click the active links to hear samples of From the Heart
1. Intro
2. From the Heart
3. See It
4. Helping Hand
5. More Prayer
6. Thank You
7. Chat Mi Back
8. What A Friend
9. More Time
10. I'll Pray For Her
11. Jesus
12. Look to God - featuring Stitchie
13. What A Dub
14. Jamadian
15. Hold On
16. Back Weh
Review by Mark Mohr of Christafari, Lion of Zion Entertainment and gospelreggae.com
ALBUM DESCRIPTION
Hailing from Belleville in Ontario, Canada, comes Tim Linnard, stage name Jah Pickney; a sensational pickney (child) now turned adult. With "From the Heart," this youth, who has been singing reggae since his early teens, has truly come of age as both a singer/songwriter and producer/engineer.
With each song written, played, and performed by this young adult, one has to wonder, "Is there anything that this youth can't do." Raised in a musical family that firmly supports their son's talent and vision, it is no wonder that Tim has come so far. With the launch of his sophomore effort, this Pickney has truly surpassed his initial release by leaps and bounds.
SONG BY SONG REVIEW
Wasting no time, Jah Pickney busts out with some thick patois on "Jah Pickney Deyah." Break out your pen and paper and get ready to take notes and learn some thick Jamaican Creole as this youth invites you to take in the full flavor of his second solo effort. This brief cut features Tansoback from Christafari introducing the Jamadian man with his familiar shout; "Ya, ya, ya, ya...!" and the clever use of Tim's song titles.
On this album you won't hear an artist burning a chi chi man, chatting slackness, spitting gun talk, or hailing up Selassie I and Prince Emmanuel. Rather, you will hear Jah Pickney "comin' straight from the Heart." On this combination roots/dancehall, deejay/singers track, Tim clearly states what he has set out to accomplish and whom he is called to reach.
Track three is "See It," a deejay piece over a one-drop beat with some dubwise delays. In the fourth verse Tim shares with us evidence that demands a verdict. He clearly chants that has seen the proof and He knows that Jesus is the truth.
Cut four is by far this artist's strongest singing attempt. "Helping Hand," is another roots mover with a tight conscious vibe. Soothe your ears to his melodic vocals over this saxophone infused track. It's nice to hear a live sax on a primarily digital album-and man this guy can wail! The best part of this song is saved for last as Tim breaks loose with a "likkle Deejay piece" to change up the pace. This is where this artist is truly at home.
"More Prayer" is by far the best song that any Christian dancehall deejay has written in response to the "Fire Burn" controversy that is still causing heat in Jamaica and abroad. For those of you who aren't aware, there are two major secular dancehall artists named Capleton and Sizzla who chant out that fire is going to burn all gays, prostitutes, the government, and even Jesus. In this clever track, Tim lovingly states that his solution is to pray for them rather than persecute. Through his gentle lyrics we are reminded that God hates the sin but loves the sinner and it is the sick that need a doctor. This tune is BAAD!
Following this scorcher is a mellow singing/roots offering aptly titled "Thank You." Again, it is the short deejay piece that truly reveals Tim's serious versatility. Next up is track seven, "Chat Mi Back," an urban anthem. This bouncy club jam is drenched in the popular raggamuffin Hip Hop style so prevalent in today's dancehall.
The Riddim tonic continues with "What A Friend." Sprinkled with some tasty percussion and accentuated by a clever piano melody line, these lyrics are truly Christ centered. This youth is not ashamed of the gospel, as he even rhymes the salvation prayer in verse three. This album is sick!
The fire and flames continue to scorch on "More Time." This is by far the most crippling dancehall riddim that I have heard this year. Dis ya tune tough star! I can definitely hear a little General Degree and Lieutenant Stitchie influences in this song. This is by far the stand out track on this project. I would love to see some other Gospel artists voice something over this version. I need to hear this song one "more time." The vibes turn into a reggae boat party on "I'll Pray For Her," a lovers rock/doo-wop love tune. However, this is not your atypical love song, it is more of a commitment to pray for someone you love that has not yet seen the light. It is no wonder this album was released around Valentines Day.
Tim kicks off "Jesus" again making it ever so clear that this youth is not ashamed to proclaim the name of the one whom he praises--Respect! After this it is time to bring down the house with the instant floor-filler, "Look To God," a head nodding track with vocals seemingly similar to the extraordinary Lieutenant Stitchie-Oh wait a minute...that is Stitchie! For those who are unaware, Stitchie is a former secular dancehall legend in his own right. He was led to Christ partly through the prayers and witnessing effort of Jah Pickney. In this history making track the two are reunited on tape under the Lordship of Christ-a collaboration you cannot miss!
Following is the psychedelic dub effort aptly titled "What A Dub." This one also deserves a rewind. Man, this album keeps getting better and better! For the next concoction we take some black green and gold and thrown in a red maple leaf. What do you get when have a Canadian with the heart and dialect of a Jamaican?-"a Jam-adian." I like this recipe! Jah Pickney has the right ingredients for guiding a new generation of dancehall fans to the mouth-watering aroma of his Jamadian creations. The lyrics in this tune are inspired by Paul's writings in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
On "Hold On," Tim handles the reggae-band festival flair with finesse, singjaying with his Jamadian packaged chants over this hand-drum packed niyabinghi cadence-"woy yoi!" Next up Jah Pickney blows steam on another earthquake-shaking song. Watch out, you may scorch your dome with the fiery dancehall rhythm on "Back Weh." This speaker damaging boom-shot has a dramatic and driving dancehall beat. Listen carefully to the samples that he uses when he mentions all of the gospel reggae artists--very clever. If you liked "More Time," then Tim will satisfy your taste buds with this final wicked cut! But wait, that's the last song? I want more. "Wheel and come again selecta!" He definitely saved one of the best for last.
CONCLUSION
More often than not, reggae artists based outside of JA get overlooked in the dancehall circuit, because of a myth that they cannot be truly authentic. Although this may be true for some, Jah Pickney is making this myth just that, a myth. He is a harmony-maker who can dive in and out of spitting sparks on a deejay piece just as well as he can blow calm incense smoke over a mellow roots tune.
His sophomore effort shows much maturity, yet still leaves a little bit of room for growth. Here on "From the Heart," the Dancehall slams outshine Tim's roots-singing tracks with ease. In branching out into more singing it is initially evident that his years of experience have made him a dancehall specialist. Given this, for me, the strongest cuts on this album are "More Time," "More Prayer," "Look to God," "Back Weh," and other proven dancehall sizzlers.
As he is relatively new to roots-style singing, it would be great to see Tim develop his vocal tone and style a little more. It seems also that Tansoback and General Degree often inspire some of his deejay vocal inflexions, sometimes almost to a fault. But after close inspection, one can easily decipher the difference between Tim and these artists. I hope to see a greater emphasis placed on these differences in his next project as this talented artist continues to come into his own unique deejay vocal sound.
Overall, this self-produced project is a precious gem just anxious to slam your sub-woofers with authentic Yardee sounds. It is unquestionably Jah Pickney's best release to date--far outshining his freshman effort. I highly recommend it. Pick up a copy today!