CHOOSE AN ALBUM Aswad / Live and Direct Anthony B / That's Life Beenie Man / Many Moods of Moses Beenie Man / Art and Life Buju Banton / The Early Years Buju Banton / Inna Heights Buju Banton / Til Shiloh Capleton / More Fire Capleton / Still Blazin Cocoa Tea / Feel the Power Cocoa Tea / RAS portraits Culture / One Stone Culture / Payday Junior Kelly / Love so Nice John Holt / Police in Helicopter Gregory Isaacs / Private Lesson Diana King / Think like a Girl Barrington Levy / Duets Barrington Levy / Englishman/Robinhood Little John / Give the Youth a try Luciano / Messenger Bob Marley / Songs of Freedom Bob Marley&the Wailers/Complete Wailers I Bob Marley&the Wailers/Complete Wailers II The Marley Family Album Max Romeo & The Upsetters/War Ina Babylon Pablo Moses / In the Future & Dub Nicodemus / Dancehall Giant Ernest Ranglin / In Search of the Lost Riddim Augustus Pablo / This is... Augustus Pablo The Skatalites / Ball of Fire Sizzla / Be I Strong Steel Pulse Sound System/Island Anthology Strictly the Best Volume 27 & 28 Sugar Minot / Collector's Collection, Volume I Ron Taylor / Ethiopian Kings Tenor Saw / Fever Trinity / Shanty Town Determination Peter Tosh / Honorary Citizen Yabby You / Jesus Dread COMPILATIONS Essential Dancehall Reggae Jam Down Vibrations Joy Ride Reggae Songbirds

ARTIST: Buju Banton
TITLE: The Early Years (90-95)
PRODUCERS: Dave Kelly, Donovan Germain, Bobby Digital Dixon, Steelie & Clevie, Sly Dunbar, Clifton “Specialist” Dillon, Winston Riley
LABEL: VP
RELEASED: 2001

To reggae fans that didn't discover him until his mid-'90s spiritual awakening, the Buju Banton found on this compilation of early singles might be unrecognizable. In songs like the propulsive "Stamina Daddy," barely a trace of the patented gruffness can be heard in the youthful throat of the up-and-coming dancehall king. Likewise, the topics Buju covered then tended to be much more sexual than the Rasta anthems he has been serving up since the release of 1995's TIL SHILOH. For an idea of where Buju's head was in THE EARLY YEARS, check titles like "Wicked Dickie," "Good Looking Gal," "Love Wizard," and "Love How The Gal Dem Flex"--not exactly the enlightened spiritualism of "Destiny" or "Untold Stories."

All the same, THE EARLY YEARS is an entirely enjoyable collection, filled with plenty of Banton's unique phrasing and the gloriously minimalist beats of early-'90s dancehall. A perfect example is "Bogle," Buju's anthem for the extremely popular dance rhythm that dominated reggae for a short time at the start of the decade--anchored by punchy drum hits, the rest of the music sometimes seems to be made up entirely of hushed synth blips. This leaves plenty of pressure on Buju to carry the weight--keeping his lyrics and melodies engaging--while riding a vicious rhythm. Again and again, he comes through, especially on party tracks like "Batty Rider," "Big It Up," and the single version of "Only Man." Buju also shines when paired with partners, notably Nadine Sutherland on "Wicked Dickie," Wayne Wonder on "Bonafide Love," and rapper Heavy D on the delirious "Hotness." The lustful "Miss Joan" is one of the record's best moments, as Buju and his longtime producer Donovan Germain pirate the hook from "Hawaii Five-O."

The most interesting inclusion is Buju's highly controversial "Boom Bye Bye," which caused protests in England and the U.S. for its unabashedly violent anti-homosexual stance. Though there is no excuse for advocating shooting "batty bwoys," as the chorus encourages, there is no denying that the song is one of Buju's catchiest, riding the slowly grinding music of Mad Cobra's "Flex." In 2001, countless songs tread this gay bashing territory, including one of the year's biggest hits, TKO's "Chi Chi Man," which calls for putting bombs in "batty bwoy cars." Apparently, rhythms change quicker than attitudes in Jamaica, especially when it comes to perceived "perversions." This is why it is so satisfying to explore Buju's THE EARLY YEARS--the disc shows that, although Buju's once close-minded outlook may have faltered, his talent never did.

By Lem

Review originally appeared on Musictoday.com.