Search - Bushman :: Get It in Your Mind

But Maybe I'm Being Too Hard On Him. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 05/25/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When the question of making reggae music comes to a discussion of SKILL, there are certain artists (and producers) who I tend to hold to a much higher level of quality standard than most other artists. This rather small group of artists doesn't exactly have to include (but it usually does) my own personal favourites, its strictly a matter of anyone who has functioning ears and an ever so slight taste of reggae music can distinguish INCREDIBLY skilled artists versus not so skilled artists. Over the years there have been a few artists who fit into this category which oddly enough doesn't include many ultra-well known/stars. The one exception to the rule has definitely been Beenie Man in the dancehall. For nearly a quarter century Beenie Man has been dropping hits in dancehall music to the level where EVERY other artist (on paper) has to step aside to the Doctor. If there was ever a person who understood what dancehall music and what the dancehall LIFESTYLE was comprised of, it is Beenie, thus, every track which he produces is subject to a very high level of critique (and despite his controversies throughout the years, even under the most discerning of eyes, Beenie has done quite well). Others still in the dancehall such as General Degree and Mad Cobra I hold to a similar level of quality production. Cobra: Because of the type of tune in which he specializes, the badman songs, he has no equal; and Degree because, alongside Beenie Man himself I doubt ANY other artist from this current era has had a greater FEEL for dancehall music and lifestyle than the diminutive General. In the roots spectrum it has definitely been a bit different. My absolute favourite roots artist, Sizzla, doesn't even fall into this category (Sizzla may actually be the one artist who, because of my love of the vibes, I tend to ADMITTEDLY take it easy on). Artists over the years such as Luciano, Everton Blender, definitely Yami Bolo and more recently Lutan Fyah all make a brand of roots music which consistently demonstrates, not only a high level of SKILL in the vibes, but a high level of overstanding as well. Thus, anytime they come with a tune which may not be on point, in my opinion, it is much more substantial of a disappointment than an equally well known, but far less consistent artist, such as Capleton or (THE UNDISPUTED KING OF ROOTS REGGAE INCONSISTENCY) Turbulence. All of these artists, while maybe not reaching the `stratosphere' of reggae superstardom (and some of them definitely have), by reggae heads (myself included) are expected to maintain a level of consistency and quality with ANYTHING they touch (although I think I might be alone on the Beenie Man pick).



All of that being said, an artist who has definitely shown himself to be SUPREMELY skilled and talented (yet VERY hardworking and disciplined) and well representative of that class of artists has been Bushman. While not yet (and presumably he never will) achieving the level of stardom such as Luciano, Sizzla and Capleton in Jamaica, his place in reggae music is well respected as one of the premiere roots singers of the last decade. Asides from that, he has bolstered and continued to carry his standing due to a relatively steady stream of major and minor hits along the way. For the international audiences he has been well represented with albums as well. While not being to the level of prolificacy of many of his peers, the St. Thomas native can be counted on every two to three years or so to come with an album which (for the most part) is well indicative of someone of his talents. Many of his finer moments may have actually been unjustly owed to the more popular Luciano over the years (and I've hear people whom opinions I definitely respect call a Bushman tune, a Luciano tune incorrectly) as the two both employ a heavy and downright sublime baritone voice virtually built for making reggae music. As of late as well, names such as the streaking Natty King, the underappreciated Prince Theo and the ever-present Prince MalachI have also employed the style which has definitely led to all, with the exception of Luciano of course, having their tunes owed to the others. What mostly exemplifies Bushman's overall skill and definitely what has distinguished his vibes over the years has been his supreme commitment to his craft. Even though Bushman's early career was still very solid, you can lend a CONSISTENT and distinguishing ear to his earlier material and listen to him go through any tune nowadays and see an overall improvement. His first album was the critically acclaimed Nyah Man Chant for King Jammy (who was the first producer to really take an interest in Bushman) which was very solid but was followed by WICKED material in the form of back to back pieces for Jammy (and Ward 21 was involved in there as well) Total Commitment and the AWESOME Higher Ground (seriously one of the best albums ever made!) (I would also mention a very fine live release in there as well, Bushman Live At the Opera House). His most high-profile release to date was his last album, 2004's wicked Signs for VP (all three aforementioned albums were for Greensleeves) and there was also the only red flag along the way in the form of A Better Place in 2000 (re-released as My Meditation in 2003) which was (as he admits himself) just BAD. Its been now close to four years since the Signs release and definitely time for a new Bushman album and with his new album, Get It In Your Mind, he takes a rather unusual method. Instead of rejoining with VP (which I'm assuming was VP's doing, and because VP just bought Greensleeves, that's less unlikely and Artists Only, which released A Better Place is looooooooong gone to my knowledge), and instead of going Japanese which has proven very popular in recent times in reggae, Bushman was obviously SO confident in Get It In Your Mind, that he put it on his own dollar and makes it the first official release album on his Burning Bushes label. The result is one which not necessarily grabs my ears greatly, but is definitely interesting.



Get It In Your Mind is an album which almost exclusively built on the strength of being compiled of former singles voiced by the artist over the years (which makes it even a bit more odd as I would more expect him to release an album on his own were it compiled of new stuff he was very high on, but perhaps he has had the album built for quite awhile now). To be perfectly honest there are a few ABSOLUTE bangers here, but, again Bushman being. . . Bushman, he is definitely capable of better (and has shown better). Get It In Your Mind opens with one of the strongest stretches of the entire album beginning with the very impressive Singing My Song. The tune is a BIG big ode to reggae music (and music in general) which flows brilliantly over Fabian Francis' EPIC Undeniable riddim (which you'll know from having backed Capleton's MASSIVE tune of the same title). Singing My Song could fit in on any Bushman album at any point of time, it is seriously some of his best material ever, highlighted by his characteristically priceless baritone vocals. After an interlude (which is a brief clip of an interview with the artist, the first of two interludes), the next tune which steps forth is my choice for Get It In Your Mind's best tune overall, the AMAZING Rasta Nuh Dead. The tune flows on strong Good Times riddim for a few years ago (I believe 2003 actually) and is definitely a tune where you shouldn't allow yourself to fall into the vibes to the point of losing the biggest vibe which is the lyrics DEFINITELY! I've definitely heard tunes of the same line throughout the years (and so have you) but Bushman paints a picture for you which, if you happen to actually be a Rastafarian yourself, which I am, or an Afrikan or just a proud human being, just really hit's the soul as he says, "Rastafari is the food of my SALVATION!". BIG TUNE! Finishing the opening of the album is the interesting lover's piece, Source of Life. I feel that the tune could have been a bit better actually, as you listen to just the basic melody it follows, its quite impressive. However, Bushman never really seems to push the levels to the heights and when he does it doesn't last too long. it's the exact type of tune I mean which I'm harder on him because I know what he is capable of, take Source of Life and put it in Natty King's catalogue instead and I might be sitting here singing the praises of the tune. From Bushman, it could have been a better piece.



There are quite a few interesting tracks down the stretch of Get It In Your Mind, two of which, which definitely REALLY catch the ears are Can't Get the Best of Me and Born fi di Ting which are, for the most part, two straight forward dancehall pieces which is VERY rare for the singer. First is Can't Get the Best of Me, at least in my opinion, misses the mark almost completely and as soon as I heard it finish and heard Born fi di Ting I actually got a bit upset. BUT I WAS WRONG. Born fi di Ting is serious! Definitely one of the album's bigger tracks and I think I've actually heard the tune play a bit in Jamaica and over the Caribbean. The dancehall is one arena where Bushman, even at this advanced stage of his career, might be wise to invest more vibes of the variety of Born fi di Ting (instead of continuing his downright odd infatuation with country music which, thankfully, he ignores on this album for the most part). The other tune which immediately catches the ear on the album is a remake of the legendary Peter Tosh's Buk-In-Hamm Palace. The tune is a very nice update to the classic tune and Bushman more than does Tosh justice on the piece (he would be proud!). Bushman actually has had a few tunes which have been thought as Peter Tosh tunes (most notably was the BIG Lighthouse from the Signs album which I and everyone else who heard it just KNEW it had to be a new Tosh release) and he does sound quite like the Steppin' Razor on the tune. The other tune here which excites on first listen is Scent of a Man over Gibbo Gibbs hypnotic State of Emergency riddim (same riddim backed Lutan Fyah's BIG Wi Nuh Gangsta). The song speaks of a jilted lover catching his woman in a compromising situation. Still, although all those tunes will definitely attract a big case of attention for the album, they aren't really top notch tunes (with the exception of Born fi di Ting). What is `undeniably' top notch, however, is the album's second best piece overall, the WICKED Nuttin' Nah Gwaan, one of the newer pieces on the album, over the big vibed Jah Soul riddim from just 2007. I absolutely love the tune, it's a heavy rootical track which speaks about the troubles which cme with poverty and being poor and the negative things other people are doing to insure that people stay in the same conditions. Just a big tune and big vibes for the world, which you definitely need to check out. Lastly I'll mention the closer here, the only official combination (although there are a few tunes which sound like there are about six people singing at one time) on the album, Call On Jah which features US based singer Prince Jabba. You don't often hear Bushman in combinations (at all) with other singers, but the duo make a very nice vibes over the almost completely acoustic backing (with a very nice and subtle saxophone as well).



Overall, I really do feel (and know) that Bushman could have done a better vibes for his label's debut effort, but given the circumstances (that it actually is the first piece from his label) MAYBE I'll give it and Bushman a bit of a bligh for the next release. What I really would have like to see maybe is a bit more of Bushman's friends and younger talent coming forth and being present on the album (which would have meant more new material altogether) and definitely an appearance from longtime friend and wickedly underrated chanter, I-Lue as well. As it stands, Get It In Your Mind is probably a better indicator for the label Burning Bushes and what is to come, instead of Bushman himself. Maybe we can actually expect the label to do (if nothing else) more releases from the singer (wouldn't it be nice to see a yearly release from him!) and maybe even others as well. For Bushman, things get better than this, at his best he is a SHOCKING talent one which is definitely to be witnessed by all. Get It In Your Mind is almost exclusively recommended for hardened fans of the artist. For newer fans, if you must check it out, just know that the album just scratches the surface on what is REALLY Bushman's skill.



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