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The smiley-face tone of this album title is not misleading. Although a couple of cuts tastefully skirt the edge of slackness and one (the very fine "Mr. Nine") is an angry denunciation of Kingston's gun culture, Friends for Life is more accurately represented by song titles like "All Will Be Fine," "Spectacular," "Good Times," and the twin throwaway tracks "Tra La La" and "La Da De Da." Banton remains a better DJ than singer. He acquits himself well in the latter category on the heavily Bob Marley-influenced "Maybe We Are" and on an amazingly powerful anthem of racial uplift entitled "Up Ye Mighty Race," but he shines brightest when delivering his trademark gruff-voiced toasting over hard-edged dancehall rhythms. He spars brilliantly with DJ Bounty Killer on the dark and funky "Teaser," but his combination track with singer Nadine Sutherland is something of a letdown. "Damn" is disposable dancehall loverman bluster, but the ska-inflected "Feeling Groovy" is a pleasant stylistic surprise. This is not his best album by a long shot, but it does demonstrate his clear superiority to most of the dancehall pack. Recommended.
© Rick Anderson /TiVo
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Troy Rami, Writer - Mark Myrie, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Steven Marsden, Writer - Mark Myrie, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2005 VP Music Group, Inc.
Bounty Killer, FeaturedArtist - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2004 VP Music Group, Inc.
Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Mark Myrie, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Buju Banton, MainArtist - Sons & Daughters Choir, FeaturedArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2004 VP Music Group, Inc.
Robbie Lyn, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist - Mikey Chung, Writer - Frank Burt, Writer
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Buju Banton, MainArtist - Peter Tosh, Writer
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Mark Myrie, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist - C.Browne, Writer - W.Johnson, Writer
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Wayne Wonder, FeaturedArtist - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2004 VP Music Group, Inc.
Steven Marsden, Writer - Mark Myrie, Writer - Sly Dunbar, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Fat Joe, FeaturedArtist - Beres Hammond, FeaturedArtist - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2004 VP Music Group, Inc.
Mark Myrie, Writer - A. Lyon, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist - M. Valenzno, Writer
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Steven Marsden, Writer - Mark Myrie, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Mark Myrie, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist - Duke Reid, Writer
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Mark Myrie, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Mark Myrie, Writer - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
NADINE SUTHERLAND, FeaturedArtist - Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
Buju Banton, MainArtist
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2005 VP Music Group, Inc.
Album review
The smiley-face tone of this album title is not misleading. Although a couple of cuts tastefully skirt the edge of slackness and one (the very fine "Mr. Nine") is an angry denunciation of Kingston's gun culture, Friends for Life is more accurately represented by song titles like "All Will Be Fine," "Spectacular," "Good Times," and the twin throwaway tracks "Tra La La" and "La Da De Da." Banton remains a better DJ than singer. He acquits himself well in the latter category on the heavily Bob Marley-influenced "Maybe We Are" and on an amazingly powerful anthem of racial uplift entitled "Up Ye Mighty Race," but he shines brightest when delivering his trademark gruff-voiced toasting over hard-edged dancehall rhythms. He spars brilliantly with DJ Bounty Killer on the dark and funky "Teaser," but his combination track with singer Nadine Sutherland is something of a letdown. "Damn" is disposable dancehall loverman bluster, but the ska-inflected "Feeling Groovy" is a pleasant stylistic surprise. This is not his best album by a long shot, but it does demonstrate his clear superiority to most of the dancehall pack. Recommended.
© Rick Anderson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 19 track(s)
- Total length: 01:15:16
- Main artists: Buju Banton
- Label: VP Records
- Genre: World Reggae
© 2003 Vp Music Group ℗ 2003 Vp Music Group
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