Rating:
Genre:
Reggae
Release Date: 11/21/2006
In many ways,
The Overstanding is a traditional
dancehall -- or at least a traditional
Sizzla -- album. Bouncing between revolution
ragga and sweet
lovers rock and featuring a mix of new and old, this 2006 effort is a lot like the man's early full-lengths in shape and form, but it's on
Damon Dash's new label and benefits from the extra money being thrown around. Recent Jamaican hits like
"Solid as a Rock" and
"Thank You Mama" get re-recordings that fatten the sound, while touches of polish from the
hip-hop and
R&B world broaden the spectrum, making
The Overstanding an easy, yet not fully representative, entry into the world of
Sizzla. The uplifting
"Break Free" -- a completely different song from the
"Break Free" found on 1999's
Royal Son of Ethiopia -- is sure to put a smile on the face, while the opening
"Take Myself Away" comes at the same issue from the other side as
Sizzla looks for freedom in an unforgiving, bleak world. He's believable when writing about all the emotions between these two extremes and his
ballads are all satisfying, although newcomers should be warned that the fragile falsetto voice he uses on his love songs is an acquired taste. What's fascinating is that this high-profile, international effort created with the cooperation of
Dash -- the man who discovered
Kanye West and co-founded the
Roc-A-Fella label with
Jay-Z -- could have addressed the accusations of homophobia
Sizzla has faced and perhaps softened the controversy. It doesn't, and while the spirit of not selling out while walking through Babylon is part of what makes the album so good, this won't take the man off anyone's boycott list. Say what you want to say about
Sizzla, and you can say a lot, but
The Overstanding is the work of a talented and certain artist with a compelling hunger for worldwide success, just strictly on his terms.
~David Jeffries, All Music Guide
;)
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