CD Reviews - Various Artists, Soca

D-LIFE Presents Extreme Soca Volume 1 – Various Artists

Release Date: March 20, 2007

Label: Penalty Recordings

Genre: Soca

D-LIFE Presents Extreme Soca Volume 1 CD/DVD brings together some of today’s biggest soca stars in a smoking hot two-disc compilation of sight and sound. D-Life, one of New York’s top DJs, has assembled a wicked collection of hit tunes and videos by many of the biggest names in the soca industry. The 15-track CD gets off to a blazing start with the 2006 Soca Chutney Song of the Year, Don’t Stop by the multi-talented Shurwayne Winchester. This chart topping smash hit also racked up awards including Favorite Groove Soca – Male, and Overall Male Soca Artist of the Year at the fourth Annual Soca Awards, and garnered the Groovy Soca Monarch title for Shurwayne Winchester. Some songs make a big splash then quickly fade away, but not this one. Glistening like a sparking jewel surrounded by rocks and clay in the midday sun, Don’t Stop sets itself apart from the ordinary. A brilliant fusion of genres wrapped in a smooth danceable rhythm, what’s not to love about this masterful performance? Don’t Stop is destined to become a classic.

Trinidad is the birthplace of soca, and the Trinis rule on Extreme Soca. As if Shurwayne isn’t enough, we’re also treated to an array of stars including H2O Phlo (High On The Dance Floor), KMC (3 Miles), and Candy Hoyte (Wok Up). Then there’s the beautiful and talented soca diva Destra Garcia and her massive hit Jumpin’. Just listening, you feel like you’re in the middle of a carnival celebration. Bunji Garlin, the two time Soca Monarch, serves up social commentary in Bomb Song. This one has a jump n wave feel mixed with a message worth listening to. With so many great tracks to choose from it can be hard picking favorites. But one that does stand out from the crowd is Postman’s Horn For The Carnival. The Postman delivers in a big way with this 2007 hit. Horn For The Carnival is the one that’s going to take his career to new highs. It’s one of those songs that gets in your head and you just can’t get it out! Plan to hit the repeat button on your CD player, you can’t listen to this one just once.

Trinis may be all over Extreme Soca but this is by no means a Trini CD. St. Vincent, the would-be kings, once again proves that they’re a force to be reckoned with in the world of soca. Coming on strong, we have Bomani with Wet. Excellent production and musical arrangement along with smooth vocals and a laid-back melody. The horn section takes you back in time to the days before there was so much hip-hop influence in the music. You can listen to this one all day long without ever growing tired of it. This is simply a great song. The Nookie man Jamesy P is here too. This time teaming up with Skarpyon on their 2006 St. Vincent Roadmarch winning tune Leave Me Alone. This is definitely one of my favorites. Leave Me Alone is one of those songs you just can’t leave alone. You’ll want to play it again and again. And finally there’s St. Vincent’s most famous son, Kevin Lyttle. Here he teams up with Problem Child on the energetic Brock Out. Kevin just keeps the hits coming. You da man Kevin. You Da Man!!!

What soca compilation can be complete without the Bajans. And representing Barbados, we have the big man Biggie Irie with Nah Goin’ Home. Already a massive Crop Over hit, and bringing home the title of Groovy Soca Monarch 2007 for Biggie, the tremendously popular Nah Goin’ Home gets new life with the Roadmix version featured here. Just can’t keep a good song down! Countryman Peter Ram teams up with Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel for a remix of his big hit Woman By My Side.

A nation that often gets overlooked on soca compilations is the British Virgin Islands. Not so here. Named the Best New Artist at the 13th Annual Reggae/Soca Music Awards, Elvis White represents with their hit Don’t Stop.

Need more? Check out the DVD. The Queen of Soca, Alison Hinds, shows why she’s the undisputed Queen with her enticing Roll It video. And Shurwayne’s back with his imaginative Dead or Alive. If you like soca, you’ll love Extreme Soca Volume 1.

Still not convinced? Click here for D-life’s Extreme commercial.

Track Listing:

1. Don’t Stop – Shurwayne Winchester

2. Gone – Juicy

3. Wet – Bomani

4. Woman By My Side (remix) – Peter Ram feat. Vybz Kartel

5. Work Meh – Darnella

6. High On The Dance Floor – H2O Phlo

7. Nah Goin’ Home (roadmix) – Biggie Irie

8. Leave Me Alone – Jamesy P. & Skarpyon

9. Don’t Stop – Elvis White

10. 3 Miles – KMC feat. Bounty Killer

11. Horn For The Carnival – Postman

12. Wok Up – Candy Hoyte

13. Jumpin’ Destra

14. Brock Out – Kevin Lyttle & Problem Child

15. Bomb Song – Bunji Garlin

Overall Rating: 4

Glow '04 The Soundtrack - Various Artists

Release Date: February 17, 2004

Label: Island Style

Glow '04 The Soundtrack is another top-notch compilation CD from executive producer/composer Ian Wiltshire. The 17-track CD contains an impressive list of tunes sure to please; including top-10 hits such as Rikki Jai's Chutney Glow and Carl Jacobs' and Roger George's number-one hit Sugar Island.

Carl Jacobs and Roger George open the CD with Sugar Island (Brown Sugar Mix), a glowing tribute to the land of TnT, reminiscent of last year's mega-hit Trini 2 de Bone. Carl Jacobs and daughters Carla and Trini Jacobs are all over The Soundtrack. The trio team-up on their big hit tune Dad Daughter. Kess and Trini Jacobs perform brilliantly on Not Doing That. It's not often that a love song makes you laugh, but Not Doing That does just that. This one is sure to stir the imagination and put a smile on your face too.

Trini Jacobs has never been better than on Love Is (Lover & Best Friend). This one has a knockout dance rhythm, outstanding lead and background vocals, and great lyrics too. A fantastic tune, Love Is (Lover & Best Friend) is without a doubt one of the hottest tunes on Glow '04. Songs like this are sure to propel Trini Jacobs' career into the stratosphere.

Carnival Saga by the Roy Cape All-Stars has an energetic rhythm that'll make you want to pump up the volume. Over You by Charli, has a nice r&b flavor that should appeal to a wide audience. Ever since Anslem Douglas "let the dogs out" all those years ago, he's continued to produce quality music and Rise is no exception. It's another great tune, this time with a serious message, by a great singer who doesn't get nearly enough recognition. Jungle Fever by Tricia Lee Kellshall & Audie Hewitt is simply fantastic. The arrangement of the music, background vocals, etc., all come together to make a great song. How can you not love it?

The final track, a cover version of Kevin Lyttle's Turn Me On, is the one dark spot on an otherwise glowing CD. This one should've been left out, but 16 winners out of 17 tracks is not bad. Overall, two thumbs up for Glow '04 the Soundtrack.

Track Listing:

Sugar Island (Brown Sugar Mix) - Carl Jacobs & Roger George

Not Doing That (Eve's Version) - Trini Jacobs & Kess

Sugar Shack - Roy Cape All-Stars

Love Is (Lover & Best Friend) (Popalypso Remix) - Trini Jacobs feat. Machel

Lay Your Love On Me - Imana

Carnival Saga - Roy Cape All-Stars

Dad Daughter (Favourite) - Carl, Carla & Trini Jacobs

Over You - Charli

Just Want To Dance - Imana

10.

Not Doing That (Adam's Version) - Kess & Trini Jacobs

11.

Jungle Fever - Tricia Lee Kellshall & Audie Hewitt

12.

Chutney Glow - Rikki Jai

13.

Rise (U.N. Remix) - Anslem Douglas

14.

Sugar Island (Granulated Mix) - Carl Jacobs & Roger George

15.

Love Is (Lover & Best Friend) - Trini Jacobs

16.

Lay Your Love On Me - Imana feat. 3Suns (Treason)

17.

Turn Me On - RMX CRU feat. Ebon-E plus Ambush

Overall Rating: 4/5

Glow '03 The Soundtrack Various Artists

Does it get any better than this? Glow '03 the Soundtrack, the third installment in the popular Glow series, is a superb CD. The opening track is the Trinidadian anthem Trini 2 De Bone. No doubt, this one is sure to become a time-honored classic. Lyrics you can feel along with a carefully crafted smooth rhythm and flawless production combine with outstanding vocals to make a song of exceptional quality. David Rudder and Carl Jacobs perform to their very best. Writer/producer Ian Wiltshire along with co-producer Nicholas Branker are to be commended for their exceptional work. You don't have to be a Trini to love this one 2 de bone.

Next up is Scrunter joined by Treason on a remix of his big hit Jumbie. This is a terrific song. Remixes often don't measure up to the original recordings but this one is extremely well done. You'll want to listen to this one over and over and over again. Remixes are the order of the day on Glow '03. The third track features Ninja on a remix of Crazy's controversial Qualified Cashier. The song was nearly banned because of what it sounds like he's saying. Crazy's bizarre sense of humor has a way of creating controversy, and in this case, a very memorable song. The original version of Qualified Cashier also appears as track 11.

Anslem Douglas teams up with soca diva Alison Hinds on Anything/I Will Survive. Anslem's powerful vocals are sure to stir the emotions while the driving dance beat will put a wine in your waist. This song is fabulous. It's definitely one of the best on Glow '03. Trini Jacobs' big hit Sexy Ways is another standout track. The original version, as well as a remix with Kevin Lyttle, both appear. Another track you're sure to enjoy is Queen ah de Dancehall by Oscar B.

Trinidad Carnival may be over, but you can keep the spirit alive all year long with Glow '03. Pick up a copy today. You'll be glad you did.

Track Listing:

1. Trini 2 de Bone - David Rudder & Carl Jacobs

9. Sexy Ways - Trini Jacobs

2. Jumbie Scrunter - feat. Treason

10. Queen ah de Dancehall - Oscar B.

3. Qualified Cashier - Crazy feat. a.k.a. Ninja

11. Qualified Cashier - Crazy

4. Sexy Ways - Trini Jacobs & Kevin Lyttle

12. Soca Taliban - Bobo & Agony

5. The Wedding Song - Glen Washington

13. Not Me - Roots feat Natalie Yorke

6. Soca Taliban - Bo Bo & Bunji Garlin

14. Turn Me On - Kevin Lyttle,

7. Mammy - Adrian Clarke

Alison Hinds & Nadia Madoo

8. Anything/I Will Survive - Anslem Douglas/Alison Hinds 15. (Hidden track) Sexy Ways

Overall Rating: 4/5

Caribbean Party Rhythms 7

Label: Rituals Music

Genre: Soca, Rapso

Rituals Music has produced yet another outstanding soca/rapso compilation with Caribbean Party Rhythms 7 (CPR 7). This seventh annual installment of Carnival hits gets off to an excellent start with the Andre Tanker/3 Canal smash hit Ben Lion. This cleverly written tune not only moves your feet, but gives you something to think about too. The closing track is a remix of Militant's Latin-flavored number one hit Hot & Groovy. In between is an assortment of 13 other Carnival season tunes that will leave you wanting more.

Veteran claypsonian Preacher is in fine form with My Dulahin, one of the more outstanding tracks on CPR 7. Monday, a celebration of the spirit of J'Ouvert, by Black Lyrics featuring Ozy Wonder is sure to make you "wine and have a good time." This one is a real gem. Other notable tunes include Super P's Peeping and the Ward One remake of Kevin Little's number-one hit Turn Me On.

Producer Samuel Jack leaves his mark on five tracks including Black Lyrics' Monday, 3 Canal's Clear D Way, and Danger by Maximus Dan (known as Maga Dan before Carnival 2002). Omari Ashby, in-house producer for Rituals Records and half of the duo Kindred, lends his production skills to three tracks. Shake It Up by the legendary rapso artist Brother Resistance, Wanna Rock by the hot girl group Fate, and Kindred's Respect That all have the Omari golden touch. I especially love Respect That, not only for its outstanding sound, but also for its excellent lyrics. This one is really worth listening to. Hats off to both Samuel Jack and Omari Ashford for outstanding production work.

CPR 7 is well worth adding to your CD collection.

Track Listing

1. Ben Lion - Andre Tanker feat. 3 Canal 9. Danger - Maximus Dan

2. Turn Me On - Ward One 10. Again Again - Sugar Daddy

3. Peeping - Super P 11. Discipline - Octave

4. My Dulanin - Preacher 12. Shake It Up - Brother Resistance

5. Fever - Ward One 13. Respect That - Kindred

6. The Naughty Thing - Gailann 14. Wanna Rock - Fate

7. Monday - Black Lyrics feat. Ozy Wonder 15. Hot & Groovy ($hok mix) - Mititant

8. Clear D Way - 3 Canal

Overall Rating: 5/4

Caribbean Party Rhythms 6

Caribbean Party Rhythms 6 is the sixth annual compilation of Carnival hits from Rituals Music. The 15-track CD contains hits by some of the best-known recording artists in the Caribbean including Super Blue, Rupee, 3 Canal, Denyse Plummer and others. Up-and-comers such as Destra and Fate are included too.

The opening track, Party Start, features soca legend Super Blue together with hot new star Bunji Garlan - the perfect way to get your Caribbean party started. Super Blue also does Tribute to Sundar ("Wave Your Hand & Wine Around"), one of the high points of the CD.

Track 6, Heat In The Place is 3 Canal at their best. The rapso kings are off da hook! After hearing Heat In The Place, I ran out to buy their Heroes of Wha? CD. One copy of this hot tune just isn't enough. And if all that Heat In The Place gives you Insomnia, then stay up chip with Rupee all night long. The man who makes you want to Jump now gives you Insomnia. Another incredible hit from the former Coalishun member and triple Road March King, Rupee.

The chart-topper Take Away by Touch featuring Godfrey Dublin is included too. How can you not love that one? Up-and-comer Destra is featured with the Roy Cape All Stars on the very popular Tremble It. We can look forward to more great tunes from this soca diva in the future.

Black Lyrics are in fine form on Breakaway. The unique sound of Militant on Hot and Groovy will leave you wanting more. This is a great CD.

Of the 15 tracks on Caribbean Party Rhythms 6, 13 are winners but the other two just didn't do it for me. Blue Ventures' remake of Jump doesn't measure up to Rupee's original version - not even close. Blue Ventures has done some outstanding work in the past (remember The River), but their version of Jump is definitely not one of their better efforts. You might want to jump to the next track. Another disappointment is Pressure Me by Fate. I fell in love with Fate's Winnin Tune on last year's Caribbean Party Rhythms 5. Without a doubt, it's one of the best tunes on the CD and it left me anxious to hear more from this phenomenal new group. Expecting the same outstanding quality again this year, I was rather disappointed with Pressure Me. It's a good song, but it's nothing to get excited about.

My biggest complaint about Caribbean Party Rhythms 6 is the tasteless cover art. Is it necessary for the model to go topless? What is Rituals Music selling, soca or sex? If the music is not good enough to sell the CD, then who needs it? Let's hope that the cover art, if you can call it that, won't be even more tacky or tasteless on next year's volume 7. That will only hurt what is an otherwise excellent CD.

Track Listing

1. Party Start - Super Blue and Bunji Garlin 8. De Romans - Burning Flames

2. Tremble It - Roy Cape All Stars featuring Destra 9. Take Away - Touch feat. Godfrey Dublin

3. Jump Blue - Ventures featuring Sponge 10. Breakaway - Black Lyrics

4. Tribute To Sundar - Super Blue 11. Pressure Me - Fate

5. Doh Take It On (A Horn Is A Horn) 12. Hot And Groovy - Militant

- Roy Cape All Stars featuring Derrick Seales 13. Wining - General Grant

6. Heat In The Place - 3 Canal 14. Want Your Body - Ginja

7. Insomnia - Rupee 15. Nah Leaving - Denyse Plummer

Overall Rating: 5/4

All CD Reviews written by:

William L. Nowell