Search - I Wayne :: Book of Life

You'll Have to Read This One More Than Once. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 11/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"(4.5stars)

At the beginning of the year if I were to run down a list of albums that I was MOST looking forward to, somewhere at the top of the list would have been albums by Lady Saw (which we received), Assassin (got that too), Capleton (which we didn't) and Ras Shiloh (got two of those). There would have also been albums from the likes of the usual ultra prolific suspects such as Sizzla, Luciano, Midnite, Lutan Fyah and Natural Black (got all of those) on the list as well. However, without a doubt, hovering somewhere near the top of my own most anticipated albums of 2007 would have been I-Wayne's follow-up to one of the most dominant and special reggae debuts I have heard in more than a decade. I Wayne originally came on the scene in 2004 with one of the most unusual singing styles the music had heard in a while. And while musically speaking, he sounded much unlike the legendary and much celebrated Mandeville native, I-Wayne drew comparisons from all over the place to the late great Garnet Silk. On his own laurels, however, the diminutive Portmore native established vibes which had the entire island, and soon the entire reggae listening community singing his songs. The first boomshot was of course One Man Can't Satisfy her which was easily one of the biggest tunes of 2004 and then carrying over to also being one of the biggest tunes of the following year as well. The tune would introduce the young singer as one of the new face to watch on the roots scene. It would also go to introduce his personality to fans as well, putting his ULTRA strict moral and spiritual code on display for the world (I Wayne would go on to engage in a brief but very public dispute with Soca king Bunji Garlin, due to the fact that he referred to soca as the `Devil`s music`). All those things eventually led to the singer signing a multi-album deal with the largest Reggae/Caribbean music label in the world in VP Records, and in the summer of 2005, the first product of that deal was released, Lava Ground. Lava Ground was MASSIVE and lived up to the sickly high level of expectations which were thrown in the singer's direction. Along with One Man Can't Satisfy Her, VP basically flooded the album with top notch material. Songs like the title track (probably the artist's second biggest hit to date), Living in Love from the former riddim of the year, the Hardtimes, Ready fe Live Up, Touch Her Softly, Nah Draw Nil, More Life and others even still would go on to achieve some type of notoriety from the album and ultimately produce an album which was nothing short of mastery.



In the time since the release of Lava Ground, I Wayne has maintained his status, although with expected periods of inactivity (that is usually what happens when VP artists release albums, because they do a fine fine job in pushing their talents on tours and such things) inside the studio. His name has appeared on virtually every big stage show or festival on the island and the overall strength of the tunes which helped established his name has not lessened to any degree. Eventually, however, he did reach the studio once again to begin recording for his sophomore album (and it was downright lovely that I Wayne has seemingly overcome the usual pitfalls of overexposure which reggae, and particularly roots artists, usually face between albums), the wonderfully titled Book Of Life. Book Of Life comes near the end of what has already been a stocked year of reggae albums, one of the best years in recent memories, as one of the last truly big release of 2007 (although I wouldn't be surprised if VP snuck the Jahmelody debut in later, and Shaggy has still officially not released his Intoxication either). Book Of Life certainly has rather large shoes to fill in those of its older brother but when material from the album began to reach the road, it was all very impressive. The earlier songs didn't come with supreme hype of One Man Can't Satisfy Her (and that's not saying much, we've seen subsequent songs of the year which didn't have THAT much hype) but instead saw an overall slightly well rounded and definitely more experienced I Wayne. My actual expectations for the album were a bit along the lines of the `sophomore slump' because I couldn't imagine I Wayne possibly could top what he pushed with Lava Ground (if that were the case I would think that he would have been much more active in the studio and actually releasing singles during the two year span between the two albums), still, as a mentioned it ranked amongst my most anticipated albums of 2007. However, actually digging into the album Book Of Life, I discover that I still do favour Lava Ground as the stronger piece, but Book Of Life, as you may gather from the title (and the cover) is a very very deep piece. Seeming like something (in terms of vibes) one might here coming from Luciano, or Sizzla and Lutan Fyah during one of their more cryptic and metaphorical moods, Book Of Life is an album to be enjoyed ONLY when one is able to truly separate the music and the message. Too many times it is very easy (particularly in reggae music, where a great deal of the music is aimed towards the dancehall in one way or another) to overlook what is actually being said and strictly listen to the artists' word melodies in relation to the riddim and the overall vibes, but if you find yourself going into Book Of Life and that is the way you typically listen to music, there is a very strong chance that the album may go over your head completely. Seemingly gone is the younger I Wayne (now 27 years of age) who would ultimately rely on his natural rather explosive nature and style of music making to get his point across, in his stead is a more mature artist, still as ever high of morality and dedication to Rastafari, but one who makes his explosions more subtle and almost ALWAYS lyrically.



The album opens with the its official first single (the video for the tune is one of the best in reggae of 2007 as well), title track and definitive choice for overall best tune on the album altogether. Book Of Life the song is somewhat of a microcosm of the Book Of Life album. You can very well listen to the track cursorily and not really pay attention to much besides the music and the melodies and the wonderful backing singers creating a very strong vibe with I Wayne's own vocals and really enjoy the song (the way I did the first few dozen times I heard the track) but when you dig into actually what is being said, the song changes. Perhaps more so than any other song which he has done to date, Book Of Line the tune comes off as a very personal track as I Wayne makes usage of every twist and turn the powerfully building song goes through and it really sounds like a much more complete and mature version of the fire breathing singer which we heard through Lava Ground. Also, on the vibes of the song alone, definitely have to ranks Book Of Life as one of the very strongest of 2007 altogether as well, it really is that big, and would have been near the top of the list on the stacked Lava Ground as well certainly. A very nice and unexpected trend develops on Book Of Life as well in terms of the combinations. Of all of the combination tracks (there is a total of five on the album) without a doubt, the one standing out on paper alone is Jealousy and Abuse which finds the wicked singer alongside one of the dancehall's equally wicked DJ's, the legendary Lady G. Such an unusual combination the two make (which would probably make it fairly standard for I Wayne come to think of it) even before listening the track that most reggae fans on the border about buying this one (all 3 of them) will almost assuredly want to hear Jealousy and Abuse above all others. The song itself is a very strong track speaking about the relationship activities people go through for the better and the worst, and the two definitely make a formidable pair as I Wayne's high pitch is complimented by Lady G's far more completely laid back and more normal style of singing. And make no mention that the tune is built over one of the coolest Jazz sounding compositions you'll ever hear on a reggae piece reminiscent of an souped up version of Sade's (who I Wayne has always listed as one of his favourite artists) Sweetest Taboo.



There are four other combinations on Book Of Life and without a doubt the one which will get the most spins from the reggae heads is track fifteen, Dart to Them Heart. The tune, built over Frenz's Dart riddim, features I Wayne's Portmore neighbour and Vybz Kartel protégé (now, if somehow, someway, we can just FINALLY get the two largest Kings from Portmore, Wayne and Kartel, to reach on a tune together, the world would be a MUCH MUCH better place) Deva Brat. Dart to Them Heart rises to be amongst the very best on the album and is a very impressive track. Topping Deva Brat's combination, however is definitely Wayne's label mate and neighbour, pure chanter Icoflamez (aka Kiddy Famous) on the OUTSTANDING Annihilation. Annihilation is pure older I Wayne. Built over a DIVINE riddim which features one of the nicest nyah drums on the album, Annihilation isn't very far behind the title track for the album's best outings overall and if I keep listening to the track (as I am now) I may have to even go back and change my vote, the tune Is EXCELLENT, and yet another stirring example of I Wayne's ultra strict, take no prisoners and no excuse style of vibes. One of the other signature tracks from Book Of Life is definitely Need Her in I Arms. Need Her in I Arms is the obligatory top lover's tune here (there are a couple of others as well), so good is the tune in sound alone that should you in fact see the video for the lead single which is the title track, you'll notice the wonderfully done latter stage of the video is dedicated to Need Her in I Arms (it was also featured on this year`s Reggae Gold). The track, which is a stunning one off from super-producer Don Corleone, is lovely and to think once, I Wayne was a young singer who was slightly criticized because of his inability (which in his case, seemed actually to be more unwilling than inability) to write a top lover's track. The tune immediately following Need Her in I Arms on the album, No Vanity, also goes quite a way in dispelling his former critics as well. No Vanity is a bit less airy than the soaring Need Her in I Arms and it actually works to the tunes advantage. Both are very very strong lover's material definitely not to be missed. Things are back to status quo with I Wayne on the scathingly hot Politics & Religion. Politics & Religion is yet another fine example of the artist's slight shift in style, were the tune on the Lava Ground album it would have definitely had a more dynamic sounding vibes from it. On Book Of Life however, I Wayne makes his point without the flair, the result is at the same time one of the bounciest and most addictive one drops you'll hear on the album, but also a tune which you're absolutely doing yourself a disservice on should you not listen to ridiculously high level of knowledge coming from the lyrics as well. Another such tune is No Unnecessary War from Rootical's very nice horn infused Grass Roots riddim, it was by far the standout on that riddim and it becomes one of the serious stand outs on this album as well.



Other tracks to check on Book Of Life include definitely Smart Attack. Smart Attack was probably the first track I heard from Book Of Life a while back. The tune may actually also be the first time that I've heard I Wayne on a PURE dancehall riddim (the same riddim featured both Vybz Kartel and Bounty Killer). Of course you may not know it the way it is used with the artist aided by what is easily the best usage of backing singers on the entire album (and there several very strong efforts in that respect). Check the closing track and final combination Natural Ites with singer Iyah V (aka Dona V) from I Wayne's own Loyal Soldiers label (who also sounds a bit like chanter Dez-I Boyd). I Wayne's bit on the chorus wonderfully sums up his style as he rather calmly and casually almost sneaks in a piping hot tirade against those fighting the herbs, and the tune flows very nice and laid back over Loyal Soldiers very own oddly titled Disturbance Riddim (which also featured Lady G, as did their Black Shade riddim from a few years back which is best known for I Wayne's Bleacher track).



Overall, this one is pretty much a no-brainer and a can't miss. By far one the most powerful, unique and downright unusual roots voices to emerge from Jamaica in quite awhile, I Wayne breaths absolute magic throughout Book Of Life. While it doesn't stick quite as well as Lava Ground did, its true strength comes through after several listening and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as broadly as I might on the first album, a definite background in enjoying roots definitely helps in the case of Book Of Life, newer fans would definitely do better in checking Lava Ground first at least (and I would suggest probably Gyptian's album as well). However, when you really are able to grasp the vibes in this one and do, prepare to enjoy one of the deepest roots albums in years."

Yes

Objectivo | Maryland | 03/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"in an era where cds are built around one or two worthy tunes, it is truly a pleasure to listen to a cd with 6 or 7 big tunes.



my only criticism is that on some songs he tends to trail off at the end of his words making him difficult to understand.



excellent combination of instrumentation, vocals, and lyrical content."