Santa Barbara, CA’s Rebelution have had a pretty good January so far. The veteran band’s fourth and latest album, Peace of Mind, debuted at the #13 position on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart as well as at #1 on the reggae and independent album charts. In an interesting twist, Peace of Mind is available as a single disc as well as in a triple-disc set featuring a completely acoustic version of the album as well as a disc of dub remixes.
Two members of the band-bassist Marley D. Williams and drummer Wesley Finley-took a break from a national headlining tour to dish about their Desert Island Discs, a diverse array of music that goes from gangsta rap to Canadian indie rock.
Marley D Williams:
Bob Marley and The Wailers Legend
If I was stuck on a deserted island with a dope sound system, I would be just fine if I had these five albums.
Legend by Bob Marley and The Wailers is a must. This album is packed with his top hits and besides being island music, it is life music. His message and sound is universal and positive. I grew up on Bob Marley and my mom even named me after him. I owe so much to what he has done with his music and could listen to him anytime.
Dr. Dre Chronic 2001
Next up is Chronic 2001 by Dr. Dre. This album you can play the whole way through at a party and people can’t help but dance and put a few drinks back. Dr. Dre is my favorite producer of all time and his formula to separating the highs, mids and lows is uncanny. His beats and hooks are catchy yet still hard. It takes a lot of talent to do this and because of it, you are left bobbing your head every time.
Sublime Sublime
Sublime’s self-titled album is one of those albums that only comes out rarely. It is a complete mixture of so many genres. I would say it is the 7 iron of golf when it comes to music and you could arguably say that all 5 of the albums on my list are mixed into it. From the first track to the last track you are enjoying it’s diversity and originality. So many great memories while listening to this album.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Blood Sugar Sex Magik by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is one of the first albums that I listened to over and over again. I appreciate how funky it is while still incorporating rock. So many great songs on this album!
A Tribe Called Quest Midnight Marauders
Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest serves as my Hip Hop side of the bunch. This album is full of catchy punch lines and awesome old school horn samples. Q Tip and Phife Dawg bounce of each other greatly with their poetic rhymes and shine with their original voices and style.
Wesley Finley:
Dredg El Cielo
My favorite album of all time. An opus from beginning to end, the album is conceptually based on sleep paralysis and dreams. Surrealism is subsequently tied into the dream imagery, and a nod to Dali can be seen in the first track’s title – “Brushstroke: dcbtfoabaaposba”, which is an acronym for Dali’s famous painting “Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate One Second Before Awakening”. I always feel like I’ve gone on a long journey after listening to it, which is what conceptual albums are meant to express.
City and Colour Bring Me Your Love
A record that really tugs at my heartstrings. After leaving the great Canadian hardcore band Alexisonfire, Dallas Green went down a very different path by writing emotional acoustic songs as a solo artist. This album garnered the most success for him and reached a broad audience, whilst reminding people that being tattooed from head to toe does not inhibit you from writing incredible soft songs. This is my go-to when I need something mellow to unwind with.
OutKast Aquemini
Undeniably one of the best rap albums to be put out in my opinion. This was the last album Outkast did before they reached a larger commercial audience and it shows in the grittiness of both the production and lyrical content. Not only are there great beats, but there is beautiful live instrumentalism, most notably on the tracks SpottieOttieDopaliscious” and “Liberation”. This is the way rap should have remained – no glitz or gimmicks and downright poetic lyricism.
Radiohead OK Computer
I’m sure this is on many people’s lists, but for good reason. When it comes to alternative and experimental rock, it doesn’t get much more alternative or experimental than Radiohead. This was one of the first rock records that helped me to see outside the box, it’s sound so landscaping that it seems meant to be put to images. This album has really made people feel that it’s ok to be weird.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication
With Rick Rubin producing it’s hard to go wrong, and with John Frusciante returning to the group, Flea and Chad Smith holding it down as one of the greatest rhythm sections, and Anthony Kedis doing his thing, this album was all about the right forces coming together at the right time. As a Californian it’s easy for me to vibe with this record – Big Sur, where Flea resides and which served as a muse for this record, is a beautiful place that always reminds me of this album. It’s also featured as the backdrop to their music video for “Road Trippin”, which may very well be Flea’s house.
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