Search - Gregory Isaacs :: Masterclass

Nice & Harmless

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 04/20/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I almost feel timid in writing a review for a relatively current Gregory Isaacs album. Knowing what the man is in reggae music, what he has stood for over the years and what he has meant to the music overall, its impossible for me to give a completely impartial run of his most recent studio album, Masterclass (unbelievably recorded for Greensleeves Records).



The first thing you, as a fan of Isaacs, will undoubtedly notice is the apparent deterioration of his legendary voice. Dont get me wrong, he still sings a reggae tune better than 9 out of 10 singers ever will but his beautiful fragile tones which once told everyone about his Night Nurse have taken a slight dip for the Masterclass. What is most impressive, however, about this album is that he can still put together one curiously perfect love/jilted lover songs seemingly at whim. And with the unknown (to me) Steve Martin on the board, many of these songs surprisingly work completely well on Masterclass.



My choice for the best of the album is without a doubt the opener Secret Love Affair which perhaps best utilizes the backup singer. That's another story on this one the female backup singing on Masterclass is. . . a masterclass, featured are veterans such as King of Kings vet Heather Cummings and Leba Hibbert. Also worth checking on the album is the beautiful old sounding Lonely Street (again featuring awesome backing by Ms Cummings), expectedly an ode to Isaacs old friend Dennis Brown, a fantastic version of Stay at Home and the 'cute' 15 Minutes Ago.



15 Minutes Ago is one of the more interesting songs here. Listening to it, perhaps more than any of the other 13 tracks, it shows the deterioration in Isaacs voice, but it also shows what he's learned after all these years that he doesn't have to completely blow the candles out to still make a wish. His experience alone makes the song very very good. Hungry for Your Love and the albums 2nd best tune, Wanted List round out this decent album.



Overall, there will always be space in my cd player for a Gregory Isaacs album as long as he is making music. And with the current trend in reggae music being what it is more and more recycling of older riddims, he just might have added more and more years to his career in terms of being more and more relevant to a younger audience. I would absolutely love to see what Isaacs could do on some of the bigger and better sets these days. His day, however, has come and gone, but every few years or so, he'll come back and remind everyone EXACTLY how it used to be."