"Rugged Road" by Michael Cotton
The Aggrolites fifth offering, Rugged Road, is a different proposition from their previous albums – with the LA-based group adopting an instrumental ska/rocksteady approach. In fact it takes until the fifth track to get some vocals on the upbeat and high energy The Agro Band Plays On, and for one reason.......
The Aggrolites – Rugged Road
Review by Michael Cotton
Wow, I was not expecting that.
The Aggrolites fifth offering, Rugged Road, is a different proposition from their previous albums – with the LA-based group adopting an instrumental ska/rocksteady approach.
In fact it takes until the fifth track to get some vocals on the upbeat and high energy The Agro Band Plays On, and for one reason or another it works. The bands sound like an old-skool rocksteady reggae band creating a vibe which is guaranteed to get you dancing.
To be honest I am not a great fan of instrumental albums but if more instrumentals were like Rugged Road I could well become a fan.
The Aggrolites have made an album of old-skool ska and rocksteady tunes, taking inspiration from the rocksteady beats of Jamaica but also incorporating the late 1970s and early 1980s UK reggae scene made famous by band such as The Specials.
Rugged Road is a mix of Motown, soul and reggae inspired beats which is anything but rugged.
You can check out a Musicbailout interview with the band here.