Rebelution

Courage to Grow

Rebelution Music

(Rebelution MySpace)

Santa Barbara’s Rebelution has been developing quite a buzz of late and a couple of months ago the band released its first full-length album, Courage to Grow. Further developing its sound, the band has certainly taken the rights steps for growing its pop reggae with subtle rock influences.

Building on an excellent introduction to the band, earlier this year’s self-titled debut EP, Rebelution has come up with some exciting new sounds, while still operating with a safety net of sorts through re-recording tried and tested old favorites like Safe and Sound and Attention Span.

New songs like Feeling Alright, Other Side and Ordinary Girl showcases the five-piece’s ability for penning memorable reggae tunes. However, one of the band’s greatest appeals is through its thoughtful lyrics, such as the positive album openers Courage to Grow and Heart like a Lion. While Green to Black illustrates another side to the band with its environmentally conscious lyrics.

One unfortunate aspect of Courage to Grow is that someone forget to tell the production team that bass is a crucial element of reggae influenced music and for the most part the bass is mostly absent across the whole recording. I’d hate to say it, but I almost prefer the rawer and rougher sounding versions of the songs, that were originally presented on the band’s previous EP than in their re-recorded tinnier sounding format here.

Production issues aside there is no denying the talent of Rebelution and I for one will be keeping a close eye (and ear) to see how the band develops over time.

Reviewed by Pilipo

You can purchase Courage to Grow online here