Since the 1970s, reggae has been associated with angrily socio-political lyrics and odes to the Rastafarian faith, but in fact, quite a bit of apolitical lover's rock has also been recorded. Reggae greats ranging from
Dennis Brown to
Gregory Issacs to the late
Bob Marley have excelled in the "lover's rock" field, often recording gems that weren't much different from the songs by classic African-American groups like
the Delfonics,
the Mad Lads and
the Chi-Lites. Drawing on '60s and '70s sweet soul as well as urban contemporary,
Frankie Paul embraces lover's rock exclusively on
Get Closer. Though
Paul is a likable singer with an impressive voice, most of this material is unremarkable and contrived.
Paul, who has a fairly memorable offering in the moody "No Rest," is capable of a lot more. ~ Alex Henderson