The Spring has sprung, the weather is warming, and April is showering Reggae music! This month is the month fans can finally get their hands on several long awaited records, including a new John Brown’s Body album, and Snoop Lion’s Reincarnated
Featuring Punk, Ska, Rock, Roots, remixes, repackaged classics, and new tunes from some up-and-coming groups, be sure to check out these 10 albums dropping thought out April. If there are any albums we missed, drop them in the comments below or on our Facebook or Twitter.
Check out the Album Releases from prior months:
April 2013 Album Releases
Authority Zero – The Tipping Point
Release Date: April 2nd
Authority Zero just released their new album The Tipping Point on April 2nd via Hermosa Beach, CA indie label, Hardline Entertainment. Named after the Malcolm Gladwell book, The Tipping Point, the album was recorded with producer Cameron Webb (Pennywise, Social Distortion, Motorhead) at Maple Studios in Orange County, California. The Tipping Point pays tribute to their punk rock forefathers while expanding their musical boundaries into unconventional Reggae and Rock tinges beyond the typical Punk Rock aesthetics, creating a whirlwind Rock album!
You can purchase the album on iTunes by clicking HERE!
The Supervillians – -Volume 8
Release Date: April 9th
After releasing 1 song a week on iTunes, since February 5th, all 12 tracks of The Supervillains’ remix record, Volume 8, are now out digitally and physically available through their own Rah Rah Rah Records label. Wanting “this record to sound different than the same tired Reggae/Rock album that every band in the scene has been doing,” for their seventh album, the group composed a collection of creative covers and re-mixes, with some brand new material tossed in. Although, why they named their seventh album, Volume 8, is not real clear.
The track list features re-written versions of live staples from their set-list, such as “Resin” and the band’s popular cover of The Slickers’ classic “Johnny Too Bad,” as well as a slew of guest artists including Antonee First Class from the English Beat, well-respected FL rapper DP, saxophonist Jonathan ‘Smally’ Cestero, and the horn section from Orlando’s Control This!
You can pick up Volume 8 on iTunes by clicking HERE!
Major Lazer – Free The Universe
Release Date: April 15th
Following the release of 2009’s Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do, Major Lazer now, spearheaded by executive producer, Diplo, continues to spread electronic reggae infused sounds with the upcoming release Free The Universe.
Consisting of 17 tracks, the recording features an impressive line up of collaborators including Santigold, Bruno Mars, Tyga, Flux Pavillion, Wynter Gordon, Shaggy, Wyclef, Ezra Koening from Vampire Weekend, Dev and more. Also available will be a double LP on limited edition yellow and red vinyl with a gatefold Jacket that comes with a fold out poster.
John Brown’s Body – Kings and Queens
Release Date: April 16th
For the first time in five years, John Brown’s Body will release their 8th studio album, Kings And Queens, via Easy Star Records. This is the group’s first full length album since the 2008 release of the #1 iTunes Reggae selling album Amplify.
Kings And Queens is described by the group as a synthesis of every aspect of John Brown’s Body’s storied career. After close to two decades of existence, this pioneering band has finally crafted their ultimate statement, tying together styles they’ve dabbled in, paid respect to, created, or pushed forward into one tightly woven mosaic. JBB’s Future Roots is now present tense.
The album’s 12 tracks are rich with a full live sound & even balance of dark & upbeat songs. Of the 12 tracks, only four are under 5 minutes with one song “Deep Summer,” just over six minutes. Needless to say, the album has depth!
Check out The Pier’s Official Album Review & Star Rating of Kings And Queens, HERE!
You can purchase the new album on iTunes by clicking HERE!
Yellowman – Young Gifted & Yellow Anthology (CD/DVD)
Release Date: April 23rd
Young Gifted and Yellow, the re-mastered collection of the legendary Jamaican Dancehall artist Yellowman, will be available to fans April 23rd. Yellowman, the incomparable deejay whose unique take on Jamaican Dancehall, shined a light on the genre, uplifting it to international acclaim.
This deluxe package includes two CDs and a DVD. The CDs are packed full with 40 re-mastered tracks, which include rare tracks and the classic favorites. There are 18 tracks from Look How Mi Sexy and songs from the Greensleeves, Ras and Shanachie catalogs. The DVD features Yellowman in the height of his career, during a full concert performance, recorded in 1985.
Read more about Young Gifted and Yellow HERE!
Snoop Lion – Reincarnated
Release Date: April 23rd
Following a string of single release, and the March 15th premier of the documentary Reincarnated, this month Snoop Lion, through RCA Records, will release his Reggae album, Reincarnated. The highly anticipated album and musical companion to the VICE Films/Snoopadelic Films documentary was recorded in Jamaica and produced by Diplo and production team that includes Major Lazer.
Featuring a handful of special guest artists, Reincarnated is set for an April 23rd release in conjunction with VICE Music and Mad Decent and via Snoop’s production company, Berhane Sound System.
Read more about Reincarnated HERE!
Bob Marley – Kaya – Deluxe Edition
Release Date: April 23rd
This year we celebrate the 35th anniversary of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ ultra classic, 1978 release, “Kaya,” with the Island/Tuff Gong/Universal Music Enterprises release of “Kaya: 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition.”
This release features an expanded, two-CD collection including 24 tracks, all remastered to today’s highest audio standards, packaged with the original album’s artwork, as well as a 23-page booklet that includes lyrics, rare photos, plus extensive liner notes.
Also included, in addition to the original 10 song release, is the B-side “Smile Jamaica,” and a second disc featuring the group’s rare, unreleased live audio recording of the sold out performance “Live at Ahoy Hallen,” recorded in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 7, 1978..
As a bonus, a 35th Anniversary vinyl reissue of “Kaya” on audiophile 180Gram virgin vinyl is also available, which features the non-LP track, “Satisfy My Soul” B-side “Smile Jamaica” single for the first time on vinyl.
Streetlight Manifesto – The Hands That Thieve
Release Date: April 30th
After turbulent travels down production road, Streetlight Manifesto’s new album, The Hands That Thieve, will be out at the end of this month. With a title that may be a metaphor for the bands struggles with their contracted record label, The Hands That Thieve is the groups forthcoming fifth studio album, first of original material released since 2007’s Somewhere in the Between.
In addition to the new Streetlight Manifesto album, a companion acoustic version of the album will be released. Also titled The Hand That Thieves, the album features front man, Toh Kay along side a trio.
After the delay of the release, the band will compensate fans who pre-order the album on the groups WEBSITE, by giving out a live EP. Recorded on the Hands That Thieve Tour last fall, this the only professional live Streetlight Manifesto recording to date. This will only be available as an exclusive RISC Store gift, the band is strongly encouraging fans to purchase the record through either Streetlight Manifesto themselves, or through their own RISC Store.
Fiction 20 Down – Where’s The Levity
Release Date: April 30th
Rock/hip-hop band, Fiction 20 Down, has announced it’s second full-length album. The new album, titled, Where’s the Levity?, is scheduled to be released on April 30th. And the best news? The album will be available as a FREE download for fans on the Fiction 20 Down website.
In terms of the music, the theme is captured through lead guitarist Wes Anderson’s comment, “[The LP] is an eclectic, upbeat sound chock full of hooks…you listen once, these songs will be stuck in your head.”
Read more about Where’s The Levity HERE!
High Tide – Still Rising
Release Date: April 30th
High Tide of San Diego, CA has announced that they will be releasing their latest album Still Rising on April 30th. The 13-track album captures the up and down emotions of life and was written during a period of hardship both in and out of the band. The album was recorded at On A Roll Studios, Imperial Sound Hindsight Studios with producers E.N Young (of Tribal Seeds), Kenny Hill & Bob Rissolo.
Read more about Still Rising HERE!
Article By: Aaron Solomon
