Search - I Wayne :: Live in Oakland Ca (W/Dvd)

I Wayne Live Album? Seriously???. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 03/17/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although I don't think that many people have been paying attention, we are currently in an approximately four or five month stretch here where its just a PERFECT time to be a Reggae fan if you buy albums (which means just about fifteen people or so). I say this because, despite the typical goings on of certain artists releasing certain large and well anticipated albums (like Mavado with A Better Tomorrow), there have been quite a few surprises wrapped in the time frame of late 2008/early 2009, which simply weren't anticipated at all for the time (at least not be me). For example, the greatest piece currently set in my players is WITHOUT A DOUBT the return of the legendary Linval Thompson on the wicked album Ghetto Living. This one was released in late December and has been spinning around here ever since as it is simply BRILLIANT. Now, had you told me at the beginning of the year that there was a new Linval Thompson project coming, I would have probably thought it yet another anthology of sorts or greatest hits album, or maybe even a return to production for the singer/producer/engineer, however Ghetto Living ended up marking his return to the big time as a singer AND a producer likewise. What else? The mysterious and always welcome Daweh Congo popped up earlier this year with another piece for the ghetto, Ghetto Skyline which is getting rave reviews (including by your's truly) all around the place and is probably one of the, if not THE early favourite for Reggae album of the year 2009, when things are all said and done. Two later releases from 2008 were also somewhat of a surprise, although given the fact they did have a bit of promotion, perhaps to a lesser degree of shock, both Breaking Babylon Curse from Messenjah Selah and Know The Road from Norris Man were more than welcome additions to any fan's of modern Roots Reggae collection, just before the new year. Especially in the case of Babylon Curse, which I am slowly starting to realize may be top class material (even better than I though) and in the case of Norris Man, his was an album that was simply five years in the making. Who knew if/when it would EVER reach? Currently, I'm listening to the debut album of Teflon, Motherless Child which is just surprising all around, given the fact of who and how it comes about (speaking of the label, Tad's) and that, although it only gives you half of his vibes, it is still VERY well done. Adding to that, releases form the likes of King Hopeton and Yah Meek and pieces that didn't look likely to come off anytime soon are simply solidifying their schedules and impressing at the same time.



That being said, the biggest surprise to my own personal catalogue in recent months has been WITHOUT A DOUBT, a MAMMOTH album by the name of Africa, by Lutan Fyah. Perhaps I just wasn't paying attention, but this album which I learned about in mid-late October was released not even two months later and a strong case could be made that the double disc MONSTER was the best Reggae album in all of 2008 and will probably maintain its strength throughout 2009 as well as it is currently amongst the most talked about projects on Reggae shelves worldwide. Now, if this wasn't enough, interestingly, about six months before, Lutan Fyah's previous album, Live In San Francisco was also released and was another very welcome surprise. Both Africa and Live In San Francisco came via the same label, the `surprising' 2B1Records who may be actually making a push to turn themselves into a next level operation of sorts and are now stepping out of their `special' category and they're doing a very good job of it. Now, what could you possibly do to continue to shake up the industry and the genre and build on the OUTSTANDING year they had in 2008? By picking up where you left off! I have to admit that I probably knew of the coming of I Wayne's live album in late October/early November, somewhere around there, so the fact that it exists at all doesn't exactly come as a total shock to me, but, again, so early since then and 2B1 scores what, although isn't their most high profile release to date (they've done business with the likes of Capleton, Gregory Isaacs and Lady Saw in the past), it may just be one of their most crucial and they return to the VERY comfortable genre of releasing Live Reggae albums, at which they honestly have no consistent equal in the game today. All eyes are on and they choose none other than one of the most reclusive and downright ODD at times figures in the game. I Wayne has been modern Reggae royalty only about four years now as he was initially launched into the stratosphere on the strength of his HUGE tune One Man Can't Satisfy Her. And while that tune pretty much had "one hit wonder" written all over it, subsequent tunes proved to stick with the masses as well and a deal with the leader in Caribbean music, VP Records, followed soon and since then he has delivered two ULTRA IMPRESSIVE album releases, Lava Ground and Book Of Life and in their all star current lineup of heavy hitters, he carries just about as much weight as any young artist on the list, Roots or Dancehall. As I mentioned, however, I Wayne does have a reclusive side to him. He doesn't tend to fit into many of the same camps as other artists and, at least musically speaking (I don't know the man so I can't comment there) he has probably the strictest moral codes you'll find amongst anyone! That comes across in his music through various methods, but ultimately, whichever the case he DELIVERS gems of tunes which just CANNOT be emulated by ANY of his peers. I Wayne's sound is truly his own. But what about his stage show which can literally make or break an artist, particularly in the Caribbean where he is most likely to perform but less likely to sale albums? I Wayne is the star of I Wayne's stage show, just to watch him, moody and all is worth the price of admissions. 2B1 Records does an EXCELLENT job of catching just that, I Wayne in his brand new third official album release and first live album release, the equally EXCELLENT I Wayne: Live In Oakland.



of course, Live In Oakland is built upon some of I Wayne's biggest and top notch material to date between his two albums with a (yep, another one) surprise throw in at the end. The show features fellow artist, back up singer and I Wayne's good friend Fire Star throughout, acting as a bit of a `hype man', which I typically don't like too much but it's okay in this case as Fire Star's involvement is simply adding to the vibes, not subtracting. I Wayne begins the show with one of his biggest singles to date and one which I know quite a few people regard as his finest piece despite the fact that it didn't do the most business (didn't do BAD exactly either) and was one of my own favourites, the WICKED Living In Love over the Hard Times riddim. That Spanish guitar opening pattern now ETCHED in my brain, my ears jumped when it came in. The performance is so-so with, as I mentioned I WAYNE taking over the tune, even more so than the music. Depending on how you look at it, that can be a good thing, but overstanding I Wayne's rather unusual mannerisms at times is DEFINITELY an acquired skill. I'm still working on it, nevertheless, big tune, big opening. The well underrated anti-abortion anthem, Don't Worry from the Lava Ground (like Living In Love). This tune is about as COMFORTABLE and LOVELY such a tune as you would ever hear, despite speaking on a VERY controversial topic, its just absolutely beautiful isn't it? I Wayne's voice is well throughout and really, yet again surprisingly, Don't Worry becomes one of the bigger performances on the entire set. Another controversial and somewhat underrated piece from I Wayne, Bleacher (Lava Ground album) steps in next and this one really even steps up the levels of the show as well. Fire Star, virtually absent for Don't Worry finds his pitch back and actually adds a bit to this one. The results are very impressive, uplifting and succeed, even in spite of I Wayne struggling a bit to find his levels and even losing the riddim itself at times through the later portions of the tune. All in all, a pretty strong opening. Wish I was there.



Hand me the tracklist before you give me the album and I'll assume that my two favourite I Wayne tunes would also be my favourites and such is the case here. The first of the two is, of course, Lava Ground which is my absolute favourite I Wayne tune altogether,. This one comes in and REALLY gets the crowd into it (as it always does) and maintains the hype throughout. This one, like on the next, also contains the most oddities in behaviour from I Wayne changing the lyrics, talking, just generally having a good time. I love it. Its only topped, to my ears by his first big hit, One Man Can't Satisfy Her which is just wonderful as always. Again, the crowd really tunes in when it comes in and this one ESPECIALLY shows off I Wayne's personality. At one point, the riddim wheels (which he doesn't call for until after it happens) and he freestyles nothing more than two lines and resume, as if nothing happened! Absolutely no one does this type of thing besides I Wayne. TRULY one of a kind! You can pretty much be assured that, unless you had a certain favourite on one of the two albums (like Total Annihilation or Nah Draw Nil, respectively), your favourite tune will be somewhere on the show. Such a tune DEFINITELY would be the title track from the second album, Book Of Life. This tune probably, sonically speaking, has the finest and strongest feel on the entire set and it REALLY sounds good, having heard him do the song in person myself once or twice, it definitely comes across well here. Book Of Life not your favourite? Then maybe you like Cool As The Breeze (Lava Ground), another very fine sounding tune here (he does have a few problems with levels here and there, but there's a stretch in the middle that sounds EXTREMELY nice). Things slow down here, which makes the boom which follows on Lava Ground that much bigger and it's just a "COOL" tune to say the least. Love Is Life (aka Life Is Easy from the Book Of Life album) was an underappreciated, yet somewhat controversial, tune which I simply don't feel received its fair share of attentions. I've heard interviews where I Wayne himself discusses his own infatuation with the tune and how it came about so, having never actually heard him draw for this one live, I was quite eager to see how he threw himself into the vibe and, indeed, he is very careful about making it sound nice. Mission accomplished I Wayne. I can go ahead and speak for myself in saying that Touch Her Softly ("she erupted shortlyyyyyyyy!") is one of my own favourites from the Lava Ground album. This one has a bit of LOW levels problem throughout and really, in terms of a performance isn't amongst the finest here, but you can't flop that tune ANYWHERE, even if you tried to and it doesn't happen here. Cool water runs again (and the quality flips back up) when he dives into Life Seeds (Lava Ground) winding things down on the show. This tune has always been quietly one of my favourites, particularly because of the lyrics, he could have actually sang it accapella for all I care, it's just a powerful track and unlike some of the others, DID receive its fair shake in terms of attentions in my opinion. He also doesn't finish the tune, nor the set for that matter without leaving with a bit of controversy, just like you would have imagined. The tune Conquer (Lava Ground) actually REALLY features Fire Star, as it always has and, after some sounding troubles at the beginning, Fire Star gets in gear and performs very well and he's supposedly shopping his own project for later this year, so we definitely look forward to that. It seems as if 2B1 always throws in a screwball and that one here is Mother, Fatherly Love a newer tune not featured on either of his albums but perhaps a future one. I have actually heard the tune and it is excellent and he doesn't really go at it full on, but just leaves the masses with a taste before I Wayne and Fire Star wrap it up (encore comes after Life Seeds).



Overall, of course this one (like pretty much all live albums) are almost strictly for the more established fans. Newer fans, you'll want to either get the first two studio albums or get them along with this one to hear the tunes in their original form (which will make these performances mean even more to you). However, if you are an older and more familiar fan then you will absolutely LOVE this one. No, its not the best live piece you'll find, but the very notion of an 'I WAYNE LIVE ALBUM' should appeal to you greatly and, trust as its done by 2B1, there is a certain bit of quality-control exercised and you wouldn't have expected to see such a thing coming this year, I'm sure. This may actually just be the beginning as well if history repeats itself 2009, like 2007 (Book Of Life) two years after 2005 (Lava Ground) may just be the next studio album from I Wayne. Regardless, I Wayne: Live In Oakland is for all of the hardcore fans, like myself, looking very nice as a collector's item and then some. And big respect goes to 2B1 as they also have (again, yet another surprise here) have a live album from none other than Chuck Fender, Live In San Francisco AND pieces from TURBULENCE and KY-MANI MARLEY as well (and FINALLY making their music available digitally now). Call 2009 the year of Reggae Live, with 2B1 at the foundation and I Wayne getting things started on a nice note. Well done."