An Interesting Thing Happened On My Way Through This Album
Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 11/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I purchased the Euro version of this album, which means that I got it about 2 months before it was released in the US. I gave it a cursory listen before it fell out of my cd player in favor of a ton of other stuff (including another Anthony B album, Black Star) and wasn't too impressed. I got it, largely based on the artist of course, and the label. The people from Spain (via Germany) Minor7Flat5 have a great history of doing fantastic reggae music, including a nice album from Turbulence, Different Thing and Lutan Fyah's official debut, Dem No Know Demself.
It took me about another 2 months to pick My Hope back up, when someone asked me if I knew about another Anthony B album coming out (coming fresh off the release of 2 more since Black Star) and they were talking about My Hope. And all i can say is. . .
I'm sorry.
My Hope is Anthony B.'s best studio album of 2005, and the previous 2 were very fine efforts indeed. It is a completely polished gem of an album, and were it not for another 'recent' M7F5 release (which I believe is released in the US shortly) it would be the finest release the label has ever made, which is saying a lot on both fronts. From the players used and quite possibly the best usage of background singers I've heard on a studio album in a long time, Anthony B is at his TOP form throughout My Hope.
The best tune is definitely the beautifull simple title track. The tune is made to be inspirational, but the lush one-drop backing will have your head rocking almost from the first second, and Pam Hall on the backing vocals makes it seem bigger than it really is.
Another highlight of My Hope is the nice combinations (a mark of M7F5 albums). Although 4 is getting close to being too many, every combination on the album is well done and makes it a better record because of its presence. Wonderful (and criminally underrated) singer Mark Wonder guests on Don't Cry, might be my second favorite tune on the album (if not that, then definitely Watch Over My Head). Large voiced chanter Taffari guests on Rise Up, wonderful tune and the commercial highlight of course being Face Off the wicked combination with German reggae king Gentleman.
Other highlights include the closer Rastaman She Want, which rides the beautiful Altafaan produced Tsahai riddim (best known for being the back of recent Junior Kelly hit Receive), Strong Shoulder and ganja anthem More Pon More. And if I didn't mention a particular tune, rest assured the tune is a big tune still, there is no bad music on My Hope.
Overall, I'll definitely reccomend this one, and I dont think I'm making it seem better than it is (which i tend to do), My Hope is a big album, and a lot of reggae fans will probably miss out on it (as Anthony B has been doing a lot of work lately), its his best complete work of 2005, and one of the best complete works of 2005 period!"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1