Buy it used...
07/16/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"REVIEW OF "THESE ISLANDS" FROM A CASUAL LISTENER: OK, here's as honest and straightforward as I can be on this album: if you must buy it, get it as cheap as possible. Only dedicated fans of Bolivar should pay full price for this album. I just bought it, looking for some fun island reggae and calypso. I deeply regret that I did not do more research on the artist and album before the purchase. There is a reason that Amazon does not offer any sound clips on this album..it's awful!! It is very low-budget and cheaply produced. If you put this disk in someone's player without them knowing what it was, they would guess that it is some drunk college kid from Queens doing a demo tape in his garage with his Yamaha keyboard. There seem to be no live horns and only a little bit of guitar as the other live instrument besides the synthesizer. The artist is a "one-man band" who sings over a drum machine with a tentative nature that suggests maybe he is not familiar with his own material. This lack of sincerity or feeling is what seperates the masters (the great Marley for example) from the guys who play for tips out by the poolside at beach resorts on Sundays. This disc is a curiousity at best, just one of those odd quirks that usually finds itself into the back of the closet or under the car seat to live in darkness and dust. Sure, you may have had good intentions thinking of buying it..but do yourself a favor, if you are looking for reggae or calypso, stick with Marley and the masters. Or for some jazz with a tropical flavor, try Luis Conte / Black Forest...an obscure artist but a pleasant surprise. Good luck and Happy listening!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1