Screwdriver Returns From A Long Hiatus With Testimony
Screwdriver takes his time between albums. His first was released in 1995, and 2007’s Road Block is only his third. One convenient byproduct of that kind of recording schedule is that it gives you an excuse to cover yourself — and that’s exactly what he does here, making a new dancehall version of his old hit song “Sharon You Pregnant (No Mama).”
Stretching things out over a couple of decades also usually means that you’re not completely tied down to a single style or period of reggae music, and that may explain the remarkable stylistic flexibility in evidence here: “Driver Reply” is based on a vintage early dancehall rhythm, “Man Is Just a Man” and “War” are both 1970s-style roots reggae, and that new version of “Sharon You Pregnant (No Mama)” (here titled simply “Sherron”) gives the song an electro-calypso sheen.
The sufferer’s anthem “Stress Out” is perhaps the first song of its kind to mention student loans specifically, and “Poor Man Dream” updates the “Small Axe” rhythm very tastefully. All of this adds up to an unusually original-sounding reggae album by a man who really ought to get into the studio more often.
Unique Blend Of Music
Now the Singer is back with his latest project on The Crichton Clique Music Label – Testimony. Screwdriver waste no time and get down to business right away proceeding from the fine roots anthem “Devil In Disguise” to the exquisitely hard-headed “I Kiss the Sky,” on which Screwdriver manages to invoke the sound and spirit of both Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer simultaneously — no mean feat.
“Freedom of Speech” is a powerful, Drum in your chest, Bass and Horn-driven slab of Rastafarian mysticism, while “Sinners” rocks to a galloping neo-ska beat. “Mount Zion Is Calling” begins with two guitars performing alone, utilizing complex chords with a slight Neo Soul vibe that is both sensible and gets your head moving right away. Creating something great often requires hard work, diligence, and a lot of patience. Screwdriver and The Crichton Clique understand this and it is evident by the works on this album.
Montego Bay Native
Screwdriver was born Dalton Lindo on April 4, 1966 in Montego Bay, St. James Parish, Jamaica, West Indies. He was Inspired by the dancehall singers Pinchers, Pliers, Spanner Banner and Tenor Saw. He chose the name Screwdriver in honor of his musical idol Pliers. In the mid-80s he went to Kingston where he met Beres Hammond, who encouraged his musical aspirations. Screwdriver began his career in 1986, recording the hits ‘We Rule’, ‘Soundboy Killa’, ‘Family Counsellor’ and ‘Here I Come’.
Developing His Style
In 1989 he topped the Jamaican chart with ‘No Mama’, which became a major hit throughout the Caribbean and inspired many DJs to mimic the chorus. The song remained on the charts for over 23 weeks. Following his success, Screwdriver toured America and Canada before settling in Florida. Further hits followed, including ‘Reggae On Broadway’, ‘Learning The Ways Of Love’, ‘Roots And Culture’, ‘Teach Dem’ and ‘HIV’. Influenced by the music of his domicile, he blended R&B and hip-hop with Jamaican dancehall rhythms.
Connect With Asani Ali & The Crichton Clique
And now this…a new album by the anthropomorphic embodiment of a city, Miami and Montego Bay’s mad hatter, the Jamaican Beethoven, who, on his incredible new album, offers up a range of different styles and serves up an array of subject matters that quintessentially twist the melon’s flesh until a melody pops out.
The coherent and consistent excellence of the tunes is remarkable, impressive even. Lyrically, there’s a lot to take in. As tends to be the case, Screwdriver is the human sampler, one who keeps delicious turns of phrase and spoonerisms in a white pick ‘n’ mix bag and sprays them onto a canvas as both brutally sincere social commentary and surrealistic experiments with colloquialisms local to Screwdriver’s encounter with everyday life.
Well, I consider myself a Dancehall singer, but mi deal wid it pon a smoother kind of level. You have Dancehall singers that flex like how mi flex, but the difference wid them is that them record their songs on the popular riddims because of the producers they work with. But my songs are more on an international level. As a result, they’re not on the popular riddims.
Screwdriver
Entertainer
Screwdriver have been making a name for himself, and with his unique and mature musical style, along with the backing of powerhouse reggae label The Crichton Clique, he will assuredly continue to grow in notoriety after fans experience this phenomenal project.
“Testimony” Is distributed by Asani Ali Music through Believe Digital Worldwide and is available on all major Digital Platforms.
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