Army - Struggler (2003)
1.Paradise
2.Fire City
3.Best Of You
4.Interlude
5.Reason
6.Butterfly
7.Don't Try Deceive Me
8.Ghetto Life
9.Struggler
10.Good Lover
11.Love And Righteousness
12.Jah Teaching
13.More Dem Talk'n (feat. Shaka Black)
14.Overtime
Army est un chanteur conscious très en vue sur la petite (mais influente) scène de Ste Croix. On lui doit notamment un superbe duo avec Luciano Calling Jah Army qui n'a fait que renforcer sa notoriété. Avec ses deux premiers albums, il s'est imposé comme figure de proue du roots à Ste Croix. Avec ce "Rasta Awake", Army bénéficie de riddims solides, originaux et efficaces. L'album est majoritairement produit par Tuff Lion (Vivah Music), guitariste-leader de Bambu Station, Tippy et Kenyatta signent trois des 13 riddims. Les deux producteurs du label I Grade offrent les morceaux les plus cross-over comme Mr Monday aux tendances hip hop ou Small Number plus r'n'b. On préférera leur travail sur Mi Sista, un lent one drop hypnotisant. En dehors de ces prods un peu "osées", les riddims s'en tiennent au roots/nu-roots, reprenant un savoir-faire propre à Ste Croix avec le pouvoir de créer des ambiances. Le petit son naïf de synthé qui ouvre l'album est trompeur et on est vite rassuré au fil des morceaux : la qualité instrumentale ne fait aucun doute. Army relève le défi avec brio et pose une voix assurée, juste et claire.
Avec une écriture très poétique et imagée, ses textes tournent essentiellement autour de Rastafari, de "Livity" et de justice sociale. Il prend soin d'adapter son flow aux riddims à l'image de Honorebel, sur une production particulièrement réussie. Tous les morceaux ont des chœurs masculins. Army double sans doute lui-même ses voix sur certains titres comme Tek Your Time, assurant ainsi un timbre dense et compact.Tout en restant dans les tempos plutôt lents du roots, l'album est varié dans les dynamiques. Army développe une certaine personnalité musicale et répète quelques recettes mélodiques (du Give the youths a try d'ouverture à Tek Your Time). Malgré tout, c'est la voix d'Army qui prime sur toutes critiques d'écriture musicale. Tantôt lancinante, feutrée, susurrée, elle est toujours dynamique et rappelle parfois celle d'un Kiddus I, notamment sur le très imagé Don't move my mountain. On retiendra de nombreux morceaux de cet album comme Who Will Pay et son cousin Share Your Love. Avec Men Will Doubt, Army plante une ambiance profonde avec un chant plaintif suivi de près par une guitare solo. L'album s'achève sur le titre éponyme que le chanteur explique : "être éveillé c'est avant tout avoir conscience de soi-même". Une grande sagesse habite cet artiste, une humilité qui transparaît dans sa musique. Une vibe authentique.
1. Rocky Road
2. Changing World
3. Shadows
4. Yesterday's News (feat. Jahole & Danny)
5. Arise
6. Children Don't Cry
7. Black Rose
8. 2 Triple Zero
9. I Shall Be Released
2.Fire City
3.Best Of You
4.Interlude
5.Reason
6.Butterfly
7.Don't Try Deceive Me
8.Ghetto Life
9.Struggler
10.Good Lover
11.Love And Righteousness
12.Jah Teaching
13.More Dem Talk'n (feat. Shaka Black)
14.Overtime
01. Give The Youths a Try
02. Jah Reveal It
03. Mr. Monday
04. Honorebel
05. Who Will Pay
06. Tek Your Time
07. Share Your Love
08. Small Number
09. Men Will Doubt
10. Don't Move My Mountain
11. Mi Sista
12. Preying Mantis
13. Rasta Awake
02. Jah Reveal It
03. Mr. Monday
04. Honorebel
05. Who Will Pay
06. Tek Your Time
07. Share Your Love
08. Small Number
09. Men Will Doubt
10. Don't Move My Mountain
11. Mi Sista
12. Preying Mantis
13. Rasta Awake
Avec une écriture très poétique et imagée, ses textes tournent essentiellement autour de Rastafari, de "Livity" et de justice sociale. Il prend soin d'adapter son flow aux riddims à l'image de Honorebel, sur une production particulièrement réussie. Tous les morceaux ont des chœurs masculins. Army double sans doute lui-même ses voix sur certains titres comme Tek Your Time, assurant ainsi un timbre dense et compact.Tout en restant dans les tempos plutôt lents du roots, l'album est varié dans les dynamiques. Army développe une certaine personnalité musicale et répète quelques recettes mélodiques (du Give the youths a try d'ouverture à Tek Your Time). Malgré tout, c'est la voix d'Army qui prime sur toutes critiques d'écriture musicale. Tantôt lancinante, feutrée, susurrée, elle est toujours dynamique et rappelle parfois celle d'un Kiddus I, notamment sur le très imagé Don't move my mountain. On retiendra de nombreux morceaux de cet album comme Who Will Pay et son cousin Share Your Love. Avec Men Will Doubt, Army plante une ambiance profonde avec un chant plaintif suivi de près par une guitare solo. L'album s'achève sur le titre éponyme que le chanteur explique : "être éveillé c'est avant tout avoir conscience de soi-même". Une grande sagesse habite cet artiste, une humilité qui transparaît dans sa musique. Une vibe authentique.
1. Rocky Road
2. Changing World
3. Shadows
4. Yesterday's News (feat. Jahole & Danny)
5. Arise
6. Children Don't Cry
7. Black Rose
8. 2 Triple Zero
9. I Shall Be Released
10. Grave Robbery
01. In Her Heart
02. Warmongers
03. Same 'Ole
04. Contrary
05. 'Ave Mercy
06. Think Positive
07. I Am 4:46
08. Zion Soldiers Chant
09. Rasta Humble
10. Carbon Date
11. Our Luv
12. State Of Mind
13. Chance For You
14. We Criticize
02. Warmongers
03. Same 'Ole
04. Contrary
05. 'Ave Mercy
06. Think Positive
07. I Am 4:46
08. Zion Soldiers Chant
09. Rasta Humble
10. Carbon Date
11. Our Luv
12. State Of Mind
13. Chance For You
14. We Criticize
Army (Fritzmaurice Williams) was born and raised on St. Croix, Virgin Islands. He began his musical journey at the age of five as a member of the youth choir at the church his family attended. Little did he know that he was laying the foundation for what would become a very promising musical career. Determined to explore a variety of styles, he learned to play the saxophone, became a member of a jazz band and sang in various local bands. After relocating to the New York City, completing his education, and serving in the US Army (which is how he got his name), Army returned home and became deeply involved in the local reggae scene. In the early 70's, Jamaica was bubbling with an incredible amount of untapped musical and vocal talents.
That same level of energy, enthusiasm and potential is present today in the Virgin Island of St. Croix. Army is to be counted among the many conscious singers and players of instruments from St. Croix who are worthy of international recognition. The voice of Army first surfaced several years ago on the famously vital (though obscure) compilation Eastbound.
Soon after, Army contributed several selections to the Homegrown compilation album. In 2000, Army's first album -Yesterday's News - was released on Glamorous Records, with production provided by Dean Pond. In 2002, Army linked up with Dub Rise Records who released his second album, Struggler, along with a re-release of Yesterday's News.
2003 saw Army releasing the single Calling Jah Army, a powerful duet with Luciano. This year, Army's song, I Don't Know is included on Bambu Station's acclaimed compilation, Talkin' Roots II. With this solid foundation of tunes under his belt, Army embarked on the recording of his highly anticipated third album, Rasta Awake.
Largely produced by legendary guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Tuff Lion (of Bambu Station), Rasta Awake is a masterpiece of all-live instrumentation roots reggae. The 13 tracks on the album capture Army at previously unseen creative heights. His poetic songwriting challenges and connects with the listener in a way that few other songwriters are able. Army's voice - while influenced by such artists as Nat King Cole, Dennis Brown and Freddie McGregor - is unique in all of contemporary reggae with its amazing ability to be both deeply soothing and intensely energizing.
With a voice as invigorating and free as the wind, and with word sound utterances that penetrate hearts and minds, Army's mission is clear. He is firmly committed to using his music as a weapon in the war for spiritual renewal and justice for all peoples. As Army describes: I want to send positive universal messages to people through my music, without the commercialism we see so much today For me the music is a healing. I feel that the music healed me, took me to places where I could have not necessarily have been without it.
I also feel that if someone could walk away with some type of healing, (that) they could be touched in some kind of way, they could associate themselves with some aspect of the music and then say 'wow,' maybe I'll make it after all. If I could shine some light some how, I would know that I have done something. Army continues to do something special for all those with ears to hear this unique and much-needed voice. For booking and product information, contact info@igraderecords.com or tuff_lion@hotmail.com.
That same level of energy, enthusiasm and potential is present today in the Virgin Island of St. Croix. Army is to be counted among the many conscious singers and players of instruments from St. Croix who are worthy of international recognition. The voice of Army first surfaced several years ago on the famously vital (though obscure) compilation Eastbound.
Soon after, Army contributed several selections to the Homegrown compilation album. In 2000, Army's first album -Yesterday's News - was released on Glamorous Records, with production provided by Dean Pond. In 2002, Army linked up with Dub Rise Records who released his second album, Struggler, along with a re-release of Yesterday's News.
2003 saw Army releasing the single Calling Jah Army, a powerful duet with Luciano. This year, Army's song, I Don't Know is included on Bambu Station's acclaimed compilation, Talkin' Roots II. With this solid foundation of tunes under his belt, Army embarked on the recording of his highly anticipated third album, Rasta Awake.
Largely produced by legendary guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Tuff Lion (of Bambu Station), Rasta Awake is a masterpiece of all-live instrumentation roots reggae. The 13 tracks on the album capture Army at previously unseen creative heights. His poetic songwriting challenges and connects with the listener in a way that few other songwriters are able. Army's voice - while influenced by such artists as Nat King Cole, Dennis Brown and Freddie McGregor - is unique in all of contemporary reggae with its amazing ability to be both deeply soothing and intensely energizing.
With a voice as invigorating and free as the wind, and with word sound utterances that penetrate hearts and minds, Army's mission is clear. He is firmly committed to using his music as a weapon in the war for spiritual renewal and justice for all peoples. As Army describes: I want to send positive universal messages to people through my music, without the commercialism we see so much today For me the music is a healing. I feel that the music healed me, took me to places where I could have not necessarily have been without it.
I also feel that if someone could walk away with some type of healing, (that) they could be touched in some kind of way, they could associate themselves with some aspect of the music and then say 'wow,' maybe I'll make it after all. If I could shine some light some how, I would know that I have done something. Army continues to do something special for all those with ears to hear this unique and much-needed voice. For booking and product information, contact info@igraderecords.com or tuff_lion@hotmail.com.
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