The Bottom Line
It's a great thing to have Sean Paul's voice back on the radio airwaves, but it's hard to listen to "We Be Burnin'" without recognizing he is capable of much more. It is catchy and listener friendly, but after hearing it multiple times, it is rather forgettable.
Listen to "We Be Burnin'" at Sean Paul's Official Site.
- Sean Paul's vocals gliding above the beat
- Doesn't hold up particularly well after multiple times listening
Description
- Martial Dancehall beat
- Sean Paul's vocals sound effortless
- Easy singalong chorus
Guide Review - Sean Paul - We Be Burnin' (Atlantic)
With his previous album Dutty Rock, Sean Paul brought a breath of fresh air to U.S. pop music circles particularly with the bracing #1 pop hit "Get Busy." He has returned to the top 10 of the pop singles chart with "We Be Burnin'," but this time around he seems less engaged and less determined to storm the charts. Paul shifted to younger and lesser-known producers for his new album The Trinity, and perhaps that is part of the explanation for the change in musical intensity. Sean Paul's vocals sound effortless...but ultimately seem a bit lazy. "We Be Burnin'" seems to be Dancehall-by-the-numbers.
Even though "We Be Burnin'" fails to shine as bright as some of Sean Paul's past work, the sound of Dancehall is welcome on pop radio. He has picked up the niche vacated when Rihanna's "Pon De Replay," one of the biggest hits of summer 2005, finally began to disappear from playlists. The beats of "We Be Burnin'" are uplifting, emotionally and spiritually.
