Sean Paul Imperial Blaze CD

Sean Paul's last album, Trinity, was a letdown for anyone who fell in love with the infectious and bubbly sound of Paul's hugely popular 2002 album, Dutty Rock. He seemed to be distancing himself from the pop fans he had won (and attempting to gain back some hardcore dancehall fans he may have lost) by releasing a cold, hard record built on swagger, boasts, and in-your-face, aggressive beats. Released in 2009, Imperial Blaze is a return to the lightness and fun of Dutty Rock, making for a far more enjoyable listen. There is still plenty of swagger here, but there's less drive to be hard and more focus on having a good time. Cycling through good-natured dancehall-meets-hip-hop jams like "Lace It" and "She Wanna Be Down," lilting and romantic tracks like "Now That I've Got Your Love" and "Daddy's Home," and a batch of songs that sound like perfect floor-fillers at a late-summer dance party ("Press ...