exerts people to maintain their strength in the eyes of (very tangible) bad situations and occurrences. Time is another corny sounding tune which will grow on you quite quickly and, again, you better have the tissue somewhere close because the vibes are HEAVY on the tune which, in subject matter at least, has a very urgent message but the vibes are so damn SWEET. I HOPE that that message gets through but it’ll be a might attentive listener who can get through the niceness to holdfast to or even get to the message AT ALL. The jilted lover piece Lonely is an immediate winner, armed with the WICKED punch line, “Lonely is the only friend I know since the day she left”. Building on a stretch of relationship tunes in the middle of the 2 Sides Of My Heart is the LOVELY vibes of Hush. I don’t even rate the tune as one of the album’s finest but that riddim backing this thing is GORGEOUS and, to his credit, Gramps pushes a rather nice and CLASSY vibes for it also. And For One Night definitely keeps that vibe going but it tops Hush and not by a small amount. For One Night is one of the better tunes on the album and really if it keeps growing on me as it has been for the better part of a week, it may someday be the second best tune altogether in my opinion. If it does get that high it will have to leap over both the POUNDING Roll Call and Where Has Mama Gone. ESPECIALLY Roll Call which is a damn near MAMMOTH tune from Gramps. It also has a sound which isn’t too much unlike what Morgan Heritage is known for and (surprisingly again) I rather like it when its just him alone and I definitely like it on Roll Call. The final stretch of tunes on the album keeps the niceness going ESPECIALLY with Always & Forever, a tune livicated to slain South Afrikan Reggae superstar Lucky Dube. Gramps movingly asks the question at the beginning of the tune, “What could he have done?”. Boy! I tell you if that doesn’t get your eyes watering then go find another type of music to listen to and another blog to read! Surprisingly (duh) included is the ‘sweet’ One In A Million, Gramps’ recent drop on Kemar McGregor’s DIVINE Sweet Riddim . That sets the stage for the closer, the rather unusual sounding Higher In Love, on which Gramps does his best impression of Barry White (or is it Lloyd Brown???). Regardless of the source of the inspiration of the style of the tune (which is probably neither of those artists), I’m sure both would like it, as do I, as will you. Kind of like the album in general.
Overall, definitely I’m recommending Gramps Morgan’s 2 Sides Of My Heart Vol. 1 to pretty much ANY fan of modern Reggae at any stage. I definitely can see the album ‘taking off’ amongst the same core of fans who have so loyally (and successfully) supported Morgan Heritage for the better part of the last decade and a half. I was actually kind of disappointed that VP Records didn’t pick up the distribution for the album (although I suspect that given the fact that his manager, Shane Brown, is signed to the label, they might be interested in Peter’s inevitable album) in one way or another but Dada Son has apparently done quite a good job in promoting it thus far. Again, I would also stress the quality of 2 Sides to fans maybe like myself who aren’t exactly in love with Morgan Heritage’s music. There is something VERY strange going on here and if this continues, when the Morgans link back to release this supposedly MAMMOTH SUPER ALBUM, they’ll have even more fans than before. Like me. Big album, well done.
Rated 4.50/5 stars
Dada Son Entertainment
2009
