Fresh Grounds - EP

Album Review

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.