SANCHEZ
Simply Being Me (VP)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Simply being Sanchez means simply being quite spectacular at what you do, which is singing reggae music. Sanchez's Gospel background has never exactly been tucked under and sewn down on previous efforts, and on Simply Being Me that overriding conviction and strength serves him well over 15 songs of inspiration and hope. Sanchez is in outstanding voice (surprise, surprise), and his decision to stick to a pair of apparently like-minded producers (Dean Fraser and Lloyd "John John" James, Jr.) helped keep it cohesive.

Only one track, "Where I Wanna Be," was produced by a third party. Of course, when the third party is Computer Paul (Paul Henton), the motivation is obvious. Computer Paul provides lots of strangeness and unexpected angles designed to hook the tune to the charts. Well, it's a fair song and, hey, Sanchez is singing it. It's dog meat next to "Jah Calling," but here's hoping it makes a bucket of bucks for Sanchez, because he deserves it, and we all know you don't make buckets of bucks following your heart in reggae. The big bucks are in the dancehalls and the lovers rock bins. So maybe it isn't enough simply being Sanchez. Perhaps you need a hook. Ah, but then the kiddies buy it and hear the rest. Ya think?

© 2000 - DJ Johnson