ReviewsOct 04, 2014

Jean McLean - Everlasting (Sugar Shack Records)

After the split of Sceptre in 1987, Jean 'Jeanus' McLean aka Reggaebaby still remained active in the music business: at first somewhat unsuccessfully with her own Foxy Lady label on which she released a number of singles, but in 2003 appeared there's finally 'I'm A Reggaebaby', a first album co-produced by Pato Banton. With 2012's 'Everlasting' McLean came up with a successor for 'I'm A Reggaebaby' and that album is now reissued by Sugar Shack Records.

We weren't exactly thrilled by her cover of Bob Marley's 'Waiting In Vain', but songs like 'Meant For U' or 'Higher' are instant lovers rock classics and with a roots song like 'Ancestors' she proves she hasn't forgotten her Sceptre past. The track list of 'Everlasting' ends with seven dub versions, some hitting the right chord ('Meant 4 Dub', 'Dubbing The Ancestors', 'Higher Dub'), but others sounding rather like instrumental versions of the song/songs in question ('Me On My Own "Dub', 'Never Gonna Dub').

About the Author

Jah Rebel

Together with Jah Shakespear, one of the founders of Reggae.be, he first started as a critic and a reporter before in the end of 2014 becoming editor in chief. Divides his time between his two passions: music and Haile Selassie.

Genres

DubRootsReggaeNew RootsLovers Rock

Published

Oct 04, 2014

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