Can't Stop a Man - The Best of Beres Hammond

Album Review

Can't Stop a Man collects some of Beres Hammond's biggest Jamaican hits, beginning with his first, "One Step Ahead" from 1976, a song produced by Willie Lindo. Moving chronologically through to 2003's sweet and infectious "Dancehall Vibes," which features Big Youth and is one of the highlights here, this two-disc set is a wonderful introduction to this woefully underappreciated singer and writer. With a voice that combines Marvin Gaye's subtle phrasing, Sam Cooke's easy charm, and the soulful power of a David Ruffin, Hammond has a talent for graceful, easy-flowing lovers rock, but he has also effortlessly managed to work light dancehall and hip-hop elements into his work, giving him an uncommon longevity in the ever-shifting sea of styles that is the trademark of Jamaican music. Key tracks here include "Last War," "Who Say" (with Buju Banton),"Sugar You Want," and "Rockaway," a fond reminiscence of the island's roots era. Lovingly packaged, Can't Stop a Man includes track-by-track annotation and discussion.