Scheme a Things

Midnite | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 4, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rastafaria
• ASIN: B00020HBEG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #205,982 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

10 TRACKS: 1) Words Ov Right 2) Scheme A Things 3) Lianess 4) Bazra 5) Jahbok Wha Ova Come 6) Babylon Dem Copy 7) Respek Dem Een 8) Jah Feed I 9) Strongly 10) Wher Are They Now

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Midnite does it again, December 21, 2004

By 

Jdubbs "Natural Mystic" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scheme a Things (Audio CD)

Midnite has been around for some years now, and really starting to gain popularity and momentum, if the sold-out clubs and of their last tour were any indication. And this album shows that their studio performances are just as good as their live shows.

The album starts with a slow buildup, the jazzy and beautiful "Words ov Right," and by the time the the massive one-drop songs "Lianess" and "Bazra" come, one remembers exactly why Midnite is one of the best acts in all of music today.

Another really strong track is "Respek Dem Een," an incredible chanting tune led by the vocals of Vaughn Benjamin, the premier vocalist and lyricist, who is at once enchanting and complex.

Even better is another album released at the same time on Midnite's own African Roots label, called "Ainshant Maps."

Once one hears Midnite, most other reggae becomes obsolete, that's how far ahead of everybody they are. Catch them live if you can, it's an incredible experience.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mythic in the Midnite, December 8, 2008

By 

Ibo Changa (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scheme a Things (Audio CD)

My wife and I have just completed the process renting a jeep on our travel experience to St. John, USVI ([...] was a wonderful eco-green vacation) and we noticed an advertisement stapled on the telephone pole about a live outdoor reggae CD release concert---Sunday, August 13, 2007---for [...] musical artists Abja, Niyorah and Pressure. I removed the flyer and placed it inside of my backpack for safekeeping. Several beautiful vacation days have passed in St. John and the night for the VI-Style Roots-Rock-Reggae Concert has come. The reggae artists Abja, Niyorah and Pressure roots-rocked the conscious party on a warm Caribbean clear moonlit and star filled sky. At the end of the concert, my wife and I purchased Abja (Mahogany Road) and Niyorah's (Purification Session) compact disk. A week after listening and enjoying the critical and uplifting lyrics on Abja and Niyorah's compact disk when we returned to the States, I went to their website and learned about several other reggae musical artists who sang political, spiritual and cultural lyrics. The exceptionally designed [...] website allows you to listen to a few songs of an artist that were selected for audio sampling from the beginning to the end. The first song I audio sampled of Midnite it reminded me of the first time I heard a complete Bob Marley song. The songs went straight to my heart and soul---their Rasta spirit, powerful 2/4 reggae beat and gutsy lyrics were infectious. I sampled several other of Midnite's compact disk on viroots.com website and was elated that a new crop of serious reggae musicians had arrived with a similar passion and soul as Bob Marley's Tuff Gong in the 1970's. Midnite of the US Virgin Island (St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas) reflects that reggae started in Jamaica but other people in the world of Africa descent can do reggae too. (You may start it but you do not own it.) Ife and I were fortunate to experience Midnite at S.O.B.'s in NY; Bob Marley's 60th Birthday Tribute, February 6, 2005. In addition, we experienced Midnite in Philly, Oct 10, 2006. If you can experience a live, in living color Midnite concert do it, and purchase his compact disk, also. Midnite's Artistic Talent, Human Development and Ras-Spiritual Consciousness will touch and move you deeply. He is a Mystic Vibe Midnite Rastaman from VIROOTS Reggae. Listen, Learn--and Live Positively--in this Time and into the Future.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Midnite Departs from Roots Reggae, January 8, 2008

By 

Robby Raeford (Greensboro, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scheme a Things (Audio CD)

Ok, let's even out the reviews here. "Unpolished" by Midnite is a brilliant album, as well as "Ras Mek Peace". These two albums represent Midnite at its rawest, roots-based approach that they have absolutely mastered. These deserve 5 stars, no questions. However good "Scheme of Things" may be, it does not deserve the recognition of these two aformentioned works. "Scheme of Things" is somewhat of a departure. At this point in the prolific recording output of the group we see a move towards more dancehall oriented productions that rely more on the studio wisardry of modern technology than the bare-bones or 'unpolished' sound of their first recordings.

"Lioness" and "Bazra" are two of the stronger tracks here, but honestly they do not live up to the supremely beutiful melodies and lyrics of previous works. The biggest problem with this album as well as other later works (including albums released as Midnite-I-Grade) is consistensy. As Midnite tightens the arrangements, adds drum machines, increases albums to 18 tracks versus previous 10 song releases, the quality suffers. Let's hope that Midnite rediscovers their roots, but I do not disagree that they are phenomenal live!