Maroon Town – High And Dry is a reggae album everyone can relate to. Everyone from the dirt poor to the middle class can relate to this album. So can the average person. The album has positive uplifting motivational songs such as Average Man and People. Maroon Town does not shy away from political consciousness, social awareness or activism as there songs on the album which include that include politically conscious Thatcher’s Children, the socially conscious song called People, and the peaceful ska track Prince of Peace. High And Dry is a third wave ska album which includes songs which range from politically conscious songs seeking change, positive motivational uplifting riddims, to party themes about having fun. Reggae from the United Kingdom can’t get any better than this. This album is the full length debut album from Maroon Town.
Average Man is a Maroon Town classic which incorporates and interpolates Johnny Clarke – None Shall Escape The Judgement and Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers – Egyptian Reggae in the riddim.
Average Man is a song those in the low class and middle class can relate to. The average person can relate to this song. We work 5 out of 7 days a week just about every single month. The average person does the best they can. They go to work everyday. They save up their pay for the future. Complicated circumstances often occur. Headaches and heartaches can make or break people.
A list of priorities you got to get right. That is what people must do and understand. Life is based on making decisions. You know the score and price to get the things you want out of life.
The politically conscious song Thatcher’s Children calls out the Conservative Party and UK Parliament for not doing enough to take of their citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Maroon Town calls out the UK Government all over the song for doing enough to protect their citizens as they should.
Maroon Town calls out the Conservative Party and UK Parliament for making the cost of living more expensive. It’s getting harder and harder to keep on earning money needed for survival. Citizens of the UK are undervalued and undermined by the government. The government lies to the people more every year. Who knows the reasons why? Our lifestyle is complicated by life.
Maroon Town calls out the government for lying to the people in these lyrics below. They explain how the government will blatantly lie to you in your face and stab you in the back during the process of lying to you.
Oh the government, some truth, more lies
Who knows the reasons why, the reasons why
Not for the people not for you and me
In this land of plenty there is nothing for free
I can’t believe what they will achieve
How can you believe when you don’t receive
It’s a fact, yes a fact, a matter of fact
They look you in the face you know
They stab you in the back
Pound to the Dollar discusses the issues of greed and how there is not enough money to go around for everyone in the world. Rocksteady and dub meet the sounds of ska reggae on Pound to the Dollar.
From the Pound to the Dollar there is lots of money in the world but not enough to go around for everyone. This is due to greed. Many countries are in a lot of debt. A lot of greed goes on even in third world countries where a lot people are in a lot of need. Who will win this human race?
Lyrics to the first part of the song sum up the subject in a nutshell an amicable manner.
From the Pound to the Dollar
From the Dollar to the Pound
Lots of money in the world
Not enough to go around
The song People explores the lack of empathy and sympathy humans have today. People do not care for one another as they should. People are not thoughtful.
The first part of this song explores how people today lack empathy. Read these lyrics here: “What’s happening in the world today/People do not care/When you ask them they only say/That they do not care” We got to live together and work together to overcome empathy. Maroon Town wants us to do just that.
The song takes a stance against army recruitment. These lyrics are anti-war and have an anti-draft sentiment which are acerbic and get to the point. “She don’t want him back in a wooden case/She don’t want no medal, just to see his face/If he come back now, she would never again/Let him put his trust in the recruiting machine”
A woman awaits her man from the war. She forgets what he’s fighting for. She start to regret the way people cheered them when they left. All this woman wants is to just see his face. She don’t want him back in a wooden case. She don’t want no medal. If he come back now, she would never again let him put his trust in the recruiting machine.
Traveling Light is a song about being carefree and letting go of all your troubles. The song is also about traveling fast like light. All of the lyrics are self-explanatory.
Got no bag or baggage to hold me down
I’m traveling so fast my feet ain’t touching the ground
Traveling light I’m traveling light
Soon I’m going to see the love look in your eyes
I’m hooting to holler away from paradise
Traveling Light, I’m traveling light
Got no bag or baggage to slow me down
I’m traveling so fast my feet ain’t touching the ground
Traveling light I’m traveling light
Soon I’m going to see the love look in your eyes
I’m hooting to holler away from paradise
Traveling Light, I’m traveling light
Prince of Peace is a song about a prince named Peace who is on a mission to spread peace across the world. The song has an amiable vibe.
The Prince of Peace comes from the East. The Prince of Peace is walking around under cover. Nobody knows so nobody tells anyone about the Prince of Peace. He’s on a mission to find peace with no opposition. That is the ultimate ambition for him. Dedication is his will.
He wears the crown. Born a prince to become a king. The quest of peace is for what he searches for. Although life is not glistening, you get out what you are putting in. He’s got the brains, he’s got the will and skill. Love and peace are his mission to fulfill. We are still not learning to correct our mistakes from. The Prince of Peace is the only chance. Come make a change with the Prince of Peace.
There’s a voice in the air and it’s blowing from the East. It’s The Prince of Peace. Come take a stand with the Prince of Peace. Everybody must be free.
Man in the Street has a vibe of uncertainty and foreboding. The song is about a man who a crook that has been standing around on the street all day. The song definitely has a sinister vibe, feeling, and tone.
There’s a man in the street looking like a freak. Who is he going to meet? This man has been standing there all day long. What the hell that man is planning? What exactly is going on? So many questions that need so many answers. It makes you wonder. All day long he’s been standing alone. Who is he going to meet?
Take a glance. Those burning eyes wouldn’t surprise anyone if he were a crook. Leather gloves are on his hands. Is he a murdering man?
Somebody is approaching and you know he’s seen them coming. He puts his hand into his pocket and pulls out some money. A quick exchange for a packet of sorts.
Nostalgia is an alto saxophone driven reggae ska song with a rhythm. The song is about those good times of the past people once had. You see we’re speaking of Nostalgia.
Whatever happened to the 60s when the world was hip? You boogied down to the Stones and the Beatles. You used to lay in the park and relax. Perhaps light up a joint and listen to Rhythm & Blues. That’s nostalgia. Do you remember when you used to go bopping? You would sit back down to watch Batman and Robin. All those silly crazy things that you thought you were doing.
Trendy people flashing their loot, materialistic possessions, and flashy clothing. Chelsea boots, mohawks, and mohair suits. Getting down to the funky sound of the one and only James Brown. Mods and Rockers having fights. Out of their heads on Brighton Beach. Zooming around on your Vespa bike. Talk about the Go Go beat. Twist and shout. Stomp your feet. Crazy colours, kaleidoscope blue.
I rate this album 5/5*****!!
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