Rebelution - Free Rein

  by Dave Goodwin

published: 25 / 9 / 2018

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Rebelution was formed in the college town of Isla Vista, California in 2004. In the beginning was Eric Rachmany, Matt Velasquez, Rory Carey, Marley D. Williams, and Wesley Finley, who were all University of California, Santa Barbara students and they started to pick up momentum through consistently playing local shows. These days there are only four of them but each of them graduated with degrees in Religious Studies (Rachmany), Anthropology (Finley), Film Studies (Williams), and Business Economics (Carey). A short time after their conception they released their first full-length album 'Courage to Grow' in June 2007, and with it came the breakthrough the band were after. The album was selected as iTunes Editor’s Choice for Best Reggae Album of 2007 and got into the top 5 of the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. Velasquez left after the release of that first album, leaving Rebelution as a four-member band. Their second full-length album 'Bright Side of Life' was released two years later on their newly founded record label "87 Music, and not only reached the no.1 spot on iTunes in the Reggae music genre but also no. 3 in the Top Albums Downloaded in the United States. Their third studio album, 'Peace Of Mind', sold 16,000 copies its first week. Celebrating ten years the band released their fourth full-length album 'Count Me In', reaching the no. 1 Billboard Reggae album. Over the years tours have taken them to South America, Guam, Aruba, New Zealand and Europe. Their highly anticipated fifth studio album 'Falling Into Place', debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae chart, and remained on the chart for more than 60 weeks. And so to 'Free Rein', the sixth offering from Rebelution. As with 'Falling into Place', this is a joint venture with Easy Star Records and their own '87 Music Label with a change however in the producing personnel in acclaimed Jamaican producer Don Corleon, famous for his work with Riganna and Sean Paul and also Winta James who has worked with Damien Marley. The music on here is typical Rebelution but has a more polished edge to it and a more easy laidback sound than its predecessors. Rachmany seems to be a little more loose and free in his delivery and it works especially on the opening track 'Celebrate'. 'Settle Down Easy' is an easy drifter of luscious reggae melody and one of the highlights from the toned-down Rebelution along with 'Rise on Top' which fluidly meanders around the head. 'Trap Door' is a jazzier affair with full-effect brass and to prove that Rachmany is not just a one trick pony there is a substantial guitar solo suck in the middle.

Track Listing:-

1 Celebrate
2 City Life
3 Legend
4 Settle Down Easy
5 Take on Anything
6 Patience
7 Rise on Top
8 Trap Door
9 Good Day
10 Healing
11 More Energy
12 Constellation

Label Links:-

http://easystar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EasyStarRecords
https://twitter.com/EasyStarRec

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