Sean Paul - Stage One
Sean Paul - Stage One - VP Records/Hardwax
With the worldwide success of Sean Paul's Dutty Rock (2002) and The Trinity (2005) it only seems appropriate for VP and Hardwax to be re-releasing Stage One, Sean Paul's much overlooked debut released in 2000.
I'm
sure no-one here needs introducing to the likes of Sean Paul's music,
luckily this album is more landmark than introduction. It marks an
important time in dancehall, featuring rhythm tracks and production
from Tony 'CD' Kelly, Lloyd 'King Jammy' James, Steely & Clevie,
Jeremy
Harding, Louis 'Flabba' Malcolm, Richard 'Shams' Browne, Lloyd 'John
John' James Jr & Byron
Murray, all of which, alongside the 'deejays' have become some of the
biggest names in modern dancehall. This alliance with the big names and
especially Jeremy Harding brings high production quality along for the
ride, toppa top business. Its one of the things I've most appreciated
with all three albums.
Although
Sean's delivery has never been as hot as his contemporaries he has
forged an instantly recognisable style and an uncanny ability to write
hooks that are so damn catchy it hurts. When teamed with the likes of
Mr Vegas on tunes such as Hot Gal Today (Haffi Get Di Gal) and Tiger Bone you
have sure fire dancefloor killers, or fillers as it may be. It's a well
known fact amongst selectors that Sean Paul's tunes never fail to move
a crowd, this album is no exception. It contains so many of the tunes
that broke the deejay into the big time - Infiltrate, Deport Them being the first that come to mind.
I think this is a shining example of how a Dancehall album should
be when an artist is on form. The tunes are strong, words such as
'proper bashment business' come to mind and despite this man's
commercial success there's not a hint of pandering to the masses to
acheive it, no US collaborations in vain attempts to 'cross over' here.
I think the only small criticism I have with Stage One is the dubious addition of skits throughout. I find these quite irritating, I mean with titles such as Examples of Things Not To Do In Bed,
its pretty easy to exclude what you don't like. In this day and age who
doesn't delete the tracks they don't like on an album? It will still
leave you with 18 or so wicked cuts.
Stage One
is still a great album to pick up if you (like me) missed it first time
around - its also the first time it has been released in Australasia
proper so its a less likely find inna bargain bin, cop dat!
Grafta
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Comments
youre rite those skitts are annoying especially on vinyl
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