Musically, “Flava” incorporates a variety of programmed synthesizers and beats, all blending into a pulsing mid-tempo dancehall rhythm, carrying with it a sense of urgency. Shines’ voice, a combination of raspy soulfulness and smooth caress, is commanding and somewhat similar in style to Fred Locks, Frankie Paul and Howie Hutchinson. With “Flava,” Shines displays versatility as he seamlessly moves from crooning on the infectious chorus to more of a singjay style on the verses, all the while revealing a great balance of clarity and melody. Much like Reid and Mykal Rose, Shines clearly has the artistic range to effectively sing over both roots and dancehall rhythms.
The “flava” Shines is singing about extends well beyond simply entertaining. With lyrics such as “take care of children and old people / tell the world say a good over evil” and “stop put your vanity over people / go and set a better example,” this is perhaps a call to be the distinct flavor that is the salt of the earth. What Shines expresses is the necessity to take the message of righteous living beyond mere words and into the streets of every day life in order to make a positive impact on society. In a genre marred by slackness and hypocrisy, Ultimate Shines has been a consistent voice for positive social and spiritual themes, and with the refreshing and encouraging “Flava,” he effectively carries the torch forward.
Review by Mike Roots
Rating: 5 Stars (out of 5)
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