The Aggrolites

The Aggrolites (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2006)
• Original Release Date: May 9, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hellcat Records
• ASIN: B000F3AJ9Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,476 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Imagine a band of southern California twenty-somethings who play a brand of rocksteady reggae and ska that sounds like nothing less than Wilson Pickett throwing a house party backed by The Meters and The Maytals. This self-titled debut is that rare album that sounds like the real thing; all the grit and tube-warmed funkiness you'd expect from a Studio One recording from say, 1965. Veterans of the so-Cal ska punk scene, The Aggrolites appeal equally to punks raided on Rancid and The Clash and to reggae purists in love with the deep ska of vintage Trojan and Studio One. Nineteen tracks of sing-alongs and instrumentals that sound like instant classics.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fireball Music!, June 16, 2006

By	T. BAXTER (Eugene, OR, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am 55, white, and middle-class. I hardly know what Ska is, let alone "skinhead reggae." And when I first picked up this disk, I thought, "What do these WHITE BOYS think they're pretending to be?" But this stuff *EXPLODES* with pure energy. Brothers and sisters, if you can listen to this music and not move your body, you need to call 911, because you ain't breathin', Jackson!"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I want all you skinheads to get up on yo' feet, put your braces together and your boots on your feet..., May 22, 2006

By	Larry Gordon Jr. "Professor of Skatology" (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Absolutely scorching skinhead reggae from these So-Cal boys. This album tears it up from start to finish and will definitely get your ass shakin' and you body groovin'. Fans of early Upsetters and Jackie Mittoo will love the reggae stylings and even fans of Stax's brand of Memphis soul and R&B will appreciate the raw energy of this disc. The Aggrolites are definitely not ska or rocksteady, but it's easy to confuse the sounds. Most people are unaware of the whole connection between reggae and the early skinhead scene, so it's only natural that they be misinformed. Hopefully people will embrace this album and truly understand what the real skinhead scene is all about. This album ranks up there as an essential buy for any traditional skinhead and will proudly sit in my collection. Highly recommended, but if we could only get this release on vinyl along with The Aggro's first album "Dirty Reggae"

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is amazing but it is NOT ska!, May 20, 2006

By	Sherman - See all my reviews

Why does everyone continually refer to this as ska, or even rocksteady? The Aggrolites are an amazing band, but I think in order to truly appreciate them you should know a bit about the music they are trying to make. This music is called Skinhead Reggae, not Ska, and not Rocksteady. Skinhead reggae started up in the very late 60s, 1969 to be exact, and only lasted for a couple years, but those few years accounted for some great releases. Even the band name is skinhead! Aggro was a skinhead slang word from that era. Anyways, if you like this you will definately like the early Upsetters stuff and you should also check out Skinhead Moonstomp by Symarip (I think the Aggrolites even cover the title track live sometimes). Those recordings will give you a better understanding of where the Aggrolites are coming from. Anyways, whatever you want to call it one thing is for certain: it is just plain good.