Reviews (page 2 of 7)
I was unfamiliar with Finley Quaye. I really enjoyed this. I especially like the bass playing. Very good record that will be added to my summertime reggae playlist.
Sometimes this project gives the gift of new discoveries. Never heard of this singer or this fun, cool album. It would be an unusual person to find that this was the final item on the road to completion, but good album. Very strong opener, channeling the trippier dub sounds of the 70s (King Tubby? Perry/ Upsetters / Black Ark? Brad Osborne's Clocktower Dub?). Different songs take different approaches. Ride On etc. sounds like Dillinger. Your Love Gets Sweeter sounds like lovers rock in the manner of Jimmy Riley, as performed by U Roy. Kind of silly throughout, but the music is inventive and makes it work. The last third or so of the album is just ok, fillier-ish. The cd gave us longer run times but not always more good ideas to fill that time up well. Good record, good find!
My knowledge of reggae is very limited but I did find this album to be very good. Bad reggae is easy to spot and hard to listen to but I was impressed with this album.
Maverick A Strick is the debut album from Scottish musician Finley Quaye. Quaye's songs are an interesting mix of styles. His strong, rich voice creates a sound closest to a progressive version of soul. His cadence is a downbeat version of reggae, wandering towards a version of trip hop. Quaye's most successful singles are on this album, including "Your Love Gets Sweeter" and "Even After All." This is a surprisingly good collection of songs from an artist that was never able to repeat the success of his debut release.
вайбово, понравилось, сохранил.
the funky grooviness sings to me - yes there are parts that could do with work, but good music is a state of mind, not perfection
Fun vibe
Imma always fw some reggae
Chill reggae. Interesting sound
I can't actually really explain why I enjoyed this, but it was I did. I could listen to this and never be unhappy. Probably not while working out, but in most other situations. The music and the vocals were different pacing and timing from from one another, but still somehow fit.
Nice.
When to listen: want to feel mellow but not sad. Ok this album got a LOT of hate on here and he's done some weird stuff but I enjoyed listening to this album despite a genre I generally dislike so... idk I liked it?!
I like it, didn't like who he was as a person.
Psychedelic, jazzy, pop raggae? This album was super hard to place. I originally wasn't too sure but it eventually won me over. I felt like the weirdness and experimentation were pretty compelling. The production techniques at times were a little bit over the top and dated sounding but at other times really added to the overall feel. Interesting album.
This albums takes me back, there’s some great songs and chilled vibe
A very cool mix of reggae, soul, rock and electronic music. They blend together in a totally unique way on this album and I keep finding more to explore with every listen. I was first exposed to Finley Quaye when he collaborated with drum n bass producer A Guy Called Gerald on the song "Finley's Rainbow". Two years later, that song was reworked into the amazing "Sunday Shining", the clear highlight of the album for me. This one definitely deserves more attention and some future listens.
Uff I am so grateful to be introduced to this album and to Finley Quaye 😭 it’s gold. First of all the bassline intro to Maverick a Strike gave me full-body goosebumps that you could literally organize an expedition to climb. I will not experience that again for a long time.. Supreme I Preme is the other main banger on this album for me. The island vibes and reggae are definitely my type of thing. However, some of the songs seemed too beat heavy and lacked a melody. It was interesting in its own way, but I wouldn’t personally listen to those funky instrumental songs on my own time. So for that, I subtract a star.
Solid stuff
I never considered myself a fan of reggae, but this was a surprising enjoyable album.
I enjoyed this a fine blend of reggae, soul and a touch of funk
FUN
Maverick A Strike by Finley quaye. I have no idea how to rate this album. On one hand. It’s clearly good music, it’s fun and makes me smile while listening, especially because it’s a white Scottish/British guy doing a damn good job at reggae music. There are a few songs I’d ever put on my liked songs list. That being said, it’s not within the music I usually like, and it does just a bit feel like he’s missing the “impact” that Caribbean and Southern US reggae artists have. 4/5 I guess but truly this could go anywhere from 2.5/5 to 5/5
A nice little slice of sunshine. The music here is bright, catchy, and has got me feeling groovy! Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - It's Great When We're Together - Sunday Shining - Even After All - Your Love Gets Sweeter
This was one of the best reggae album I've ever listened to. Lyrics weren't as good as Bob Marley, but the music was certainly more diverse and interesting.
This album was ear candy from the first track to the last. I love the reggae and dub sound. I'm no expert on it but I know what I like and I would definitely play this album again.
Better than I expected.
JAMAICAN TRIP HOP??????? YESSSSSSSSSA. I would’ve never found about Jamaican Trip hop until this site. I love this mix of sounds, reggae, trip hop and downtempo it mixes all of the chillest vibes and puts it into this one album. perfect album to get high too if i’m being honest. i found myself head bopping throughout the whole album its just so satisfying these sounds, all of the sounds play it’s perfect parts. It’s so so so cool i want more yyssss ussss okay 9/10
I enjoyed this a lot. I thought it was going to be a basic reggae album but that bass lines are so crisp and the lyrics are fantastic. This is some groundbreaking shiz.
I enjoyed most of this album. I did find the song, "Red Rolled And Seen" a little tedious. I liked, "Your Love Gets Sweeter" the most.
Got on CD and love his voice , nice and chilled and great album
Gosh, this instantly brought back memories of my bro having this CD and also the popularity of ‘Your love gets sweeter’ too - instantly transported! Yeh, this is a groove! Really nice energy and spirit. Layered and skilful. Nice bit of variety too and clean sounding ❤️ drops off a bit towards the end from ‘Red Rolled…’ Interesting personal life, to say the least. Some horrific attacks and violences and son also took his own life. The layers of being human, hey?!
no está feo, está bacano pero tiene como alguito que no me cuadra al final. igual me gustó entonces bien
Very enjoyable.
pretty cool tbh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! finley quaye essentially takes reggae and layers it over some fairly robust rock and pop ideas, which i suppose is where things could feel a lil weird for some ppl...it certainly doesnt have the blues-esque structural openness u get with most reggae, so its inherently a bit more rehearsed and a bit less warm. but idk i dont think it sounds cold or sterile either...if anything i think the variety in arrangement ideas is impressive, quaye is a shockingly charismatic performer, and theres some good hooks too! at its best it rly captures a lot of ideal strengths from its melting pot of choice. still, even tho i like it a lot, i can see why its yet another record on this list that was maybe included a bit too hastily on the back of fleeting critical acclaim...Authenticity rly rly matters to ppl with this genre, and plenty of authentic acts already have some kind of pop culture presence, so this type of slightly compromising Bridging of styles was probably always unnecessary. beats the snot out of ub40 tho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I never heard this before (im a Yank) amd was quite pleasantly surprised. A lovely Sunday late morning spin.
There were some good songs on here. I liked it more than I thought I would.
He has a good voice
I like this album more than I thought I would. Good song writing and musicianship.
After each track, I kept bracing myself for the next one to be annoying or boring. That didn’t happen. This album had an unexpected amount of originality and was entertaining from beginning to end.
I thought, until I heard this album, that there was only so much that could be done with reggae; however this bluesy-reggae-rock album shows a lot of range. I was intrigued from start to finish.
+ reageeeee + bardzo pozytywne + śliczne melodie + transik / vibe + super głos / akcent + nóżka chodziła - znowu momentami monotonne (może ja jestem monotonna po prostu?)
Great for a chilled summer day
Reggae/rock/soul, def needs more listens
New for me. First surprised (reggae from Edinburgh), then interested (Ultra Stimulation), and then sold (by Way Of The Explosive) and now looking to get it on vinyl. Produced by Kevin Bacon of Comsat Angels! 1. Ultra Stimulation 2. The Way Of The Explosive 3. Maverick A Strike (Funk reggae!)
Here's an admittedly interesting story. Finley Quaye, a Scottish musician of half-Celtic and half-Ghanian heritage, grew up inspired by jazz musicians and The Ramones, struck his first successful hit as a feature on a song with electronic producer A Guy Called Gerald, and then, for his debut record here, employed a reggae sound that combined elements of trip hop and progressive soul. If that ain't a melting pot story, I don't know what is. Maverick a Strike truly does sound unique in the reggae pantheon, as Finley and co-producers Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quamby utilized various stylistic changes while still maintaining that positive energy throughout. From the bright horns, slick guitar line, and thick drums on "Sunday Shining", to the more laid-back trip-hop cadence with reverbed guitar and delectable bass of "Even After All", to the shifting electronic rhythm section of "Ride On and Turn the People On", they had a lot of fun with experimenting on this record, and I certainly enjoyed Finley's optimistic lyrics and jovial vocal cadence along the way. Even when they go for a more traditional reggae composition on a song like "Your Love Gets Sweeter", it's still a pleasant listen. I just wish the pacing of the record didn't start to drag towards the end. Even though there is a good deal of experimentation with the reggae sound on this album, the overall tempo is slow, as is typical of the genre, and it feels even slower for the last five songs. Also, I admittedly felt creeped out by the penultimate track "I Need a Lover", as the spacious guitar textures and supple bass give way to Finley singing about touching this girl through a vocal filter. It's instrumentally serene, but these lyrics did not sit right with me. I was still pleasantly surprised by Maverick a Strike, as Finley Quaye proved to be a very unique individual in a tried-and-true genre that welcomed such innovations.
Unique blend of reggae and other genres like jazz, hip hop, and rock. Quaye's vocals, while not strictly authentic, are pleasant and blend the many genres of this album together. The second half of the album is forgettable but the first half was surprisingly enjoyable and dynamic.
At first, I wanted to criticize the album because of the vocals; they were really irritating at the beginning. But somehow, by the end of the album, I even got into it and, without realizing it, played it a second and third time.
"Red Rolled and Seen" is a perfect song for a soundtrack. Not sure which soundtrack, but it is. I'm nearly always non-plussed by reggae, but this was a jam. The incorporatin of neo-soul, funk, rock, and other elements elevates this from so much of the same-i-ness I feel when I usually listen to a reggae record. Really fun record.
Solid album. Just disagree on having to hear it before I die. Doesn’t seem massively influential.
This was Ultra Stimulation.
This is a pretty groovin fusion of reggae and soul! I like it more with each listen and would give more of his albums a listen.
This guy has been a real problem child throughout his life, sheesh. Which is hard to imagine coming from the person making this music. His anger and addiction issues aside, I really enjoyed this. It had a real brightness to it and made me feel good and groovy. Sunday Shining especially shines!
I liked this a lot.
This was alright. I tend to like reggae with nice smooth beats. I feel like the lyrics throw me off a bit is why it doesn’t have the same feel. Still nice though.
I think if 2 or 3 of these tracks were left off the album it would have been 5 stars for me. Always happy when I listen to a British album and don't find myself constantly thinking this album shouldn't be included on this list.
Interesting, diverse. Tons of different vibes going on, I appreciate it.
Funky
Enjoyable listen, though not quite my cup of tea.
Really like this album. Not your everyday reggae. Groovy, chill, and cool. Something I’d never heard of and probably would never have listened to. This is one of those hidden gems I was hoping to find by doing this project.
I’d never heard of this artist before so it was extra nice to have a really enjoyable time with this album. Favourite tracks were It’s Great When We’re Together and Ride On Turn the People On. Just cool and easy listening! (4.5 stars)
Trip hop reggae vibes
23/09/2025 I'm really not a reggae man and I don't look forward to listening to the albums, but this sat well with me. Spotify listeners: 379.7k
I remember the “sun shining” single. Stoked to listen to this album today. Oh snap—even after all—a new favourite, a deeper-encountered memory of it. Other than that, the album rolled through.
4 stars
Marvelous bass throughout-- next time I listen to this album, it will be for the bass. A lot of reggae, but this is more than just reggae, so much soul and some jazz adds so much to this album. Great stuff. 4/5
It is the first time I have heard this singer. I liked the album very much. My thoughts on the idea that the person singing Reggae is Scottish, my answer is: So? Reggae, just like any other musical genre, has impacted people in the World, not only from one particular geographical location. I am remembering a Salsa group from Japan- Orquesta La Luz. They did very well, but people were too critical of them because they were from Japan. Really? C'mon...4/5
Great mix of reggae, jazz and even hip hop. I really enjoyed listening to this album and will revisit.
Scottish regae/soul?? That was unexpected. I recognized a couple of the hits off here but haven't heard them in years. This was a really good album. I could see this guy touring with Michael Franti. 3.5 rounding up.
i enjoyed the mix of pop and reggae, good vibes on this, good instruments, enjoyed it a fair bit
Definitely front loaded, but the first few songs are so good it lifts the whole album.
## In-Depth Review: Finley Quaye’s *Maverick A Strike* (1997) ### **Background and Context** Released on August 6, 1997, *Maverick A Strike* marked Scottish musician Finley Quaye’s debut studio album. Blending reggae, trip-hop, soul, funk, and rock, it peaked at #3 on the UK Albums Chart, earned double-platinum certification (600,000+ sales), and spawned five hit singles: "Sunday Shining," "Even After All," "Your Love Gets Sweeter," "Ultra Stimulation," and "It’s Great When We’re Together" . Quaye won the 1998 BRIT Award for Best British Male Solo Artist, cementing the album’s commercial and critical legacy . --- ### **Lyrics and Themes** **Optimism and Spirituality**: The album’s lyrics center on upliftment, resilience, and introspection. The title track "Maverick A Strike" repeats the mantra *"Lift up your art / If it ain’t of optimism / I will pay no attention,"* emphasizing creative positivity as antidote to pain . Tracks like "Even After All" and "Your Love Gets Sweeter" explore love’s healing power, while "Sunday Shining" (a Bob Marley reinterpretation) celebrates joy through nature . **Abstract vs. Literal**: Quaye’s writing oscillates between poetic abstraction ("If it ain’t of no flower dew / It’ll sure make you blue") and direct emotional pleas ("I really need you / You would overcome feelings") . This vagueness invites interpretation but occasionally lacks narrative depth, leaning on repetitive hooks . --- ### **Musical Style and Production** **Genre Fusion**: Quaye merges roots reggae with 1990s trip-hop, creating a sun-drenched, accessible sound. Tracks like "Ultra Stimulation" blend dub basslines, swirling organs, and rock guitar solos, while "Your Love Gets Sweeter" channels acoustic Jamaican folk . The instrumental "Red Rolled and Seen" incorporates tribal rhythms and Tricky-esque trip-hop atmospherics . **Production Strengths**: Produced by Quaye with Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby, the album’s "airy, bright universe" (BBC) avoids over-complication. Minimalist arrangements—e.g., the sparse orchestration on "It’s Great When We’re Together"—highlight melodic simplicity . Quaye’s use of live musician friends (not session players) lends organic warmth, with layered backing vocals and crisp percussion . **Vocal Style**: Quaye’s laid-back, patois-infused delivery polarizes listeners. Critics note his "questionable" Jamaican affectation (as a Scottish-Ghanaian artist), though supporters argue it complements the genre-blending intent . --- ### **Themes: Unity and Escapism** The album radiates utopian idealism. Songs like "Ride On and Turn the People On" and "Supreme I Preme" advocate collective joy and artistic freedom, framing music as a unifying force. Tracks such as "Sunday Shining" offer escapism, evoking "sunny afternoons outdoors" (BBC) . This optimism contrasts with Quaye’s later personal controversies, making the album a time capsule of his brief cultural ascendancy . --- ### **Influence and Legacy** - **Commercial Impact**: A late-1990s staple, its singles dominated UK radio and compilations, influencing "chill-out" trends . - **Artistic Legacy**: It pioneered reggae’s fusion with electronic genres, though Quaye’s follow-up (*Vanguard*) faltered by forcing "reggae with electronic backgrounds" . - **Cultural Debate**: The album ignited discussions on cultural appropriation in British music, with detractors dismissing it as "Scottish reggae" . Despite this, its genre-blending inspired artists like Gorillaz . --- ### **Pros and Cons** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | **Genre Innovation**: Masterful fusion of reggae, trip-hop, and soul . | **Vocal Limitations**: Quaye’s singing is often overshadowed by production; accent authenticity debates . | | **Production**: Warm, organic textures with minimalist elegance . | **Lyrical Vagueness**: Abstract phrases ("flower dew") risk incoherence . | | **Hit Singles**: Infectious, radio-friendly tracks ("Even After All," "Sunday Shining") . | **Cultural Appropriation**: Criticisms of inauthentic Jamaican styling . | | **Cohesive Mood**: Consistently uplifting and immersive . | **Filler Tracks**: Lesser cuts like "I Need a Lover" lack innovation . | --- ### **Verdict** *Maverick A Strike* remains a landmark 1990s debut, celebrated for its sunny genre alchemy and production finesse. While Quaye’s vocal authenticity and lyrical abstraction divide listeners, the album’s enduring charm lies in its effortless optimism and musical adventurousness. As the BBC notes, it’s "full of quirkiness, sophistication and well-written tunes"—a flawed yet influential classic .
Very funky. Feels like they could be an inspiration for Alt-J
This is a cool and interesting record and one's glad to have got to know it via this list. Certainly it's much better than Seal. Or Terence Trent D'Arby. One has no clue what Maverick A Strike could possibly mean. Sounds like the guy was difficult and maybe overrated himself and his potential for long-term stardom. Still this holds up and is well worth a listen on its own terms.
Utter turd
A teenage favourite that opened my ears to reggae adjacent stuff. The songs are also very soul oriented, date night, n loving soundtrack. It's hard to argue with how pleasant many of these songs are.
A fun and unique album, fusing reggae, jazz, and funk. While the tracklist does lag towards the end, this album remains an enjoyable and exciting adventure
Love the reggae vibe but repetitive and slow and times
Nice mix of reggae and soul. Mellow album and a good listen.
Det vise sæ at æ like reggae anno 1997 mye bedre enn æ hadde trodd??? I alle dager.
Coming into this...did I think this should be in the top 1001 albums of all time? Debatable Did I love this album when it came out? Yes Is this album better than about 80% of this list? Almost definitely. Coming out of this...do I think this should be in the top 1001 albums of all time? Yes
This was one of the first albums I bought as a teenager. It's a nice blend of reggae, dub and rock, also massive nostalgic vibes. Tricky might not like him but I give this a 4/5
Good reggae music. Good Music. Thanks for introducing him.
Very-very nice!
Best song: Even after it all Raggae works, especially in 1997 when it teetering from pop-grunge into boy bands.
Didn’t come in with any expectations and man, it was so good. Loved it - the right blend of chill vibes, a little Sade smooth sprinkled in. Would absolutely listen to it again on a warm sunny Saturday arvo.
Moody bluesy. Heard of vaguely but never heard til now. Great ambiance. One of the gifts from 1001albumgenerator.
p good
An interesting mix of Reggae and Soul, witha bit of Trip Hop. I particularly liked the Reggae tracks.
sunshine music, soulful reggae - lovely voice, some sweet grooves
Good Blues, Reggae
Good
Whoa! So unique and artful. Such a fresh reggae sound, I had a hard time believing it was made almost 30 years ago. Truly a surprising treat!
I don't know if this is blasphemous or not, but I think this is my favorite reggae album I've gotten so far (including multiple Bob Marley albums). My biggest problem with reggae is that when it's in album form, a lot of it starts to sound the same, but I don't think that's the case here. Sometimes it infuses elements of trip hop, or sometimes it's R and B, and there's even some hints of psych rock. Your Love Gets Sweeter also sounds like a folk or polka song or something. The production here is the real champ. Low 4.
Scottish reggae...something about this just works
I love this dub-step album... works really well in one go. The right balance between consistency and variation between the songs, and the less well-known ones are just as good as the hits. Nice pumping bass lines and well produced (by himself I believe) too. I read that Finley is a Scot adopting a Jamaican accent for effect - not sure about that but I'll give it the benefit of doubt. Was going to give it 3 after my first impressions, but it's a 4 after a careful listen.
Enjoyed this more than I expected. Really cool rasta vibes mixed with Rock. Not every track for me but really loved the vibe.
The first part of the album is a 10, the second gets a bit slower and it's a 7. "Sunday Shining" is amazing! 8.5/10.
Not my fave but not bad
I really enjoyed this album. Fun, loving, sweet, interesting.
Super mellow and smooth, especially for a Sunday afternoon. Very chill with hypnotic (but not numbing) vocals.
Fun and light. Just what was required for my Sunday. Maybe a bit pop for my usual taste but, while I was going bonkers playing Enter The Dungeon, it was a lovely counterpoint.
I now know why people fall in love with Finley Quaye music. What a lovely album.
This was a nice surprise and memory listen for me.
Reggae and soul kind of fusion. Not bad.
What a sprawling record, and I can't decide if that's a good thing or not. The first song had me thinking it would be some kind of reggae album. But then 'Sunday Shining' sounds completely different, and again 'Even After All' is something new yet again. After second time listening through this I think I'm leaning towards this being a quite good record. I like that it tries different things, and it does it quite well. Plus there are several tracks that I enjoy quite a lot, like aforementioned 'Even After All', 'Your Love Gets Sweeter', and 'Sweet And Loving Man', to name a few. The rest of the tracks does what they do quite well also, and there are barely any ones that are a bad. Except perhaps 'I Need a Lover' which could've been skipped for sure. Fun with a record I haven't heard before that is a bit different! Weak 4 for me.
Afro-Scottish reggae and dub? Holy crap!
Pewnie nie raz mówiłem co myślę o Regge. Finley Quaye zdecydowanie zaskoczył. Rzadko zdarza się album, który zmienia sposób postrzegania gatunku, ale "Maverick A Strike" robi to z zaskakującą lekkością. Finley Quaye bierze reggae za bazę, ale filtruje je przez acid jazz i britpop, tworząc brzmienie, które jest jednocześnie luźne i nieprzewidywalne. "Even After All" hipnotyzuje swoją prostotą, "Sunday Shining" eksploduje pozytywną energią, a "Your Love Gets Sweeter" pokazuje jego bardziej soulową stronę. Choć nie wszystkie utwory trzymają ten sam poziom, a momentami album wydaje się nieco zbyt rozmyty, to właśnie ta swoboda sprawia, że trudno go jednoznacznie sklasyfikować – i w tym tkwi jego siła. Słabe 4
Had a couple songs from this album already in my playlist, but never listened to this album as a whole yet, or really much of Finley Quaye at all. Lots of influences merge into something thats kinda groovey, jazzy and bluesy at times, 90s uk pop at times. I liked it as a whole but the end is harsh.
I like his voice. the sound is more a newer reggae vibe. 4 stars for me
You don't hear much from him nowadays, but revisiting this I enjoyed it. Your love gets sweeter and Sunday shining are great tracks and the rest are decent enough MOR reggae. 4/5
This is one of the fun new discoveries for me. Good vibe, didn't love his voice but it works overall.
incredible vibes
Some of y’all weren’t teenagers in the UK in the late 90s and it shows. I feel like if this album had opened with the undeniable Sunday Shining we’d have a more favourable score on here. That’s the basic story of this album, everyone love Sunday Shining and the quite likes Even After All and Your Love Gets Sweeter Everyday and then we kind of tolerated the rest of the album. Back in ‘97 we didn’t have Wikipedia to dig into the background of this guy, we just took it on face value that he was black or mixed race or something and was making sweet reggae music. It didn’t matter then that he was actually from Muirhouse but apparently it does now?
I loved this album when i was 17 as a nice white middle class boy, and i was very surprised to find it on this list as i had always just thought of it as fairly disposable. On revisiting this it doesnt let itself down. Its sunshine in musical form. Well composed and fun pop/reggae. Sure its not authentic, but i loved it then and i enjoyed it now
great album.
Loving this one. What is this? Dancehall? Reggae? Super chill.
Good album. Well worth the listen.
I enjoyed this. Groovy reggae from Scotland.
Moderne Raggae, dat soms aardig richting breakbeat muziek gaat. Daardoor ontstaat soms bijna een Fatboy Slim achtig geluid. Bijvoorbeeld bij Ride On and Turn the People On. Er zijn tegenwoordig veel crossovers in deze soort. Maar dit lijkt een soort voorloper. Leuk!
Electronic reggae music which also has elements of jazz and hip hop on some tracks. Pretty cool.
i know i’ve been giving a lot of 4s lately but this one is gas
Lots of fun listening to this and it definitely starts out hot with the first 3 songs being my favorites in descending order.
I really like this album and listen to it regularly.
A lot of nice Songs - Great musician
This was a really cool surprise! Reggae with kind of a sublime deal I’ll have to check when this came out to see who influence too. Some songs were cleaner than sublime, but it reminded me quite a bit of a little more reggae version of sublime. 4.25/5.
I guess this is okay late 90s reggae. Sure, why not.
I remember the name and nothing else, so this’ll be fun. Ok funky reggae. This is cute. Easygoing, mostly mellow. Nice rhythm for background music. Gets much better in the second half. Can’t complain. The man wrote his own Spotify bio. That’s too pure. Sweet and Loving Man, indeed. 4/5
Great production on Quaye's Caribbean-tinted pop songs. I really enjoyed the first half or so but the songs do get weaker toward the end of the album.
Interesting and funky.
This was a really pleasant listen today. I listened to the majority of it in a coffee shop sipping on a latte while practicing some Java skills on my laptop. I’m just that basic. Anyway, this was a really nice listen. The majority was reggae, but it also occasionally leaned into straightforward pop, giving an interesting extra dynamic to the album. The vocals were done well, and the music was catchy pretty much from front to back. It didn’t blow my face off, but it did give a nice soundtrack to my afternoon.
4/5. Really well-written Reggae songs that mixes some R&B and rock instruments like an electric guitar and synths and pianos among other sounds. Quaye is at the forefront of each song of course, and what a chill and relaxing voice, even if the song is heavier. Reggae is harder to get into for me, and I do have to be in the mood for it, but this was good and much better than I was expecting. First half of the album the highlight for sure. Best Song: Even After All, Ultra Simulation, It's Great When We're Together
This was a pleasant surprise, an album with a really cool and chilled out vibe. Also a lovely mesh of styles which show a songwriter influenced by jazz, trip hop, soul, reggae and all sorts. Not 5 stars because it gets a bit slow near the end, my attention waned at the instrumental track Red Rolled and Seen. Overall enjoyed though, and a note to self to come back to this when I'm lying on the beach in a few weeks
Some really, really great tunes - would say that it feels a bit scatter-gun-y but that could also be seen as a plus... seems like a real shame that he fell off but "Even After All" is beautiful, "It's Great When We're Together" has that Portishead-y strings accompaniment and dubness. Generally reminding me of Massive Attack with different vocals. "Sunday Shining" has proper swagger. "Your love gets sweeter" is also beautiful. Was originally going to give a 3.4 but I'm going to knock it up to a 3.65.
Groovy
It’s Great When We’re Together Sunday Shining Your Love Gets Sweeter Sweet and Loving Man Maverick a Strike I don’t know if I’ve reviewed a reggae album yet and it kind of caught me off guard in a good way. The vibes behind it are very sunny day relaxing soothing. What a great voice
I have heard of Finley Quaye before, but I don't recall his music. However, I really like this album. It was very refreshing. His voice is smooth, the music and production is great, and the songs are very nice for a summer day. I'm going to listen through the few albums he put out after this one, as well.
Wasn't familiar. Would listen again.
Not usually a fan of this genre but three of the tracks are brilliant so low 4*
Had never heard this. It was a groove!
Very fun
I really love the singing, and the effects being used on the guitar and vocals throughout. The high energy bops and more chilled tracks coexist wonderfully, and neither feels like it drags the album down. I appreciate the presence of the horns. Overall wonderful groove.
Upbeat and a great blend of genres.
Surprisingly interesting
интересно, необычно, очень разные вайбы собраны в одном альбоме, но гармонично и цельно
интересный эксперимент, звучит крепко алкоальбом: джин тоник с канабисом
I went into this album thinking it was going to be corny, but I was surprised that I came out of it really liking it. I feel like this reggae album bridges into trip-hop which makes the best songs feel a lot better and more interesting than I find traditional reggae. There are a couple of duds towards the end of the album, but overall it was quite good. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9. (Which could be abbreviated to 1, 3, 4, and 7).
This is not the Eels, but it is novocaine for the soul. Sunday Shining is a bright song that felt like a ray of sunshine on a particularly rainy day when I listened to it. Reggae, Soul, Jazz, and Funk are mixed to make... what? A Dance Pop album? I'm not sure, but this is probably sold close to where you find the Jamiroquai albums.
Really good! Hoping to revisit it soon.
Liked some of the dub tracks - very chill
Cool dub/reggae sound with interesting vocals
After a week of duds, I’m glad to start off the week with this Gem 💎
Album seemed really good I just wasn’t in the mood for it on this day.
I listened (and really like it) before I read his bio. I stand by my rating.
elektro reaggea hip hop
I thought this was very enjoyable! Turns out Luke was a fan of this album as a child, which tickles me as I didn't think at all this would be his thing. It was cool east listening.
This was really cool, loved it. I recognised the guys voice straight away then realised why when I heard 'Even after all'. It was on a compilation album put together by Jack Johnson that I used to listen to a lot. He's got a really cool voice.
Decent, and fairly engaging, and a bit fun – basically what you want from a well-made pop record. Personally, one finds his voice a tad annoying, but he uses it to most strong effect throughout. The album's incessant style jumping could also be off-putting, but given that it's all pretty enjoyable so feels silly to complain. It's encouraging when commercially successful and mass popularity offer at least this much sophistication and distinctiveness. "Even After All" and "Sweet and Loving Man" are easily the best cuts. One has the sense that one has heard much of this before, but can't quite place ... which may say something about its durability (or one's mental faculties) and which makes a 4 somewhat charitable, but it's less dated than other entries of this time and enjoyability does solve a lot of other problems, with pop music, as it should that pleasure is its basic job.
Interesting mix - reggae, R & B. Never heard of Finley before (by name), but certainly know him from his work with the Commodores!
Best find on the list so far!
I really enjoyed this album. Definitely a good listen!
A lot of these songs just weren’t jamming. There was one song I liked “Sweet and Loving Man” otherwise the beats didn’t make me enthusiastic. Bob Marley is just better. Still good though. Just would not my top choice for reggae. 7/10
I love going into these albums blind. I had no idea what to expect. The first track sounds like electro Bob Marley. I love the bass lines on this album. The sounds range from Beatles strings to the grit of bands like the stooges and MC5. Red Rolled and Seen gives me a Tom Waits “earth died screaming” vibe. The groove on this track is incredible
Chill, kinda bob Marley feel-good vibes. I'd listen again
duplicate
Really enjoyed this album, will probably listen to more of this artist.
Reggae. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
I love this album. Always have. I had it on cassette years ago and used to listen in the car. I still regularly hit it up when I need something summery and light. It aged beautifully and I’m so glad to have a reason to listen again
nice slice of Reggae - shouldn't read other reviews but why are so many on this site obsessed with things outside the actual music? Must be a generational thing where they're used to cancelling anyone slightly different and instead worship blandness with Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. Anyway this is nice and chilled with easy beats. 4
Tämä oli hyvä! Tosi mukavaa dubia.
i never heard of this till now which is illuminating because it’s pretty great
Reggae pop? Is that a thing? Well it certainly feels like it here. I dug this sound quite a bit. I wish we had more like this throughout the list.
Not my preferred genre but this was fun. Lots of good details to make the songs feel less interchangeable.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Even after all, Your love gets sweeter
Never heard this. Really liked it. Obviously some Bob Marley vibes, but a really unique "psychedelic reggae" feel to the whole thing. I was also getting a real Sam Cooke vibe from his voice as well - which was awesome.
The first half or 2/3rds of the album was great, but it kind of lost the magic toward the end. Overall solid though
Interesting listening. This would be good to just chill with or put on in the background.
Very chill
Album #13 I was not familiar with this artist or album and went into this listen blind. I am a fan of late 90s-early 00s trip hop, so hearing that familiar dub sound was a pleasant surprise. It kind of had a Thievery Corporation meets Zero 7 vibe going for it. Some of the lyrics seemed repetitive or redundant despite being different songs. I don't know why, but I got a "poser" feeling from some of them, but I can't really believe the judge of that, especially since it is not my culture. Overall, I really enjoyed it, but it wasn't something that I'm dying to listen to again. If it randomly came on, I doubt I'd skip it. 3.5* rounded up to 4*
If there was a dedicated algorithm, quantifying music that I love, I doubt Finley Quaye would make an appearance. However, I absolutely love him. My favourite song of his, Dice, is not on here, but I can’t play any Finley Quaye without bookending it with that song. The timbre of his voice, the beats, the melodies – I’m sold. Unfortunately, he’s in the news at the moment for domestic disturbances and aggravating his ex-partner. Such a shame when that just tarnishes a beautiful body of work.
Excellent 90s shag and spliff vibes, groovy
Tails off toward the end but the singles are all high quality. Generous 4.
A surprisingly good album. I never heard it at the time and was surprised by the depth and variety. Even After All and Sunday Shining are the standouts, but there are so many great little moments - the use of the Amen break in Ride on, the sweet little rock n roll rhythm in Your Love Gets Sweeter, the trip-hop atmosphere on Supreme... The lyrics are quite stream-of-consciousness - sometimes this works really well, sometimes it's a little repetitive, but as an album to put on for a laid back Sunday evening, you couldn't do better. So close to being 5 star, but the lyrics (and a couple of filler tracks in I Need A Lover and Red Rolled and Seen) drop it to a 4. Well worth a listen though.
Cool, refreshing, vibe of reggae meets psychedelia with velvety smoothe vocals topping off the whole concoction. A keeper from the start.
Quite relaxing raegge, really liked the bass work in there.
Really quite good. Surprised.
neat reggae album
Good lord, there's a blast from the past. I think I must've had this on cassette, I know all the songs so I must've done, and it still sounds really good to this day. Highly enjoyable, infantile lyrics (and Jamaican accent) but really great beats, rhythm and sounds (hence the mobo award). Added back to collection without hesitation. Great to bring myself up to speed with his shenanigans, only to find out he headbutted his (terminally ill) mate because he wouldn't turn game of thrones off, for which he was fined and given 225 hours unpaid work, was declared bankrupt with over £383k debts and was kicked off stage by an organiser because he was intoxicated. Jolly album though, can barely tell he was born in Edinburgh.
Fun album that’s fairly varied on top of it’s reggae sound
Finley Quaye's best song (“Dice”) isn’t on this album, but this album is just as perfectly mellow. Wonderful listening experience.
Really enjoyed this. And nice to see a reggae album make a list from an artist I’d never heard of
Reggae. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Nostalgia filled me to the brim and then I spilled over with joyous bubbles of musical pleasure. Maybe if you didn't listen to this weekly in your teens, your feel differently.
A beautiful one
I'd forgotten just how good this album is! But the second half does let it down a bit.
This is a great album, 4.5 stars. Reggae influences without being full-on reggae/repetitive. Balances blending lots of different instruments with still feeling simple. Vocals set a tone that feels 'relatable' and guitar is given freedom to shine at times. Pace changes throughout but is never too fast or too slow. Standout is "Sunday Shining"
Très bien!
Loved this album back then Great to go back to the dub grooves … top musicians on it … Great bass, guitar and drums even after all … A strong 4
Kind of a grower. Apart from happy-go-lucky songs there‘s a certain depth to the whole project which cannot only be explained by the use of dubby reverb. Sincere 3.6
I wasn't in the mood for this style of music at all today but it was still a good listen.
Tracks 1-5 are all undeniable bangers. This is way better than I remember (I think I borrowed it off a mate, taped Sunday Shining and Love Gets Sweeter and bunned off the rest of the album as boring). The second half of the album may have justified my young opinion, but this album was SO strong out of the gates it's still great.
Hearing this for the first time, I'm surprised this guy is not more of a household name. He's like a modern sounding Bob Marley, but even more accessible to a mass audience. I found these songs to be great listens, really grooving.
Great vibe.
Would revisit
NICE TUNES
Let's be honest, it's soft rock/Reggae from a Scotsman trying to sing with a Jamaican accent. The singing could also be better. That being said, there are some great chill songs here, the composition and musicianship is great.
A dub and reggae album with flourishes of the then-contemporary sounds; this is a rather ambitious and auspicious debut album from 1997, a year chock full of ambitious albums that looked toward the future rather than mine from the past. Maverick A Strike seems to have gone under the radar, which is a shame seeing as though it is looking to be re-discovered and re-evaluated as it should. A hidden gem, for sure. Favorites: Ultra Stimulation, It's Great When We're Together, Sunday Shining, The Way of the Explosive, Your Love Gets Sweeter, Sweet and Loving Man.
This is a really nice discovery. Fantastic mix of reggae and trip hop that sounds amazing. Beautiful production and I love his voice; sort of a mix between Winston Rodney's gravely intensity and Gregory Isaac's silky smoothness. 4.5 🌟
I wasn't expecting much from this but really enjoyed it. It sounds very Bristol influenced. A bit dubby, a bit trip-hoppy. Thumbs up. Smiley face. Sun is shining emoji.
I'd never heard of Finlay Quaye before and did not know what to expect. I found it an absolute delight, a terrific mix of reggae and pop unlike anything else I've heard. Really enjoyed it.
Gosh I love when I am caught off guard for an album! This album was so mellow to listen to. Perfect for a workday. Some real gems could be found--"Sunday Shining" is such a beautiful song, full of hope. "I Need A Lover" reminds me deeply of Prince. I love this combination of blues, reggae, soul, jazz in this album. Such creativity! I am looking forward to listening to this again.
Great album, r&b, reggae influences
I dig this, smooth, mellow
Loved it. I knew Quaye from Massive Attack and Tricky, but this was the first time I have listened to this album. Sunday Shining must have been on a soundtrack or mix tape or something. Def a good bop. Very listenable album, but some of the tracks were just a little too empty of sonic or emotional value to make this a true five. A *lot* of highlights, though.
Nearly gave this 5 stars for sentimental reasons, spent many a hazy afternoon listening to this in the 90's. Really enjoyed playing it again.
This might be the most recent reggae album I've ever listened to. Really deep grooves here.
Wow! Did not expect this. Fantastic listen
I don't know much 'modern' reggae and don't often listen to it, but this is good stuff. I can see myself listening again in the right mood.
Meh, some bangers bood as a whole not that good
I've never heard of this dude at all, but this music is great. Right up my alley. Some cool funk/reggae vibes.
Finley has a beautiful voice and knows how to write catchy tunes. I had "The Sun is Shining' on high rotation back in the day and there are a bunch of other great songs here, though the CD is a bit front-end loaded. He dips in and out of reggae the way k-os dips in and out of rap.
Great album. Really enjoyed listening to this one again.
Pretty catchy smooth jazzy.
I didnt know what to make of this album - but loved it, some really great tracks on it. A great discovery this one.
Fantastic find
Fun album with innovative production, and a great vocalist. Didn't blow me away but still a great album!
Liked it! A little groovy, liked his voice. Sunday Shining was my favorite song.
I enjoyed this way more than I expected I would. Great beats and fun vibes all around.
Would be 3 now, 5 when it came out. Not dated that well as I find the voice a bit irritating
Grooooovy (reggaeish)
Reggae muy fino, estoy seguro que le encantaría a mi Johnny Greenwood.
Solid reggae grooves
This one is going on the playlist
🌴
false
Jammy, psychedelic reggae. I liked it.
A good Reggae album
I’ve never heard of him. Sounds very of-its-time. There are better reggae-pop albums but it’s kinda neat to hear one from the 90s I suppose!
A feel good, happy sounding record. Favourite Track(s): Your Love Gets Sweeter Least Favourite Track(s): Red Rolled and Seen
mix van reggae en bill withers
Kevin Bacon projekt. Lyden minder mig lidt om en tidlig udgave af Funkstar Delux's udgave af Sun is shining. Der er lidt Bob over måden han synger på, men det er bare anderledes. Fin oplevelse.
Skots Reggae. Den havde jeg ikke lige set komme. Det gør faktisk ikke noget dårligt for Reggae at tempoet bliver sænket og der tilføjes noget Soul.
It’s not bad.
This is far from anything I would call essential listening, but I did find myself enjoying this overall. It's nothing hugely special or interesting I'll be honest, but I don't find it to be anywhere near as boring or generic as other reviews are making it out to be. Maybe it's partly due to my lack of experience listening to reggae, I'm sure that because of that I'm more easily impressed by things that are actually really standard in the genre, but that won't stop me enjoying this. Will I ever revisit this album in my life? Very likely not, but having listened to it and mostly enjoyed it once is good enough for me.
Great vibes; a couple stand outs
I hear Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio in his voice from time to time. Not a fan of the more uptempo tracks.
Ok
It would be cool if they put actual influential reggae music on this list and not British artists that were influenced by reggae greats. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Fun and funky reggae vibe, I can definitely get down with this. Not groundbreaking, but a fun pick and added a few songs into the rotation.
Meh ok
Pretty good reggae.
Aight
Alrighty, well this is definitely not what I was expecting. I was not expecting whatever this afro-beat techno fusion is. I don’t hate it. Ultra Stimulation, the first track, started off slightly middle-of-the-road, what I was kind of thinking this album would be. Then the techno elements kicked in and it was really interesting. It’s great when we’re together was a similar track, but the synths were more background. The bass really came through even though it was softer. I liked how the chorus was punchier. Sunday shining had a nice little groove to it! Even after all had a very nice flow, thought it was quite smooth. Ride on and turn the people on had some cool percussion. The way of the explosive again had a nice steady beat to it. Your love gets sweeter was super sweet, but actually very fun too. Supreme I Preme was very good. Nice beat, good vocals. Sweet and loving man had a lot of good sounds and ideas to it. Falling had good vibes to it. I enjoyed the title track to end things off. another solid 3/5 ⭐️, nothing incredibly special, but I thought it was cool. 156/1089
Nice reggae album and a cute twist on a Bob Marley standard. Your love gets sweeter is the gem of the album.
It was okay
Enjoyed it.
How do I know some of these songs but never heard of the dude? I dig it though.
Interesting. Not sure I'm going to revisit it, but fun to listen to once.
Meh
Not what I was expecting from the cover. Some nice Caribbean via the UK vibes.
This is a very mid faux-reggae album from a Scottish guy. Not a whole lot stood out and there is very little passion or hooks of note to be had here. It's aggressively fine and pretty insubstantial. I did like a few songs, especially "Sunday Shining" and "Even After All" but why not include a reggae album from a genuine Jamaican (or otherwise) artist instead of this guy? He comes across as a poser.
this was a new one to me. not unenjoyable, but nothing to stop the presses about
#141/1001 🏴🇬🇭 This is confusing record, it starts of with a heavy psych dub track, playing through to some lighter poppy tracks which are the real standouts here, before tailing away towards the end. Could have easily been 2-3 tracks shorter and better. Best tracks: Sunday Shining, Even After All, Red Rolled and Seen,
Perfectly fine. Not exceptional by todays standards but definitely not lower than a 3
Didn't know this singer. Touches of reggae in his songs. Overall, not a bad album.
It was decent reggae, I generally like the genre. If I wanted to listen to reggae though I wouldn't choose this album. Favorite Track - Sunday Shining Least Favorite Track - Supreme I Preme ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 Another one where I really liked large parts of the album but was dragged down by several weaker/uninteresting songs (usually the ones where the fake accent was more pronounced)
I liked a few of the songs. Supreme I Preme had the best vibe to it. Felt like I was exploring underneath a dark, techno, alien city. Weird but I felt it.
it grooves, but that's about it, nothing particularly noteworthy otherwise. runs out of ideas by the end.
Meh
This was fun! I enjoyed how the sound meshed and transcended eras.
faves: Sunday Shining Even after all
I didn’t mind that. The reggae tracks were cool the rest not so much. Not completely sure why this is noteworthy though.
A very interesting pop reggae album. I didn’t like it at first but it started growing on me. Good beats and catchy tracks
beach/chill vibes
The music was quite enjoyable. But the vocals just did not fit well throughout this album.
never heard of this guy before. interesting take on reggae music
joa ganz gut. versteh den hate nicht ganz, aber wahrscheinlich weil ich mich nicht so mit der history auseinander gesetzt habe. find ganz chill eigentlich.
It was ok. Did not really show me anything interesting.
Industrial reggae? I actually enjoyed this quite a bit.
It’s not bad. But it doesn’t really standout either. Some cool reggae and soul vibes in a more UK context, which has a different feel than US reggae stuff.
Strong album, with interesting and dynamic production. The songs don’t really stand out but are all cool. Favorite songs: It’s Great When We’re Together, Even After All
different than what I normally listen to but I enjoyed the journey
Kind of fun, not really my genre but it's upbeat and entertaining.
It’s been a few days since we had some reggae up in here! I have not been familiar with Finley Quaye, but I’m definitely going to look deeper into this one. He had a great combination of roots reggae style with some modern pop sensibilities. The song Supreme I Preme grabbed my attention from the start and didn’t let go, while the Way of the Explosive reminded me a lot of Ziggy Marley or Burning Spear. Another fun song was Ride On… as it felt like a Reggae-meets-B-52s/Talking Heads. It was just a fun song with great bass work. I liked this change of pace and album. This, for me, was why we do this. Well done 1001!
Random thoughts: * I was pretty sure I'd never heard this one before and then I heard "Your Love Gets Sweeter" and I know I've heard it before but can't pinpoint. So I'm assuming I heard more than once on KBCO. * This was an interesting record for sure and one I played several times. It had so many different vibes and genres blended together. * I will definitely listen to this one again. Fun to be "introduced" to this one via 1001.
I don’t hate it. I don’t love it. He’s a talented singer with a unique voice and the music is well performed. It just feels a little vanilla to me.
Solid reggae record even if some of the songs seem a big redundant musically.
Interesting psych reggae hybrid. Like if Bob Marley was signed to Factory Records.
i was not mentally prepared for this. it’s one in the morning. i just watched project hail mary. i’m tired. i’m going to bed and trying this again tomorrow. i’ve never heard of this artist or this album. very interesting it was fine
Quelques chansons vraiment sympa et qui se démarquent mais le reste de l'album est oubliable. Reste bon mais pas assez pour rester dans les mémoires. Note : 3 À réécouter : Oui
It's not a bad time. It's quite stripped back and chilled, and I like some of the instrumentation going on in here, particularly with the strings and brass in places. Sunday Shining is a nice track and perhaps the standout. I nearly dropped a star because the last 3-4 tracks were very poor. It's like he completely ran out of ideas.
Every song the same. It was a pretty boring album. Not bad, but nothing very good either. Here are probably the best songs on it: Ultra Stimulation, Even After All, Sweet and Loving Man, and Falling. Overall, I would give this album a 3.2/5!
I was not impressed, but it was fine.
Never heard of this. Based on the album title and artist name, I am expecting some excruciatingly pretentious American singer-songwriter trying to emulate Bob Dylan. Well, I couldn't have been much more wrong. Electro-reggae. Not my favourite album, but an extra star for interest and novelty.
Nice listen. Can't really compare as reggae is not my thing.
Good.
Ghanian-Scottish dub reggae & blues, Finley Quaye is a better find than he is a listen, if that makes sense. That's not to say that Maverick A Strike is not a worthwhile listen, that it has no soul, or that it boasts no talents of a gifted singer/musician. It's to concede that it's a period piece, giving you a sense of what could sell during the nineties. This hit #3 in the UK, which means it was pretty fucking popular. & it's not bad. But it's also not good, & approaches thoroughly incoherent: 'Even after all the murdering that go on / Even after all, oh no, your suffering, so / You know I love you so'; 'This is the future, hey / I ain't gonna shoot you, hey.' These aren't pop songs - they're songs for pop airplay. That has its place, tho probs only for a week.
Pretty good
A good album, I liked Sunday Shining and Your Love Gets Sweeter the most.
Like it 3/5