I-Octane - Crying to the Nation

Artist: I-Octane
Album: Crying to the Nation
Genre: Reggae/Dancehall
Label: VP Records
Release Date: Feb 14, 2012
RIYL: Jah Vinci
Rating: ***

Crying to the Nation, is roots dancehall artist I-Octane's debut album, although he has been a star on the dancehall circuit for approximately four years now.  He is likely one of the most promising of a new line of roots dancehall artists, including Jah Vinci, prepared to carry forward the torch of seasoned veterans such as Sizzla and Capleton. I-Octane's album features a variety of styles, largely focused on a general neo-roots feel but also featuring more dancehall oriented tracks produced by Cash Flow Productions ("Nuh Love Inna Dem", "Puff It", "Missing You").  I-Octane is a great singjay who is as comfortable with toasting as he is at providing a solid sung chorus.  The album is extremely nicely organized in terms of grouping songs by specific themes and styles, whether it be lover's tracks, darker dancehall, or roots oriented pleas for peace.  The dancehall on the album is generally mediocre. None of these songs really come off as a hit.  With lover's numbers, however, I-Octane truly shines.  "L.O.V.E. Y.O.U." is an incredibly catchy tune with a addictive synth line.  This is follow by Missing You, a wonderful duet with one of the best current deejays, Agent Sasco (aka Assassin) who is complimented wonderfully by I-Octane's singing.  I-Octane falters lyrically with some of his songs about love and peace; songs such as "All We Need is Love" featuring Tarrus Riley and "Space for All of Us" featuring Alborosie are as nauseatingly cliche as their titles betray (although it's hard to dislike a song accompanied by Riley's excellent voice).  This is balanced by the excellent and heart felt, "Lose a Friend" and the powerful title track.  Although it's a big year for VP records with many albums announced, this is a strong start to their 2012 catalogue and certainly one of the better roots dancehall oriented reggae albums of recent years.

1. Rules of Life ***
2. Help I Please *****
3. Vanity Will Come ***
4. Nuh Love Inna Dem ***
5. Puff It **
6. No More Violence****
7. System a Beat Dem *****!
8. Zion Awaits ***
9. L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. *****!
10.  Missing You [Remix] ft. Agent Sasco (Assassin) ****
11. Once More ***
12. The Master's Plan **
13. Lose a Friend *****
14.  All We Need is Love ft. Tarrus Riley ***
15. Space For All of Us ft. Alborosie **
16. Crying to the Nation *****!