Inna State of Dubmission (Waxed Melon, 2005)

Of all the places in the United States where you'd guess a reggae band would come from, Nebraska probably wouldn't be near the top of the list.  But lo and behold, here's RC Dub, a five-piece band straight outta Lincoln, Nebraska that's lot like RC Cola: cool, refreshing, and full of caffeine.  Their largely instrumental music ranges from high-energy ska to funky, bass-driven dub, with electronica and jazz fusion elements spicing it all up -- indicative, no doubt of the mood swings resulting from all that caffeine.  (Purists will appreciate the fact that they don't throw in a lot of the rock 'n roll sound that so many punk-leaning ska acts favor.)  The sound is immediately compelling, as early tracks like the funky "Elemental," the jazzy, layered "Ugly Fruit," and the tempo-switching " RC Citizen" draw you in with an organic, live-instrument sound missing from a lot of modern, electronica-heavy dub.  Frankly, I'm not someone who can sit down and listen to dub for an extended period of time without dozing off, but Inna State of Dubmission, RC Dub's debut, is an easy listen.  Like a good book or movie, it envelopes you in its world, takes you on its roller coaster ride, and before you know it, it's over, and you're ready to go again.  As you'd expect from a largely instrumental band, the vocals (which appear on only a few tracks) aren't the strong point; the group seems to know this, as the few vocals seem to be intentionally subdued and/or muffled.  Aside from the previously mentioned tracks, other standouts include the rolling funk of "Last One" (powered by the group's female bassist; hooray for women!), the regal horns of "Dangerous Vudu," and the bouncy, mid-tempo "Fix My Low."  Check 'em out at rcdub.com.