Reggae Anthology: Cutty Ranks - Limb by Limb in Bloomington, MN

Traditionally, there's always been some criticism of
Cutty Ranks
as a one-dimensional artist. He's got a gruff voice, an almost unhealthy obsession with rapping about guns, and a dependence on strong, loping beats. However, there's a reason
Ranks
has been at the top of the dancehall scene for so long -- despite a fairly narrow range, he's spectacular within his element.
Limb by Limb
collects material from throughout his career, albeit in a non-chronological manner.
' very early work, from powerful freestyling to the 1986 release
"Gunman Lyrics,"
both begins and ends the collection. The movement to mainstream dancehall recognition is represented, with a number of tracks hailing from
The Stopper
and
Lethal Weapon
showcasing his developing rough sound, as well as a number of strong collaborations with singers from around the reggae spectrum (
Marcia Griffiths
,
Dennis Brown
, and
Wayne Wonder
are all represented here). Inexplicably skipping the
Cocoa Tea
collaborations as well as the call-outs of other DJs, the album does pick up on the return to gun talk and an increase in hip-hop influence that came with
'
Six Million Ways to Die
album and the follow-ups, which also saw
gaining some notoriety in the U.S. The album can get a bit monotonous as two discs pass through
Cutty
's barking delivery, but fans (especially newer fans of
' U.S. successes) are likely to find it an excellent primer to the sound of one of the longer-lasting members of the dancehall lineup. ~ Adam Greenberg