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Reggae On Rugged Road by The Aggrolites
Reggae On Rugged Road by The Aggrolites
L.A's The Aggrolites bring you their fifth album.
Sampler
L.A.’s The Aggrolites are back with 'Reggae On Rugged Road', their fifth studio album since they formed around a decade ago. I have to say when I first put the CD in I was initially caught somewhat off guard. I have been used to sound of their infectious Dirty Reggae and to be honest I was expecting to be greeted by a blast of their mix of gritty, old school, funked up ska, but to my surprise what wafted out of the speakers was Trial and Error, a beautiful piece of late ‘70s styled lovers rock reggae, with just a hint of Police and Thieves to it as lead vocalist Jess Wagner who usual sings with a gruff soulful style replaces it with a falsetto tone uncannily like that of Junior Murvin. What followed next, after a short, slightly biblical introduction asking for guidance through the wilderness and protection from foes, was the brooding, rootsy organ led instrumental Enemy Dub that keeps the effects count low. 
This was then followed by the dreamy guitar instrumental Dreamin’ of Erie, which sounds a bit like one that got away from last years 'Sweet Misery' from another LA based band The Bullets and perhaps not surprisingly this may have something to do with the fact that keys man Roger Rivas is the linchpin of both bands.
With a further five of the seven remaining tracks here being instrumentals this does tend to leave me with the feeling that this is more of a Roger Rivas showcase than a full on Aggrolites album, but that said the way he splashes, bright shimmering colour across these cuts and recreates the feel and energy of those boss sounds from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s is wonderful. Eye of Orbaras may suggest something dark and mystic but in fact what you get is a Perry inspired Upsettersish spry fair ground ride of a track. In The Cut, The Heat and album closer Out Of Sight are of similar ilk while Camel Rock is back in the fold of that funky ska theme that the Aggros do so well. The Aggro Band Plays On is what I’d call typical Aggro fare with both the band and Wagner back strutting their rough diamond soulful side with stories of the places around the world where they’ve played. The remaining vocal cut is the lustrous, rock steady Complicated Girl, that sees the return of falsetto vocals and harmonies.
2009s Aggrolities 'IV' was a mammoth 21 tracks, but what this little 10 tracker, with a running time of just over half an hour, lacks in the quantity of it predecessor it certainly delivers a quality that leaves you always craving for just that one more for the road.
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Read comments (6)
| Posted by Steph on 05.23.2011 | |
| Great review!! LOVE Trial and Error, definitely one of my favorite songs on this new album! I can't wait to see them live this summer on Warped Tour!!! | |
| Posted by Anna on 05.23.2011 | |
| The Aggrolites are awesome, can't wait to see their next show!! | |
| Posted by Nasserk215 on 05.25.2011 | |
| This is dope the new album is amazing! | |
| Posted by Collieman11 on 05.26.2011 | |
| The Aggrolites do it again! Make sure to peep 'em at Warped Tour with countless other awesome bands. | |
| Posted by MrQuick on 05.28.2011 | |
| The Aggrolites are a wicked band. The new album is sick. | |
| Posted by Mel on 06.02.2011 | |
| One of my favorite lines in this review is "that funky ska theme that the Aggros do so well". Hits the nail on the head, as the Aggrolites do what they do best, satisfy your craving for some good funky reggae sounds. The album may be short but leaves us yearning for more and I can't wait to hear this 'rugged' album live! Definitely going to Warped! | |
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