Entertainment

JCDC popular songs 'Buss Out'

Cover for JCDC popular song 2005. - contributed

'BUSS OUT' IS the best name that the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission could give to their popular song competition album for 2005, because the tunes completely break away from tradition.

In keeping with the shifting focus of the competition, this year's 10 finalists 'bus out' from the traditional festival' sentiment of the songs that usually enter the competition.

Instead, they tackle, discuss, or make some observation of prevalent issues and situations in today's Jamaican society. Name the issue, one of the 10 tunes tackles it.

The titles are all giveaways as well.

'Senseless Killings', 'Give I Protection', 'Destructive Weapon', and 'Poverty' are all examples of the range of issues which this year's set of acts tackle in the album.

Cultural

The artistes went cultural on this one, with the only exception being 'Don't Leave', a love tale .

The commentary ranges from senseless killings, to drugs and guns, to destructive weapons, to poverty, and all the other ills which make life in Jamaica what it is.

On the production side, the values are encourageable, with the majority making use of live rhythms for the tunes.

Production credits come from some known names in the business as well, which give the album a Roots Reggae feel. Syl Gordon, Sly Dunbar and Paul 'Wrongmove' Crosdale are only three of the Reggae certified names which appear on credits to give the album its authentic Reggae feel.

Were it not for the 'festival' connotation attached to the songs, they could have made their way through the regular Reggae routes to recognition.

The delivery of a few of the acts could have been better.

In 'Poverty', for example, the lead vocalist seems shaky at times. In 'Don't Leave' Lil Joe's vocals at times get blended too much into the chorus of the track, making it difficult to hear the lyrics.

The songs are good nonetheless, and the blame probably could be placed at their relative freshness to the recording game.

Generally, the package is a credible collectible. It may be a drastic shift from tradition, but considering the secular trends in our music, the messages of these tunes make them worthy of listenership.