I got a fever and the only cure is more aggro!

Aggrolites "Reggae Hit LA" (hellcat records)


What can you say about the Aggrolites? They have literally set themselves apart by being the most exciting modern reggae band since they released their first album "Dirty Reggae.” The band formed out of a group of studio musicians that already had roots in the west coast reggae scene (check out the Rhythm Doctors and Seespot). 4 years later the band seems destined to be the hardest working/touring reggae outfit in the world. 2 weeks ago Tim Armstrong's solo album was released with the Aggrolites backing Tim on every tune. And now the band's 3rd release "Reggae Hit LA" is their second album on Hellcat Records. Hellcat reached out to ska scene towards the end of the 90's by signing disenfranchised ska bands with higher goals including King Django, the Slackers, and the Pietasters. Hellcat took those bands to newer levels and the Aggrolites are possessed to reach the same and possibly larger audiences.

The band admitted to writing most of this album on the road through their various tours of the US/Europe. But this album is hardly meant to be taken lightly. This album marks the return of original Aggro drummer Korey Horn, who is without a doubt one of the tightest reggae drummers out there. The albums hits you with a surprise from the get-go. The first track "Work It" seems like a Toots/funky reggae number (that could even be on their last album) with a synthesized keyboard melody. "Faster Bullet" proves how much Jesse Wagner has grown as a singer/songwriter. Also a point to mention are the vocal harmonies done throughout this song that really fills in the gaps and make the sound more complete (this is an important and often ignored facet of recording a good album). The Aggrolites start things right with these tracks and "You Got 5" brings back the skinhead reggae, Upsetter style the band is known for.

"Reconcile" sees the band experimenting with 70's styled reggae effects (ie Michigan and Smiley "Rub A Dub Style") just like in the opening track. And I say these tunes took a few times to listen to but they fit right in and work thanks to the keyboard wizardry that is known as Roger Rivas. And as one of those dorky people with a big record collection that know way too much about music made decades before I was born. People in our scene appreciate when a band like the Aggrolites not only respects the music but actually knows their roots. The band's title track is a soul stomping organ groove with group vocals and Jesse channeling his inner Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, and James Brown. The band slows the tempo down on the ballad "Lets Pack Our Bags" but the band retains their signature sound even during different time signatures which is a rather difficult endeavor. On the instrumental tracks like "Left Red", "Rhythm & Light", "Hip To It", and "Baldhead Rooster" the Aggrolites demonstrate why people should appreciate bands that mixed reggae, soul, and funk. Bands like the Hippy Boys, the Upsetters, Symarip, and the Mohawks paved the way for this sound.

The catchiest and my favorite track is "Free Time" which shows off the tight rhythm section-- Korey on drums, J Bonner on Bass, and Jesse playing rhythm guitar are skilled players at the top of their game. Brian Dixon on lead guitar not only adds to the musical madness but his work behind the board has showed how the band has made a transition from lo fi Dirty Reggae to the new crisp sounds of the day. And when you see the band perform live these players are the rock solid reggae foundation that cannot be broken. The band's ode to gambling "Lucky Streak" is another tune that demonstrates the band's ability to find a groove and is simply a fun song in the same vain as "Pop the Trunk." To close out the album the band included their soccer sing-a-long "We Came To Score" that will hopefully be heard in arenas far and wide. As a reviewer its hard to critique a band as skilled as the Aggrolites. What can they do wrong? The first two albums a band makes often test the waters. They play off their influences and hopefully a band finds their sound. Well the Aggrolites found their sound and it’s the only sound I want to hear. This is quite possibly the best and most important album of 2007.

A Bad Review, From A Bad Reviewer

So Daoster showed me this review of The Aggrolites S/T recently...

"Aggro, meaning aggressive, meaning aggravation - possibly even a loose derivative of angst, right? Wrong.

The Aggrolites' eponymous Hellcat release, far more "lite" than "aggro" follows on the heels of 2004's Dirty Reggae debut and pretty much dispenses with any pretense either to musical progression or musical aggression. Three tracks in, and I've already heard more daffodil than a casual stroll through the fields.

Don't hear me wrong; there's nothing technically bad with the product here - but product is exactly what you get. The Aggrolites suffer horribly from that age-old crippler of talent: The REO Speedwagon syndrome. Every single song, every note, sounds like the same Xerox photocopy, producer-driven, genre-obeying, let's-forget-about-originality-and-crank-out-the-standards muck.

If you like core, progressive reggae, try King Tubby or maybe some Alpha Blondy. If you like suburban white boys who sound like every other lame skate band ever over produced..." - Imma Idiot

So I read this and thought WHAT A MORON!!!
First off who starts a review that way! He states the definition of Aggro. Whoop-Di-Freakin-Doo! Thanks for that, I really haven't had time to check my dictionary lately. But now we know what kind of retarded 3rd grade book review this is gonna be.
This guy needs to stick to his Kenny G records and shut up about things he has no clue about. I can only assume that The Aggrolites are the talk of the of the town in his area, and he decided to give em' a listen. Find out what all this ranting and raving was about, "what the kid's are into". Like most folks, he probably has only ever been exposed to a very thin layer of Reggae music. Perhaps he's heard a few Bob Marley, or UB40 records and a random group of songs on the radio. Like many of this sort, Reggae music is kinda "groovy", kind of repetitive, and all sounds the same. It's not something they dive into with deep admiration and anticipation of what musical path this will lead to.
Any true music fan knows that with any style of music, there is always a story to it. A history that can take one in many directions.
This understanding is clearly not held by this so-called reviewer.
He obviously perused through these two prolific Aggrolites albums in a hurry to write a few nonsense-ridden sentences. The Aggrolites play a key role in today's modern Reggae movement. Applying the influences of Soul, Funk, and so many others into a sound all their own. If anything, the Aggros are genre defying. Who uses that word anymore anyway?!...genre
And come on? "The REO Speedwagon syndrome"??!!
Less than half of the Aggrolite's fans actually know what the heck that means!!

So Mr.Moron, do us all a favor and SHUT UP already. Unless your going to actually take the time to do some research and write a worthwhile review.

Tim Armstrong- A Poet's Life Coming May 22nd

Only three days away!
Three days till the world is hit with this explosive combination of Tim's unique vocal stylings, and the Aggrolites intense dirty reggae sound. I don't know about you but I am excited! As I was reading through our blog here I noticed the Visual Occupation to the left pop up some videos of new songs from the upcoming record. Clicking on it I found that there are several new videos.
One that stood out to me is 'Inner City Violence'.




Tim's vocals transfer back and forth from his dancehall style to his raspy singing. And The Aggros with that deep infectious groove, like some kinda protest song outta the 70s. Just listen and see what I mean!

Remember these lyrics from the song 'Get Into Action"...
"If you hook up the speakers, we'll bring the sound. And the music will be heard from miles and miles around;We got songs of redemption, songs of war, we got songs like this that can pack the dance floor"
The writing is on the wall...
I cannot wait to hear the rest of this album, all I know is this is gonna destroy the speakers in my car. This will definitely be this summer's theme music for me.