Coming Soon Vol. 18

Coming Soon

Busy Signal - “D.O.B.” [VP Records]

Not going to say too much about this one (see the footnote), but definitely the biggest deal jumping off in the next couple of weeks or so is the fact that Dancehall star Busy Signal has a brand new album reaching, his third official international release, ”D.O.B.”, for VP Records. Big release here and having already become pretty well acquainted with it (halfway through the review), I can tell you that it definitely lives up to the big name and the big expectations. Busy Signal has become an even more interesting artist over the past couple of years or so and when combined with his already incendiary level of talent makes for one very colourful album to say the least.

Releases on July 13
{Review coming on Tuesday, thus no potential rating}

Gyptian - “Hold You” [VP Records]

As if the largest Caribbean music label on the planet didn’t have enough things on their plate (and even though I want to, I’ll resist the temptation to run down the ‘murderer’s row’ of releases they’ve had going in the last two months or so), here comes what will probably be one of their biggest commercial releases of the year as an extremely reenergized Gyptian drops what is easily one of the most anticipated albums of 2010, ”Hold You”. This one figures to grab more than a bit of ‘mainstream’ attention as the tune after which it is named has well exceeded all expectations and continues to. Now he’ll have to make it so that everyone who shows up for the album doesn’t walk away having essentially paid an album’s price for one tune. As I always say, I’m not the biggest fan of the singer in the world, but if ever there were a time for him to put his best foot forward, it was on this album and I’m well interested to seeing what Gyptian has come up with this time around (especially on the tune ‘Leave Us Alone‘).

Releases on July 20
Potential Rating: 4.25/5

“Bobo Revolution Vol. 2” [Greensleeves]

As much as I most certainly am looking forward to (finishing) ”D.O.B.” and ”Hold You”, coming from the VP camp, I’m even more excited to get my hands on this potentially HUGE compilation, the second edition of the big ”Bobo Revolution” piece from Frenchie and company at Maximum Sound. The first edition was EXCELLENT, one of the best compilations of the past few years definitely and with the WINNING lineup of artists on this release, you know it’s going to be of similar successes. Although missing is Natty King (who I believe had one of the biggest scores from the first disc), ‘newcomers’ to the series like Tarrus Riley, I-Octane, Peetah Morgan and even Johnny Clarke make up well for his absence. And of course there’s no shortage of the big guns like Luciano, Sizzla, Capleton, Anthony B, Jah Mason and Chezidek to ‘round things out’. One of the biggest compilations of the year to be certain here.

Releases on July 20
Potential Rating: 4.75/5

“Dancehall Glory” [Ragga Force]

Thought that I’d briefly mention this cool little release via Ragga Force as it . . . Well it’s just a few (actual) Dancehall tunes thrown together and it’s nice. Decorating the roster of this "Dancehall Glory" are names like Wayne Wonder, Sizzla, General Degree and even Super Cat (who checks in with the very popular ‘Scalp Dem’) amongst a few much lesser known lights (including Chappa Jan who is a big artist from out of St. Ann!). I can’t actually imagine that it’s strong all the way through, but definitely on the digital side, picking and choosing on this one might be a pretty good time (oh, and that's probably THE worst cover I've seen all year).

Releases on July 15
Potential Rating 3/5

Simon Splinter - “Life Is a Serious Thing” [Splinter Music/Zojak Worldwide]

Simon Splinter is/was a very talented member of Sizzla’s Judgment Yard camp and following Joseph Shepherd and that other guy whose name I forgot and am too lazy to look up, he’s now taken up and released his debut album (Congo Judah was the other I believe), ”Life Is A Serious Thing”. Unlike the two other artists, fans will be able to grab this one up on more usual and popular channels (outside of Judgment Yard’s website). Splinter also featured on the recent ”Caveman Culture Sound Vol. 1” release and has just, in general, been taking a higher and higher profile leading up to his album. What you can expect is a very interesting release from an artist who has a very ’rough around the edges; type of feel to him. At times Simon Splinter sounds like Perfect and at others he sounds like Josie Mel a bit and it’s all on this very nice old school type of cadence. I’m still working on this one and I’m certainly not saying it’s anything special, but something about it is very strong.

Releases Soon (if not already)
Potential Rating: 3.5/5

Shaggy & Alaine - ‘For Yur Eyez Only’ [K-Licious Music/Zojak Worldwide]

And lastly is a big tune from two big artists and a real big man behind the boards as superstar Shaggy links up with the incomparable Alaine on ‘For Yur Eyez Only’ for K-Licious, the man himself, Tony Kelly. Alaine has a nice stack of hits behind her, Shaggy . . . Pretty much goes without saying and Kelly only seems to get out of bed when the biggest of big projects come calling so this one is on a pretty much ‘can’t miss’ basis. It’s incredibly catchy and infectious and it is going to continue to do very very big things.

Releases Soon (if not already)
Rated: 4/5

In Stores Now

“Soca Dons & Divas“ [Faluma]

Maybe you are just that much of a Soca head that every name on this FIFTY ONE track set will be a big deal to you and if that’s the case, then I’m pretty jealous and more power to you my friend. As for the rest of us, however, ”Soca Dons & Divas” is thankfully packed with more than enough of the ‘usual suspects’ from out of Barbados to keep our interests and to grab them up in the first place. Alison Hinds, Blood (who I think may’ve produced the set), Biggie Irie, Contone, Sickey, Statement and Peter Ram are just a few names highlighting this MASSIVE set sent on by the keepers of the rocket launcher, the ever present Faluma.

Nadine Sutherland - ‘Cougar’ [Jah Snowcone]

I’m kind of in a weird position here because I don’t really like this song, I think it’s kind of trendy and corny and . . .Yeah (but that riddim is ridiculous), but I love this artist, can never get enough of Nadine Sutherland and the tune, ‘Cougar’ has definitely been a nice sized hit for her. Of course you know the story of the somewhat older woman pursuing the younger man and Sutherland took that idea and ran with it into a hit. Good for her and hopefully it’ll lead to an album in the future, should it continue to grow as one of the biggest unfortunate situations on Reggae shelves is that Nadine Sutherland has literally been singing from 1467 and only has two albums (both are very good). So there you go - Listen to it, if you like pick it up (and if you don’t, play it for someone else). Biggup Nadine Sutherland every time.

Kes & Tessanne Chin - ‘Loving You’ [KES The Band & Tessanne Chin]

Didn’t see this one coming. Earlier this year the always welcomed Tessanne Chin linked up with that dude from Kes The Band (Kees . . . Something German sounding) and made one magical piece of romantic tune that did really big things in 'Loving You'. The song itself was pretty remote and random, so you didn’t really have much to go on as far as what would become of it (although the closest piece perhaps, ‘King & Queen’, from Alison Hinds and Richie Spice did also go this route), so I was SO happy to see that the artists had chosen, themselves to make the tune available for the masses worldwide. It’s a very lovely song, very clean and very romantic and it is Tessanne Chin (who really needs to come out and play more like this) so definitely give it a few spins.

“Reggae Gold 2010” [VP Records]

As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end. I thought that I’d remind the jaded and incredibly stubborn ass Reggae heads that the latest edition of the biggest compilation in the game, “Reggae Gold”, is out now. As usual, it’s most certainly going to appeal more to newer fans and that goes without saying (even though I just said it), but this year’s piece is rather easily one of the better of recent years and you’re going to find some nice things here which you probably don’t have on official form anywhere else. The main highlight is definitely ‘Slow Motion’ from Vybz Kartel (even though it’s been rerecorded) and Kartel does a double dip with his hit ‘Clarks’, a rather surprising entrant here, alongside Popcaan and Kim. Joining Kartel are nice unexpected pieces from the likes of Wasp, Konshens, Shaggy & Tessanne Chin and even Jr. Gong & Nas - featured alongside the far more expected names of Gyptian, Busy, Tarrus Riley, Etana, Romain Virgo, Mavado and Beres Hammond. Like you know, newer fans are going to like it more, but “RG2K10” isn’t a total waste for the hardcore heads.