Bassmentality

Billboard, August 10, 1996
"...In the reggae field,this eight piece Baltimore-based ensemble has no competition."

Product Description
Recorded and mixed at Wrightway Studios by Steve Wright, Bassmentality is a hard-hitting modern reggae album combining blends of dancehall, hip-hop, r&b, reggae and rock. Each track is a distinctive blend of styles and textures designed to suit the albums varied subject matter. Live and sequenced drums, horns, loops, and samples are treated with top notch production. "Get to Know Me", "Kneel & Pray" and "Crush" arguably represent the band’s most mature songwriting to date. Guest appearances/collaborations include Kevin Kinsella (John Brown’s Body) on "Governor’s Dogs", a song devoted to inmates on death row, DC’s dancehall ruler Monsoon on "Know me Now" and Jamaica’s Dean Fraser on "Lady".

Bassmentality

Tracks:

Get to Know Me
Kneel and Pray
Happy Days
Woman
Crush
Bye Bye
King of Kings
Governor's Dogs (f. Kevin Kinsella of John Brown's Body)
Lady
Dancefloor
Do It Again
Blaze
Know Me Now
Dub the Dancefloor

Product Description

Recorded and mixed at Wrightway Studios by Steve Wright, Bassmentality is a hard-hitting modern reggae album combining blends of dancehall, hip-hop, r&b, reggae and rock. Each track is a distinctive blend of styles and textures designed to suit the albums varied subject matter. Live and sequenced drums, horns, loops, and samples are treated with top notch production. Get to Know Me, Kneel & Pray and Crush arguably represent the bands most mature songwriting to date. Guest appearances/collaborations include Kevin Kinsella (John Browns Body) on Governors Dogs, a song devoted to inmates on death row, DCs dancehall ruler Monsoon on Know me Now and Jamaicas Dean Fraser on Lady.

Customer Reviews:

highly recommend.......2005-02-02

Great, great album. This is not a typical American Reggae band, or for that matter, a typical reggae band period. Mature songwriting, great production and a great overall vibe. Highly recommend this album. Can't wait to hear what these guys do next.

Pretty Chill.......2003-08-14

I'd give it 2.5 stars. It's a good recording with a clean, polished sound. I disagree with "a music fan" from VA -- this CD doesn't rock. It's like a chill, relaxing, reggae lounge sound, with light jazzy sounding keyboards and effects in many songs. I like my reggae a little more raw and less processed or sterilized. I'd probably prefer one of thier live CDs over this one. To me, Jah Works sounds like UB40 if they were more influenced by current dancehall reggae. Sometimes they put too much emphasis on the singing, and not enough jamming. At times, it sounds like a rapping contest between the two singers, each one trying to out-do the the other, and sound more Jamaican. If you want a more authentic modern roots sound, give a listen to John Brown's Body. They're way better than Jah Works.

Baltimore Reggae.......2003-04-30

If you like different types of reggae, then this is the CD for you. You can dance to it and chill out to it. My favorite track is "Governors Dogs" with the lead singer of John Brown's Body. The mix of 2 very different voices is amazing. This CD just rocks.