One Drop

Mission Blvd

Neptune Entertainment

(One Drop MySpace)

San Diego’s One Drop has been slowly building up to the release of this - the band’s debut full-length album. Through constant gigging this past year, the band has delivered on the promise its self-titled EP hinted at last year with Mission Blvd.

While definitely cultivating a reggae rock sound, Mission Blvd is more of a subtle affair compared to what most of the band’s peers are currently releasing. One Drop is more content to let the music centralize on the melodic and soulful vocals of James Alger, particularly on the songs with strong story telling, like Sorry Excuse and The Heist.

With such a strong focus on vocals it is critical that the band not only has something to say, but is memorable in the way it says it. Thankfully for One Drop, songs like She’s Gone, the horn-backed No Good Reason and the playful fun of One More Night leave their mark due to their overwhelming catchiness.

However, it’s this overall self-restraint from One Drop of not wanting to bludgeon you over the head with the obvious that sets them apart from most others in the current reggae rock pack. Don’t ever under estimate the power of the smooth groove – Don’t You Know being another perfect example.

Reviewed by Pilipo

You can purchase the Mission Blvd online here