All Music Guide
Bushmaster Revolution's front cover was incredibly attention grabbing, with a photo collage featuring Junior Delgado and a comely female friend posed in military stances with their M-16s. The back cover was equally arresting, with almost half swallowed up by the musician credits alone, and containing a virtual encyclopedia of the contemporary Jamaican scene, including Sly and Robbie, Leroy Sibbles, Flabba Holt, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Augustus Pablo, and Winston Wright. The album reunited the singer with Dennis Brown, who contributed backing vocals, piano, and rhythm guitar, as well as co-producing with Delgado himself. With such talent abounding, it's no surprise that this is one of the best-sounding albums of its day, the song arrangements are absolutely impeccable, and the musicianship beyond compare. However, those expecting a pure roots album are in for a shock, for Bushmaster is a diverse delight of musical styles, with heavy cultural roots rubbing shoulders with lovers rock and reg...gae-fied pop. Roots fans, especially those residing outside of Jamaica, were probably horrified by the glossy cover of "Masquerade," even if new wave heroe Berlin's own version skipped up the American charts the very next year. More palatable for the purists are tracks like the plaintive beauty of "Blue Sunday," reminiscent of Slim Smith at his best, and set to a rocksteady tempo, but sporting thoroughly contemporary instrumentation. Delgado's emotive vocals were perfect for songs like these, and Brown showcased this side of the singer to stunning effect. The pair's heartfelt duet on "Falling in Love With You," originally a hit for Little Anthony the Imperials, is another masterpiece of mood, given a sense of emotive urgency by the crashing cymbals and trilling lead guitar. But all these exceptional songs pale under the heavy weight of the trio of deep roots tracks which open the album. The seminal "Rich Man Poor Man" is first up, and remains a true cultural classic. "Bush Master M16," contrary to the suggestive album sleeve, is not a call to revolution, but a stirring condemnation of the weapon and the trigger-happy soldiers that carry it. In contrast, "Rude at Night" is a lover's plea in deep dub, featuring Sly and Robbie at their rhythmic best. Today, Delgado is usually described as a cultural artist, and a legendary one at that, but Bushmaster proves that he is far more versatile, an equally passionate lover as fighter against injustice. - Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide Read more Less
