AMG Review of Romantic Reggae, Vol. 9

Steve Leggett
All Music Guide

So smooth that one starts to wish for a little "down with Babylon" roots reggae passion about halfway through, this collection of Jamaican romantic offerings still manages to rise above blandness in spots. Freddie McGregor brings a whole lot of soulfulness to "Searching" and Lloyd Brown's "Black Bags" is impossibly catchy, as is Archie Wonder's skipping take on "Piece of My Heart," but unless one is hopelessly in love (when even an air hammer sounds like a love ballad), this set slides a bit too much to the easy, soft side of things.