This band deserves a lot more recognition, and if you love reggae music, give The Green’s “Brand New Eyes” a listen! Definitely an album that I’ve listened a lot throughout the year and an album I highly recommend!
Click here to purchase The Green – Brand New Eyes on Amazon
BAND: The Green
ALBUM: Brand New Eyes
DURATION: 11 Songs (41 Minutes)
RELEASE DATE: November 5, 2021
1 Brand New Eyes 3:06
2 Feelings Featuring – Gyptian, J Boog 3:14
3 Young Man 3:38
4 Lost You 3:43
5 Coming Home 4:05
6 Stay True 3:10
7 Feeling Free Featuring – Alborosie 3:54
8 Dfrntly 4:14
9 Blue Skies Featuring – Keznamdi 3:05
10 Recipe 4:32
11 My Friend (Don’t Give Up) 3:38
One of my favorite island reggae groups is The Green from Oahu, Hawai’i and they returned with their sixth album “Brand New Eyes” at the end of November 2021.
The group consists of vocalist Caleb Keolanui, Ikaika Antone (keyboard/vocals), JP Kennedy (guitar/vocals), Zion Thompson (guitar/vocals), Brad “BW” Watanabe (bass) and Jordan Espinoza (drums).
And the new album gave the group a new perspective of life and a greater appreciation of “home” during the pandemic. As the band had not been able to perform live, they used the time to do some self-reflection and reconnect with their values, culture and most of all continuing their family bond.
And seeing life through this new perspective is evident from their title track “Brand New Eyes”. Love the bass groove and love the positive lyrics to the song:
Said the fruit with no roots fall easy from the treeWe’re feeling life with brand new eyesI said the fruit with no roots fall easy from the treeWe’re seeing life with brand new eyes
The second track “Feelings” features a collaboration with J Boog and Gyptian with a cool track that you can just sing and groove to. Especially with lyrics like this:
All I want is ya body girl
Movements you give out it shock di world
Love voodoo, you do
We rock, same groove
Ready, bamboo
Sweetest taboo
As with the title track, “Young Man” is an acoustic guitar-driven song that is self-reflective and the song is about being lost and hoping one finds their way.
I know it’s only one in a millionChances that we’re givenBut I know that one day, I will surely be foundLiving life on the bottleAnd a hand on the needlePlanting a seed will be harder for nowI said planting a seed will be harder for now
You see I’m on a missionBut I’m lost out in the openBut I know that one dayI will surely be found
The fourth track is “Lost You” and a song about love and hoping to not lose that person that you truly love. And not knowing what one would do if they lost that person.
The fifth track “Coming Home” is about the life of a musician and touring and leaving the children. I love this song for its deep lyrics but it definitely hits hard.
Daddy, why are you leaving?
And going away from home again?
See you on the phone for months and
Every night and every morning
Don’t go away
Stay here with me
Don’t go I miss you everyday
Cause baby our love’s not lost
When you missing me the most
Never gonna let you down
And before you know
I’ll be coming home
Oh I’ll be coming home
The sixth track titled “Stay True” is about one to not f-ck up one’s life. The lyrics of “Brother, don’t lose your cool now, I know when I’m pissed of too, but you and I must stick together. Don’t be no fool. Sister, think about your children”.
The seventh track “Feeling Free” features a collaboration with “Italian Reggae Ambassador”, Alborosie. Wonderful reggae collaboration! Love the lyrics:
Watch outYou done me wrong but I don’t mind it (I don’t mind it)You were the one and I was blind, yeah (yeah, I was blind)You got me singing lyrics with no rhymes, yeahBass up play loud but with no lines, yeahHow many rocks you broke up?Running di score ya fuck upFree on mi body and mi brainAnd still mi heart in a chainHow many more you killCrush dem up like a millCrush dem with your game
The eighth track is titled “DFRNTLY” and is about marijuana. And wanting to smoke weed, but the other person is not accepting of drugs and how one has different perspective and they have to different thoughts.
The tenth track is titled “Recipe” and it’s a song that a guy should play for their girlfriend and let her know that her recipe is perfectly fine. Love this song and love the lyrics!
Juice from the mango tree
Takes me back in history
To a time ever so sweet
You poured that shit all over me
I should’ve known from the start
Not to play inside your dark
‘Cause you cast on me a spell
And I’m lost in you like no one else
The final track on the album is “My Friend (Don’t Give Up)” and a song that people can listen to during tough times and the band trying to give some hope. A very cool song!
I have listened to this album so many times, on commute, while I’m working, it’s just an album that has lyrics that hits hard for me, being a busy guy who travels and also a guy with a family and it’s just another awesome album from The Green.
This band deserves a lot more recognition, and if you love reggae music, give The Green’s “Brand New Eyes” a listen! Definitely an album that I’ve listened a lot throughout the year and an album I highly recommend!
