Album Review: New Broom by Skilly Ranks – A Sweeping Reggae Gem
Alright, let’s dive into New Broom, the latest reggae offering from Skilly Ranks. Released under Native Productions and straight outta Jamaica, this album feels like a warm breeze on a lazy Kingston afternoon—minus the mosquito bites. If you’re into classic reggae vibes with just enough swagger to keep your head nodding, this one's for you.
Now, I gotta say, the title track “New Broom” (both the regular cut and its cheeky sibling “New Broom (Version)”) is where Skilly really shines. The original version hits like that first sip of coffee in the morning—smooth but with a little kick. It’s got this hypnotic rhythm that sneaks up on you, kinda like when someone starts talking about conspiracy theories at a party and suddenly it’s 3 AM. You don’t know how you got there, but dang, it works.
Then there’s “New Broom (Version),” which flips the script just enough to make you hit repeat. Same vibe, different flavor—it’s like ordering fries twice, once plain and once loaded. This remix leans heavier into the dub side of things, giving the basslines room to stretch their legs and strut around like they own the place. Honestly? It made me want to grab a broom myself—not to clean my house, mind you, but to pretend I was conducting some kind of reggae orchestra. Don’t judge; we’ve all been there.
What sticks with me most about these tracks isn’t just the beats—it’s the way Skilly delivers his lyrics. He doesn’t overthink it, doesn’t try too hard to sound profound. Instead, he lets the music do the heavy lifting while his voice floats above it all, chill as can be. There’s something refreshing about an artist who trusts their craft enough not to overcomplicate things. Plus, listening to him talk about sweeping away bad vibes feels oddly therapeutic. Who knew cleaning metaphors could sound so cool?
So yeah, New Broom might not reinvent the wheel—or the broom—but it doesn’t need to. Sometimes, simplicity done right is exactly what the soul needs. And hey, if nothing else, this album proves one thing: even in 2023, reggae still knows how to sweep us off our feet.
Final thought? If Skilly Ranks ever decides to release a line of actual brooms alongside his merch, I’d buy one. No joke.
