Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Easy Star All Stars - First Light
Easy Star All StarsFirst 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 Website • Easy Star All Stars WikiWookiefoot - Ready or Not
WookiefootReady 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 Website • Wookiefoot FacebookLionize - Superczar and the Vulture
LionizeSuperczar 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 Website • Lionize FacebookJohn Brown's Body - Kings and Queens
John Brown's BodyKings 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 Website • John Brown's Body Facebook • John Brown's Body WikiCas Haley - La Si Dah
Cas HaleyLa 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 Website • Cas Haley Facebook • Cas Haley WikiDubtonic Kru - Evolution
Dubtonic KruEvolution
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 Website • Dubtonic Kru Facebook • Dubtonic Kru WikiThe Green - Hawai’i 13
The GreenHawai’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 Website • The The Green Facebook • The The Green WikiSnoop Lion - Reincarnated
Snoop LionReincarnated
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 Website • Snoop Lion Facebook • Snoop Lion WikiBrushy One-String - Destiny
Brushy One-StringDestiny
Label: RiseUp Entertainment, LLC
Millions have viewed the videos of this unique musical sensation from rural Jamaica. His unconventional single stringed guitar playing style gave rise to his name and ultimately his fame. The heart felt blues and soul filling intensity that emanate from his gritty yet warm voice are remarkable and memorable. His simple yet catchy melodies which back his lyrics are filled with the struggle of his experience and when performed are accented by clever percussive taps and knocks on the body of his guitar, which create a full sound and make him musically self sufficient.
• Brushy One-String Website • Brushy One-String Facebook • Brushy One-String WikiSee-I - Knowledge Shine Bright
See-IKnowledge Shine Bright
Label: Fort Knox Recordings
Garnering experience during their 15 years as front-men for the Thievery Corporation live band, brothers Arthur “Rootz” Steele and Archie “Zeebo” Steele founded SEE-I and are now leaders the reggae-soul movement. Funk, dancehouse, and smooth, jazzy electronics blend with the soul and reggae to produce a surprisingly broad vista of styles to work with and enjoy.
• See-I Website • See-I FacebookOtt - Fairchild
OttFairchild
Label: Ottsonic
Distant warbles of dubtastic goodness are chopped expertly into blissful bubbles of electronica and sizzled with splashes of multi-ethnic relish. Etheric vocals are found amid idiosyncratic wompy bass delicacies and a hyper surreal psychedelic undertow. After a 4 year wait, the English producer known as OTT, with help from a couple dozen or so musicians, has provided us with a wonderful new sonic adventure so we can all explore how to be fairchildren too. (9) ottsonic.net
• Ott Website • Ott Facebook • Ott WikiCas Haley - More Music, More Family
Cas HaleyMore Music, More Family
Label: Mailboat Records
After a freak skiing accident tossed Haley into months of physical and vocal therapy, he was forced to reassess and refocus his career and this process brought new levels of connection with his family which had grown thin after years of constant touring. His new release shows off this family respect topically while allowing arrangements to grow more extravagant and expansive through his smooth mating of reggae, soul, blues and rock. Bravo! (9) Appearing on 11/8 at High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI along with Collin Hauser,Tugg and Cash Box Kings.
• Cas Haley Website • Cas Haley Facebook • Cas Haley WikiView More
Viewing Page 3 - of 4