The Prophets is an album by the Ivorian musician Alpha Blondy, released in 1989.[2][3] He is credited with his band, the Solar System.[4] Blondy sang in French, Dioula, Arabic, and English.[5]
Robert Christgau called The Prophets "a professional reggae album with the drums too loud, sliding gradually from felt convention to grooveful genericism."[8]Trouser Press wrote: "Mixing synthesizers, horns, a female chorus and way too much reverb, [Blondy] deftly shifts in and out of reggae rhythms with political and religious songs in English, French and Dioula."[9] The Chicago Tribune deemed it "a wonderfully accessible sound that combines the raw power and urgency of reggae and calypso with tinges of pop and R & B."[7]
The Gazette determined that "despite its derivative feel, The Prophets is a shimmering tribute to the spirit of reggae and Rastafarianism."[10] The Sun-Sentinel noted that it "sports a hybrid Caribbean sound that often fuses reggae's traditional rhythmic lilt to a hard electronic back beat."[11]The Washington Post stated that "the music defines a distinctively African brand of reggae with a lighter bottom, sweeter harmonies, bouncier horn charts and a greater emphasis on secondary polyrhythms."[12]
AllMusic called the album "as soulful and militant as past efforts, with an added gloss to the production that may win new listeners."[6]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Alpha Blondy
Side one
No.
Title
Length
1.
"The Prophet (Allah Léka Netchi)"
3:02
2.
"Banana"
3:44
3.
"Coup D'Etat"
2:56
4.
"Kolombaria"
4:13
Side two
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Face to Face"
4:19
2.
"Black Men Tears"
5:15
3.
"Corinthiens"
3:15
4.
"Jah Music"
6:25
References
^Tanzilo, Robert (10 Aug 1990). "Blondy's best". Milwaukee Sentinel. Feature. p. 18.
^Goldberg, Andy (11 Aug 1989). "The new album from Alpha Blondy...". The Jerusalem Post. Arts. p. 7.
^Cawley, Jimmy (11 Feb 1993). "Back on track". The Boston Globe. Calendar. p. 9.
^Santoro, Gene (Jan 1990). "Alpha Blondy and the Solar System". DownBeat. 57 (1): 30.
^ abShuster, Fred (October 6, 1989). "A Solar System is born". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L27.
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