Less than a year after his first album "Put The Stereo On", released on Greensleeves, Gappy Ranks presents his second record, "Thanks & Praise". While the first was the fruit of Peckings' work, this new effort brings together a variety of producers and therefore styles.
The opening is in one-drop on the title track, in which he affirms his attachment to his faith whatever the difficulties or adversities life may confront him with. The very invigorating Longtime expresses regret for the "good years" when friends met on the street corner, whereas now everyone stays at home, glued to their PC. It is a production by the French outfit Special Delivery, who contributed greatly to this album with no fewer than 5 tracks, including Sweet Love, one of only two strictly lovers tracks on the album. As on his first album, he has taken on a Wailers riddim, and it is on the Small Axe replayed by Bost & Bim that he makes his mea culpa for certain past mistakes on the astonishing One Day At A Time.
We then switch to dancehall mode with Girl Next Door, which he sings on a very club-style riddim, and with Tun Up, featuring Russian, completely in the current vibe of dancehall riddims with a hip hop sauce. Impossible to leave aside his biggest hit, produced by Macro Marco: Stinkin' Rich has turned more than one dance upside down. Fresh Kicks is rather lightweight, a vague attempt at talking about his trainers. Is he dipping into Vybz Kartel's stock in trade? English Money also stays in the current spirit of dancehall, where talking about one's supposed bank account is fashionable.
Fortunately the more serious On The Road follows right behind, with a testimony about the education in life you get on the street corner, or even by living on the street: "Tell dem I've been to the street side college. Sometimes I wake up and never have no porridge, but yet still the love ina me heart never damage". Peace & Joy shows Gappy Ranks' qualities as a writer and is a reflection on the tribulations of youth in today's world.
With the very good Could A Runaway, featuring Delly Ranks and produced by Delly himself, it is once again street philosophy that comes through, and the dilemma facing all ghetto youths, who may be tempted by crime to escape the mire. Gappy sings: "They say I woudda never make it, but certain road me coudda turn me never take it, it was so easy to be a drug dealer, bare pressure coudda turn me in a killer..."
The fact remains that after two albums, we still do not know Gappy Ranks' real voice: as on the first album, auto-tune is used throughout. "Thanks & Praise" closes in semi-acoustic mode with Better Must Come, in which he repeats and affirms over and over that life will be better. A gentle, optimistic conclusion to an eclectic album that reveals new facets of Gappy Ranks.
