Bollywood [Greensleeves] [PA]

Performer: Original Soundtrack/Various Artists
Producer: Byron Murray; Clifford Smith
Distributor: Select-O-Hits

Notes: Performers include: Capleton, Sizzla, Beenie Man, Mr. Vegas, Elephant Man, Ward 21. The Bollywood riddim has one of the most stylish sounds to come out of the rash of Eastern-influenced rhythms. Unlike the Diwali riddim that implies Indian roots with its name, Bollywood has a sound that is very much reminiscent of Indian music. This isn't to say that it is authentically Indian in any way, but it captures the feeling of Indian movie soundtracks. A plodding chord progression and a whiny hook along with Indian samples provide the distinctly Bollywood sound. Surprisingly the drum track is relatively slow. Unlike the majority of rhythms coming before and after Bollywood in the Greensleeves series, it doesn't attempt to run the singers into the ground with sheer speed. The laid-back nature of the rhythm gives Bollywood a chance to offer up strikingly different and interesting tracks. Almost all tracks have a unique hook that is sung instead of rhymed. Vegas' singing on "War" reigns supreme on the collection. His wiry, high-pitched singing voice is ideal for the rhythm. He lets the instrumental accent his vocals perfectly. Bollywood's punchy progression is played with by most of the singers on the collection. Playing off the progression gives the tracks incredible flow despite the slowed-down tempo. Capleton's "Lock Up" beats out Vegas for the biggest track on the collection. The mix-up of insane rhyming and soulful vocals take the rhythm far beyond a gimmick. Capleton destroys the rhythm with his mix-up styles. Bollywood seems to be the rhythm that has taken the Eastern sound the farthest away from the dancehall so far in the Greensleeves series and has been successful with it. ~ Matt Whalley

Rolling Stone (11/28/02, p.92) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...This album is like the world's longest, most salacious posse cut..."

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