Album Review
Genre: Roots
Format: CD Album
Reviewer: Jonas Bæk
Added: Thu, Oct 29, 2009
Tarrus Riley ››
Contagious
Tarrus Riley suddenly appeared out of nowhere in 2006 with the refreshing and stunningly impressive roots album Parables from VP Records. Parables resulted in one of the absolute best album of 2006 and highly critically acclaimed worldwide. Now three years later, we write 2009, and a new album from Riley is available from VP Records, this time it’s called Contagious and contagious it is indeed.
Contagious begins were Parables ended with solid roots tunes produced by veteran producer Dean Fraser, which has resulted in a similar sound as Parables with focus on the groove and the horn sections (Fraser is a heavily used reggae saxophonist) but also the impressive conscious and unique voice by Riley.
With an impressive 18 track album, Contagious never seem to be only one of those singles compilations which has been seen on so many other albums from Jamaica these days. Contagious feels like a recording session only made to create this fantastic album. Filled with extremely well written songs like the opening track Living the Life of a Gun, the soulful tune Superman and one of my favorites Good Girls Gone Bad featuring the upcoming deejay Konshens and produced by one of the most exciting new producers coming out of Jamaica these days, Tarik 'Russian' Johnston and Cleveland 'Brixton' Scott from Headconcussion Productions. (Look out for this name)
Contagious is on the list of the very best reggae albums in 2009 – and definitely something you need to have in your collections. I for one enjoyed every bit of the album.
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