The "Galore" rhythm is a collaboration between
Leftside and Echo of the Pacemaker Muzik collective, and as dancehall rhythms go, it's a fairly interesting one. It's built on a hesitant midtempo beat and a dark, slightly Middle Eastern-flavored tonality, with subtle but ominous gunshot accents. You would expect a backing track of this type to bring out similarly dark and serious toasting from the assembled DJs, but in fact the predominant themes here are slackness and goofiness:
Leftside and Echo's own "Wine Up Pon Her" and Dr. Evil's "More Punanny" are both unapologetically smarmy, as is
Lady Saw (predictably enough) on the rather amusing "Bed Noise." Idonia's "Chicken Head" is silly without being especially funny, while
Beenie Man and
Wayne Marshall disappoint with the lackluster "How Yuh Di Dis," which really should have been a highlight track but is instead a sad example of two accomplished pros phoning it in. The best moments are provided by
Marshall on his solo track, the slamming "I Forgot Them," and by
Buju Banton, whose lyrical singjay performance on "Go Slow" sets a high standard that too few others on this collection are able to meet. All in all,
Galore is an acceptable album but far from the brightest moment in the series. ~ Rick Anderson