Regular Columnists

Artist: Band: Big Mountain
CD Review: Genre: Reggae
Sounds Like: UB40
Technical Grade: 10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 8
Commercial Value: 8
Overall Talent Level: 9
Songwriting Skills: 8
Performance Skill: 9
Best Songs: Vibes Up Strong, New Day, Baby Stay, Tierra Indigena
Weakness: ?
CD Review: It's nice to see independent artists get airtime - even if they have to find it in Hawaii. That's where I first heard Big Mountain, who is from San Diego, California.

Their laid-back brand of modern reggae is as infectious as it is melodic. Lead vocalist Joaquin "Quino" McWhinney brings new meaning to the term "front man" with his outstanding vocal contributions that are the hallmark of this band. He performs each song with the passion, style, and precision of a veteran who knows how to make an average song good, and a good song much better. So when he gets a great song to perform, what's the end result? A classic. That's exactly what they have in their commercial masterpiece, "Vibes Up Strong," which is potent enough to catapult them to international success, and was also strong enough to compel me to drive to the nearerst record store and search for it within fifteen minutes of hearing it.

When's the last time a song affected you like that?

Their repertoire is replete with jubilant songs that reggae fans will love, and industry people will celebrate. Other stand-out tracks on this project include "New Day," "Baby Stay," and the Spanish flavored "Tierra Indigena." Both are served with the fervor and flavor that truly make it a new day for music lovers of modern reggae.

Advice: Keep doing what you are doing.

http://www.bigmountain-onelove.com/