Like so many reggae singers before him, singjay
Konshens is able to combine true talk and a velvety voice for maximum effect, but he's also a firm member of the new school with
Wyclef-sized ambitions and the genre-spanning attitude of
Chino and the Marley children Damian and
Stephen. Here, the traditional reggae-flavored opener "World Citizen" is righteous and roots without being Rasta, while the following "Represent" is as polished as a radio-aimed R&B single. Both stay on message and both stick in the head, and as the album winds through the boom-clap sound of
Tarrus Riley ("Rasta Imposter"), some wistful memories of when music meant everything ("Pop in My Headphones"), and an
Akon-styled declaration of self ("The Realist"),
Konshens remains in control, giving up tunes that are memorable and coming up with a style that's everything he loves but filtered through his smooth croon and undying hope for a better tomorrow. With 17 tracks and no fat to trim,
Mental Maintenance is a forward-thinking, past-respecting triumph. ~ David Jeffries