Rebel Emergency - Love Ain't Free [Album]

Self Released

Rebel Emergency first got me hooked through their live shows. All the energy and magnetism they emote when they are jammin on stage is always entertaining to observe. This new record is long overdue. I was impressed at the CD release party at the MOD club (capacity of about 600) as it was packed to the fullest. It was crazy!

Insanity at a record release is always good for the band. I haven’t seen the MOD club that rammed for an Indie band in a long time; people were everywhere, meaning this band is going places.

Commissioner Gordon is the only producer they worked with on this LP which was recorded between TDot and NYC, they have a chemistry so what ain’t broke don’t try to fix it. If you don’t know who Commissioner Gordon is let me break it down quick time for you, he is a Grammy award winning producer/engineer who has worked with The Fugees, Lauren Hill, Santana etc. I love the Fugees, to this day I still love their tunes and Laruen’s voice is truly one of a kind. They seriously need to make new music. Rebel Emergency is: Roddy Soul – Vocals, Geoff Star – Guitar, Yagga Bucci – Bass and Sir Jeremy on drums. For more info on Rebel Emergency read the interview and countless other articles that cover Rebel Emergency right here on Altsounds or hit the Rebel Emergency links at the end of this review.

Let’s get on with the tunes shall we? The first and title track 'Love Ain’t Free'; the artwork on the front cover is also on the disc itself. The image is of a woman’s lower torso with a barcode by her muff. Rebel Emergency’s vibe is Ska, Reggae, and Rock but really the sound could simply be described as Rebel Emergency! The tune is about a gold digging money slut, another song about how guys are so easily played by those types. The track is mid tempo but more of a chilled out mellow vibe; starting in with a little snare followed by the bass dropping into vocals. Why this band is still unsigned is beyond me. I like the song as a whole, everything just blends. The vocals are smooth and the timing with all the instruments is perfect. “She was a wicked girl... / the kind you'd search the world / to find and bring her back to start a happy home / I thought she was my lover but she’s just undercover / always sure to fuck me hard / then ask me for my credit card.” The lyrics are so funny to me because honestly if dudes fall for these broads it’s their own fault! I have seen it happen so many times and if you try to warn them, they think you are just hating on the person. “I do not hate, I opinionate” and if I don’t like something or someone you will know straight up. Jealousy is a wasted emotion and never has a positive outcome.

I would like to talk about every track but that’s just too much of a jibber, I have selected a few key tunes you must hear and of course the ones that just don’t float. 'Sunriser' and 'Searching For' are probably my favorite tracks on the record. ‘Sunriser’ has all the sounds of a hit tune, there is no need to go into any further details “Sundown...dark clouds... / may come...but don't frown / sunrise... is your time / every day brings second chances.” ‘Searching For’ is another amazing track, “Cause I can’t stand to wait for you no more / but I can’t love anybody else / I can’t stand to wait for you no more / so I won’t take you for granted.” In this song they incorporate backing vocals which they should have used a little more to round out the sound on a few other tracks.

I could hear a little repetition with a few of the melodies and vocal arrangements. For example, in the tunes 'So Long' and 'They Said,' once the vocals drop the melodies in both tracks sound similar, I had to go back and try to figure out if they were different tracks or one. Repeat or not I do like the tune 'So Long,' it starts in with vocals that are almost a'cappella with just a single piano chord played in intervals whilst Roddy sings the melody. This is followed by a little violin morphing into the guitar and then both strings play in unison. I can definitely hear this on mainstream radio; the ladies will love it, as will the dudes. A slice of the lyrics “Destiny tore us apart / please let this heal before it starts to bleed, / believe you left your mark / you left in me a broken heart”.

'Take Me' I love listening to, lyrically the tune is cleverly constructed, realistic and relatable “We were like the summer / now you bring the winter with your cold /and I hope that as you go and freeze me.../ you'll never fall in love / again, again, again." The melody sounds a little familiar to me but I can’t exactly pinpoint whose song it resonates but I do definitely have déjà vu. One track that didn’t keep my attention is 'Under The Sun.' The tune just did not click with my ears. As I listen to the song on repeat it’s kind of growing on me but still something makes me lose interest mid track. So I skip to the next track 'Sheriff' which features ex band member “Tony Panic.” This Rock Reggae track that starts in with Panic having his say with a vengeance “In the midst of the night you can hear a pindrop / they interrupt the peace / with loud screams and gunshot blasts / from this side across to the other side / where the enemies reside. This tune pushes Soul’s vocals to the limit; he throws it down with force and passion but needs to watch his enunciation. It is like the new school version of Bob Marley’s 'I Shot The Sheriff' but with a different appeal.

"Love Ain’t Free" is worth everyone’s time, go listen and hop on the band wagon! You can purchase the album on ITunes and CD Baby, Rebel Emergency knows how to bring it!