Fresh from their Spring Greens Tour, Rebelution is set to release their fourth full-length album, Count Me In, on June 10, 2014, just in time for the Count Me In Summer Tour. Fans got a taste of a few of the album’s songs on their last tour, and they’re eager to absorb the messages embedded in this new music.
Fresh from their Spring Greens Tour, Rebelution is set to release their fourth full-length album, Count Me In, on June 10, 2014, just in time for the Count Me In Summer Tour. Fans got a taste of a few of the album’s songs on their last tour, and they’re eager to absorb the messages embedded in this new music.
Rebelution members Eric Rachmay (vocals-guitar), Rory Carey (Keys), Marley D Williams (bass), and Wesley Finley (drums) recorded Count Me In over the winter for release on their own label, 87Music, in conjunction with Easy Star Records. With Grammy Award-winning Bernie Grundman brought in to mix and master the album and sound engineer Errol Brown of Treasure Island fame at the helm, this record is full of surprises. While staying true to roots reggae music, Rebelution has mixed in elements of jazz, funk and pop to make the album more appealing to mainstream listeners too.
The titular “Count Me In” is upbeat and expresses the band’s sense of inclusion with their fans, reassuring them that Rebelution will always be there as Eric Rachmany sings, “Count me in always.” Crisp brass and Rory Carey’s alluring keys bring a funk/jazz style groove reminiscent of Earth Wind and Fire.
“De-stress’” offers a big-bang opening, and big brass and keys belt the refrain several times as Eric Rachmany wails, “Woah, Wo-oh, wo-oh-wo-oh express to distress. I’m too blessed to be stressed.” The message is: change your vibe and learn how to mellow out. This true reggae beat melds with the bass backbone to add tension, momentum and, ultimately, release to help you unwind.
“More Love”’s melodic classic guitar introduction lures you in as Eric sings “More love, that’s what we need to succeed, not dollars. Naw, not what we need. Let’s give them love so the youth can achieve.” Rory’s staccato on keys drives the momentum and the beautiful harmony makes you listen to the words as they bring awareness that material things are not always what one should strive for.
“Lost In Dreams” is classic Rebelution. The wistful synth, vocal echos and harmony are dreamlike. The song reflects on how the seasons change while we remain the same. Could the past ten years of touring have them “Trapped in a maze, caught between two worlds, two different places, one familiar while the other is hard to explain?” The dream builds into a musical crescendo with battling guitars, Wes Finley’s pounding drums and crashing cymbals mixing into a whirlwind that ultimately takes you out of the dream and brings you back to reality.
“I know this won’t last forever, but I wish this would last forever,” sings Eric. With peaceful, guitars, and Marley Williams’ deep melodic bass lines driving this soft tempo song much like a lullaby, “Fade Away” induces you into a Zen state. “Keeping it calm, until we all fade away and live on.” The song evokes a warm and bright summer day.
The deep bass, soft shaker, mystical keys and Calypso guitar intro brings the Caribbean-style “Hate To Be The One,” a portrait of love gone awry, alive. Eric is joined by Collie Buddz‘ thick Rastafarian vocals on this song, provoking the listener to sway gracefully to the beat. The lyrics are reminiscent of Jamaican lead singer Christopher Martin’s “Cheater’s Prayer” and its warning about unfaithful lovers.
Released on May 15, 2014 on The Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy, “Notice Me” is a mellow, upbeat song with soft horns and keys. The lyrics are hopeful, wishing for the love that may be just around the next corner. This sounds like a radio hit to me.
The brass brings a great fullness and echoes the keys on “Roots Reggae Music.” While the bass runs keep the beat moving along and complement the drums. Featured veteran Roots vocalist Don Carlos chants, “You want to jump. You want to shout. You want to Skank, You want to shout. You want the whole world to know the music has got you–whoa-Oh!” This song is a great composition of old school roots reggae and more modern reggae music.
Having first heard “Counterfeit Love” on Rebelution’s Winter Green’s Tour this past February, I was hooked. This song of love gone wrong has great sex appeal, enhanced by touring member Khris Royal’s mad skills on the saxophone.
A mariachi sound with piercing trumpets builds up in great, confident steps as Eric’s demanding vocals persuade you to “Rise-Rise-Rise, Rise up to the top now, try and never stop,” in “Against the Grain.” The song reassures you that even though people and life’s trials get you down, you have the power to create your destiny by never giving up.
Count Me In has a mellower and more incandescent sound than Rebelution’s last album, Peace of Mind, and it’s a perfect addition to your CD collection for summertime listening. The addition of more brass and guest vocalists provides variety and flavor to the songs for any fan of rock, roots and reggae music. This band really does put life in perspective, making you feel “Too blessed to be stressed.”
Pre-order the album here: http://www.rebelutionmusic.com
If you missed their two sold-out shows in February at The NorVA, you can catch Rebelution this summer with Iration, The Green and Stick Figure for two shows in our area. They will perform in RVA June 18 at Innsbrook (order tickets HERE), and at the Portsmouth Pavilion June 21 (order tickets HERE).
