This Day
The '70s-style roots reggae coming from this Boston ensemble is delivered with such unaffected charm and joyous spirit that it's impossible to resist. Sure, there's not much here to distinguish them from their Jamaican heroes, and innovation is far from their strongpoint. That said, the buoyant horn arrangements, delectable harmonies, steady rhythmic pulse, and appealing melodies are quite seductive. Leader Kevin Kinsella is somehow able to pull off a faux Jamaican lilt in his voice without sounding silly; on the contrary, it sounds surprisingly natural and soulful. Whether on heartening romps like "Poor Man's Prayer" or deep, bass-fueled instrumental grooves like "Inversion," John Brown's Body's reggae revivalism is so well executed and their style so uplifting that any bogus issues of authenticity fade away quickly. Or to put it another way, authenticity is as authenticity does.--Marc Greilsamer