Search - Mishka :: Talk About (Dig)

Island life...

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 03/30/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mishka is a Reggae/Folk/Rock singer from Bermuda (younger brother to singer Heather Nova) and his new album "Talk about" finds him displaying his musical influences in full.



Opening cut "Give them love", "Keep on lovin'" (with lovely female harmonies), the lovely horn-sprinkled "Dead end streets", and "Just keep livin'" are Bob Marley-style Reggae, with deep bass and lyrics touching on love and the challenges of everyday life.



The rolicking "Bittersweet", "Can't get enough" and "Music of the moment" are simple yet catchy Ben Harper-style Rockers.



Everything else comprises breezy acoustic ballads; "Fallen to rise", the Country/Reggae-tinged "Homegrown" (with Willie Nelson), "Talk about", "All jokes aside", the lilting "Stars will be shining", and the 7 minute epic "Shadow in the shade" (the latter's tenderness belying the dark subject matter).



His sound is free flowing and airy, possibly a result of his bohemian childhood spent living on barges. Intelligent and nice!"

Mishka delivers an album that should make alot of people "Ta

M. C. Tolen | Tulsa, OK | 04/02/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been groovin to Mishka's music for a good 2 or 3 years. I've always dug him but listening to a whole Mishka album before in one setting could be TOO MUCH of a mellow thing and would give me the feeling of being in a sleepy haze like I had been slowing rocking on a boat, literally "baked" in the sun for too long (which is exactly what state I think Mishka was in when he wrote his songs). However, with this album he really steps it up, giving us some pop songs to dance to along with the usual reggae and mellow acoustic numbers. It's a great mix of what he's done along with a step forward that luckily doesn't reach a total sellout. Sure, there is some really poppy sounding stuff here, but its a good and welcome turn. The song "Bittersweet" is just a great upbeat feel good pop song with a little bit of motown sound to will be a great summer song. This album should get Mishka considerably more notice and will definitely be in my regular rotation all Spring and Summer. My only complaints are that like previous albums, some of the production with the electric guitar, extra instrumentation and backup singers can at times sound a bit overproduced and generic. Reggae in general sounds best when its rootsy and just plain cheesy when its overproduced. Some songs are complemented, but others could definitely have been better if kept rootsy and simple. Also, although I liked the idea of Willie Nelson singing on the weed anthem "Homegrown", I think Willie sounds awful and I wish it was just Mishka singing afterall. Wille sounds like he phoned in the vocal while he was stoned of course. Otherwise its a good fun song also. Mishka has risen a few pegs in my book with this album, definitely a great summer jam!"