Passafire – Start From Scratch

If you’ve ever been at a loss for something to throw on while hosting a widely attended backyard BBQ, Passafire has your back.  The Savannah, GA quartet has been touting their lavish combination of roots rock, reggae, and ska since 2003, and have just released what they rightfully proclaim as their “best album to date.”  While I’m not terribly familiar with Passafire’s back catalogue, I find it hard to imagine anything out there topping the multifaceted mellow masterpiece that is Start From Scratch.

At their core, Passafire presents your classic mix of bass heavy grooves married to the head bobbing melody of rock steady trendsetters like Westbound Train or The Slackers.  Ted Browne’s voice is a sure fire match, taking on both a commanding presence and relaxed tone.  Their newest member, Mike DeGuzman, brings with him a humming organ that subtly grounds their performance in sun soaked rays and lawn chair dub step.  When their reggae upstroke takes off (circa “The Dimming Sky,” title track) they combine some trippy matching synth notes, organically blending together for a slow, lazy affect that goes down easy like front porch beverages on a lazy summer Sunday.

The album’s highlights feature Passafire’s flair for packaging a singular vision along with a host of unlikely instrumental companions.  “Hard To Believe” stands as a personal favourite – particularly thanks to the rich addition of banjo and harmonica harmonies.  Uplifting, thought provoking lyrical goodies serve as the cherry on top as the song unfolds with a light hearted account of planet Earth’s various residencies through the ages.  In a conversational tone, Browne ignites the phrase “This apartment we’ve been renting from the universe has seen its tenants come and go,” as he outlines the delicate nature of life on our planet.

Generally the album’s second half leans more heavily on Passafire’s alternative and experimental side than the front loaded reggae startup.  Fewer upstrokes and more distortion and electronic tingles pop up during “Winter Wren” and “Rubber bands.”  The biggest departure lies with “Trainwreck,” which employs far more acoustic and alternative styled guitars.  But while they serve as a fine diversion, these songs don’t hold a candle to their sunny day counterparts, so I would never recommend the former over the latter.  Likewise, “La Fuenta” is a catchy toe tapper to be sure, but wouldn’t be enough to sustain an album on its own.

Taken as a whole though, Start From Scratch is a remarkably consistent achievement.  In the same way that legacy act Sublime crafted a sound distinctly their own, Passafire’s vision never falters.  Even reaching into the dreamy realm of electro-psych makes for a wholly absorbing experience.  Start From Scratch is the epitome of accessible pick-up-and-play reggae-rock, so don’t hesitate to throw this one on repeat during your next big summer party.