Search - Bushman :: Better Place

A BETTER ALBUM, PLEASE

home-body | northern california,usa | 11/28/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"BUSHMAN is often compared to Luciano or Dennis Brown, however accurate this may be; these comparisons are unfair because they don't emphasize his own talent. BUSHMAN has versatility and a vocal range that, to these ears, surpasses those to whom he is often compared. His husky, resonant baritone voice can swoop and soar far beyond the clouds.BUSHMAN is one of my favorite artists. His debut album, "NYAH MAN CHANT" is always finding its way on to my CD player. Critics have praised his first release and went absolutely crazy over his second release, "TOTAL COMMITMENT." On his third release, 2000's "A BETTER PLACE," BUSHMAN struggles to maintain the potential promised on his first 2 albums. Unfortunately, BUSHMAN along with the British production team, Stingray, doesn't deliver the goods. "A BETTER PLACE" is not a bad album, but when compared to his last two releases, it just doesn't stand up.From listening to the first few bars of the opening track, "LOVE WILL TURN YOU AROUND," I was aware that BUSHMAN was stretching himself thin by attempting to appeal to a larger market. This non-dancehall, weak attempt at R&B is both smarmy and disappointing. Track 2, "DOESN'T MATTER" is only a slight improvement, with its subject matter concerning the healing power of music. The song is dancehall but the only thing it has in common with reggae is the snare drum accenting the 3rd beat of each measure. It was not until I first heard the 3rd track on the album; "GANGSTER LIFE" was I reminded of why BUSHMAN is a brilliant artist. It takes "GANGSTER LIFE" to kick start the album. The laid back music with its use of a percussive triangle and a violin playing, "The Theme from the Godfather," is the perfect backdrop for this gritty song as BUSHMAN sings, "Gangsters are living high, like they wanna touch the sky, they don't care if another man live__ or die." This song alone is worth the price of admission. Other material on the album includes spiritual themes such as "HIGHER" and "ONLY JAH," while "YOU GOT ME GOING" concerns the topic of a cheating lover. BUSHMAN takes the topics he sings about seriously and with sincerity but sometimes this comes at a price. The song, "MAMA" is almost laughable. The lyrics sound stale as he talks over the song's intro, "Throughout the years you've given me your undivided attention," he says, "You've support me through all my adversaries..." BUSHMAN sounds like he's reading from a Hallmark greeting card. Don't get me wrong, writing a song about one's mom is a wonderful idea, but BUSHMAN makes the song sound like a list of clichéd phrases recited over a redundant musical track. My favorite song on "A BETTER PLACE" is the tune, "BACK WEH VAMPIRE." BUSHMAN and background vocalists stretch out the word "weh" (away) when they sing "Back weeeehhhh, vampire!" Their harmony is so beautiful that it's bound to scare away any bad spirits. The laid-back beat, congas, Middle Eastern style flute and keyboard produced bat shrieks make this song sound like some sort of an eerie voodoo sacrament. Very wicked! Bushman tackles sociopolitical themes on such songs as, "WHAT YOU GONNA DO" where he challenges politicians to keep their campaign promises regarding street violence. BUSHMAN means business when he sings in frustration, "What you gonna do, now you win your vote. Tell me what is it your gonna promote, Babylon?" he asks, "Now you win your seat, what they gonna do for them youth on the street?" It is this sort of song that convince me that BUSHMAN is not just riding the roots style lyrical bandwagon, but that he believes every word he sings. I can feel it in his voice."A BETTER PLACE" is not a bad album but when compared to his previous work, this disc just doesn't compare. In all fairness to BUSHMAN, it would be almost impossible to match let alone surpass the quality of his 2 previous albums. This album doesn't take away his credibility. It is the fact that he's adjusted the music but not the lyrical message on "A BETTER PLACE" that continues to keep him at the top of the list of current young roots performers. Respect! -Mark "Homebody" Groesbeck"