Elan reviewed
Elan
Together As One
(Kingsbury/Interscope)
Backed by No Doubt’s Tony Kanal, this debut album has a conspicuous tagline: it’s another white reggae rapper.
Elan has little in common otherwise with Matisyahu, thematically or stylistically. By and large, Together As One is a party reggae album, as much for the beach house as the frat bar. Aside from the spiritual title track, which draws on his experience fronting the Wailers on tour, producers Kanal, Sly, and Robbie tease the mix with modern electronics and butt beats. A duet with Gwen Stefani, “Allnighter,” smacks of music as product it’s so soulless and contrived. Apart from that, Elan is likably forgettable and a fancy alternative to the tired strains of Shaggy.
— Steve Forstneger
