Bad Brains - Build A Nation (Megaforce)

Washington D.C.’s prodigal sons have returned with their first new album since 1993’s commercial failure Rise. Boasting a reformed lineup of all original members, one would expect nothing less than the one/two punch of speed and pummel they wrote the book on. While the overall sound and production remain strong as ever, the content and delivery are sure to confound even the most diehard brainiacs. Rastafarian dub and roots reggae have always been an essential spoke in the Bad Brains wheel, and it remains so more than ever on Build A Nation. Tracks like Jah Love, Roll On, and Peace Be Unto Thee are rich with vibrant Caribbean rhythm and melody; and the execution of these cuts flow as naturally as anything from the Roir cassette up to and including I Against I. The harder, faster tracks prove to be a bit of a discrepancy here, though. These songs feel forced and the Brains appear to simply be going through the motions to cater to an older, more reliable fan base. B.B. need to step up to the plate and play and write what comes most naturally to them. Otherwise, they’re forever going to be little more than a novelty act, known to old fans as “the little band that thought they could”.



- C. Kolakowski