Reggae rock is defined by a handful of bands who have paved the way for the genre to grow into what it is today. Rebelution. Pepper. Iration. Of course, Slightly Stoopid. Yet, the breadwinners of the island reggae movement is undisputably The Green, surfacing in 2010 and not going under any time soon. Pepper traverses both island reggae and reggae rock borderlines, so don’t think we’re throwing shade here; those boys are their own anomaly. Back to The Green.
‘Black & White’ wraps itself around listeners like a warm blanket — cozy, comforting and bringing all the feels.
Over the past nine years, The Green has pumped out four solid full-length albums, each embodying island vibes in the highest and hosting radio bangers from Hawaii to the mainland and beyond. Now almost a decade since their premiere self-titled album, The Green boys are back with Black & White: an acoustic album of remixed fan favorites off Easy Star Records.
Starting with a downplayed version of “Alone”, a throwback all the way to their 2010 self-titled album, Black & White wraps itself around listeners like a warm blanket — cozy, comforting and bringing all the feels. Almost as if The Green were performing an unplugged night at your favorite island tavern, the album continues with all the band’s most cherished tracks. “Good Vibration”, “Runaway Train”, “Chocolate & Roses”, “All I Need”, “What Will Be Will Be”, “Wake Up”… the list is 15 deep. Each acoustic track has new flair attached to it, whether that be harmonized a capella vocals, more of a flamenco feel to the lead guitar or simply an altered tonality from its original timbre. Stretching across all four albums (The Green, Ways & Means, Hawai’i ’13 and 2017’s Marching Orders), Black & White celebrates every step of the way towards the band’s heightened status of today.
Now available on all digital outlets, the album can accompany you on an easygoing Sunday drive, unwinding at night with a special someone or ease your nerves no matter what time of day. Enjoy The Green live at Red Rocks Aptil 19th alongside 311, Method Man & Redman, Dizzy Wright and Jesse Royal before the band hits the road on a mini-tour starting May 17th. And, naturally, what would Cali Roots be without an appearance by The Green? For more information on tour dates and more, visit the links below or www.thegreen808.com.
Purchase or stream Black & White album:
Track listing:
- Alone
- Good Vibration
- Runaway Train
- Love I
- Alive
- Decisions
- What Will Be Will Be
- Going Up
- Chocolate & Roses
- Trod The Hard Road
- All I Need
- Wake Up
- Foolish Love
- Never
- Good One
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Cover photo by Jason Ko
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Disclaimer: All views presented in this album review are those of the reviewer and not necessarily those of Top Shelf Music.
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