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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
It’s a sleepy, laid-back kind of vibe that runs through Man Like I, the debut album from North London’s Natty, but don’t mistake it for laziness. The tales we find within mark our narrator out as neither saint nor sinner, bouncing round London’s streets with a badman swagger and an eye for the ladies, but with a skill for a deft, lyrical narrative and a social conscience learnt from his heroes, “Marcus, Mandela and Marley”. And while Bob Marley is a fair reference point to Natty’s shuffling, light reggae skank, it’s just as easy to locate these tales of life, love, and misadventure on the streets of London in the neighbourhood of Lily Allen, Kate Nash, and their attendant clan of new-school songsmiths. Some of it, then, is pretty simple fare--see “Last Night”, a break-up number that sees Natty reach for the spliff and the bottle--but elsewhere, there’s politically charged numbers like “Burn Down This Place”, a lament for his slave ancestors, or “Hey Man”, which sees our narrator lash out at the political apathy displayed by his peers. “My father’s generation had fires in their belly, man/We sat there like living room furniture, in front of our tellys, man”. --Louis Pattison
Review
With his name, dreadlocks, and easily comprehendible patois, Natty has been hailed by the mainstream press as an up-and-coming reggae artist, even drawing hyperbolic comparisons with Bob. It's a categorisation that seems to cause him discomfort – although not enough to avoid signing up for Boss Sounds, the UK's biggest reggae festival, and has sparked debate as to whether his eclectic blend of styles is tribute or dilution. Debut album, Man Like I, proves it to be neither. If you've even a passing interest in reggae there is little on offer from this disc. Positioned slightly to the left of the jolly mockney hockeysticks of Lily and Kate, Natty's songs are a more rhythmic, culturally diverse take on the great British tradition of confessional summer music. Natty clearly knows his way around a studio, having got his breaks (and some free session time, no doubt) as an engineer. He also understands that the finest records fuse the sounds of the country and city. Badman's rapid-fire MC delivery rides jazzy guitar chords and furious hand drums. July has a folksy harmonica, a clear Jamaican afterbeat and words conceived in the throws of young love. It's easy to sneer at guileless lyrical indiscretions like Coloured Souls' "sometimes we jump the trainfare to get to where we're going" (Peter Tosh must be shaking in his boots) and the "hoodies" "you get me's" and "ends" straight from "yoof speak" central casting – but these also have a certain exuberant charm. What limits Natty's appeal is an inability to laugh at himself: the very best pop has a universal sense of fun - yet even his non-political songs take themselves so seriously that they betray his tender years. The more seasoned listener wanting to hear Rasta concerns over intelligent pop should check Winston McAnuff's peerless 2006 album Paris Rockin'. If, however, you're just after some vaguely rootsy chillout music – and don't care much for reggae or its history – Natty's got the tunes and the summer vibes to make you smile. The next Bob Marley? Try the new Finlay Quaye. --Angus Taylor
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fantastic discovery,
By Mark Meynell "quaesitor" (London, UK) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Man Like I (Audio CD)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
This album is a fantastic discovery. Full of all kinds of moods and atmosphere, sentiments and observations. Natty fuses a whole host of sounds (as suggested by the list on his myspace page of his various influences). A number of songs really get under the skin and stick in the mind (eg Stoned on You, Say Bye Bye and Badman). 'July' kicks off the album with a trad kingston reggae sound which is great - but there is great ingenuity and improvisation as the album develops.All in all, I can't get enough of it. Highly recommended to anyone who values great music regardless of its genres or stable.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Style + Substance = Great!,
By
This review is from: Man Like I (Audio CD)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
Natty's chilled out vocals remind me of Jack Johnson but the lyrics have far more depth. True to reggae's roots, some tracks deal with different issues faced by this mixed race young man in modern Britain - usually accompanied by disarmingly laid-back tunes. It is his relaxed rythums which make Natty's clever tracks seem effortlessly thrown together.I enjoyed it from the first listen & it has continued to grow on me since then, as repeated listens reveal more depth. While each track clearly has Natty's signature on it, there is plenty of variety & not a single weak song. I look forward to him breezing his 'difficult' second album.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic,
By
This review is from: Man Like I (Audio CD)
I absolutly love this cd. I do a lot of traveling and this is a MUST!! I have found myself listerning to the cd over and over again, its that good!!! There are no songs on this cd that you'd feel was a waste of money. I just can't wait to hear Nattys next album.
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