ALBUM REVIEW: The Aggrolites – Super Atomic (Pirates Press Records)
LA’s original ‘dirty reggae’ crew are back with their seventh studio album and their first since 2019’s Reggae Now! (reviewed here), though they did release a digital-only live album (reviewed here) in 2020).
Super Atomic sees the band, who formed in 2002, just as locked in and soulful as ever, with their playing sharpened by years of constant touring since their comeback.
It’s 11 original slices of upbeat reggae written to hit hard live, and it’s a perfect summer record, full of breezy good vibes, and packed with The Aggrolites’ signature fusion of reggae and soul.
It kicks off with Live By The Code, an instant earworm, which, if you didn’t know better, you’d swear was a slice of classic Jamaican ’70s reggae, with the lyrics mainly spoken rather than sung.
Lead single Till the Wheels Fall Off is about commitment – to the grind of touring and the music. Vocalist Jesse Wagner says it “captures our live energy better than anything we’ve done”. Sadly I’ve never seen them live, so can’t comment, but it’s a great tune nonetheless.
Musical Muse, also a single, sees Wagner thanking the inspiration who has helped him produce such wonderful music for almost 25 years, singing “you make me write the sweetest song.”
Duck Pon Pond has patois-style vocals from Man Like Devin, founder of fellow Californian band The Expanders, and there’s a self-deprecating ditty about getting older on Back Lock Tight, which is about not being able to groove on down on the dancefloor because you’ve put your back out!
Title track Super Atomic sees Wagner toasting over the top of a jaunty tune whose highlight is more sparkling organ work from keyboardist Roger Rivas, while the loping Loud Loud Love is about having very public disagreements with the one you love, but always making up.
There are four instrumentals, which give the band the chance to show their musical chops, and Rivas in particular the chance to showcase his skills. My favourite is Boots On the Terrace, whose wordless football chant-style chorus is redolent of early skinhead reggae.
They’re not reinventing the wheel, but Super Atomic is a fine addition to The Aggrolites’ catalogue. It’s available on vinyl, CD and digitally from their Bandcamp page HERE. 7.5/10.
