The Prophets (Alpha Blondy album)

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]

The Prophets
Studio album by
Alpha Blondy
Released1989
LabelCapitol[1]
Alpha Blondy chronology
Revolution
(1987)		 The Prophets
(1989)		 S.O.S Guerre Tribale
(1991)

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Chicago Tribune[7]
Robert ChristgauB[8]
Los Angeles Daily News[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.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
1."Face to Face"4:19
2."Black Men Tears"5:15
3."Corinthiens"3:15
4."Jah Music"6:25

References
  1. Tanzilo, Robert (10 Aug 1990). "Blondy's best". Milwaukee Sentinel. Feature. p. 18.
  2. Goldberg, Andy (11 Aug 1989). "The new album from Alpha Blondy...". The Jerusalem Post. Arts. p. 7.
  3. Cawley, Jimmy (11 Feb 1993). "Back on track". The Boston Globe. Calendar. p. 9.
  4. Santoro, Gene (Jan 1990). "Alpha Blondy and the Solar System". DownBeat. 57 (1): 30.
  5. Shuster, Fred (October 6, 1989). "A Solar System is born". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L27.
  6. "The Prophets - Alpha Blondy & the Solar System, Alpha Blondy | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  7. May, Mitchell (13 Sep 1990). "Rave recordings". Chicago Tribune. Tempo. p. 7.
  8. "Robert Christgau: CG: Alpha Blondy". www.robertchristgau.com.
  9. "Alpha Blondy". Trouser Press. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  10. Feist, Daniel (26 Oct 1989). "ALPHA BLONDY, THE SOLAR SYSTEM; The Prophets". The Gazette. p. E8.
  11. Lannert, John (13 Apr 1990). "AFRICAN ARTIST FOUND HIS REGGAE SOUL IN U.S.". Sun-Sentinel. FEATURES SHOWTIME. p. 20.
  12. "Alpha Blondy Casts Afro-Reggae Spell". The Washington Post. 20 Apr 1990. p. N28.
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