Tings an' Times is an album by the Jamaican dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, released in 1991.[2][3] It was Johnson's first album in six years.[4] Tings an' Times also served as the title of a book of Johnson's poetry.[5]
Tings an' Times | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1991 | |||
Studio | Sparkside Studio, Dulwich Road, London | |||
Genre | Reggae, dub, spoken word | |||
Label | Shanachie[1] | |||
Producer | Linton Kwesi Johnson, Dennis Bovell | |||
Linton Kwesi Johnson chronology | ||||
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The album was produced by Johnson and Dennis Bovell.[6] Johnson was again backed by the Dub Band, with the sound fleshed out by the addition of accordion and violin.[7][8]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | A[10] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Orlando Sentinel | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10[13] |
Robert Christgau wrote that "the riddims skip by on Dennis Bovell's ska-speedy tempos, graced with tricky guitar hooks and colored with fiddle and accordion that sing Hungary and Algeria and Colombia and the Rio Grande."[10] The Los Angeles Times lamented that "Johnson’s delivery is both tentative and buried a bit in the mix, lessening the impact."[7] The Orlando Sentinel opined that "Johnson's thoughtful lyrics float over gorgeous elongated reggae tracks flavored with jazz-influenced horns, accordion, piano, violin and flute."[12]
AllMusic thought that Johnson's "outlook is intensely African, and his socio-political lyrics (some in English, some in an African language) are a passionate call for democracy in Africa."[9] The Spin Alternative Record Guide praised the "increased doses of joy and irony in LKJ's meditations."[13] Trouser Press deemed Tings an' Times "an upbeat but stringently critical album that is at once traditional and modern."[1]
All tracks are written by Linton Kwesi Johnson.
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Story" | 5:20 |
2. | "Sense Outta Nansense" | 4:59 |
3. | "Tings An' Times" | 6:32 |
4. | "Mi Revalueshanary Fren" | 5:19 |
5. | "Di Good Life" | 5:30 |
6. | "Di Anfinished Revalueshan" | 5:33 |
7. | "Dubbing For Life" | 4:03 |
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Studio albums |
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Poet and the Roots |
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