Mr Brooks : A better tomorrow

Slated for 2008 to crown an exceptional year, the second album from the singjay of Cassava Piece was awaited like the messiah... at the risk of disappointing. On paper, indeed, there is no revolution: known singles, mostly from the Daseca and Big Ship studios, a style that changes little, monotone singing, minor keys and down-to-earth lyrics. Yet Mavado knows how to play to his strengths: an undeniable sense of melody, simple but "hardcore" lyrics on the best riddims of the moment.

The interest of "A better tomorrow" lies not so much in the choice of tracks, an obvious and unsurprising choice made up of most of the best singles of 2008, as in their arrangement within the album. This was already a remarkable aspect of "Gangsta for life" and it is almost becoming a trademark: the selection is organised into several coherent thematic segments (religion / crime and violence / money / sex). Like a film, a real story unfolds as you listen.

The record begins quietly with the 23rd Psalm, subtly set to music by Neil "Diamond" Edward and his team, which opens the album's first, religious parenthesis. Having come to music through gospel, Mavado does not hesitate to twist its codes, skilfully, as with the Christian hymn Under the rock, which becomes the megalomaniac On the rock. Whether he calls for divine protection (Every situation), or boasts of being blessed and special (So blessed and So special, which follow on very logically), Mavado puts forward his spirituality to justify his way of life (Life of a G).
But the calm is short-lived and heralds the storm: after a quick interlude, the dark, frankly "gangsta" side resurfaces with a murderous triptych (Gangster don't play, Real killer and Chiney K).
A relative return to calm follows, with more social themes (Jailhouse and the magnificent Don't worry). The album heads towards its conclusion with two tracks about money (Money changer and Money, a little repetitive but universal) which confirm the adage "money over gun" printed in the booklet. A touch of "slackness" at last, with In di car back and Which gal.
Logically, the circle is closed with a hope-filled Overcome, which echoes the album's title.
A small detail worth highlighting: inside the booklet, a text composed of extracts from the album's verses, transcribed into academic English, will help listeners better grasp Mavado's rhymes.

While it may be less ambitious than the latest dancehall releases (notably Busy Signal's album, not to mention Vybz Kartel's Japanese project), "A better tomorrow" is a consistent album, with no commercial compromise, which hopefully heralds even better tomorrows.