Normally here on Sea of Tranquility you'll find plenty of reviews of progressive rock, all forms of metal, and a healthy dose of jazz-fusion. Funkified reggae however is something we don't normally delve into, but on the rare occasion that we get a CD in that hints at this genre and might be of some interest to our normal readership, we attempt to give it a whirl. This latest release by the eight-man group from Iowa, Public Property, titled Movement, is a pretty well-rounded mix of contemporary reggae, funk, hip-hop, jazz, blues, ska, and a bit of rock and roll. Filled with breezy melodies that will have you gettin' your groove on, as well as some tasty Hammond organ and fiery guitar work, Movement might certainly appeal to more than just your standard reggae crowd. There are some great 4-part vocal harmonies here ( three of the singers are female and quite lovely) to go along with the tight grooves, elevating songs like "Movement", "Harmony", and "When a Boy" to a nice mix of pop, reggae, and funk status. Of course, if old-school styled reggae is your thing, look no further than "Wage War", which is straight out of the Bob Marley handbook, complete with swirling organ and traditional guitar licks & rhythms. Overall, Movement is a solid and enjoyable slice of music for those who enjoy this sort of thing, and would make a good soundtrack to your next summer barbecue.
Track Listing
1 Lay Low
2 Follow
3 Harmony
4 Break Down
5 Kangaroo Loveshack
6 Movement
7 Everyone Is Africa
8 When a Boy
9 Wage War
10 Footprints
11 On My Way