Mavado - Mr. Brooks...A Better Tomorrow [PA]

Artist:

Mavado

UPC:

054645184229

Description:

Personnel: Yanique Moodie (background vocals).
Editors: Paul Shields; Neil "Diamond" Edwards.
Photographer: Peter Rickards.
Dancehall reggae is nothing if not trend-based, and in 2008 the trend was for potty-mouthed, gun-talking DJs to suddenly strike intense, prayerful poses on their album covers, arrange their playlists into pseudo-suites, and give their albums pretentious, apocalyptic titles, as if to say "See how my gangsterish persona actually hides a deep-thinking spirituality." On Mavado`s latest, the album cover pose would be a little easier to take seriously if his praying hands weren`t dripping with platinum bling. Luckily, the music mostly focuses on groove rather than on ersatz spirituality; his singing and chatting are a bit uneven but mostly impressive, and he`s at his best when he`s at his most declamatory. The singing on "Every Situation" does little except detract from the powerfully booming rhythm, but when he eases into singjay mode on "On the Rock" things slide into place much more nicely. He`s even more assured on the militant steppers anthem "Gangster Don`t Play," and his sharp, reggaeton-flavored delivery on "Real Killer (No Chorus)" sounds like a respectful nod to Damien Marley. "Jailhouse" is surprisingly plaintive and actually quite touching, while "Money Changer" is a stark and powerful performance built on an uncharacteristically stripped-down rhythm. It`s not his masterpiece by any means, but Mr. Brooks...A Better Tomorrow does mark an interesting stage in Mavado`s musical development. ~ Rick Anderson

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. David`s Psalm - (featuring Dudley "Grincha" Excell)
2. Every Situation
3. On the Rock
4. So Blessed
5. So Special
6. Life of a G
7. Welcome to the Armegedeon - (featuring Dudley "Grincha" Excell)
8. Gangster Don`t Play
9. Real Killer (No Chorus)
10. Chiney K
11. Jailhouse
12. Don`t Worry
13. Money Changer
14. Money
15. In di Car Back
16. Which Gal
17. Overcome

Album Information

Release Date:

03/02/2009

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Reggae

Subgenre:

Dancehall/Ragga

Label:

VPD

Producer:

S. McGregor; Craig Harrisingh; Tre James; Linton "T.J." White; David Harrisingh; John "FX" Crawford; Lloyd James; Shane Brown; Neil "Diamond" Edwards; Neil "Diamond" Edwards

Catalog Number:

VPCD 1842

Original Release Year:

2009

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Guest Artist:

Dudley `Grincha` Excell

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