The accepted norm to know a singer or an artiste’s worth is the reeling out of an LP or an album. In Nigeria today, there is more concentration from artistes in spewing out single after single in the silent bid that one just might be the hit they have been craving for.
P-Square is a group that defies logic in this game of from single to album. There is this midas touch from these boys that just keeps everybody in awe.
Hate ‘em, Love ‘em, they are one of the very few professionals left in this dispensation.
As
an OAP, I play back to back hit songs for 6hours Monday to Friday, and I
now want to take a critical look at albums that have come out recently
so as to know why the craze for singles short of albums which is every
artiste’s nightmare.
This is a review of Psquare’s 6TH album DOUBLE TROUBLE.
Track 1: SHEKINI
An
‘African Jungle Beat’ as I term it, popularised the likes of Davido’s
‘AYE/SKELEWU’,Runtown’s ‘GALLARDO’ etc. It’s a beat with a waist winding
push and prompts to mind the wave of the SHOKI/SKELEWU/SEKEM dance. The
joker about this track is that the Igbo boys that isPsquare actually
sang the hook in impeccable Yoruba. Attention grabbing track for an
album opener.
Track 2: MISSING YOU
A
nice highlife track. I believe Sunny Neji is one ingredient missing
from this track. It has its upbeat swing that brings in the vintage
Psquare flavour. Guys, make sure you are not missing your lady when
listening to this track.
Track 3: BRING IT ONft DAVE SCOTT
A
personal favourite. An initial 20 second listen of this track from the
start would leave you guessing if it’s a foreign track. Featuring Dave
Scott, a hitherto unknown
American singer from Texas. Listening to this mid tempo pop track with
its undulating beat, apart from its message of hope, voice artistry
comes into play here. The harmony of Dave’s voice and that of Psquare is
absolutely timed and mind blowing. Rudeboy himself solely produced this
one, and that would be Paul Okoye!
Track 4: MMS(Mugu Money Spender)
You
just have to give it to the power of the African Jungle Beat yet again.
It seems as if Psquare are being penitent from the carefree ‘CHOP MY
MONEY’ frenzy and are now wise with the way money is to be spent.
LOL.Hardcorebassline accompanies this yet another dance track to the wave of Skelewu/Shoki/Sekem dance step.
Track 5: IFEOMA
If
you know Psquare, this is another vintage track with a pleading message
of love assisted with a mix of highlife and uptempo reggae. The
bassline too just grabs my attention. Guys, this is another song you
could use to win your sweethearts back. But please tell her that when
she hears IFEOMA being called out in the song she should replace it with
her own name in her head o!
Track 6: EJEAJO ft TI
Now
this is a track with a Yoruba phrase ‘EJEAJO’ which means ‘Let’s dance’
.Psquare takes us back to the swinging 80’s soul train era with this
intense pop tune. Personally, I believe Jermaine Jackson would have fit
into this track because the American rapper T.I rap comes up short. It’s
a nice experiment and would hit the reminiscing over 35’s. Good back up video though.
Track 7: COLLABO ft DON JAZZY
Funnily
enough Don Jazzy didn’t produce this track. Another African Jungle Beat
with good vibes from the collabo of Psquare and Don Jazzy, produced by
Oscar. Chicks love this jam. Beware if a chick sings it to you!
Track 8: OGADIGIDE
I
was expecting to hear Flavour’s input in this track because this is
just down his alley. Inspiring track in igbo chorus whose title means ‘
It will last forever’. A fine blend of highlife and African Jungle Beat.
Track 9: NO BE JOKE
Rhythm and Blues slow tempo with a good bassline, aligning drumbeats and a blend of the Pqsuare trademark voice.
Track 10: ENEMY SOLOft AWILO LONGOMBA
No
doubt this song is geared at haters and probably was structured to make
them dance when they hear it hence the makossabeat . The track’s
authenticity is heightened with the inclusion of the Makossa maestro
AWILO LOGOMBA who did justice with his own rendition in his Congolese
dialect from the start of the song. On point for makossa lovers,
Track 11: SARI SARI
Another
up tempo highlife song depicting love to a girl. This dance tracks
shows the dexterity of Psquare being able switch from pidgin to igbo
then English with a smooth flow. Love the guitar solos though.
Track 12: ZOMBIE ft Jermaine Jackson
Okay,
this is where I have a little bit of bother. Is it the Michael
Jackson-like wail his brother Jermaine added throughout this track? Or
is it that the track is a stylish mix of Afrobeat and pop? Or is it that
it sounds like an experimental sound? I think this is the track T.I
should have featured in to add that rap feel. This song was produced
solely by Mr P and that would be Peter Okoye!
Track 13: IJE LOVE
This
is the track you would dedicate to that special woman in your life. I
can see this track being played at wedding reception because of its up
tempo nature and infusion of highlife
BONUS TRACKS THAT INITAILLY CAME OUT AS SINGLES:
TESTIMONY- In which some market men and women use in opening their shops in Lagos,
PERSONALLY- The video made Jermaine interested in Psquare
ALINGO- A song with a dance to it.
*MY RATINGS: Good effort!*
I am going to be reviewing some albums that came out recently next and I am going to call a spade a spade!
So if you want an album reviewed, which would you like?
OSAM.
culled from lindaikeji
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