Mavado
Mr Brooks…A Better Tomorrow
Play Mr Brooks…A Better Tomorrow
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MOG Editorial Review
Along with Vybz Kartel and Busy Signal, Mavado is among the biggest contemporary names in Jamaican dancehall. While you can argue about who would win in a sound clash between these artists, Mavado's albums ultimately come out on top, and it's easy to say why once you take a listen to this collection in particular. Cohesive, hard-hitting and intense, Mr. Brooks & A Better Tomorrow centers around Mavado's menacing vocal style, one that grabs your attention from the start. The high point of the album comes with the tracks "So Blessed" and "So Special," of which the former is an inspirational rally cry, and the latter is Jamaican braggadocio at it's finest. Throughout the rest of the album, you'll find production from the likes of DASECA and Di Genius, providing a fitting backdrop while Mavado tells you what life is like in the shanty town of Cassava Piece. If you have any interest in contemporary dancehall, A Better Tomorrow is a must-listen.
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AMG Review of Mr. Brooks...A Better Tomorrow
Rick Anderson
All Music GuideDancehall reggae is nothing if not trend-based, and in 2008 the trend was for potty-mouthed, gun-talking DJs to suddenly strike intense, prayerful poses on their album covers, arrange their playlists into pseudo-suites, and give their albums pretentious, apocalyptic titles, as if to say "See how my gangsterish persona actually hides a deep-thinking spirituality." On Mavado's latest, the album cover pose would be a little easier to take seriously if his praying hands weren't dripping with platinum bling. Luckily, the music mostly focuses on groove rather than on ersatz spirituality; his singing and chatting are a bit uneven but mostly impressive, and he's at his best when he's at his most declamatory. The singing on "Every Situation" does little except detract from the powerfully booming rhythm, but when he eases into singjay mode on "On the Rock" things slide into place much more nicely. He's even more assured on the militant steppers anthem "Gangster Don't Play," and his sharp, reggaeton-flavored delivery on "Real Killer (No Chorus)" sounds like a respectful nod to Damien Marley. "Jailhouse" is surprisingly plaintive and actually quite touching, while "Money Changer" is a stark and powerful performance built on an uncharacteristically stripped-down rhythm. It's not his masterpiece by any means, but Mr. Brooks...A Better Tomorrow does mark an interesting stage in Mavado's musical development.
 "Mr Brooks…A Better Tomorrow")
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