Never Ending (album)
| Never Ending | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 12, 2018 (U.S.) | |||
| Studio | Harmony House | |||
| Genre | Reggae, Lovers rock, Roots reggae | |||
| Length | 57:09 | |||
| Label | VP Records, Harmony Records | |||
| Producer | Christopher Chin (exec), Beres Hammond (exec), Kurt Riley {prod), Andre Riley (prod), | |||
| Beres Hammond chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Never Ending | ||||
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Never Ending is reggae artist Beres Hammond’s studio album. It was released on October 12, 2018, and 19th studio album from Beres Hammond. It debuted at No.1 on the Billboard reggae charts and was also No.1 on iTunes reggae charts in the US, UK and Japan. The 14-track album was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica.[2][3]
Background
Themes on the album include love, overcoming obstacles and celebrating life.[4] Never Ending includes a love song about Jamaica called "Land of Sunshine." The lead single, "I'm Alive," is a 21st-century 'roots' track with Beres singing praises for life's simple and essential joys. "My Kinda Girl" is an example of modern Lovers Rock – a sub genre of reggae for which the artist is known.[5][6] Beres regularly records. He is known to be in the studio three or four times a week when he is in Jamaica. He records songs based on events that happen naturally in life. He is known to visit people - whom he does not know – but who enjoy sharing stories about their lives with him. He internalizes those experiences and records them in song.[7]
The visual for the Never Ending music video was directed by RD Studios and portrays Hammond's childhood. Fans are shown the beginning of his love for music to his current-day performing in front of Harmony House – his recording studio on Dumbarton Avenue. Throughout the four-minute video, artistes influenced by Beres make a cameo. They include Jah Cure, Alborosie, Romain Virgo, Christopher Martin, Shenseea, Jesse Royal, Bulby York, Kurt Riley, and Teflon Zinc Fence.[8]
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Composer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "I'm Alive" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond / Willie Lindo | 3:20 |
| 2 | "Land Of Sunshine" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:03 |
| 3 | "I Will Take You There" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:03 |
| 4 | "Only One" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 3:57 |
| 5 | "My Kinda Girl" | Kurt Riley & Andre Riley | Hugh Hammond / Kurt Riley / Michael Fletcher / Andre Riley | 4:15 |
| 6 | "Sleeping Beauty" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:18 |
| 7 | "Hold You Till It Hurts" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond / Willie Lindo | 4:03 |
| 8 | "Seasons Change" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:07 |
| 9 | "All Love" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:14 |
| 10 | "I'll Try" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond / David Heywood / Leroy Heywood | 4:00 |
| 11 | "Love Foreclosure" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:22 |
| 12 | "Lose It All" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 3:51 |
| 13 | "Survival" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:11 |
| 14 | "Never Ending" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:25 |
Personnel
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References
- ^ Lalah, Nashauna (2018-10-07). "Beres' 'Never Ending' journey continues Friday - Two singles herald 14-track album". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
The album's first single, I'm Alive, is described as a modern roots track, with Hammond singing praises for life's simple joys. The second single, Land of Sunshine,
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Beres Hammond's Never Ending lands at Number One on Billboard Reggae Chart". Caribbean National Weekly.
- ^ "Beres Hammond's Never Ending is #1 on Billboard Reggae Chart in its First Week". South Florida Caribbean News.
- ^ Gardy, Kimberely (2018-10-30). "ALBUM REVIEW: BERES HAMMOND - NEVER ENDING". ReggaeVille. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
As usual, the thematic direction is clear as well: of the 14 songs included, 9 circle around the subject of love and romance. Land Of Sunshine, also released as single, is a musical love letter to Jamaica, stressing the beauty of the island and its people despite poverty and ongoing political struggles. Crying freedom, Survival is a rallying call for all the troubled souls out there, while Lose It All is a warning to not build your house on sand.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Jackson, Kevin (2018-10-04). "Beres's Never Ending hunt for glory". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
"The album features 14 songs, mainly about love and social issues.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Small, Kimberely (2018-10-12). "Young crooners and music stalwarts celebrate Beres' 'Never Ending'". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
Fans may be accustomed to hearing the singer's sweet, romantic serenade, and they will get that on this new album. In addition, Never Ending also includes a love song about Jamaica in the form of Land of Sunshine. The first single, I'm Alive, is a 21st-century 'roots' track, with Beres singing praises for life's simple and essential joys.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Johnson, Richard (2018-11-04). "Beres sends love". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
"Over the years I have made it a practice to record three or four times a week, once I'm in Jamaica. I just make songs. I don't record like I am doing this concept and the album is going to be about these songs... no. Everyday of my life is a concept. You go outta street and you see people and you don't know what their thoughts are ... it's those things that log inna my head, so when I come into the studio I just let all that out, let it flow," he told the Jamaica Observer.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Small, Kimberely (2018-10-12). "Young crooners and music stalwarts celebrate Beres' 'Never Ending'". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
The visual, directed by RD Studios, wanted to portray Hammond's childhood and the beginning of his love for music to his current-day performing in front of his Dumbarton Avenue studio - Harmony House. Throughout the four-minute video, artistes influenced by Beres make a cameo. They include Jah Cure, Alborosie, Romain Virgo, Christopher Martin, Shenseea, Jesse Royal, Bulby York, Kurt Riley, and Teflon Zinc Fence.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links
Never Ending at AllMusic. Retrieved March 17, 2021.