The creation of songs can originate from many places. Sometimes it's from an interaction an artist observes between strangers, and other times it's about a world the songwriter wishes would exist. Music is made with the intention of making people dance and enjoy a party, and albums have been written solely about breakups or falling in love. Perhaps the best songs are created when an artist reflects on the current state of their life and pours their heart out in the form of lyrics and music. On their sixth studio album "Brand New Eyes", Hawaii's The Green have done exactly that. A level of maturity and sober reflection rings throughout this album. The complexity of what the world can throw at our human hearts and how we handle them is not an easy thing to unpack, but throughout the songs on "Brand New Eyes" the band is able to accomplish this task as well as any honest person could. The multiple songwriters and four singers of The Green share their genuine perspective over fantastic instrumentals throughout "Brand New Eyes" and have created a record truly special.

In their seventh full-length release, the reggae-rock heavy hitters of Passafire show off their musical and songwriting expertise with songs that pull influence from a multitude of genres while still having the rhythms and vibes that fans of reggae music crave. The band has long been known for its eclectic blend of reggae and progressive rock, and it's wonderful to see a group that continually strives to grow as musicians and put out their best in both their recordings and live shows. They share the work ethic of other successful artists in the reggae community, producing and mixing most of their own music in addition to the music of other musicians in the scene (for more on this check out Passafarm Recording Studio). The band's creativity is highlighted in Strata, and they are not afraid to take a step off the beaten path with songs stretching from reggae to metal, and with song lengths varying between 3:09 and 7:41 minutes.

Reggae and punk rock music have long been intertwined. Both cultures embody a DIY attitude and a rejection of social norms that divide and oppress, and though the exact expression of this rebel mentality and promotion of a more equal and inclusive community differ between the two, the common ethos they share has led to amazing music combining the genres for decades. For many reggae fans their initial introduction to the genre came through punk; whether it be from classic punkers like The Clash, third wave ska bands like Reel Big Fish and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, or current artists blending reggae and punk such as Slightly Stoopid. Such a musical journey is shared by this reviewer as well, with my personal introduction to reggae starting with the punk band NOFX, which led me to bands like Sublime and The Expendables, further leading to Rebelution, and from there the whole genre opened up before me. I am far from alone in this experience, one which I especially share with my fellow West Coast Americans. 

The combination of punk and reggae is far from over, and there are amazing new artists continuing this legacy that you should be aware of.The combination of punk and reggae is far from over, and there are amazing new artists continuing this legacy that you should be aware of.

Enter the great Kyle Smith and his debut full-length album "Lost Cause".