Search - Alison Hinds :: Soca Queen

Soca Queen
Alison Hinds
Soca Queen
Genres: International Music, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1


     
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CD Details

All Artists: Alison Hinds
Title: Soca Queen
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: 1720 Ent. Llc
Original Release Date: 1/1/2007
Re-Release Date: 11/6/2007
Genres: International Music, Pop
Styles: Caribbean & Cuba, Soca, Reggae
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 890531002020

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CD Reviews

Keeping it ROLLing. . .
Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 11/06/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)

"As the sun begins to set on 2007, we have witnessed yet another wildly exciting and productive year for Soca music. Perhaps even more so than any previous year in recent memory, Soca has risen yet another step (or two) in the international stratosphere and done so without the luxury of a huge megahit (such as Kevin Lyttle's Turn Me On or Rupee's Tempted to Touch) internationally. Instead, the music has been boosted on the strength of several very high profile hits, from the usual suspects, some very nice releases and just basic hard work. This year if you are a soca fan you have been literally salivating with all the strong material, and despite that presence of that single song which has taken the world by storm (their lost, not ours) literally ALL of the big name artists who have been helping making Soca music what it is over the past half decade have done very big things. Start with easily the biggest personal event for me (because, although incredibly sick, I was there) Iwer George once again taking the crown of Soca Monarch (even though Shurwayne Winchester got robbed in my opinion); Multiple time Monarch award winner, who went absent from the competition this year (and who was robbed last year) Bunji Garlin had a fantastic reason for missing the event, he was working on his album. Global became the first album on a multiple album deal with Caribbean music giant VP Records for Garlin in May and came to critical acclaim (including by yours truly), marking not only his own personal re-arrival to international audiences, but a was a great step for TRUE Soca music as well. Speaking of VP, the label released its Soca Gold 2007, undoubtedly the biggest and best known Soca release of the year (and pretty much any other year) and it was amongst the strongest pieces the series has ever produced. On top of that was a `small' release from one Machel Montano which is probably the single biggest deal to the real soca heads. That album, Book of Angels which reached in March, definitely ranks as one of the best releases I've heard from any genre in 2007 and deserved an even bigger push than what it ultimately received (although it did receive a VERY big push, the album should have been a VP album DEFINITELY, as it is, it remains flying off the shelves) . The names we all know, Destra, Faye Ann Lyons (who married Garlin), Peter Ram (who I didn't know before) Edwin Yearwood, Shurwayne Winchester, Denise Belfon, Dawg E Slaughter, Rikki Jai, Kevin Lyttle and countless others also scored with big tracks which set them in great company, and we even saw smaller albums from both Winchester and Slaughter later in the year. AND, were that not enough, the ranks of the soca elite `opened their gates' to a few new members as both Trini Patrice Roberts (on the strength of a couple of HUGE combinations with Montano, and her own even BIGGER Sugarboy piece) and St. Vincy daughter Zoelah took their own career's to the next level. Even the emergence of Bermy artist Collie Buddz gave a small boost as he sometimes dabbles in the vibes as well. Simply put, if you love Soca music, 2007 has been your year.



And just when it seemed like a good idea to start resting up for next February, we get a very very nice surprise for the end of the year as well. Alison Hinds is definitely one of the bigger known Soca artists around and one of the music's rare long time certified proven hitmakers. Having been around now strictly in Soca music for over twenty years in a music which is fairly young having descended from Calypso, there are VERY few more seasoned and well respected names in the game than that of Mrs. Hinds. The Barbados native has performed on some of the biggest Soca stages across the world, not only here in the Caribbean but in the music's hotbeds such as England (where I believe she was actually born), Toronto and in the States as well. And if you have, at all, been paying attention to Soca (or probably even reggae for that matter) her name is one that shouldn't be very new to you at all. Thus it is an absolutely wonderful joy that Alison Hinds is wrapping up the year 2007 and getting 2008 started on a very nice foot with what is her official debut album (which seemes downright odd for someone who has been around as long and as much as she has), simply yet fittingly titled Soca Queen. Soca is one genre where the female talent pretty much equals or maybe even outnumbers the male talents (at least on the highest level), so there are MANY such artists who could release such a piece and have a great claim to the title. However, from the very moment you dig into Hinds' project, you see she works just as hard as any of her peers at not only earning the title but making it work for her. The first thing you'll definitely notice is the cover (DUH!), which wonderfully places Hinds in a simple Cleopatra-esque style which more than makes her point and the title of the album even that more powerful. Still, even before you digging into the album musically, you have to give credit to her labels, 17.20 Entertainment and Black Coral go together in the release of this high quality project and they have done their parts definitely. The result, is a visually exciting experience, yet one which is fitting for a queen and paints Alison Hinds in the best possible light. Definitely I can see a few people purchasing this one just for the packaging alone (and haven't we all bought at least one album because of the cover that we were uncertain about!). Not to say nothing just yet of the music, a brief listen to any of Soca Queen reveals that the labels aren't the only ones here who have done a great job.



If you're one of the few people who have yet to really hear Soca (then I feel sorry for you) what you will undoubtedly first notice is the insanely high pace of the music. It is as hype as it is addicting and should you find a tune which tickles your ears even a bit, you may just become addicted. Alison Hinds, while definitely carving out her own area of vibes in the music, is still along those same lines and her debut album is a wonderful exhibition of her SKILL at the music with just a few twists. The album stars with one of those twists indeed. While not exactly out of place, the opener The More sounds like something out of a dance club in Europe rather than a fete in Trinidad. In fact if you could cut it off the album and stick it on a compilation of Euro Dance music it would fit PERFECTLY. Then the heavy hitters `roll' in. Probably the biggest reason we now get Hinds' debut is the sickly high wave she has been riding for nearly a year now with what has become arguably the biggest hit of her career, Roll it Gal. Roll It Gal is the Caribbean Female anthem if there ever was one and now apparently the song is doing quite a bit of damage abroad as well with radio play as well as even the very nice video which accompanied the tune. It also made its rounds on the various Soca and Dancehall mixtapes over the past year (although, somehow, someway it was absent from this year's Soca Gold album) as well just receiving massive push and airplay on pretty much every island. You definitely have to check the tune if you have yet to hear it (I'm a man and I still LOVE the tune) and its presence here is definitely the single biggest attraction. HOWEVER, when the discussion turns to Soca Queen's biggest and best tune, it turns away from Roll it Gal slightly to the track which immediately proceeds it on the album. Probably Hinds' biggest hit to date not including Roll It Gal has been Faluma. Faluma is a tune which is pretty hard to find on an album form (to my knowledge it only appeared on Square One`s Full Bloom), and make no mention that now the song is approaching ten years of age, but it has lost NOT A DROP of its power and it definitely is not to be missed. The tune features Hinds as the lead singer of Soca super group Square One and is truly one of the Soca classics. That tune is one actually, that might even determine whether you will like this album, if you don't like Faluma, DO NOT touch this one at all. For the rest of you, the tune will have you moving throughout its 3:57 complete with the first half nearly completely in live form. It is absolutely the most addictive and wonderful tracks you will ever hear and worth the price of admission here and on any other album on which it may appear.



The balance of Soca Queen is made up of tunes which together create a very very fun experience, particularly later in the album. Check the rather clever My Space, which seems like such a logical combination of pop culture and Soca and Hinds definitely tells her fans how to keep in touch with her. One of the real standouts besides the big two is the awesome Caution. The tune has arguably been Hinds' biggest hit of the year 2007 (when you count Roll It as a 2006 track). Its ever so SLIGHTLY toned back from some of the other tracks you'll hear which gives it a nice smooth vibe and keeps it from being overwhelming at times ( and Soca is the PERFECT music which can sometimes become overwhelming). Caution is definitely a big tune, have to check that one out here, and actually, due to my ultra familiarity with Faluma and Roll It, Caution has probably received the most spins on my players from the album. Another track which DEFINITELY needs to be mentioned is The Show which is. . . an Alison Hinds show. It shows her in probably her best light as you definitely need to get to see her live show if you haven't to date. The song itself is all over the place and pretty much a medley where she does covers and free flows; its just a very good time! And there are several more good times to be had on Soca Queen. The song immediately following The Show, In the Name of Love is another one. You've heard the song before its almost a gospel/Caribbean standard and Hinds' take on it is absolutely wonderful and won't slow down your vibe at all from the previous tracks. Neither will the two tracks which follow it. Soca Nation is a track which just about ties the entire year together nicely. Its your stereotypically addictive big sounding soca tune. It says a lot, not only about Alison Hinds, but the genre as a whole when you have a sound which you can clearly identify and is evident on so many tracks, and yet it seemingly never wears thin. It may overwhelm, as I mentioned, but if you truly love the vibes, you CAN'T tire of that vibe. The same can be said for Soca Nation, definitely a very nice addition as the album winds down. The last straight tune, Togetherness is almost over the top and I still love the song. As far as the big sound, its definitely the biggest on the album and a very nice way to set up the closeout.



I should mention the real changeup on Soca Queen which is Island Girl. Island Girl is about as pop like as Hinds has ever gotten that I've heard, and at times doesn't even really sound like her (her voice is something also to be discussed, she is equally comfortable djaying or singing and when she pushes her voice to its brink, which is probably most evident on the excellent track Ladies Rule, it is truly a beautiful thing!). Its not anywhere near being my choice of one of the best on the album either, but it's just a very nice addition of a song with a completely different style.



Overall, love this one. Had this one appeared even as recently as six months ago, it might have been a five star piece, at the absolute height of Roll It Gal's popularity. As it is, it still ranks with the best of the year and definitely one of the biggest surprises. I always have a hard time recommending Soca albums to non Soca fans, as the music on an entire album's worth of music can certainly break you down! But in sound alone, fans of pop and techno might actually be able to appreciate the vibes and it helps that Hinds isn't exactly overwhelming as say a Denise Belfon and has a pop/r&b element to her vibes. But this one is for the Soca heads, you'll absolutely love it, packed full of enough vibes fitting for a Queen."