Vex (album)

Vex
Studio album by
Steel Pulse
Released1994
RecordedGrove Studio, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
GenreReggae
Length60:35
LabelMCA[1]
ProducerSteel Pulse, Stephen Stewart
Steel Pulse chronology
Victims
(1991) 		Vex
(1994) 		Rage and Fury
(1997)

Vex is an album by the English reggae band Steel Pulse, released in 1994.[2][3] The album peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.[4][5]

Background

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The band added dancehall sounds to its traditional reggae.[6] The band promoted the album with a North American tour.[7]

Production

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The album was produced by the band and Stephen Stewart.[8] "New World Order" criticizes the Clinton administration.[9] "No Justice, No Peace" was inspired by the 1992 Los Angeles riots.[10] Tony Rebel contributed to "Bootstraps".[11]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
The Indianapolis Star[13]

The Edmonton Journal noted the "gentler ... smoothed-out sound."[14] The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "equal parts love songs and personal, social and political manifestos," writing that "luckily, even the topical material is eminently groovable."[15] The Gazette wrote that "lead vocalist David Hinds has one of the most expressive reggae voices around and his band is as tight as a fist."[16] The Indianapolis Star stated that "Vex finds Steel Pulse succeeding in delivering tough messages in an accessible musical framework."[13]

Track listing

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  1. "Bootstraps" – 4:48
  2. "Back to My Roots" – 4:59
  3. "Islands Unite" – 4:20
  4. "Better Days" – 4:50
  5. "In My Life" – 4:36
  6. "Endangered Species" – 4:34
  7. "New World Order" – 4:30
  8. "X Resurrection" – 4:34
  9. "Whirlwind Romance" – 4:56
  10. "No Justice, No Peace" – 4:43
  11. "Dirty H2O" – 4:19
  12. "Dub to My Roots" – 4:58
  13. "Dubite" – 4:18

References

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  1. ^ Roberts, Michael. "THE REAL STEEL". Westword.
  2. ^ "Steel Pulse Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Reggae Veterans Steel Pulse Plan Nearly Nonstop Tour". MTV. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Singles". Weekend. Orlando Sentinel. Billboard. 14 October 1994. p. 15.
  5. ^ Top Reggae Albums. Vol. 106. Billboard Magazine. 29 October 1994. p. 73.
  6. ^ "Perfect Sound Forever: Steel Pulse". Perfect Sound Forever.
  7. ^ Carter, Kevin L. (11 November 1994). "STEEL PULSE". FEATURES WEEKEND. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 15.
  8. ^ "Album reviews — Vex by Steel Pulse". Billboard. 106 (45): 94. 5 November 1994.
  9. ^ Morse, Steve (15 November 1994). "Steel Pulse's political reggae: survival skill for '90s". ARTS & FILM. The Boston Globe. p. 74.
  10. ^ McDonald, Sam (18 November 1994). "STEEL PULSE KEEPS RACING". InRoads. Daily Press. Newport News. p. 16.
  11. ^ Professor Skank (25 November 1994). "'VEX' Steel Pulse". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 8G.
  12. ^ Vex at AllMusic
  13. ^ a b Konz, Joe (5 December 1994). "Steel Pulse 'Vex'". The Indianapolis Star. p. D4.
  14. ^ Levesque, Roger (30 October 1994). "STEEL PULSE: Vex". Edmonton Journal. p. D9.
  15. ^ Kening, Dan (25 November 1994). "Steel Pulse, Tuesday at Park West...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. P.
  16. ^ Feist, Daniel (3 December 1994). "STEEL PULSE Vex". The Gazette. p. D4.
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