by Alex Henderson
Not to be confused with fellow &rude boy& Shabba Ranks, Cutty Ranks is a popular dancehall artist who has fared well in both reggae and hip-hop circles. The Stopper is typical of Ranks' work and illustrates the fact that he likes his dancehall tough, hard and amelodic. There isn't a lot of variety on this CD, which underscores dancehall's limitations. The complaint that Ranks' music &all sounds alike& really isn't off base, but be that as it may, cuts like &Pon Pause,& &Hand Grenade& and &The Stopper& are lively, fun and exhilarating. As redundant and one-dimensional as Ranks tends to be, one really doesn't need more than one or two of his CDs. And if you have a taste for dancehall, this decent but limited album is worth a listen.