John Brown’s Body

- Amplify

2008-10-06

John Brown’s Body has come a long way from my introduction to them at Bell’s Eccentric Café in 1999, at which point they were a group of skinny, kind of nerdy white kids pumping out some jaw-dropping, booty-shaking reggae thunder. Since then, their sound has matured and gained complexity. It has also taken a turn more toward the serious reggae-as-social-commentary angle – a departure from their earlier reggae-as-soundtrack-to-fun style. They’ve also added some rap lyrics (“Amplify, “Shake the Dice”). Those changes come, in part, through an overhaul of the band’s line-up. From the original members on 1996’s All Time, only drummer Tommy Benedetti and back-up vocalist (now frontman) Elliot Martin remain. Amplify is tight, well-produced and thought-provoking. It’s just not as fun as some of their older stuff. ::arthur longrapids:: Notes: All FCC-clean. Track #4, very slow fade out (ends 6:46)

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #World

  • reviewed 05/2009

    ENTER THE HAGGIS
    Gutter Anthems

  • reviewed 05/2007

    R CARLOS NAKAI with UDI BAR-DAVID
    Voyagers

  • reviewed 01/2004

    Lata Mangeshkar
    The Rough Guide to Bollywood Legends

  • reviewed 01/2007

    NATURAL BLACK
    Far From Reality

  • reviewed 03/2012

    SOJA
    Strength to Survive

  • reviewed 11/2015

    Denai Moore
    Elsewhere

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.