Wayne Wonder Albums (13)
What The Critics Say
Four years separate Wayne Wonder's 2007 effort Foreva from his breakthrough album, No Holding Back -- and its massive hit, "No Letting Go" -- and little changed in that time. Wonder's swagger is still convincing, his reggae is still pop, and romance is still the thing. If there's any evolution in his sound, it's that R&B now plays an even larger role, something to be expected seeing as how "No Letting Go" was that rare reggae tune that crossed over onto urban radio. More Babyface than Bob Marley, the polished ballad "Again" suggests Wonder enjoyed this taste of fame quite a bit, which doesn't mean the radio-friendly track isn't well written or that the singer doesn't pour his heart into it. The exciting "For My Love" with rapper Trina mentions "Jamaica" and "the Yard" just to make listeners aware it's filed in the "reggae" section, but when the ballads mistake smooth jazz for R&B, they come dangerously close to schmaltz. The island-flavored tracks are much more consistent, with the bouncing, smile-inducing "Hotter Than Fire" leading the pack, although the closing "Take It Off" deserves special mention since it's the one time the album lets raw, rough dancehall music enter the picture (plus, the guest DJ's name is Mr. Chicken). Trim off the few tracks where Foreva stumbles, and you're left with a solid, seductive album. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'Meets Chaka Demus and Pliers'
Release Date 9/13/2005
Tracks 14
Label Rhythm Club
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Inna Bashment Style'
Release Date 7/18/2005
Tracks 21
Label Sanctuary
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Since acquiring the Trojan label, Sanctuary has shown great care with their single-artist compilations. The label's one-disc look at Wayne Wonder's early -- but not earliest -- years is no exception. The package is both nice to look at and meaty with information and history. The problem is, the material covered is everything between his Jamaican breakthrough single ("Never Gonna Give You Up," a cover of the Rick Astley hit) and his worldwide breakthrough ("No Letting Go"). During this time, the cool crooner's output was plagued by under-produced ragga, thin and overly precious love songs, and oddball pop covers that are only worth one campy listen. Despite all this bad news, Inna Bashment Style is worth a look for the hardcore reggae fan, since it rounds up some thrilling moments that haven't been packaged properly before. Wonder's smooth take on "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" is near perfect. Plus, Sanctuary unearths the fun DJ version of the track ("Come Mi Darling") in the label's usual completist fashion. It's easy to see why the bouncy "One More Chance" had Kingston dancing, and the bizarre "You Me and She" is worth hearing as Wonder introduces his wife to his mistress in an effort to create a pleasant and cordial love triangle. The way-too-short "The Ruler" is the other example of how well Wonder works with dancehall DJs -- Buju Banton in this case -- but from here it's a couple curios and then nothing but the faceless. Pop fans will find the rickety covers of Alphaville's "Forever Young" and Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me" cute for a listen, and reggae historians will appreciate the deep liner notes, but casual reggae fans will find little of interest. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Wayne Wonder has kicked around on the reggae scene for quite a while without catching fire stateside, but VP Records, backed by Atlantic Records' promotional muscle, changed that in the spring of 2003, with the single "No Letting Go," which became a Top 40 hit. Atlantic may well have been looking at the numbers posted by Shaggy in opening up a new pop/reggae market and hoping for the same. But Wonder is more akin to an R&B/hip-hop artist like Usher, singing in his rhythmic tenor over the synthesized beats. Indeed, this isn't so much a reggae album as a contemporary R&B recording with slight reggae elements here and there, if you forget that the singer is from Jamaica. "Life is a medium in which we all must travel," he declares portentously at the outset, following with a few more lines of pseudo-philosophical drivel. But when the songs start, nothing so high-minded is considered. From "No Letting Go" on, the only thing on Wonder's mind is love, and if he has nothing new to say about it, he nevertheless keeps things moving along nicely. The album is a consistent toe-tapper, and for those happy to sway to "No Letting Go," there's plenty more of the same. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Wayne Wonder has long been one of the most talented and inventive singers on the dancehall scene; if his profile has remained relatively low (at least in the American reggae market), it's not because his skills or the rhythms provided him by various A-list producers are less than top-notch. Schizophrenic finds him continuing his exploration of R&B and hip hop-inflected reggae and also giving prominent play to his alter ego, the DJ Suprize. He plays both roles on the sultry and sexy "I Like the Way" and the sweetly tormented lover's lament "Easily Change"; on " Platinum Mall" he is joined by DJ Showki Ru, while he performs in combination with Spragga Benz on the surprisingly ho-hum "Just Might Squeeze." He's a bit off-key on "Who Give U the Right," but apart from those two missteps, most of this album is a fully satisfying effort from a prodigious young talent. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
