Pepper - Ohana
ARTIST........: Pepper
TITLE.........: Ohana
LABEL.........: Law Records
URL...........: http://pepperlive.com
GENRE.........: Reggae
QUALITY:......: 246 kbps avg/ 44100Hz / Joint Stereo
RIP DATE......: 2016-12-08
RELEASE DATE..: 2016-04-29
Tracklist:
----------
01. Start You Up 3:39
02. Vacation 2:52
03. The Invite 3:40
04. Never Ending Summer 3:52
05. Reckless 3:16
06. Wait 3:15
07. Big Mistake 3:31
08. Perfect Stranger 3:21
09. Bones 3:31
10. Around 3:15
Total 34:12
Release Notes:
"Artist Background:
Since forming in Kona, Hawaii in 1997, Pepper has grown into one of the most
popular reggae-rock bands of the past decade. After a nearly three year hiatus
following the release of their EP Stitches, the band took a risk and updated
their sound for the release of their self-titled album in 2013, and are now
primed to give their fans even more of the high-energy, summertime sound that
theyÆve come to know and love with the self-produced Ohana. The aforementioned
self-titled album was met with mixed reviews from fans that had grown accustomed
to a cookie cutter Pepper sound, so the band is taking a slightly different
approach with Ohana. ôCompared to the recent self-titled, thereÆs definitely
more reggae [on Ohana] for sure.ö Says Drummer, Yesod Williams. ôOur main goal
is to record it on the record as we play it live. Because there are a lot of
elements on a record that usually arenÆt portrayed live, so rather than aim for
a specific sound, we want to capture the energy of the live shows, and be able
to play every song from the record liveà We always will be and always have been
just three guys on stage, so we want to make sure it sounds like thereÆs three
guys on stage, in the studio.ö
Album Review:
To everyone that wanted a reggae-rock album, you got your wish. Whether or not
that makes Ohana a hit record is questionable.
With the first track ôStart You Up,ö the album immediately establishes itself as
a return to the Pepper of old. Featuring guitarist Kaleo WassmanÆs soothing
vocals over a steady stream of organ keys, the song is reminiscent of the slower
tunes featured on early releases such as Kona Town and No Shame. Despite the
strong start, when we segue into the albumÆs single ôVacation,ö we find OhanaÆs
Achilles heel -û lyricism.
The song starts off promising, with all the elements of another libido-fueled
summer anthem present, but as the song reaches its chorus one canÆt help but
feel let down by lyrics that were either rushed or haphazardly thrown together.
Bassist Bret Bollinger provides a jolt of fun-loving energy to the verses, but
it isnÆt enough to salvage the song as a whole.
Unfortunately, this is a trait thatÆs found throughout the album, and itÆs one
that I canÆt imagine would be present if there were an experienced producer at
the helm. Ohana is the first album that Pepper has self-produced along with the
help of engineer Mike Sutherland, and although they are frequent collaborators,
neither have the pedigree or critical eye of former producing partners such as
Paul Leary or 311Æs Nick Hexum. Some songs that could have used more critique
include ôReckless,ö an overall forgettable tune, as well as lyrical graveyards
ôThe Inviteö and ôPerfect Stranger.ö
Despite some production hiccups, the instrumentals throughout this album are
superb. There are no overproduced beats or repetitive upskanks, rather simple
and catchy melodies that achieve the ôthree guys in the studioö sound.
Songs such as ôNever Ending Summer,ö ôWait,ö and ôBig Mistakeö are standouts on
this album, not only for their overall execution, but because they show a
maturity in the bandÆs music. I donÆt expect the band to make the same kind of
music or write about the same themes that they did ten years ago, and these
songs feel appropriate for this stage in PepperÆs career. Perhaps the biggest
standout and my favorite track on this album is ôBones,ö a soulful campfire tune
that is stylistically unlike anything Pepper has released to date, yet still
feels familiar both audibly and in spirit.
Overall, Ohana had potential but was questionably executed. There is the basis
of some great songs and new styles present, but the lyrical execution on this
album is lacking, making Ohana feel rushed. Pepper has never been known for
their lyrical prowess, and the fact that the album only has ten songs doesnÆt
help, but all the criticisms outlined in this review have been echoed since
their last LAW Records release Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations in 2008, so
it is a bit concerning to see the band continue to struggle to put out a well
acclaimed release. Despite the shortcomings, seeing Pepper explore new themes
and styles in their music is a welcome sign. The band is coming off a
re-branding of sorts, and this album shows that the band is still searching for
their new identity, but with songs like ôNever Ending Summerö and ôBones,ö I
think Pepper is back on the right track."