John Brown’s Body
Among Them
Shanachie
Tasty, rootsy reggae riddims from deep in the heart of… Ithica??? You’ll find it hard to believe that John Brown’s Body are a bunch of twenty-somethings from New York when you hear the deeply authentic sounds on Among Them . Crucial cuts include the ska shuffle of “Play On,” the poppy “Love is a Fire” and “Thank You Oh Lord,” the dub workouts “This is Not the End” and “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know,” and the roots-oriented “Orange & Gold” (dig those flutes and sleigh bells!). However, my personal favorite tracks are the album-opening “Among Them,” and the bookending dub version, “Ziontific Dub,” which are so hooky, they’ve taken up permanent residence in my brain. Great stuff!
Shanachie Records, 13 Laight St., New York, NY 10013; http://www.shanachie.com
