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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Very Special Moment. . . , August 19, 2008
There are so very few artists these days who can literally stop traffic on the reggae `highway' each and every time they bring forward a new project. This rather elite (and eclectic) group of artists are, with very few exceptions, consists of the industry's top names as well as a few who have just earned an entire wealth of respect and popularity through other means (such as longevity and just making downright GREAT music consistently). With these artists, because reggae music is such a particular and discerning genre (especially on the album side), virtually every other album on the shelf (even sometimes artists from each other) become all but invisible when they're new pieces reach the shelves and yet they all tend to bring notoriety to the genre overall, be it from international attention or just through receiving the majority of the hardcore reggae heads' attentions. Currently, of course, the two most well known names on the list are reigning international reggae superstars Damian Marley and Sean Paul who essentially replace the long reigning (yet honestly underappreciated from the hardcore reggae community) Shaggy as THE names of reggae music internationally. Whenever a new Sean Paul album reaches he is all but guaranteed to sell a couple of millions of records, he will tour the entire world endlessly and whether you like it (or even respect it) drawing more and more potential fans (and thus, potential money) to the dancehall when new fans try to discover if he is actually the greatest champion of the genre. On the other hand, Marley, although he will not sell as much as Sean Paul, will harvest some of the same crop of fans and yet another group: While Sean Paul makes (and has always made) a very pop and international friendly brand of dancehall, which of course serves the younger crowd to a currently unapproachable degree from reggae, Marley will attract the older fans who look for a bit of spice in there music and almost PRIDE themselves on their varying musical tastes (meaning the MATURE crowd, who, oddly enough, are usually R&B fans who don`t seem to translate well into Jr. Gong`s type of vibes). I will still place Shaggy in this group as well; also it is worth mentioning at this point that for the European audiences coming up stronger and stronger, maybe even German reggae monarch Gentleman as well. All of these artists will receive the lion's share of attention from the international crowd when it comes to actually buying reggae albums and if you like the vibes, whenever they reach, you will DEFINITELY be aware.
There are artists who lock off more of the hardcore reggae community when they deliver new albums. The Beenie Man's, the Bounty Killer's, the Elephant Man's and the Vybz Kartel's of the world are these type of artists who, although on a far smaller scale than Paul, Marley and company, probably have more of a LOCK on their audiences. Capleton and Lady Saw have perhaps been the prime examples of this over the years as they tend to take LONG breaks in between albums although they continue to build towards it (unlike Bounty who tends to reach with an album, whenever it suits him). However, definitely representing for that more MATURE crowd of hardcore reggae fans is and has always been the INCOMPARABLE Beres Hammond. If you like reggae and you don't like Beres Hammond's music, then you don't really like reggae! If you could actually personify modern reggae music it would come out in three figures: One would undoubtedly be a Capleton/Sizzla Bobo Ashanti cast figure casting fire and condemnation upon the wicked; a next figure would be of the Assassin/Busy Signal representing the current trend of the youth in the dancehalls and the last wouldn't be a figure AT ALL; It would actually BE Beres Hammond himself, going for a stroll in his trademark old hat. Even more so than the Messenjah himself, Luciano, Beres Hammond has been the most CONSISTENT performer in Jamaican reggae music over the past fifteen years without a doubt as he continues to DEFINE the current lover's rock era by spinning RIDICULOUSLY lovely songs which have captivated Jamaicans, young and old for nearly three generations and ultimately giving anything bearing his name a VERY LOFTY status to live up to. Beres Hammond maintains his bigman status internationally through touring big tours every year (usually with the equally legendary Marcia Grifiths), with a new album or not and apparently the call and the demand for his presence remains exceedingly high all over the world. He also hasn't exactly hurt himself with a semi-steady stream of albums coming for (like Capleton, like Beenie Man, like (partially) Sean Paul & Elephant Man, like Bounty Killer, like Assassin, like (now) Vybz Kartel & Busy Signal and (up until last year) like Lady Saw) VP Records, the largest Caribbean music label in the world. It's been a VERY LONG four years since Beres Hammond has released an album and now he and VP team up again to deliver his much anticipated follow-up to 2004's wonderfully done Love Has No Boundaries (itself a follow-up to 2001's even better Music Is Life), the BEAUTIFUL A Moment In Time. And, as I mentioned and as is the case whenever Hammond releases an album, A Moment In Time IMMEDIATELY becomes THE reggae album to get amongst hardcore reggae fans all over the world, replacing the last biggest album, roots songbird Etana's outstanding debut, The Strong One (wouldn't a Beres and Etana combination be a good thing now?), also from VP. A Moment In Time is an album, pretty much like all of Hammond's pieces which simply goes to fortify and reinforce his place in the music as it is a bonafide winner from beginning to end and even though it may not be his best material to date, it is still MORE than lives up to its grand expectations.
As is usually the case for Beres Hammond's albums, he mans the board and handles the production himself (which may explain the long wait in between) and the music he chooses is ALWAYS not only top notch, but very fitting for his vibes as well and A Moment In Time is definitely no exception. Getting things started is the album's first single the DIVINE I Feel Good. If you wanted to play a song for someone who didn't know who Beres Hammond was and really wasn't a fan of reggae music then you should play (pretty much ANYTHING he's recorded over the past twelve years) (but especially) I Feel Good! The tune is SO easily quintessential Beres Hammond with the ultra laid back vibes and slight tip of the cap of acknowledgement to the old school vibes just cut and mixed together for a chunk of lover's rock BRILLIANCE! I'm always so interested in artists like Hammond on an album in particularly which tune the label chooses to push. I would think on his albums especially making a selection is quite difficult (again, because of his overall consistency), but even though I don't regard I Feel Good as the finest effort here (I'd probably call it second or third, which lets you know my opinion of the quality on A Moment In Time), it easily shines as a very commercially viable and spinable tune for the legend (and yes, it will make you feel good). Next up is an even bigger tip of the cap to the old school lover's rock and a bit more danceable vibe with the wicked No Good Bye. No Good Bye is one SWEET SWEET tune! The tune delivers the common situation of a troubled relationship that has just been through so much and yet you can't let it go completely, you can't say goodbye. The most memorable piece of the tune is an extended vocal-less portion in the middle where Hammond just flat out begins talking, almost as if he has just COMPLETELY LOST the tune! Ever the veteran, he regains his spot and completes one of the most impressive numbers on a well impressive set. Completing the opening is the least impressive of the first three, but still a sure winner, the somewhat `poppish' Picking Up The Pieces. I like this tune A LOT more now than I did initially (and if I came back in a week, I'd probably like it even more then), it really has grown on me. The one thing it does have going for it is that of the early tunes here it's definitely the one where Hammond shows the most BEAUTIFUL vocal changes throughout. Excellent way to start the album altogether.
One of the first things that caught my eyes just looking at the Tracklist even before digging into A Moment In Time was definitely the lack of an official combination. For someone like Hammond who has made a big reputation out working VERY well with several artists throughout the years, especially Buju Banton, I did vex that he didn't link one up here (especially when VP would have had access to the criminally underplayed and EXCELLENT LoveSounds alongside dancehall songbird Alaine). However, what is certain to catch ears and maybe even make you overlook that small fact is the presence of a RIDICULOUS tune here by the name of Still Will Be Heaven! The tune is a lover's rock song for lover's, simply put. If you are in love this song will make you even more in love and if you aren't it will make you wish that you were! Hammond basically says if he didn't have ANYTHING, if the world didn't have ANYTHING, as long as he has his woman, all would be well. Indeed! Still Will Be Heaven stands as the finest thing you'll find on A Moment In Time and luckily this `moment' lasts for another ten tracks. Maybe the best of those ten and definitely the most interesting is the very nice Taking Africa. Taking Africa is a lover's tune of another kind of love: The love of home. And while Hammond hasn't traditionally been known for his conscious vibes, what he does is take the conscious tune and place it within his range and scope and the results are wonderful. Some developing nation in the Motherland would be wise to maybe adopt the tune as a tune to attract tourists definitely, as going home never sounded so sweet (the tune even takes a more `chanting' style of vibes with...
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Modern-Day Classic, November 1, 2008
This album is a complete masterpiece. Beres apparently took a lot of time to make sure to remind us who he was and the legacy he intends to establish in the music world. Every single has meaning and purpose. The introductory track gives a "feel good" vibe (pun intended) for loyal listeners. He grabs a hold of the gospel genre in "I'll Live Again", a song destined to inspire many who listen to it. Beres echoes songs of resilience and support in "Can't Say I Never Tried" and "Cry No More", offering solace to those in like situations. All of the tracks dabble in various genres, pleasing to every member of his diverse fan base, offering a pleasant flavor to each and every listener. Every song is a hit in its own right and I challenge you to press the "next track" button at any time while this album is in rotation. In my opinion, this may arguably be Beres' best album because of the wide range he touches. These words come from a fan without bias, but an appreciation of phenomenal music. I can only hope that there is more to come of this remarkable music from this unique icon of (Reggae) music. Thank you, Beres.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Greatest singer of all times, October 12, 2009
This is a great CD and the video is a bonus! I sometimes play the video in my Pioneer DVD/CD payer so that I can listen to great music and see a show at the same time. Beres has many more hit CD's incase you were wondering. I am his No.1 fan!
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by Beres Hammond 
