Search - Junior Kelly :: Smile

Smile, Just Smile

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 09/04/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tracklist
1. I Nah Bow
2. Just Another Blend
3. African Bound
4. Baby Can We Meet
5. Smile
6. Take Me There
7. Till the Soil
8. Black Am I
9. Youth Dem Scared
10. Do Them Something
11. Sinking Feeling
12. Never Let You Down
13. Running From the Law
14. Cant Meditate
15. Truthful
16. TrodJunior Kelly had kind of found this nearly perfect blend where he will never ever, produce a bad album. NEVER! Smile follows just perfectly in the line of his albums. Smile is a really nice album. The opener, I Nah Bow, is about as mighty as Junior Kelly can get, beautifully crafted message on that one, just really nicely done. The title cut, in my opinion the best track, is a really mellow, nicely done track, and i have to give VP the credit for the packaging because it totally captures the mood on the record. Also check Take Me There with up and coming Calibe, kind of an R&B style combination, but keep an eye out for Calibe in the future. Love Just Another Blend, Baby Can We Meet, Till the Soil and Trod. I hope that this album gets somewhat of a push from VP, its similar to Anthony B's Street Knowledge which didnt get too much of a push, but the market is up for a really good roots album, along with Turbulence's new albums, Junior Kelly's Smile might be the one. Check it out."

Still Trying To Like It

Achis | 09/05/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Firstly, this is just MY opinion. You should listen and decide for yourself, especially if you already like Junior Kelly's music.In terms of instrumentals, I like more contemporary sounding conscious reggae. So When I compare "Smile" to Jah Cure's Ghetto Life or any of Sizzla's last few albums, I'm just not feeling this sound. The production sounds a bit prepackaged. There are the typical remixes of ole school beats and that traditional reggae sound. This may be a good thing for you but I'm bored with it. Capleton had the same sound on his last album, which came out a few years ago. It was good back then and some of the songs I can still groove to, but I can't listen to the entire album without wanting to skip some tracks. I do like Junior Kelly's lyrics and his dilvery is sometimes satisfying. Some remixes would probably help my listening experince or maybe I need to give it a few more listens."