SHOK WAVE is your weekly new REGGAE music blog. SHOK WAVE finds music that is out there in the form of Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Ska, Dub, Reggae Rock & anything else musical with a Caribbean origin and in any language.
Here is what we found this week.......Enjoy!
Instead of not doing a blog this week we decided to list a bunch of good songs that released. I did not find anything great just good. Maybe this should be the start of an additional playlist? What do you think?
REGGAE
Jahdan Blakkamore "Upward Spiral" (deluxe edition)
Time and transition can transform anyone. On his latest album, Jahdan Blakkamore has gone from a DJ ( as in rapping style of reggae known more as dancehall) to singjay (which is a combination of a DJ & singer) to straight singer on his new album "Upward Spiral." I like the change it sounds like he has mastered the singing. You can hear it throughout the album. Blakkamore has great guests in several songs with Snoop Dogg, Akae Beka and his best combination is with Biga Ranx on 'Sky Scrapers.' His best songs come solo because he has the writing skills to prove it & finds his best melodies yet. They come in the form of getting high in 'Red Ites,' 'Mek It Play' and 'Take Time' on the 'Perfect Storm' riddim, shows his love for JAH. Being from Georgetown Guyana, 'Mash Down Georgetown becomes his anthem for the GT crew and showcases his voice with his skills of touching on the rapid rapping. It's a good segue to 'Amazing Grace,' which goes off into a tangent of straying in life to coming around & showing gratefulness for life and is more of a singjay tune. Which leads to the last song of preference which is a dancehall tune 'Spotlight' and can also be a anthem for the GT massive. There's several dubs in case you like that style of muzik from I Grade and a few different mixes of several songs to add to the 20 track album (hint at the name deluxe). A majority of the album is singing songs. After reviewing our review the best songs end up being a variety of his styles. It turns out to be an even nicer album with this variety. It just has more of a singing vibe to the album.
Shaggy "CHRISTMAS IN THE ISLANDS"
This is by no means just a Shaggy Christmas album. This is an album with lots of great & talented guests and it's Caribbean music. I, personally, am not a big fan of Christmas albums. This one definitely has good music and good songs in reggae.
In fact, the album starts with its best song 'No Icy Christmas.' It goes further than that as it's the best song we have heard from Sanchez in a few years. The message is good, the melody is great and it's nice to hear Sanchez in his element.
'We Got Us' features OMI, Shensea & Shaggy so there's lots of talent on a poppy Afrobeats/poppy dancehall beat lots of pop, it can be good........sometimes & in this case, I think you need to decide. There's more pop & island vibes in 'Take You To The Cool,' 'Christmas In The Islands,' 'Catch Myself Some Rays' is straight island pop vibes & 'Holiday In Jamaica' is the albums first single and continues with that pop vibe, too.
'Have Yourself A Merry Christmas' is much more traditional in the spirit of Christmas & in the spirit of reggae with just Shaggy singing which shows he really has come into his own with singing. Evolving and growing like this will continue to be Shaggy's success.
'Raggamuffin Christmas' is for the dancehall fan with Bounty Killer, Jr Reid & Shaggy.
'12 Days of Christmas' is not the Christmas song you think, it's about loving you all '12 Days of Christmas' and it has a nice twist to it with a good vibe. It has a dancehall vibe to it too yet it's mostly a singing tune. I just can't figure out the singer. Can't figure out where Craigy T comes in except maybe towards the end. Two mysteries make it more interesting. One of my favorite songs on the album for sure.
Who 'Love When It's Christmas?" In this case it sounds like Shaggy's wife for the shopping, the parties and being in the islands, as mentioned in the last song 'I'll Be Home For Christmas.' It may only be a dream, at least being in Jamaica will be good, regardless of the reality of it. It's that Shaggy singing again.
This guy re-invents himself and can not die. Hear why so we say Gwaan Shaggy.
Ras Attitude "Warrior Status"
There was a time in the early 200's to 2010's that when a Virgin Island's reggae release came out, it had a sound & was very well received. It didn't matter who it was or what it was, as long as it came out of the VI, it had a good run. With the passing of Vaughn Benjamin, there has been a real void to fill that vibe. Now do not get me wrong, there is still plenty of talent, it just needs to be nurtured. Pressure has become a prodigal son and everything he has released has literally been fyah. His releases have been much more Jamaican sounding musically. Reemah has risen from the island as a female that is certainly making a good impression. Jah Man has returned to the scene and his has been the same sonics as Pressure. Cruz Rock is making a dent too. These are just the active ones at the moment.
"Warrior Status" has arrived with Ras Attitude at the helm and that VI sound has fully returned to the forefront of this album. It truly returns on the albums second track 'Green Gold Rush.' I love his delivery combined with that VI sound and the extra original melody on this one. Uh haaaa slurs the singer with an Attitude of a rastaman, who knows that 'love shall Rain, let it rain cuz hate gets washed away.' Babylon is a regular occurrence for the Ras and sometimes you have to plea with them as in 'Please Mr Officer,' let me smoke my herb in peace, I'm not troubling no one.'
'Quidamawi' sees the Attitude joined by Qshan Dia in the name of the king of kings, Jah Rastafari and in doing so he preaches to 'Read Up Your Bible.'
A real souljah never gives in to the oppressor, travels steady on their journey and their faith is strong. This is when they reach 'Warrior Status' A Attitude. This is why he can sing 'Jah Loves Me' and serves humbly in 'Paradise.'
We leave you with the ganja anthem 'Marijuana We Ah Bun.'
'Current Situation' has seen the Virgin Islands have had several set backs by way hurricanes, flooding and now a pandemic. So things have been a bit unsettled. Maybe we can get our sound back with all the time on our hands and hopefully there are more projects either in the pipes or releasing during this time. To help with the VI sound were Jah Mackie, Sajmoor, Drew Keys, Cristos DC & with mix & mastering from Tippy I. Just remember go out as far as you like, just stay within the Boondox circumference.
Papa Juggy 'Worry'
Twan Tee meets Oddy feat. Lois Dairi 'On The Road'
Real, downtempo roots reggae muzik. Not sure who is doing what, on the song 'On The Road,' it does sound good on this road of life.
Memoria 'Reggae Music'
SKA
Mento Buru ''East Bakersfield Christmas"
More Christmas music that sounds good. Surprised to hear not only one and now a second Christmas album that sounds good. This time it's new renditions of old songs. I am sure these have all been done a million times over, even in ska. The difference is all these new takes sound good & it's all on one collective album called 'East Bakersfield Christmas" from Bakersfield California's Mento Buru, which is two very early & originating sounds out of Jamaica that led the way to Ska. 29 years in the game, this is the first holiday season they are not playing out every day of the week so this album will hopefully fill the gap for their fans.
'Jingle Bell Rock' is an updated bouncing rendition of the 1957 Bobby Helms country-western classic set to an infectious Jamaican ska beat with new horn arrangement by saxophonist Paul Perez and smokin’ guitar solo by guitarist Sal Galindo.
'What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)' This iconic 1500s English instrumental folk ballad written by composer Richard Jones gets a real Jamaican syle reggae revision with a holiday twist featuring the Mento Buru horn section, with solos by keyboardist Jay Smith and trombonist Justin Kirk.
'Feliz Navidad' One of the first commercially successful Spanish songs in the US, it is “Merry Christmas” in Spanish from 1970, it's a hard driving, skanking version of another classic.
'The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)' Imagine Nat King Cole singing this one that he turned into a classic over a roots reggae riddim with a warm & sexy sax solo by Paul Perez.
'Donde Esta Santa Claus' has two versions one in Spanglish & the other in Spanish. The original 1958 Spanglish cha-cha-cha version by Augie Rios is given a fun, Latin ska treatment with Mento Buru consists of Matt Munoz, lead vocals, saxophone; Cesareo Garasa, drums; Caleb Moore, bass; Salvador Galindo, guitar; Jay Smith, keyboards; Paul Perez, saxophone; and Justin Kirk, trombone. Guest musicians: Brent Williams, trumpet; Chris Heasley, congas; guest background harmonies by Alisa Garasa and Robyn Dyer. Recorded by Pariecee McGriff at Triple Seven Recording in Bakersfield.
SOCA
Machel Montano 'High Life'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnzumhN5Y6E
KULCHA LATINO
Reggae A Semente 'Viva'
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