Reviewed - Tanya Stephen's "Some Kinda Madness"

- The Reggaeologist 

Tanya delivers another long-awaited musical monologue, this time aptly titled "Some Kinda Madness".

Kicking off with "Intervention" Tanya starts as expected; witty, candid, and ruggedly truthful before rolling into "Too Much Party", a liqueur-filled comedy ballad that keeps the fun going with the calypso-inspired "Zig Ziggler", a tainted melodic throwback of "Boomwuk".

"Fifty" is a hot collared collab with the 90's Queen of the Dancehall Patra who made a blistering feature on the track. Aloe Vera is a filler that gives way to the rocksteady horn-driven "Jezebel".

"Weight Of Gold" featuring Nadine Sutherland has a solid live vibe but feels like a heavy drink that need a bit more chaser.

"Not Today" explains a lot on this album and is the gem in the pack. A beautiful delivery that naturally creates an entire vibe unto itself. A solid piece of work that surely will be embraced by diehard Tanya Stephens fans who have aged patiently for this new classic.

"Blame It on Rock & Roll" fills the gap to "Feel Like Love", with "Reset" featuring Big Youth following the album's live instrumentation soundscape which is solid; but wieghty at this point of the album.

The Title track "Some Kinda Madness" features Singer J taking a long runaway, and once it reaches listening altitude it remains relatively unimpressive.

"Don't Hurt Me" is an ear burner and at this stage, the album begins to sound mundane.

"World Goes Around" is the breather on the album and is wrapped in a simple emo-reggae soundscape that signals the acoustic side that many of us are eagered to enjoy.

"Diamonds in The Sun" featuring songbirds Cedella Marley and Diana King was another surprising gem released earlier this year, and personally one of my favourite new tracks from all three.

Sad yet sultry "So Damaged" featuring talented homegrown female crooner Kelly Shane is another warmer on the album that sheds away to "Serendipity", a swavy swing with an understated message that deserves a second spin.

"Some Kinda Madness" ends with the self-conscious epilogue "River", The most grounded drop in this eclectic bottle of musical spirits..

Tanya Stephens has never failed to speak her mind and regardless of how you feel about the album, it is exactly what it is. 

More vermouth than whiskey or wine, "Some Kinda Madness" is a musical mash of Tanya's mindmap splashed across a live soundscape wrapped in an earworm of monologues and soliloquies that is a mental tickle for those that perk at eclectic Reggae experiences..