Solid Ground

New Zealand based The Black Seeds combine a funky backdrop to catchy soulful lyrics that glide across a reggae dub that is very easy to dance to or just be listened to. My first time listening to their new independently released album, Solid Ground, I hated it (I was roaming around town in my car) and felt like the album relied to heavily on its dub sound giving off the impression that it was just one very long track. I was reluctant to listen to it again but as always a fair shake is required for every review and I’m glad I gave the album a second, third, and fourth go (hell I’m listening to it now as I write this review).

Solid Ground is The Black Seeds coming off their last album Into the Dojo which went double platinum. I was reminded of Sublime, Mark Ronson’s Versions album and…Morrissey? Okay, just a little on that last part. Singers Barnaby Weir and Daniel Weetman have a mix of moody but lively tones about their vocal deliveries that is simply laid back but the lyrical is so upfront with a simple depth logic that the combination creates a passionate mood to the overall music. With a massive eight member band there is just so much to hear that you owe the album a chance at your undivided attention. What really impressed me with the album is that instead of using topics like love and unity and fear as a base issue anyone can get invested in the words do well to complete the overall sense of urgency, emotion, panic without really relaying that type of ambiance that would ruin the albums flow. So after feeling reluctant about listening to the album for the second time the only real disappointment that I found was in the end when the album was over and I was left wanting more. The Black Seeds have a universal sound that anyone from any particular love of genre can relate to and enjoy. So do yourself a favor and check the band out at the following links and enjoy.