|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Where Have You Gone Chukki Starr?. . .,
By Achis (Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM) - See all my reviews
This review is from: From Crime To Kodesh (MP3 Download)
(4.5stars)Over the past few years I've seemingly all but LOST contact (along with the rest of the reggae listening world) with several very strong, or potentially strong, talents. There have just been so many names that for one reason or another have basically fallen off the map, whether or not we will get to see them again is another question which remains to be seen. Oddly enough, perhaps the one who was first and foremost in my mind over the past two or three years was young dancehall DJ Reagan. I don't know exactly what happened to the young talented DJ with a style which was definitely one of the most original I'd seen in a VERY long time for a dancehall artist and now he has apparently VANISHED from the dancehall scene. And he would have fit so PERFECTLY alongside the current young heavyweights of the dancehall as the (potentially VERY successful) `odd man out'. There's also, of course, VC who is actually more of a one hit wonder, and to my knowledge, wasn't actually an artist. However, WHOEVER it was that crafted the genius that was the MASSIVE By His Deeds (and it was VC), would seem to be capable of producing at least something else which the masses would enjoy definitely. I can also recall the name of Yahadanai, a chanter on the Virgin Island reggae scene, from out of Guyana (like Arkaingelle currently). Yaha, in my opinion, fit quite nicely in the vibes at the time and while I predict that we'll PROBABLY see him return at some point, he could have done quite a bit of work in establishing his name in the four years its been from he brought forward his downright AWESOME debut album, One Atonement. And there is Queen Majeeda who entranced MANY on the strength of her still WICKED Gye Nyame tune, again, I don't know what's happened with the Queen, but myself and a few who really knew the strength on that tune will definitely leave a light on for she. Thankfully, some have returned after extended breaks from the music; such as Prince Malachi recently with the BIG album One Perfect Love; Bajan soca superstar Rupee, who hasn't enjoyed a full blown COMEBACK, inasmuch as he has more so enjoyed a return to form with his recent wonderful season this year; and probably the biggest of them all, Junior Reid has basically just inserted himself as a crucial voice in today's landscape of reggae music after nearly a quarter decade of making music (same thing can be said about Mykal Rose). All of these artists will potentially ALWAYS have a place in reggae (or soca) music for as long as they make music, whether they want it or not. Another name to add to the all but MIA list (at least for me) is DEFINITELY that of Chukki Starr. These days the only representation you can catch in my players are singers like Peter Hunnigale, Peter Spence and OF COURSE, Lloyd Brown. Those artists make a brand of reggae circa 1970 with dazzling and addictive lover's rock style vibes which I have definitely come to appreciate over the last year or so. Chukki Starr was none of that. He was an artist who had his own vibes and sound and would've fit more closely, by comparison, to his Jamaican peers such as Sizzla, Junior Kelly, and even, at times, Beenie Man. Chukki Starr has a style which is much more modern and for me, it just caught me. Generally bordering somewhere between dancehall and roots, Starr doesn't ALWAYS (and this is pretty rare now that I think of it) even bother to use a spiritual platform or basis for his conscious tracks, he just chants (usually in a DJ style) for the betterment and upliftment of the world for the sake of doing good (and even when he does, such as on this album, the results are still more than just wicked at times) which is a good thing still and definitely original for the vibes. His delivery itself as well is quite refreshing as there is obviously a bit of hip-hop in his tones and cadence; it almost appears at times that he simply just starts talking on the riddim, seemingly to worry about rhyming and following the riddim later on in the tune. As for his whereabouts, he is apparently still relatively active in the UK, although international heads (of which I am one when talking about the IUK) don't really get to hear the vibes. He did `threaten' to return full force in Jamaica a couple of years ago as he voiced tunes for Stephen `di Genius' McGregor's riddims, the Ghetto Whiskey and the Red Bull and Guinness, but Starr apparently took that momentum, packed it in his luggage and returned home to the UK. Previously, he had been quite active in pushing his vibes internationally, bringing (by my count) five albums in his name beginning with 1998's very nice Ghetto Youth's Livity for once mighty UK label Ariwa Sounds. Three years later he did the double duty dropping Forever Shall Praise (the only album of his which I don't own) for a French label and this album as well. Then in 2003, there was Starr's very nice True Guidance, again for Ariwa (which featured the AWESOME lover's piece Hold Me Now, and has recently been re-released apparently, definitely check that one out); and he last reached international ears in an album form in 2005 with his Jet Star follow-up, Can't Stop It, another big album. His first effort for the once powerful (and now, also seemingly all but VANISHED) Jet Star was definitely the best all around effort of Chukki Starr's career, From Crime to Kodesh, which featured several of the tunes which have become quite popular internationally for various reasons. The album also, for me, came at somewhat of a stagnant point where I just looking for something different in the vibes (and it was to Jet Star I ran as they were doing some very nice things as the time, which makes their apparent COLLAPSE, all the more disheartening just over five years later (and I would actually say they were at least lagging as early as 2005 probably)) and it was Chukki Starr! From Crime to Kodesh is a little known GEM of an album certain to impress and entertain reggae fans of all varieties on some level all the way through its fifteen tracks. From Crime to Kodesh is PROBABLY also the most easily found album of Chukki Starr's career as well (I've actually seen it in Jamaican stores in CD form) and THANKFULLY now for those interested whoever remains at Jet Star (or whoever has purchased their catalogue) has apparently been digitizing and opening their VERY respectable vault of tunes (get that Ras Ites album out here next guys). Beginning this BOSS album after a brief intro is the first of two consecutive and three altogether (technically four, but one is a remix) signature tracks by which you can actually characterize the vibes of the total album, the BIG knowledge tune Nallage. It took me quite awhile to pinpoint exactly where I had heard this riddim before, it is the same WONDERFULLY stringy backing which played for Queen Omega's (who sings backup throughout From Crime to Kodesh) Warning alongside Capleton and Sizzla from Mickey D & Doc Marshall (who produce the majority of the album) and can ultimately be traced back to the legendary Garnet Silk`s Hard Nut to Crack. While Starr DEFINITELY has HUGE shoes to fill after those who banged up the riddim before him, what he does on Nallage is deliver a highly tangible yet spiritual and NECESSARY message for the people and its really vibes like this tune which makes me feel the man could really do major damage in Jamaica. BIG tune and obviously one of FCtK's best efforts overall. Next is the second of three signature tracks for the album, the wonderful anthem-like Revelation Time. When you come away from listening to this album the one chorus and lasting message which will probably be stuck in your head is Starr chanting `REVELATION TIIIIIIIME YAY!'. Besides being blessed with a very strong message; that things need to change and they need to change NOW, Revelation Time from a musical standpoint also impresses as it shows Starr's ability to push a message as well as remaining entertaining and melodic at the same time which is quite rare (edutainment they call it). Completing From Crime to Kodesh's opening is definitely the most eye-catching of the first three tunes, the solid Love One Another which features Starr alongside Jamaican chanter Jah Mason. Its quite interesting just how well the two styles mesh on the tune as Starr's typical range doesn't lie too far from one of the Mason's dozen or so and at times you just lose track of who's who. Mason does eventually turn up the heat and the result is the two pushing what is unquestionably the biggest SURPRISE of the album. The third standout track on the album is also the album's second of three combinations and its biggest tune altogether for my opinion., the BIG My Only Joy alongside the aforementioned veteran Jamaican chanter Junior Kelly. What really takes the tune to the heights is the simple pace of the tune (honestly you can't find much difference, in terms of quality between My Only Joy and Love One Another). It has a very simple, very NATURAL vibes to it, like the two just showed up at the studio at the same time and decided to voice it. The tune speaks of a world where people of Afrikan descent (especially the youths) realize and take full control of our potential and powers, truly, My Only Joy (produced by Starr`s own Starrdom Products imprint and it was on Kelly`s Jet Star album at the time as well, the excellent Conscious Voice). HUGE TUNE. The other combination here, Heartbreaker which features rarely seen Jamaican singer Ronnie Thwaites, is all but harmless and FAR much more of a showcase for the always impressive (but obviously ABSENT-MINDED as he can't find his way to the studio much in awhile) veteran underground singer. The balance of FCtK more than well supports the big tracks on the album as the album unrolls with some VERY strong material. Check the note to those who can't seem to keep themselves focused on their own affairs, Bad Mind & Envy. The tune... Read more ›
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Passionate about music?
Learn more at SoundUnwound, the personal music encyclopedia, or challenge your friends with our music quizzes.
|
