Passion
Nine of "Passion's" 17 tracks were produced by Saw, and she  more than fulfills an ambitious program, tackling everything from polka oompah to operatic scale-ascension. For "Gal No Worry," she switches between tough, witty raps and lustily sung choruses over the cheesily appealing melody line from Dean Martin's "Amore." In "I Don't Need to Know," she  works that velvet alto, swooning like a country & western diva, then consoling herself with a blues mama's weary cynicism. Saw and Shaggy turn in a delicious revamp of Mickey and Sylvia's archeological gem "Love Is Strange," and  "Healing" reprises her recent hit with Beenie Man. Saw inspires Merciless to newfound eloquence in the hilarious "Long Til It Bend." Two more reasons to grab this one: Saw's "Sycamore Tree," recorded over producer Dave Kelly's addictive  and indefatigable "joyride" riddim, and the Zion Revival-infused "Let  Peace Reign," another powerful Saw social statement. --Elena Oumano