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| Passafire (Passafire, 2006) Not to be confused with New Zealand's Katchafire, Passafire is apparently more of a quarterback than a wide receiver...whatever that means. This quartet is an "everyman" reggae band with a common Joe point of view, although their rock-edged stylings may not appeal to every man. It's an accessible sound for those just getting into reggae, but fans of a purer reggae vibe may not fully embrace it. "Concrete Slave," for instance, sounds something like Matthew Wilder's '80s pop hit "Break My Stride," and the ska cut "Behind Closed Doors" is more in line with a No Doubt-ish modern ska/rock hybrid than with the original Jamaican sound. Plus, although lead singer Ted Browne's vocals are solid, they sound distinctly American, which may put off some listeners. That said, although many of the tracks feature electric rock crescendos, they tend to return to their reggae base, and there's little doubt that Passafire has an infectious energy. They deliver several engaging songs that even jaded purists can enjoy. "Barcelona," "Laquiji," and "Rude Boi" score, while the bluesy "Fit the Description" represents perhaps the best cohesion between rock and reggae on the album. "Workingman's Song," though, is the group's crowning achievement and best exemplifies their everyman appeal. It's a blue-collar anthem that harkens back to UB40's early classic unemployment homage "One in Ten" and is reason enough to check out Passafire at passafiretheband.com. |
| Track Listing 1. Barcelona 2. Laquiji 3. Thievery 4. Concrete Slave 5. Rude Boi 6. Bad Taste 7. Behind Closed Doors 8. The Breeze 9. Workingman's Song 10. Fit the Description 11. Feel It |
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