If there’s one thing I would say is authentic about Kevin Lyttle, it’s got to be his name, after all who would change their name to Kevin (unless he was originally called Stuart)? Trust me I know all about shit forenames (see bottom of page) but what about his music? Just how authentic is that?

His style is somewhat unique – it’s a blend of dancehall (think Sean Paul), soca (that’s modern calypso with an up-tempo beat) and R&B (stick a pin in the Top 10, it’s likely to be a R&B tune) and last October he scored a number three hit with ‘Turn Me On’, which is the first track on this, his self titled debut album.

Unfortunately the blend is bland and whilst the press release accompanying this describes Kevin’s music as an ‘innovative fusion’, I see it much more of a ‘tribute to mediocrity’. There’s no real diversity here and it all sounds so contrived, whereas an 'innovative fusion’ should be bursting with energy and originality.

Lyrically the album covers the usual Caribbean music territory – sex and misogyny, with the odd mention of that ‘has been’ concept of love. Who’d be fool to try that shit when sex and misogyny is available?

This album does leave me in the horns of a dilemma though. I really can’t decide which is more annoying – the mostly insipid beats which sound as though they were composed on one of those miniature Casio keyboards from the 80s with pre-programmed rhythms for bossa nova and a host of other shit world music styles or Kevin’s grating vocal style which at one point tries to mimic Terence Trent D’Arby’s when singing the latter’s single ‘Sign Your Name’ and fails impressively.

Some people try and blame musicians and their music for inciting people to commit murder, suicide or other heinous crimes. Usually it’s that oddbod misfit Marilyn Manson with his alienated metal weirdness but if I ever wanted to stir up enough venom and hatred within myself to kill any one, I’d stick a bit of Kevin on, hell – I’d probably kill everyone if I had to listen to this much more.
(½/5)

Release date: 24 May 2004