Although this is Dwight "Zeno" Brown's first full-length album, he has been active on the Jamaican and American reggae scenes since 1990, working with the likes of
Computer Paul and
Clifton "Specialist" Dillon. His debut album is produced by Paul Tulloch and features an engaging mix of modern reggae styles, from the predictable synthetic dancehall grooves of "Roll Up" and "Maria" to more surprising fare like the heavy metal-influenced "Woman Want a Man." There are one or two missteps along the way, notably a schlocky attempt at quiet storm R&B titled "Realize," but for the most part
On the Road does the job quite nicely. Highlights include the lyrically harsh but rhythmically exquisite "Anita" and the single "Right Type a Body," on which Zeno's significant vocal debt to
Sanchez is most obvious. Perhaps the strangest track is "Chalwa," which gets the prize for Herb Anthem Most Likely to Be Mistaken for a Love Song. The romantic terms in which Zeno describes his devotion to marijuana are almost creepy in their literalness. Highly recommended overall. ~ Rick Anderson