MS Dynamite:
Judgement Days

Release Date: 03 October 2005

Reviewed By: Rachel Burley

1. Judgement Day

2. Father

3. Put Your Gun Away

4. Back Then

5. Fall In Love Again

6. Not Today

7. You Don't Have To Cry

8. Unbreakable

9. Pain

10. Shavaar

11. Self Destruct

12. Gotta Let It Go

13. She Don't Live Here Anymore

14. Mr. Prime Minister

15. Redemption Song

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For three years now, the public have waited patiently for Ms Dynamite’s sophomore album, the follow-up to 2002’s Mercury Prize winner, A Little Deeper’. Making her comeback at the Live 8 concert in July this year, Ms Dynamite looked set to continue the success she had experienced once before, with her new single and album, ‘Judgement Days’. Yet, what her new album offers is not quite what the world expected. 

‘Judgement Days’ is a politically conscious and intensely personal offering from Ms Dynamite. Despite being penned from the heart and combined with the smooth flowing beats and soulful vocals, Ms Dynamite’s second album does not amplify her talent. 

The album is full of slow, solemn songs and there is no sassiness to add spice and diversity to the playlist. The first track and single to be taken from the album is the sombre ‘Judgement Days’. This highly political and thought-provoking track highlights many recent media issues, and is written and vocalised in an aggravating style, as though sending a message to the people who have committed these sins. 

The B-side to the first single is ‘Father’, a reflective song about her childhood, and does not only concentrate on the aforementioned family member but Ms Dynamite’s family as a whole. The song lets you delve past her Ms Dynamite persona, and deep into the heart of Niomi McLean-Daley. The feeling of this track captures the struggles she went through as a child and how her past still affects her to this present day. 

‘When I Fall In Love’ is a stand-alone track that listeners will either love or hate. Ms Dynamite’s sound and lyrics intertwined with the original ‘When I Fall In Love’ featuring Kenneth Boothe is an interesting combination. 

Later in the album, the track ‘Pain’ is directly followed by ‘Shavaar’. ‘Pain’ is a realistic reflection on a relationship break-up and ‘Shavaar’ is the song dedicated to her young son; a song about complete love and happiness. Although the subject matters are related, there is an immense musical contrast between the two tracks and it breaks the flow of the album. 

The rest of ‘Judgement Days’ is filled with a steady stream of standard tracks with the penultimate ‘Nobody Hears Our Cries’ aimed at the Prime Minister, where Ms Dynamite uses her position to influence her audience with her opinions of today’s government. Unfortunately, she hasn’t used her initiative and imagination to get these views across. 

This album is nothing special and hasn’t really covered new ground since her debut. Not a single song on there is comparable to her previous hits such as ‘Dy-Na-Mi-Tee’ and ‘It Takes More’. Even the album’s artwork is basic and unappealing.  

‘Judgement Days’ is great if you want an early night, as it is sure to send you to sleep unless you are a diehard Ms Dynamite fan. Otherwise, you may find yourself skipping a lot more than your money’s worth. 

Rating: 2 out of 5 

Top Three Tracks:

Judgement Day

Pain

When I Fall in Love

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