Despite the fact that they don't have a major label in their back pocket, reggae rockers Rebelution are becoming the quintessential act of the genre. Spearheaded by the rise of Sublime in the mid-nineties, the sub-genre of rock music has a very distinct sound that combines alternative rock, punk, and reggae, but Rebelution have elevated their game by bringing a bit of jam band quality to heir sound and performances. Their latest album has them venturing further in this direction, which they tried a bit of on their previous release. "De-Stress," "Counterfeit Love," and "Lost In Dreams" are the albums standout tracks, all of which the band debuted online before the release of the album. The title track is also one of the albums highlights, as well as their collaborations with Collie Buddz and Don Carlos. There are plenty of bands out there showcasing this style of music (Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, The Dirty Heads, etc.) but Rebelution continue to elevate their game with each new album, trying to stay fresh and do things a bit differently each time. This album, along with their last, showcases how their musicianship is truly the core of their music.
Rebelution's latest release is a bit of an undertaking on their part. Essentially they have released 3 full length albums. The first is "Peace Of Mind," a collection of brand new original reggae fueled tracks that is their best yet. The other two are the first album reinvented. "Peace Of Mind Dub" is a remix album by Michael Goldwasser of Easy Star Allstars which takes the already excellent reggae sound of Rebelution's new album and revamps it into a dirty funky dub reggae masterpiece. This is the kind of stuff that you'd excpect to hear coming straight out of Jamaica. The third in the set is an acoustic take on the full length album, showing off the intricacies of the songs, focusing on the lyrics and melody, rather than the funk and reggae. "Peace Of Mind Acoustic" solidifies Rebelution as a force in the reggae world, showing that the band is not just all about being fun and funky, but the whole package of making music is very important to them. As for the songs, there are some really great tunes on here. "Sky Is The Limit," the album's debut single, is by far Rebelution's most energetic song and bridges their signature style with the accessibility of mainstream alternative and reggae rock music. "Route Around" is the gem of the collection, sowing a softer more poignant side of the band. SOJA's Jacob Hemphill and Blues Traveler's John Popper make guest appearances on the disc, and each of their songs is amplified by their contributions. Rebelution is blasting to the forefront of their genre and is now a force to be reckoned with.
Rebelution gained so much success on the heels of their previous album that it is hard to wonder if they could follow up with an equally good effort. Well, the wait is over, and surely Rebelution has delivered. This album has more of what the last broguht in terms of the reggae rock sound, however it is more polished and seems to be more musical. Their roots rock vibe is still evident and you can tell by the way they play their instruments that their sound is born of live music and their studio recordings showcase their live feel well. It's fair to say that there are more radio friendly tracks on this album, and could help the band gain more widespread success in the alternative community. They are not quite as alternative as 311, harder edged and less punk than Sublime, and certainly a lot more high energy than Bob Marley. But, the mix of some of the best elements of all three of those artists will help this album gain the steam it needs and recognition it deserves to make Rebelution as popular.
