On the
Fresh Grounds EP, the Californian -- formerly Hawaiian -- group
Iration travel further into jam band territory by upping the rock in their rock-reggae sound. Kickoff track “Can’t Wait” marks the change with a gritty, ska guitar opening that could be mistaken for
No Doubt. No “Spiderwebs” here, though, as the track soon incorporates that cool “Jawaiian” sound, slowly strolling its way toward the swaying love song “Work It Out” and the three more worthy cuts that seem equally inspired by
Dave Matthews and Bob Marley. The closing highlight “Summer Nights” comes from a bunch of guys who think winter means the low fifties, but this wistful track should satisfy any music fan who falls between
Sublime and
Kenny Chesney on the sunshine scale. ~ David Jeffries