The Strong One

Etana's embrace of roots reggae came in the wake of her abrupt departure from a U.S.-based female vocal group in which she was expected to dress and act in ways that she found inappropriate and immodest. Returning to her home outside of Kingston, Jamaica, she adopted Rastafarianism and eventually immersed herself in a solo career. Her debut album is an impressive set of modern roots compositions that nicely balances smooth production, danceable beats, conscious lyrics, and startlingly beautiful singing. She has very quickly attracted top-notch help: the backing musicians on The Strong One include Sly Dunbar, Dean Fraser, Robbie Lyn, and Dalton Browne, among other A-list session men, and if the sound is occasionally just a little bit on the slick side, there's no denying the quality of both her singing and songwriting. Highlights include the sharply arranged and soca-flavored "Wasting My Time" (on which she makes a fine singjay turn), the gorgeous "Roots" (on which she shows off a surprisingly wide vocal range), and the unabashedly romantic "Closer" (on which she demonstrates that her focus isn't entirely otherworldly). An impressive debut from a major talent.