Search - Jimmy Cliff :: Black Magic

From A Jimmy Cliff Fan

Sean King | Hartford, Connecticut | 10/21/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Jimmy Cliff's new album (Black Magic) is shrouded with some mystery. A majority of these songs (if not all of them) were released (around Summer 2003 and only within Europe) under the title: "Fantastic Plastic People". This album also featured a different cover and the song "Dreams" in addition to all the songs now found on the American released "Black Magic".



Another bizarre observation is that many (if not all) of the same songs with the same titles have been completely reworked so much that they almost sound like a different set of songs. If I had a choice as to which album I'd prefer it would have to be the original: "Fantastic Plastic People" release.



The reason I mention all this is that the original songs of the original European album are much more "fuller" and natural sounding with actual drums and guitars rather than Jimmy's electronica hyped "Black Magic" version of the same songs.

There is quite a difference between these two albums!!



I have been a Jimmy Cliff fan for 20 yrs and have seen him in concert. Do you yourself a favor and find a copy of "Fantastic Plastic People". "Black Magic" is not worthy of your purchase.



On a lighter note:"In Jamaician Time" is by far one of the best tracks on this album. "Over The Border" with the late Joe Strummer from The Clash is not a bad tune, (within the exception that I think Jimmy should have allowed Joe more access to the verses).



"No Problems, Only Solutions" also a good tune. The song with Eurthymics founder Annie Lennox was a bit disapponting, since Annie's vocal was reduced to a dismal winey background chorus. Jimmy should have thought that song through a little better. As with the Strummer tune Jimmy should have let Annie have a better crack at the lyrics/chorus.



3 decent songs, deserves 3 stars. You can jump on E-Bay and probably find yourself a copy of the original: "Fantastic Plastic People" versions of these songs. Its worth the search. I wonder what Jimmy was thinking when he gutted his own finely crafted tunes and put them out under the guise of "Black Magic" here in the states?!



One can only speculate."

A Solid Masterpiece

Spencer Pennington | Seattle, WA | 11/30/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jimmy Cliff is one of the world's legendary reggae artists, and in my opinion, is only surpassed by Bob Marley & the Wailers and Peter Tosh. The "Black Magic" album seems to almost "rival" Toots & the Maytals' "True Love" album also released this year, showing the star with a slew of duets with the likes of Sting, Joe Strummer, Annie Lennox, and Dave Stewart.



While it could be argued that Cliff's best work dates back to his early years from 1967-1975, this album is a solid, sound masterpiece showing that he still has that spark to create beautiful music. While Cliff has moved more towards a Pop-reggae style instead of a traditional One Drop style since the 80's, his music has been solid for both hardcore and casual reggae fans with it danceable beats and political or spiritual overtones. The diversity of musical styles here only serves to lift the album's charm, ranging from more traditional-esque songs like "The City," to his famous Pop-reggae style with songs like the title track "Black Magic," and even to new-age Dancehall in his duet with the legendary Bounty Killer on "(Ooh La, La, La) Let's Go Dancing".



One of the album's most promising tracks is his duet with Punk Rock legend Joe Strummer, "Over the Boarder," as well as one of his solo pieces, "Good Life" and the uplifting "Jamaica Time". I can promise that if you purchase this album, you'll be pleasently surprised with Cliff's still-extraordinary work."

Fantastic Plastic People without the reggae

Bob Smith | Tulsa, OK USA | 01/10/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This album is an inferior repackaging of "Fantastic Plastic People," an album released for free on the Internet and on CD in the UK a year before this. Fantastic Plastic People was an amazing album, possibly even better than The Harder They Come, previously my favorite reggae album. But for some reason he redid these songs in a way that made them sound a lot more like pop and techno than like reggae. It boggles the mind why he would release one of the greatest reggae albums ever, only to repackage it in an inferior fashion. I hope in the future that Jimmy returns to the roots, because he's an amazingly talented musician."