Tag: Reggae

June 30, 2023

Song of the Day: Lieutenant Stitchie - Shopping

Famed Jamaican reggae artist Lieutenant Stitchie already had a lengthy career as a dancehall reggae artist beginning in the late 1970s. His first album hit in 1987, and he released 7 full-length albums and nearly 50 singles (yes, 50!) all before becoming a Christian. As the story goes, he was on his way to perform in Montego Bay, but was injured in a car crash. Against the advice of doctors, he proceeded to perform anyway. After the show he was given a Gideon’s Bible and as a result of reading the Bible in his hotel room, he gave his life to the Lord.… Continued →

June 14, 2023

May 15, 2023

January 23, 2023

Song of the Day: Christafari - Listening

Welcome to the song that brought me a lifetime love for Christian Reggae. The band has been around since the mid 90s & still releases music almost every year. They have done a few worship albums & even some kid stuff! This is an example of a band that I label in the ministering category of “Christian” music as they are unabashed about the Gospel. From their LastFM site The name is pronounced CHRIST-AH-FAR-EYE, in Greek, the original language of the New Testament, Christafari is the name given to “a group of people who collectively represent Christ.”… Continued →

June 21, 2022

April 1, 2022

Song of the Day: The Israelites - Israelite Train

The 1990s saw a huge revival of ska music–that funky fusion of reggae and punk, or so it seemed at the time. The real history of ska was much deeper than that. Unbeknownst to the general populace, ska actually pre-dates reggae, going back to at least the 1960s. It fused traditional calypso beats with horns and sounds gleaned from New Orleans jazz. Reggae emerged in the 70s, as tempos slowed down and the overall feel became more relaxed. In the 1980s, amidst emigration from the Caribbean to England, ska mixed with punk and/or new wave to create the “Two-tone” scene, a sign of racial integration amongst working class punks and skinheads represented with the ever-present black and white checkerboard imagery.… Continued →

November 5, 2021

Song of the Day: scaterd-few - U

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Sin Disease is one of the greatest albums ever to emerge from our scene. Romald Domkus (born Allan Aguirre) and company unleashed a wonderfully chaotic debut album, with production from Terry Taylor (DA/Daniel Amos/Swirling Eddies/Lost Dogs) that set CCM on its head! Think I’m overstating things? Not possible. Here’s why: have you ever tried to pigeonhole the album, or this band, into a single genre? Good luck. Take equal parts hardcore punk, reggae, goth, glam rock, and heavy metal, and then top the whole thing off with a weird experimental noise track lasting over 7 minutes long.… Continued →

October 23, 2021

July 24, 2021

Christafari Release Documentary Film, New Album, and Music Video

Lots of Christafari news to report on this beautiful Saturday morning here from Southern California. First up, the band just dropped a brand new album on all digital networks titled “Under God”. The new song “Jireh” is currently getting a music video filmed for it and will be released soon. The band dropped a music video for the song “His Blood (Feat. Roland Manakaja)” last week and the song actually comes from their 2020 album “Musicianaries: At Any Cost” which the new documentary is centered around.… Continued →

January 18, 2021

My Thoughts on the New Five Iron Frenzy Album

Edit: Five Iron Frenzy themselves have posted updated lyrics with corrections made, click here. Also, I left out info on “So We Sing” which is a catchy song in it’s own right but I didn’t mention because it was the first single released a few months back and I assumed most had heard it. Carry on…. Five Iron Frenzy surprised just about everyone by dropping their brand new, electrifying full length album on Friday. It is a complete, total dumpster fire wreck of an album and filled with nothing but pure feces.… Continued →

November 20, 2020

Song of the Day: Ben Okafor - Jah Love

British Christian reggae artist Ben Okafor was born in Nigeria. Experiencing life as a victim of the Nigerian civil war, and even serving temporarily as a child soldier, Okafor was able to relocate to England in the late 70s where he began a career as a reggae artist. His early works were even produced by Bob Lamb (UB40). Musically, Ben’s music has always had an interesting mix of influences from traditional roots reggae (Ben’s clean guitar playing is noted throughout his lengthy discography) to lovers rock (AKA pop-reggae), but also including folk and world elements–all of which are impacted by his diverse cultural and geographical background.… Continued →

June 21, 2020

April 4, 2020

April 1, 2020

January 4, 2020

Best of 2019: Rob Jensen

2019 had a number of great releases. Check out my favorites below and see what you think. Agree with any of my picks? Give a listen to the ones you are unfamiliar with, you never know, maybe you’ll find something new to listen to!   1.    Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind. Slipknot returned with their first album in 5 years this past August and based on reactions from fans and critics alike, WANYK has cemented itself as, arguably, one of their best releases to date.… Continued →

June 21, 2019

Song of the Day: Okay Lindon - Participation

Cincinnati indie rock band Okay Lindon have released another single in advance of their next album.  The album will be a departure from their quirky brand of alternative rock, this time heading into reggae territory.  While an unconventional move, for sure, the seasoned band have the ability to pull it off.  Plus, the reggae sounds fit the new material well.  Founder Dustin Smith claims, “In this song I’m calling out aspects of my evangelical upbringing as ‘escapist theology’ which focused so heavily on an afterlife, that the joys of experiencing union with Christ in the physical world, ourselves, and others is lost.Continued →

June 18, 2019

June 2, 2019

Okay Lindon releases new single in advance of album

Ohio indie rock band Okay Lindon have released a new single in anticipation of their full album release, set for a July 12th release date.  The full-length “Participation” is a departure from previous efforts, venturing into reggae territory.  All proceeds go to Shared Harvest Foodbank. Every dollar raised provides 8 meals for those in need. The single and subsequent album will be released through Poptek Records, and can be found here: http://www.poptek.com/okay-lindon?fbclid=IwAR2DPWWgqO8DBbXEf1JXcfTMtyaCeUaxvIpAA4x5wv-qfJ46_uEu8pkVDmgContinued →

April 11, 2019

March 6, 2019

February 16, 2019

November 25, 2018

IVM Christmas Collection

Christmas Songs

For those of you who braved the crowds on Black Friday, you probably heard Christmas songs playing on the PA overhead. I put together a Spotify playlist of Christmas songs that my wife and I enjoy this time of year to share with all of you.

October 30, 2018

Ethan Luck "Let it Burn" Out Now

The highly anticipated new album from well seasoned punk rock veteran, Ethan Luck, is out now. The album is jam packed with memorable choruses, bass heavy delivery, and a warm, inviting horn section that will keep you entertained for hours. This 10 track album was funded by fans through Kickstarter with a lot of us getting the vinyl version among other incentives. When I say “Buy it” I don’t mean that lightly. It is my full intention to persuade you, the reader, to drop what you’re doing and support true independent music by purchasing the album.… Continued →

April 26, 2018

Ethan Luck Launches New Campaign for Ska / Reggae Album

Ethan Luck is a veteran. This seasoned musician and songwriter has been playing on albums for more pretty much all of his entire adult life. He has worked with nearly everyone from Pax (before the ‘217’), Project 86, The Dingees, Value Pac, OC Supertones, Demon Hunter, Relient K, recently as touring musician with Kings of Leon and of course his solo work. This new album will continue some of the more “punk” aspects of his last few solo releases and aim the focus directly at Ska and Reggae sounds, incorporating them in his punk rock aesthetic.… Continued →

December 20, 2017

October 25, 2017

September 22, 2017

August 9, 2017

July 21, 2017