Toussaint - Black Gold (2010)

Artist: Toussaint
Album: Black Gold
Genre: Reggae/Neo Roots

Label: I Grade Records

Release Date: August 1, 2010
Mood: Contemplative, Spiritual, Passionate
RIYL: Tarrus Riley, Everton Blender, Jah Cure

Rating: **

This is an album of soulful neo roots reggae that moves between a number of different styles, to varying degrees of success. “Unforgettable” is a fairly horrible lover’s track with a latin tinged riddim that would be difficult for anyone other than Beres Hammond to pull off. “Conquering Cocaine” is a militant styled song which brings to mind the Roots Radics, that starts strong, but when it breaks into a “dub style” the drum and bass patterns leave something to be desired.

Toussaint is perhaps strongest on the atmospheric piano, guitar, and melodica (perhaps harmonica) driven melodies of “Patient” and “Nobody Knows”, the latter of which is a very powerful opener to the album, perhaps the best song here. In fact, most of the good songs are on the first half of the LP, and the album putters off quite badly after about halfway through; dragging itself through a lengthy 15 songs. This album, like many other contemporary reggae ones, suffers from the over packing that occurs in the age of the digital format allowing such lengths. In my opinion, it is better to create a twenty minute album of great material than an hour long one of mediocrity. The closer, “Rain Again”, is a cheesy harp driven number that one may be able to swallow if they weren’t suffering from listener fatigue.

Despite these complaints, overall , Toussaint’s voice is solid, his backing band is tight enough, and his songwriting is fairly good. Cut the album down to ten of the best numbers and it would be highly recommended. Otherwise, a few singles, particularly “Nobody Knows” (which truly is a knockout song), are definitely worth listening to.

1. Nobody Knows *****
2. This Song ***
3. Roots in a Modern time ****
4. Be You **
5. Sunshine in Morning **
6. Hello My Beautiful **
7. Black Gold ***
8. Look Up *
9. Conquering Cocaine *
10. Rise and Fall ***
11. Marching **
12. Patient ****
13. Unforgettable *
14. Changing ****
15. Rain Again **