SHOK WAVE is your weekly new REGGAE music blog. SHOK WAVE finds music that is out there in the form of Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Ska, Dub, Reggae Rock & anything else musical with a Caribbean origin and in any language.
Here is what we found this week.......Enjoy!
Instead of not doing a blog this week we decided to list a bunch of good songs that released. I did not find anything great just good. Maybe this should be the start of an additional playlist? What do you think?
REGGAE
DUKES of Roots "Dukes Of Roots"
A new band of veteran musicians that has variety, depth, experience and a great new sound that includes fusions.
With Mermans Mosengo on vocals, the Congolese singer has performed all over the world with the arts organization Playing For Change and a variety of bands. Joined with George “Fully” Fullwood on bass, the Jamaican musician is regarded as one of the most prolific bass players in the scene having worked with greats like Toots Hibbert, Bob Marley, and Peter Tosh - to name a few. Courtney Diedrick on drums is also from Jamaica, and is a Grammy-award winning musician whose credits, like his bandmates, are prolific and include Damian and Stephen Marley, Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart – to name a few. Sean Diedrick on production and keys, is a Grammy-award winning producer from Jamaica who has been producing for legendary artists like Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Sean Paul, Shaggy and Popcaan for years. And T Rod on guitar also composes and writes lyrics for the band – together they are: Dukes of Roots. An all star cast on this album and it starts with the new single and Stephen Marley with 'Stick With Love.' Tarrus Riley joins to cover the classic 'Pressure Drop.' The albums last single is one of my favorites as the title says it all 'Feel The Love (remix)' with Kabaka Pyramid. 'Tosh' features Andrew Tosh and sounds like a new remixed version of 'Equal Rights.' Another favorite and our first tune from the Dukes to get us excited is 'Try Happy' with Brazil's biggest reggae band Natiruts. Darius Rucker appears on the remake 'John Punch.' Another classic from Jimmy Cliff in 'I Can See Clearly Now.' Lastly, the album finishes with a dub of the albums first song 'Cross The Rubicon' by Scientist.
Exco Levi "Born To Be Free"
This is Canada's Winniest MOBO Award winner, which is equivalent to our Grammy. Exco always speaks of relevant topic as in the title track, 'Slave Trade,' 'Smile Africa' (which has an African vibe), 'Frozen Heart' is better for 'Strive With Me,' 'That's What She Loves' with Duane Stephenson on a big 90's penthouse riddim, 'Top Of The Moon,' 'Young Girl' she loves the natty dreadlocks, and the album concludes with 2 dancehall tunes 'Red Carpet' & 'Change Your Mind' with Charly Black. The third track is the first that is 'top rankin,' called 'By Any Means.' 'By any means, my enemies, I have to keep them....?' Another is 'H.I.M,' which is our favorite. HIM a king, Selassie I is King, HIM is King and HIM sit don pon throne.' We all have 'One Life,' so you have to live it. The ska vibe comes on the one that Levi sings 'gotta be dread one day.' It's called 'Fine Tooth Comb.' This album has it all: reggae, lover's rock, roots, dancehall & ska. By all means this is a good album. For us we did not find that 'big tune' to play. We also know Mr Levi can do better.
Comments are closed.