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...mantra of the album is the refrain of its second track, "Good Life," where the women incant in a breezy calypso lilt, "I'm livin' a good life, no more trouble in sight." Beginning with their Calvin Coolidge duds on the CD cover, the ladies propound a hip-hop-capitalist work ethic throughout Brand New. Sure they are "Livin' good, like a Nubian Queen should," but only because, as honorary member Spinderella puts it later in the track, "I busted my ass to get to the cream...
With a funky mix of dance hall reggae and sugar pop, Mr. Boombastic (a.k.a. Shaggy) is back with a new CD, Midnite Lover. Shaggy has taken the concept of Jamaican reggae to another level by mixing heavily constructed R&B, rap and heavy bass beats. Radio D.J.'s love to play it, the kids on the street try to imitate it and the club floors pound with Shaggy's honey-coated voice. Midnite Lover does not stray from the typical Shaggy tradition; it works because it is Shaggy, rather than just another Jamaican reggae artist who is attempting to capitalize...
...next track is "Perfect Song" featuring Maxi Priest. This is arguably one of most danceable songs on the CD. In blaringly typical Jammin' 94.5 form, the tune manages to combine elements of rap (yikes!), stylized, manufactured background beats and Maxi Priest, doing what he does best--crooning to the ladies. It is the type of melody that one's 13-year-old sister will definitively memorize and manage to sing along to every time (and that will be every five minutes) it is played. "Perfect Song" will be played at every party because it will definitely keep one booty-shaking...
...associated with the raw, sensual guitars and edgy lyrics that characterized music of the late '60s and early '70s. Well, gentle listener, you are wrong. Yes, that is Shaggy doing a re-make of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" (actually, he has two versions on the CD--the regular radio mix and an "urban re-mix"). Shaggy has committed sacrilege by performing the song and it is not any good. Presumably one of the worse songs on the CD, Shaggy has taken it upon himself to do a remix of this classic song with vocals by a singer...
Midnite Lover is not a hard-core rap CD intent upon making a social or political commentary, nor is it the work of a master crooner doing his imitation of early '90s Boys to Men. Midnite Lover is simply Shaggy doing what he does best--entertaining. The songs are mostly good, some great and some, like "Peace of My Heart," absolutely detestable. Shaggy has become rich off of his ability to promote his sexuality and appeal to the ladies and my guess is that he will be doing it for years to come...