Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do

Last updated
Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
Album Major Lazer Guns Don't Kill People Lazers Do.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 16, 2009
Recorded2009
Genre
Length41:54
Label Downtown
Producer
Major Lazer chronology
Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
(2009)
Lazers Never Die
(2010)
Singles from Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do
  1. "Hold the Line"
    Released: April 20, 2009
  2. "Keep It Goin' Louder"
    Released: June 18, 2009
  3. "Pon de Floor"
    Released: August 3, 2009
  4. "Jump Up"
    Released: 2009

Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do is the debut full-length studio album by the Jamaican-American electronic dance music band Major Lazer, which at the time consisted of Diplo and Switch. The album is heavily influenced by Jamaican dancehall music and features guest appearances from Jamaican artists on every track.

Contents

Reception

Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic (77/100) [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
NME (7/10) [4]
Pitchfork Media (8.1/10) [5]
Paste (9.3/10) [6]
PopMatters (7/10) [7]
Prefix Magazine(8/10) [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Spin (7/10) [10]
Vibe (favourable) [11]

Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was critically acclaimed by critics among release, Rhapsody called it the 10th best album of 2009. [12] After the album's release, Major Lazer was commercially and critically accepted amongst the reggae community and are often credited for changing the dancehall, reggae and moombahton community and genres, making them more commercially accepted in the United States.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hold the Line" (featuring Mr. Lex and Santigold)
3:38
2."When You Hear the Bassline" (featuring Ms. Thing)
  • Pentz
  • Taylor
3:18
3."Can't Stop Now" (featuring Mr. Vegas and Jovi Rockwell)
4:03
4."Lazer Theme" (featuring Future Trouble; additional production by DJA)
  • Pentz
  • Taylor
2:31
5."Anything Goes" (featuring Turbulence)
3:13
6."Cash Flow" (featuring Jah Dan)
  • Pentz
  • Taylor
  • Wayne Henry
  • Andrew Bain
4:06
7."Mary Jane" (featuring Mr. Evil and Mapei)
3:27
8."Bruk Out" (featuring T.O.K. and Ms. Thing)2:54
9."What U Like" (featuring Amanda Blank and Einstein)
2:25
10."Keep It Goin' Louder" (featuring Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze; additional production by Ricky Blaze)
3:46
11."Pon de Floor" (featuring Vybz Kartel; additional production by Afrojack)
  • Pentz
  • Taylor
3:33
12."Baby" (featuring Prince Zimboo)
  • Pentz
  • Taylor
  • Assaney Morris
1:17
13."Jump Up" (featuring Leftside and Supahype; co-produced by Crookers)3:43
iTunes Store deluxe edition
No.TitleLength
14."Zumbie" (featuring Andy Milonakis)4:00
15."When You Hear the Bassline" (Dance Area Remix; featuring Ms. Thing)6:48
16."When You Hear the Bassline" (Dance Area Remix Dub Version; featuring Ms. Thing)5:51
17."Hold the Line" (Toadally Krossed Out Remix; featuring Mr. Lex and Santigold)2:53
Special edition: Lazers Never Die EP
No.TitleLength
14."Sound Of Siren" (featuring M.I.A. and Busy Signal)3:49
15."Good Enuff (Cash Flow Dub)" (featuring Collie Buddz and Lindi Ortega)2:49
16."Bruk Out (Buraka Som Sistema Mix)"6:19
17."Can't Stop Now (Kicks Like A Mule Remix)"5:14
18."Jump Up (Thom Yorke Remix)"4:48

Charts

Chart (2009)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [13] 169
US Top Electronic Albums [13] 7
US Top Heatseekers [13] 4

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buju Banton</span> Jamaican reggae dancehall musician (born 1973)

Mark Anthony Myrie, professionally known by his stage name Buju Banton, is a Jamaican reggae dancehall musician. He is one of the most significant and well-regarded artists in Jamaican music. Banton has collaborated with many international artists, including those in the hip hop, Latin and punk rock genres, as well as the sons of Bob Marley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bounty Killer</span> Jamaican musician (born 1972)

Rodney Basil Price, known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican lyricist and reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant flair for gun talk". He is considered one of the best dancehall lyricists of all-time.

Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1960s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms. Key elements of dancehall music include its extensive use of Jamaican Patois rather than Jamaican standard English and a focus on the track instrumentals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Paul</span> Jamaican rapper and singer (born 1973)

Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques is a Jamaican rapper, singer and actor who is regarded as one of dancehall and reggae's most prolific artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capleton</span> Jamaican musician

Clifton George Bailey III, better known by his stage name Capleton, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician. He is also referred to as King Shango, King David, The Fireman and The Prophet. His record label is called David House Productions. He is known for his Rastafari views expressed in his songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diplo</span> American DJ and producer (born 1978)

Thomas Wesley Pentz, known professionally as Diplo, is an American DJ and music producer. He is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer, a member of the supergroup LSD with Sia and Labrinth, a member of electronic duo Jack Ü with producer and DJ Skrillex, and a member of Silk City with Mark Ronson. He founded and manages record company Mad Decent, as well as co-founding the non-profit organization Heaps Decent. His 2013 EP, Revolution, debuted at number 68 on the US Billboard 200. The EP's title track was later featured in a commercial for Hyundai and is featured on the WWE 2K16 soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T.O.K.</span>

T.O.K. were a dancehall reggae group from Kingston, Jamaica. The group consisted of Alistaire "Alex" McCalla, Roshaun "Bay-C" Clarke, Craig "Craigy T" Thompson, and Xavier "Flexx" Davidson. They started their band in 1996, and announced its dissolution in 2015. T.O.K. were described as "the world's greatest dancehall-reggae boy band" by The New York Times in 2004. They were best known for such hits as "Footprints", "Gal You Ah Lead", "Chi Chi Man", "Eagles Cry", "Guardian Angel", "Money 2 Burn", "She's Hot", "Hey Ladies", "The Voice" and "I Believe".

Reggae fusion is a fusion genre of reggae that mixes reggae and/or dancehall with other genres, such as pop, rock, hip-hop/rap, R&B, jazz, funk, soul, disco, electronic, and latin, amongst others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busy Signal</span> Musical artist

Reanno Devon Gordon, better known by his stage name Busy Signal, is a Jamaican dancehall reggae artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)</span> 1994 single by Dawn Penn

"You Don't Love Me " is a song by Jamaican recording artist Dawn Penn, released in February 1994 by Big Beat as the first single from her first studio album, No, No, No (1994). The song's lyrics are credited to Penn, Bo Diddley and Willie Cobbs, and production was handled by Steely & Clevie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major Lazer</span> American electronic music group

Major Lazer is a Jamaican-American electronic dance music and DJ trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. It originates from Kingston, Jamaica, and was founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving after three years in 2011. He was then replaced by both Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. In June 2019, Jillionaire left the group and was replaced by Ape Drums. Its music spans numerous genres, mixing reggae with dancehall, reggaeton, soca, house and moombahton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pon de Floor</span> 2009 single by Major Lazer featuring Vybz Kartel and Afrojack

"Pon de Floor" is a song by Major Lazer, a collaborative musical project consisting of the American DJ Diplo and the British DJ Switch. The single was released in 2009 by Mad Decent and Downtown Records as the second single from Major Lazer's first studio album, Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do. The duo wrote the song and produced it with Afrojack and vocals by Vybz Kartel. "Pon de Floor" is a dancehall and baile funk song and was positively received by music critics. It appeared on the charts in the United Kingdom in 2010, where it reached number 125. Eric Wareheim directed the music video for "Pon de Floor", which shows people dry humping, and incorporates daggering choreography. The song has been heavily sampled in Chiddy Bang's "Shooter" and Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)".

<i>Reincarnated</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Snoop Lion

Reincarnated is the twelfth studio album by American recording artist Snoop Lion. It is his first and so far only release under his reggae persona Snoop Lion. The album was released on April 23, 2013, under Berhane Sound System and RCA Records. The album is his departure from hip hop and his debut in the reggae genre. The album's production was handled mainly by Diplo and his group Major Lazer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Push and Shove (song)</span> 2012 song by No Doubt

"Push and Shove" is a song by American rock band No Doubt, released as a promotional single from their sixth studio album of the same name. The song was written by Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont, Reanno Gordon, Thomas Pentz, David Taylor, Ariel Rechtshaid and was produced by Major Lazer and Spike Stent. It features additional production from Major Lazer as well as vocals from Jamaican dancehall artist Busy Signal. The song blends ska, dub, reggae and dubstep.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowman</span> Jamaican reggae singer

Winston Foster, better known by the stage name Yellowman, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, also known as King Yellowman. He first became popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, rising to prominence with a series of singles that established his reputation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walshy Fire</span> Jamaican-American DJ

Leighton Paul Walsh, better known by his stage name Walshy Fire, is a Jamaican American DJ, MC and record producer. He is part of the dancehall reggae-influenced group Major Lazer alongside fellow DJs Diplo and Ape Drums. Walshy Fire toured with the Black Chiney sound system beginning in 2004. Black Chiney is cited as a significant influence on the evolution of Major Lazer with its mashups that blend hip hop or R&B rhythms with reggae & R&B artist vocal tracks and its representation of the Jamaican sound system. The subsequent mix tapes that the Black Chiney collective of DJs, engineers and MCs would develop were the training ground for Walshy to become a remix producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Blaze</span> Musical artist

Ricardo Lloyd Johnson Jr., also known as Ricky Blaze, is an American DJ, producer, singer, and songwriter. He has done production work in the dancehall music space and the trancehall subgenre. He has produced and collaborated with Shaggy and Sean Paul, and has also worked with Vybz Kartel, Jim Jones, Maino, Kardinal Offishall, Jasmine Sullivan, Nicki Minaj, and Santigold.

Dancehall pop is a sub-genre of the Jamaican genre dancehall that originated in the early 2000s. Developing from the sounds of reggae, dancehall pop is characteristically different in its fusion with western pop music and digital music production. Dancehall pop is also different from dancehall in that most songs use lesser Jamaican Patois in lyrics––allowing it to be globally understood and consumed. It also incorporates the key pop music elements of having melodies, hooks, and the verse-chorus format. Additionally, the genre moves away from the reggae and roots reggae music origins in social and political protest, now lyrically centering on partying, dancing, and sexuality.

Nateshia Lindsay, better known by her stage name Ms. Thing, is a Jamaican dancehall vocalist and deejay. She is best known for providing vocals on the international hit song "Dude" by Beenie Man, which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.

<i>10</i> (Spice album) 2021 studio album by Spice

10 is the debut studio album by Jamaican dancehall artist Spice. It was released on 6 August 2021 by VP Records. The album's writing and production were primarily handled by Shaggy, who executively produced the record, along with other members of Ranch Entertainment. It features guest appearances by Shaggy, Sean Paul, Nicho, Olaf Blackwood, and Melissa Musique. 10 was nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022.

References

  1. "Review". Metacritic . Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  2. Bush, John. Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do -Major Lazer | Songs, Reviews, Credits at AllMusic. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. MacInnes, Paul (3 July 2009). "Major Lazer: Guns Don't Kill People ... Lazers Do". The Guardian . Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  4. Cashmore, Pete (8 July 2009). "Album review: Major Lazer - 'Guns Don't Kill People, Lazers Do'". NME . Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  5. Plagenhoef, Scott (1 July 2009). "Album Reviews: Major Lazer Guns Don't Kill People Lazers Do". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  6. Marino, Nick (15 June 2009). "Major Lazer: Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do". Paste . Norton. ISSN   1540-3106 . Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  7. Kakaire, Christine (18 June 2009). "Major Lazer: Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do". PopMatters . Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  8. Gregory, John (24 August 2009). "Major Lazer: Guns Don't Kill People Lazers Do". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  9. Hermes, Will (15 June 2009). "Gunz Dont Kill People, Lazers Do". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 22 June 2009.
  10. Walters, Barry. "Major Lazer 'Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do'". Spin . Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  11. Kenner, Rob (24 June 2009). "REVS: Major Lazer, 'Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do'". Vibe . Archived from the original on 29 June 2009.
  12. The 25 Best Albums of 2009 Archived 2010-01-15 at the Wayback Machine Referenced July 31, 2010
  13. 1 2 3 Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do at AllMusic . Retrieved 29 June 2011.