SHOK WAVE: NEW MUSIC RELEASES 7/10/18

By jillh on July 10, 2018 in Shok Wave

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!

Reggae

Bobby Hustle has always been a favorite. He has a sweet sound, with a rough edge and lyrically a good flow with ingenius rhymes coupled with dope melodies. The last two years have been a journey to freedom, that started out as a 6 date tour of Costa Rica. Held for that time until he proved his innocence, Bobby is home and his new album is 'Cant Hold Me.' He proved they 'Cant Hold Me' and made a whole album about his ventures. Produced exclusively by three-time grammy nominated duo Loud City, the EP features Bobby in combination with Jamaican firebrand Lutan Fyah and Loud City on the upbeat dancehall track With The Kush, as well as the hip-hop infused Real Family alongside the renowned Cali P. If you are already a fan of the Hustle, Can't Hold Me will not disappoint. If this project is your introduction to Bobby’s music, you will quickly realize why he has been called the “most genuine artist in American reggae”. My favorites are 'Better Way' & 'Rollin'' for all the reasons mentioned in the beginning, that part has not changed.

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Mad Caddies have released a brilliant concept in 'Punk Rocksteady.' First of all, the album name sets the tone. It's an album of punk songs done in reggae. Now Mad Caddies are no strangers to reggae or punk. For the record many diehard punk fans are reggae fans, but there is not a synchronicity here as a die-hard reggae fans are typically fans of punk. Maybe this album will change that and convert more reggae fans to punk & vise versa. Individually the songs may not work as well as a collective whole. It has that American reggae feel, you know with those undertones of rock even though its suppose to be reggae. The album starts with Bad Religions 'Sorrow' and it works musically & lyrically. Green Day calls themselves 'God's favorite band,' Jah wouldn't do the same even though the song is good. Many of the songs are decent : 'Sleep Long,' 'And We Thought Nation States Were A Bad Idea,' 'She's Gone,' 'Alien 8,' '2Rak005' and 'Take Me Home.' 'Some Kind Of Hate' doesn't work lyrically, possibly musically. The sound is a bit different, maybe too much and a stray from the reggae sound and this applies to 'Sink, Florida, Sink' and 'Jean Is Dead,' too. What comes to mind here is the lyrical topics which are just too different in their approach. On the flipside, both genres do not like authority and are outspoken about it. I think a few better song selections could have been made and I think it will come in time.

Devi Reed, former lead for The Banyans, out of the capital of Reggae, France, has released another album 'Ragga Libre.' The title track is a salsa/reggae track done in Spanish & English and quite interesting to say the least. When Devi hits the track it's in a ragga style. Other styles include pop, electro & hip hop. 'Turn All Sounds' is more representative of where he's going. Reggae is still his strength and it shows. 'Nah Jump' is a modern reggae track. 'Move And Smile' has a good groove & vibe. 'Love Is Amazing' is a great song with a hip hop/reggae sound again. His sound is expanding and I think you'll like it. He has undeniable talent.

For Peace Band from Guam has signed with Rootfire Intl. and now their game is going international. Their first single has released and its called 'Always Love.' A great title & a good song especially for their introduction to the world of reggae. Keep an ear out.