Eclectic Vibes

by Andrew Frey

Reviews From: Reggae
Kazyak - A Beautiful Brontosaurus

Kazyak - A Beautiful Brontosaurus

Kazyak
A Beautiful Brontosaurus
Label: Ground Up Productions

Bebobble-deeing between countrified jams and upstart funky rock may show off a classic jam rock band influence, but this friendly and flowing vision utilizes an ambitious combination of elements to create a memorable recording filled with harmony vocals, salient solos and delectable rhythms that are especially admirable for a trio to produce.

Kazyak WebsiteKazyak Facebook

Eugene Grey - Diversity

Eugene Grey - Diversity

Eugene Grey
Diversity
Label: Greyhound Records

Disc 1 shows off the instrumental side of this hard working and award winning Jamaican born guitarist and composer while disc 2 has all the vocal tracks thrown in. I can’t decide which is better. They are both flavorful in their own way, highlighting inflections and nuances of the buoyant horn section and funky subtly flowing rhythms that are based in Afro-pop, reggae, jazz and jam.

Eugene Grey WebsiteEugene Grey Facebook

Dub Is A Weapon - Vaporized

Dub Is A Weapon - Vaporized

Dub Is A Weapon
Vaporized
Label: Harmonized Records

Dub is known for being the music of producers but not live performers. Antibalas’s guitarist and dub mastermind Dave Hahn has managed to create a fabulous dub release as well as forge a live unit capable of extracting the style from the studio and playing it live thanks to his masterful knob twirling techniques and ear for detail.

Dub Is A Weapon WebsiteDub Is A Weapon Facebook

T.U.G.G.  - Come Sunrise

T.U.G.G. - Come Sunrise

T.U.G.G.
Come Sunrise
Label: Last Call Records

Reggae is a state of mind for some and comes from the heart for others. This western Wisconsin group continues to find reggae rhythms emanating from both their mind and heart on Come Sunrise. While they may float into some skate as well as some surf rock gusto, this release reflects the struggles and glory that comes from being a touring band in 2010.

T.U.G.G. WebsiteT.U.G.G. Facebook

Easy Star All Stars - First Light

Easy Star All Stars - First Light

Easy Star All Stars
First Light
Label: Easy Star Records

Contemporary reggae enunciated with a big active sound and a nice variety within the genre. You may remember Easy Star from their highly success Dub Side versions of Sgt Peppers, Dark Side Of The Moon and Ok Computerhead. Here they show off their own compositions with flair, pizzazz, and determination.

Easy Star All Stars WebsiteEasy Star All Stars Wiki

Wookiefoot - Ready or Not

Wookiefoot - Ready or Not

Wookiefoot
Ready or Not
Label: Wookiefoot (self)

Wookiefoot (one of my all time favorite bands!) continues on their cosmic musical consciousness exploration journey by offering another ever-evolving excursion into anthemic New Age-ish euphemisms gone hippy pop reggae bluegrass jam funk. Will they be the Shangri La for your soul too? Don’t miss their tour this fall!

Wookiefoot WebsiteWookiefoot Facebook

Lionize - Superczar and the Vulture

Lionize - Superczar and the Vulture

Lionize
Superczar and the Vulture
Label: Pentimento Music Company

Great grooves! Very successfully weaving together reggae elements with over-the-top 70s groove-rock, this DC quartet really has evolved into a force to be reckoned with. “It’s definitely the most complete, distinct Lionize record so far,” notes bassist Henry Upton, who established the group in 2004. So there ya go.

Lionize WebsiteLionize Facebook

John Brown's Body - Kings and Queens

John Brown's Body - Kings and Queens

John Brown's Body
Kings and Queens
Label: Easy Star Records

Trailblazing in the US reggae scene since their formation in the mid 1990s, this highly-acclaimed and highly-polished group continues to push the scene to new levels. This release features 12 songs by lead singer Elliot Martin that are sure to get the masses grooving from sea to shining sea. 

John Brown's Body WebsiteJohn Brown's Body FacebookJohn Brown's Body Wiki

Cas Haley - La Si Dah

Cas Haley - La Si Dah

Cas Haley
La Si Dah
Label: Easy Star Records

Successfully funded through the crowd-sourcing website Pledge Music, La Si Dah jumps into your eardrums and consciousness via gently woven reggae beats and vocal-heavy melodies. Cas is a fun entertainer and although he didn’t win America’s Got Talent, it set the stage for his career to achieve new heights and depth.

Cas Haley WebsiteCas Haley FacebookCas Haley Wiki

Dubtonic Kru - Evolution

Dubtonic Kru - Evolution

Dubtonic Kru
Evolution
Label: VP Records

Appealing to a wide range of audiences through their eclectic range of influences, rhythms and dueling vocals, this award winning, highly acclaimed and hard working reggae dub outfit based out of Jamaica will certainly awaken the Jah within. Appearing July 4 with DJ Trichrome at High Noon Saloon in Madison.

Dubtonic Kru WebsiteDubtonic Kru FacebookDubtonic Kru Wiki

The Green - Hawai’i 13

The Green - Hawai’i 13

The Green
Hawai’i 13
Label: Easy Star Records

After chart-topping success (#1 Billboard and iTunes Reggae) and high profile awards (iTunes Best Reggae Album 2010), The Green’s third release focuses on their homeland by charting a journey through Hawaiian life and music in 2013. Boasting 4 singers amid the 5 separate song writers in a 6 member group results in grand diversity amongst the stability of their reggae roots. 

The The Green WebsiteThe The Green FacebookThe The Green Wiki

Snoop Lion - Reincarnated

Snoop Lion - Reincarnated

Snoop Lion
Reincarnated
Label: RCA/Red

“The only way to get love is to give love,” states Snoop Lion (the reggae version of rap icon Snoop Dogg) at the beginning of Reincarnated, his chart-topping first musical venture into reggae. Embracing a change of perspective in addition to lifestyle, he traveled to Jamaica to immerse himself in the Rasta of it all. In conjunction with the album, Snoop released an acclaimed feature-length documentary of his journey and career, explaining his change of perspective as well as how the songs on this release came into being. Maybe not be best reggae or dancehall album ever, but this release contains some big name guest appearances and a couple unbelievably catchy songs that will be retained in your brain for many days to come. But with 1.7 billion views on YouTube alone, this may be nothing new to you.

Snoop Lion WebsiteSnoop Lion FacebookSnoop Lion Wiki

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