Maverick strike a lickle off target (Maverick A Strike - Finley Quaye)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	Maverick A Strike - Finley Quaye
Date:	30/01/09 (309 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Four stonking tracks

Disadvantages: All the rest

Maverick a Strike

Finley Quaye (1997)

I cannot believe that this album is over a decade old, OMG. This was Quaye's debut album, and it got a MOBO to my recollection or at the very least a nomination.

I was blown away by a couple of songs on this album, and when recently transferring my CD collection to iTunes (nearly done, then I start on my wife's CD's) I thought I would simply transfer all the tracks over, then thought; actually I had better listen to them again.

It is a good job I did, because I have to say, a few have not aged very well at all, this surprises me as I remember really liking this.


~~The songs~~

1. Ultra Stimulation
Very dub style though a somewhat disjointed song that does little as an opener. His vocals are not easy on this; the bassline does not fit with the other instruments. A poor choice of opening track. 2/10.

2. It's Great When We're Together
A very strange song that does not know if it wants to be soul, slow funk or reggae, sorry Finley, another non keeper, 2/10.

3. Sunday Shining
From the initial guitar riff and indie come reggae (really) intro, this song leaps out and grabs me by the wotsits. This song has some good lyrics, some good structure, some good vocals and the music itself is stonking. The chorus is catchy if a little nonsensical. This really is good, I love this. 9/10.

4. Even After All
A great, lazy ballad that just smacks of summer evenings, a hint of the Style Council mixed with Bob Marley. I absolutely love the intro, lazy guitar sent through a synth machine. His vocals here are really, really cool and clear. Some of the lyrics are a little nonsensical, but you know what, I don't care, this song is almost too cool to be real, probably the 2nd best song on the album, another just pips it, read on, 9/10.

5. Ride on and Turn the People On
Another funk come reggae come gawd knows what, hate it. 0/10.

6. The Way of the Explosive
Lovely dub bassline on this track that if you play it loud makes your chest hurt, fantastic. This is Quaye getting into some roots, Burning Spear style and it is excellent, he should do more of this. 8/10.

7. Your Love Gets Sweeter - Finley Quaye,
Now then, the best song on the album. From the first ska/reggae intro it has an up tempo feel that is just sooooooo infectious. His singing sounds joyous and you know this is just as perfect a 'love song' as there is. It is simple, it is not too sloppy, it is heartfelt. Then when he 'toasts' it is just perfect, I always, always sing along to this, much to my wife's chagrin. I am sure some people will find this song a little superficial, get over yourself, it's great. 10/10.

8. Supreme I Preme
Interesting song, doesn't mean it is good, just interesting, all echoes and distant vocals. 3/10.

9. Sweet and Loving Man
More like old style lovers rock mixed with some dub roots, not too good, too complex, though it probably sounds good acoustically. 3/10.

10. Red Rolled and Seen
Bit of an African influence in this dub style song, good, but never really goes anywhere, bit too much of a 'background theme for me. 3/10.

11. Falling
More of an R&B beat to this than we have heard before, but some really strange use of vocals that make this song all wrong. 1/10.

12. I Need a Lover
Very slow and lazy, has an almost psychedelic feel about it, but again, he seems to be experimenting just that tad too much, like the last track, this does not work at all. 1/10.

13. Maverick a Strike
For the title track you would hope to get a good song. It is a good song, but it aint great. Again we have an African influence and musically it is pretty nice, I could listen to the backing all day, but I just don't get it with his vocals, we know he can sing so why try so hard not to here? 2/10.


~~~Finally~~~

Not the best album in the World, four tracks make it as 'keepers'. This is the thing that I don't understand about this album. On many albums there is one or two great tracks, a fair few good tracks, some 'okay' tracks and a couple of howlers. On this album there are four cracking tracks, and naff all else of note.

Anyway, I have transferred those four to iTunes and I would certainly recommend people downloading those, apart from that, don't bother.

Summary: Finley Quaye