Singin' In the Heart

Listening to this album, it's easy to conclude that HR is one of the most naturally talented reggae and pop singers out there — and also that he isn't particularly discriminating about his material or arrangements. Singin' in the Heart has two excellent songs that are really well performed: the sunny title cut and the magnificent, brooding "Don't Trust No (Shadows After Dark)." It's significant that fellow Bad Brains alumnus Earl Hudson joins in on the latter, since it's the only song on the album that has an interesting backbeat and a challenging guitar line. Elsewhere the arrangements are simple and unexciting, which is a shame because even the mediocre tunes are rendered listenable by HR's silky vocalizing. HR could sing the phone directory and have it sound good, but on this album the great cuts set such a high standard that the others sound pale by comparison.