Location:
USA, GA

Category:
Rock / Roots

Try if you like:
311, Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, Sublime With Rome, Tomorrows Bad Seeds

Every so often a high-energy breed of cross genres classification comes along and simplifies the purity of music.  Passafire proves their ability to be that band of 2011 with Start From Scratch.  “We always wanted to have a good balance of organic and synthesized sounds and we finally had the chance to make that happen this time,” recollects singer, Ted Bowne

Tracks like "Lorelie" have a fresh converging sound, mincing digital waves and old school vibe.  Reggae, Punk and a bit of Glam all peppered with a terrific hook. The following song "Train Wreck" has a more traditional acoustic sound, and underscores their careful song-writing abilities. The lead track "Hard To Believe" is very reminescent of pioneers 311, featuring an adjacent sound of Funk/Punk/Reggae.

Some tracks have a very unique blending or sound.  Off beat effects, organ breakdowns and a temporarily ferocios bridge make songs like "Winter Wren" a signature to stand by. Another track with a terrific tension is "La Fuenta".  By far, one of the best tracks here is the self-titled track nine, "Start From Scratch". Infused with a traditional Reggae production and instrumentation, the lead vocals are clear.  The lead vocals are a very sincere portion of this record, as singer Browne, doesn't go beyond his accent or range to sound more ethnically Reggae than he is. Then there are songs like the closer "Kiss My Head" that favor the distrorted punk flavoring.

Even on the weaker songs like "Shapes and Colors" or Epiphany, the Savannah, Georgia band find a way to keep things unique and rhythmic. Produced by Paul Leary (Butthole Surfers, Sublime, Meat Puppets) and recorded where (Sonic Ranch outside of El Paso, TX) Connor Oberst, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Sublime with Rome to name a few, Passafire was one of the most buzzed about bands at Warped Tour this year.  After seeing them live and hearing this new record, I now know why.