Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, Clinton Fearon, Gladiators, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Toots and the Maytals, Black Uhuru, Don Carlos, Michael Rose, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Hugh Mundell, Johnny Clarke, Fela Kuti, etc.
Sounds Like
Conscious original roots reggae. Hints of 1970s roots mixed with plenty of new twists and dub jams.
"Rootsy and vibrant...a sound that stands on its own without identifiable influences in song, structure or style." - THE BEAT, Volume 24 NO. 6 2005
"Top-notch showcase of roots reggae... performing roots with touches of soul and occasionally a more up-tempo African twist (as on "The Awakening" and "Celebration"). Lead singer Andre White's vocals are evocative -- a folksy blend of Alpha Blondy and Winston Matthews of Wailing Souls fame."
http://www.reggae-reviews.com/
"Among the best American reggae currently out there, and that's saying a lot."
- World Music Central http://www.worldmusiccentral.org
JohnStone has been unleashing its conscious roots reggae vibes from its base in the DC area for the past seven years. With an arsenal of crucial roots-influenced original compositions, along with tasteful tributes to their reggae influences, the band is, as Reggae-Reviews.com put it, a "Top-Notch Showcase of Roots Reggae."
JohnStone takes a timeless approach to music, combining a powerful lyrical message with haunting Roots rhythms, occasionally peppered with bouncy and dubby jams. The players have a keen sense of each other’s style and are able to complement the works of one another. All members of the band are songwriters, but are most often led by the unstoppable lyrical deliveries of lead singer Andre White.
From World Music Central:
"The tracks are finely crafted, full of rich instrumental layering and vocal harmony gracing the reggae foundation... JohnStone are among the best American reggae currently out there, and that's saying a lot."
From The Beat:
JohnStone "offers a sound that stands on its own without identifiable influences in song, structure or style."
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