Easy Star All Stars are ground-breaking reggae/dub collective that reside from New York City. They have been around for five years and cover iconic rock albums but give them a reggae twist. Albums they have covered include Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Radiohead's OK Computer and most recently, The Beatle's Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts club album.
The result is something fantastic. Who would have thought to incorporate reggae music with such influential and recognizable music? The genre-defying remakes have produced undoubtedly some of the most successful reggae albums of all time and with praise and recognition coming from the likes of Radiohead and Pink Floyd they must be doing something right.
I don't know how many of you are into reggae music. I myself am a huge fan... regardless of this there is no doubt that Easy Star All Stars have approached an amazing concept. All of their records combine two opposing styles of music and the result is a soulful creation which emphasizes the authentic expression of reggae music which encourages people to look beyond the 'veneer' of established music styles and value what is inside. By this I mean to refer to the way the lyrics and thoughts behind the classic styles are meant to be valued for what they really mean, not what only how specific cultures intend them to be percieved.
Easy Star All Stars succeed in bringing an understanding of the importance of locality in the meaning of music. John Street in his article '(Dis)located? Rhetoric, Politics, Meaning and the Locality' understands the importance of the geographic origins of the music as fundamental to comprehending its message and underlying significations. It is not hard to find reference in any work of reggae music to its site of origin and its homeland. The world wide knowledge that reggae has originated from the Carribbean is significant in what brings the appeal to reggae music, incorporating its soulfulness and rhythmic sounds to the laidback attitudes and relaxed nature associated with Carribbean and Jamaican culture. The ability Easy Star All Stars has to defy place and bring reggae attributes into conjunction with alternative genres and produce polished vintage reggae demonstrates the artisitc ability of the performers, and also authenticates their music.
The juxtaposition of black and white, laid back and rock, past and present acts as a suitable theme to the Easy Star All Stars music. Street perfectly puts this realisation into words when he says, 'Place here signifies 'rootedness' as authenticity, as a kind of 'realism'. The realism expressed through this new mix of genres and music gives its listeners a form of explanation of the locality of reggae,not only where it has come from but where it can go and is going. The juxtaposition used here encourages listeners to bring aspects of the familiar reggae subculture into their everyday lives through the incorporation of recognizable popular tracks.
There is no doubt that the music created by this unique quartet inspires a form of escapism, as listeners can connect with thier innermost emotions generated through the expressive application of mixed genres. It enables the symbolisms associated with specific music types to resonate, generating a strong sense of community and belonging to those who appreciate it.
Check them out for yourselves at http://www.myspace.com/easystarallstars
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