Too Wicked

Too Wicked
Studio album by
Aswad
Released17 September 1990[1]
StudioMusic Works
GenreReggae, dancehall
LabelMango[2]
ProducerGussie Clarke, Aswad
Aswad chronology
Crucial Tracks (Best of Aswad)
(1989) 		Too Wicked
(1990) 		Firesticks
(1993)

Too Wicked is an album by the British band Aswad, released in 1990.[3][4]

The album peaked at No. 51 on the UK Albums Chart.[5] "Next to You" was a minor radio hit in the United States.[6]

Production

The album was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, at producer Gussie Clarke's studio; Steely & Clevie also worked on Too Wicked.[7][8] It contains a cover of the Eagles' "Best of My Love".[9] Shabba Ranks contributed vocals to "Fire".[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Calgary HeraldC+[9]
Chicago Tribune[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[13]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[2]
Select[14]

Trouser Press wrote that Too Wicked pushes "towards funk, pop, soul and even dancehall, with beatbox drumming, hi-tech samples and house grooves all reeking of commercial aspirations."[15] The Los Angeles Times deemed it "a large helping of smooth, homogenized, PG-rated reggae originals."[16] The Province stated that "the record continues Aswad's courtship of smooth, '70s, soul-influenced reggae."[17]

The Washington Post called the album "cluttered with redundant programmable drum loops and tacky, short, sampled sound bites, perhaps revealing the group's unsuccessful attempts to use current musical trends to 'update' its sound."[18] The Austin American-Statesman thought that "Aswad's upscale version of reggae attempts to wed sophisticated love songs with the basic beat and generally succeeds."[19]

The Independent considered Too Wicked an "ill-judged attempt at dancehall crossover."[20]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Fire" 
2."Next to You" 
3."Best of My Love" 
4."Confidential" 
5."Gotta Find a Way" 
6."Just Can't Take It" 
7."Dancing on My Own" 
8."Smile" 
9."Love Won't Leave Me" 
10."Got to Get (To Your Loving)" 
11."Old Fire Stick" 
12."Hang on Baby" 

References

  1. ^ "New Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 15 September 1990. p. 30. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 48.
  3. ^ "Aswad Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  4. ^ Heim, Chris (26 Oct 1990). "Britain's Aswad has emerged as one of the most successful...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
  5. ^ "Aswad". Official Charts. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  6. ^ Feist, Daniel (9 Mar 1991). "British reggae act is big in Jamaica". The Gazette. p. H6.
  7. ^ Baker, Greg. "Wad Up?". Miami New Times.
  8. ^ Toombs, Mikel (February 22, 1991). "Far from Jamaican roots, Bob Marley's music is wailing away – Aswad takes reggae in new direction by blending styles". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D3.
  9. ^ a b Wagamese, Richard (17 February 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F2.
  10. ^ Potter, Mitch (16 Feb 1991). "Aswad, Too Wicked". Toronto Star. p. G8.
  11. ^ "Too Wicked". AllMusic.
  12. ^ May, Mitchell (31 Jan 1991). "Aswad Too Wicked". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 285.
  14. ^ Brown, Russell (October 1990). "Aswad: Too Wicked". Select. No. 4. p. 95.
  15. ^ "Aswad". Trouser Press. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  16. ^ Locey, Bill (21 Feb 1991). "Aswad 'Too Wicked': An English reggae band, with Jamaican roots, stops in Santa Barbara for a Bob Marley tribute". Los Angeles Times. p. J14.
  17. ^ Harrison, Tom (22 Apr 1991). "Crafty balance of old and new". Entertainment. The Province. p. 40.
  18. ^ Griffin, Gil (15 Mar 1991). "Aswad's Reggae Drowns in Clutter". The Washington Post. p. N16.
  19. ^ Point, Michael (15 Nov 1990). "Strong reggae works flood market". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 20.
  20. ^ Gill, Andy (14 July 1994). "Pop". Pop Music Page. The Independent.