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Sean Paul's last album, Trinity, was a letdown for anyone who fell in love with the infectious and bubbly sound of Paul's hugely popular 2002 album, Dutty Rock. He seemed to be distancing himself from the pop fans he had won (and attempting to gain back some hardcore dancehall fans he may have lost) by releasing a cold, hard record built on swagger, boasts, and in-your-face, aggressive beats. Released in 2009, Imperial Blaze is a return to the lightness and fun of Dutty Rock, making for a far more enjoyable listen. There is still plenty of swagger here, but there's less drive to be hard and more focus on having a good time. Cycling through good-natured dancehall-meets-hip-hop jams like "Lace It" and "She Wanna Be Down," lilting and romantic tracks like "Now That I've Got Your Love" and "Daddy's Home," and a batch of songs that sound like perfect floor-fillers at a late-summer dance party ("Press It Up," "Don't Tease Me," "Evening Ride"), there is precious little of the posturing and false bravado that sank Trinity. Paul sounds like he is fully embracing his softer, totally pop side and it works very well for him. Another reason for the album's success has to be Paul relying on one main producer. Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor runs the show on most of the record and he has a light touch, keeping the beats lively and driving, but letting the melodies come through clearly. He adds plenty of modern tricks to the mix but never adds them just for novelty's sake -- every bleep, blip, looped vocal, and synth blast fits within the framework of the song. The people who buy Imperial Blaze will be purchasing a record that is very good, and more importantly, a great deal of fun from beginning to end.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
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Sean Paul, Contributor, MainArtist - Mister Harding, Composer, Producer - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, Masterer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Jimmy Douglass, MixingEngineer - Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Bryan Powell, Assistant Mixing Engineer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Nigel Staff, Writer - Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Mister Harding, Audio Recording Engineer - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Robert Orton, MixingEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Mister Harding, Audio Recording Engineer - Fabian Marasciullo, MixingEngineer - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Robert Orton, MixingEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Fabian Marasciullo, MixingEngineer - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Robert Orton, MixingEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Jimmy Douglass, MixingEngineer - Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Mister Harding, Producer, Audio Recording Engineer - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, Writer, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Bryan Powell, Assistant Mixing Engineer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
A. Cooper, Lyricist - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Keri Hilson, Writer, FeaturedArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Arif Cooper, Producer, Audio Recording Engineer - Gary Noble, MixingEngineer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Clayton Morrison, Writer - Abean Cooper, Writer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Mister Harding, Producer - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Robert Orton, MixingEngineer - Jeremy Harding, Writer, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Jimmy Douglass, MixingEngineer - Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Bryan Powell, Assistant Mixing Engineer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Gary Noble, MixingEngineer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Craig Parkes, Writer - Craig Parks, Producer, Audio Recording Engineer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Gary Noble, MixingEngineer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Andrew McIntyre, Writer - Jigzagula, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Shaun Anderson, Writer - Mr. Shaun, Producer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Mister Harding, Producer, Audio Recording Engineer - Fabian Marasciullo, MixingEngineer - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, Writer, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Jimmy Douglass, MixingEngineer - Donovan Bennett, Producer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Don Corleon, Writer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Bryan Powell, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Jigzagula, Writer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Demacio Castellon, MixingEngineer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Jimmy Douglass, MixingEngineer - Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Bryan Powell, Assistant Mixing Engineer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Stephen McGregor, Producer, Writer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Fabian Marasciullo, MixingEngineer - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Mitchum Chin, Writer - Dwayne Chin-Quee, Writer - Delano Thomas, Writer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Cezar, Writer - Andrew Thompson, Writer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Gary Noble, MixingEngineer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Rohan Dyer, Audio Recording Engineer, MixingEngineer - DJ Delano, Producer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Donovan Bennett, Producer, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Fabian Marasciullo, MixingEngineer - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Don Corleon, Writer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Jigzagula, Writer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Stephen McGregor, Audio Recording Engineer - Sean Paul, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Craig Kallman, ExecutiveProducer - Chris Athens, MasteringEngineer - Jeremy Harding, ExecutiveProducer - Gary Noble, MixingEngineer - Christopher Chin, ExecutiveProducer - Jigzagula, Producer, Writer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Album review
Sean Paul's last album, Trinity, was a letdown for anyone who fell in love with the infectious and bubbly sound of Paul's hugely popular 2002 album, Dutty Rock. He seemed to be distancing himself from the pop fans he had won (and attempting to gain back some hardcore dancehall fans he may have lost) by releasing a cold, hard record built on swagger, boasts, and in-your-face, aggressive beats. Released in 2009, Imperial Blaze is a return to the lightness and fun of Dutty Rock, making for a far more enjoyable listen. There is still plenty of swagger here, but there's less drive to be hard and more focus on having a good time. Cycling through good-natured dancehall-meets-hip-hop jams like "Lace It" and "She Wanna Be Down," lilting and romantic tracks like "Now That I've Got Your Love" and "Daddy's Home," and a batch of songs that sound like perfect floor-fillers at a late-summer dance party ("Press It Up," "Don't Tease Me," "Evening Ride"), there is precious little of the posturing and false bravado that sank Trinity. Paul sounds like he is fully embracing his softer, totally pop side and it works very well for him. Another reason for the album's success has to be Paul relying on one main producer. Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor runs the show on most of the record and he has a light touch, keeping the beats lively and driving, but letting the melodies come through clearly. He adds plenty of modern tricks to the mix but never adds them just for novelty's sake -- every bleep, blip, looped vocal, and synth blast fits within the framework of the song. The people who buy Imperial Blaze will be purchasing a record that is very good, and more importantly, a great deal of fun from beginning to end.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 20 track(s)
- Total length: 01:06:26
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Sean Paul
- Composer: Mister Harding
- Label: VP - Atlantic Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
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