The Aggrolites – Tonight
The Aggrolites – The Sufferer
If you just judge a book by it’s cover, the Aggrolites appear to be the kind of guys who routinely get profiled by LAPD as gang bangers. However, aside from the lead song “Firecracker,” which is more of a cautionary take on a guy with a “short fuse” instead of a call to bash heads, the sound of the Aggrolites doesn’t match their image (besides, could they really be THAT tough, they’ve been on Yo Gabba Gabba!).
This band plays a sweet, heavy and funky retro style of reggae, inspired by the early Upsetters or Dave and Ansel Collins’ approach to late 60s/early 70s reggae. For their fourth album, simply titled “IV” they added more of a straight soul/funk sound to multiple tracks, something hinted at in earlier work and always present in the vocals of lead singer Jesse Wagner. Even though this is their first album since the death of bassist David “Bassie” Fuentes (who also used to play bass in LA’s legendary Hepcat and is paid tribute on “Feelin’ Alright”), the group sounds to be no worse for wear and in good spirits.
This record, timed perfectly for release here in the summer, features a group at the peak of their power and completely locked into a groove. Standouts include righteous groovers “Running Strong,” “Wild Time,” “Reggae Summertime,” “The Sufferer,” the very sweet (at least for a song potentially about a one-night stand) “Precious and Few” and my favorite track and a likely one for my year end Best of 2009 list, “Tonight.”
If I have one complaint, it’s that this record is TOO long at 21 tracks. Bringing this one in at 14 or 15 tracks would have been more focused, much tighter and more in line with the band’s sound. But that’s a very minor complaint for one of my favorite revivalist bands and one of LA’s best in general.