Shaggy
Boombastic (Virgin) (star) (star) (star)
Even though Shaggy’s sophomore, 14-track album rides ragamuffin hip-hop rhythms, “Boombastic” indulges in pop pleasures through and through. The Jamaican-born ex-Marine who brought us “Big Up” and “O, Carolina” continues his emphasis on prancing. He rides bubbly percolations of music with his serrated voice, sandwiched, sliced and stirred-up in the middle of Studio One harmonies and bright instrumentation. The title song, “Boombastic,” is a fitful thumping, grooving plaything; it continues Shaggy’s many pop pleasures, including his deployment of classic melodies from Jamaican folk rhythms and classic hits such as “Train is Coming” and “Day Oh” (popularized by Harry Belafonte as the “Banana Boat Song”). “Finger Smith” has clever carnal overtones even if it could become a cartoon pick-pocket’s anthem while “Gal Yu a Pepper” is more overt in praising hotness. Model-yodeller and long-time collaborator Rayvon brings sweet trilling to “Summer Time” while the legendary Ken Boothe, Wayne Wonder and rapper Grand Puba also make guest appearances.
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Ratings: Excellent (Star) (Star) (Star) (Star) Good (Star) (Star) (Star) Fair (Star) (Star) Poor (Star)
