Cas Haley
Connection (2010)
Easy Star Records
30 year old Cas Haley has made some risky business decisions in his short tenure as Texas' representative of modern reggae pop music. Garnering national fame on the TV show, “America's Got Talent”, he finished runner up and was subsequently offered a record deal with a major label. Instead Haley turned down the money in order to retain creative control over his music, and has done just that on his second album, Connection.
The album is a refreshing mixture of radio friendly pop beats driven by the acoustic guitar of Haley with catchy chorus' and reggae beats all around. His Bradley-esq Sublime vocals are a highlight on most songs, especially the second track, “Better”, which showcases the softer side of Haley's musical talent. With meaningful lyrics and tight guitar fills it manifests as a slow treat on a album full of accessible reggae.
“I'm Free” sways far from the reggae roots of Haley's signature style and comes across as a bluesy number with heavy organ playing in the background behind the swaying movement of the song. The title track “Connection” opening with a simple acoustic guitar riff drops into a typical reggae rhythm with uplifting lyrics and a soulful horn section gaping the verses. Shadowed with dub effects and reverb throughout.
Haley, on Connection has found that small and sacred space between pop and reggae where both meld together into a very easy listening and groove-able album. Don't look to this album to take you to a heavy jam-able space, but rather through that mellow mood that most island flavored music does. After his first self title release in 1998 and singing on “Wolfman's Brother”, on the reggae tribute album to Phish, Dub Like An Antelope, Haley has shown his growth and maturity.
Released on Easy Star Records, he is setting out this month on a tour with the Easy Star All Stars where he will be showcasing his notable talent as a American born reggae aficionado. All together Connection is a solid album that can be appreciated by many from it's mixture of guitar solos, horn fills, island rhythms and without a doubt his well written, self-produced and delivered vocals. Sometimes in the music business it's best to remain in control of your own creative process, and Cas Haley has shown this to be a prime example of one of just that.
By: Samuel Martin
By: Samuel Martin
Tour Dates:
Sep 26 Santa Barbara, CA SOhO Restaurant and Music Club
Sep 29 San Luis Obispo, CA Downtown Brewing Company
Sep 30 San Francisco Slim's
Oct 2 Santa Cruz, CA Catalyst Club
More Tour Dates In The UK To Follow
More Tour Dates In The UK To Follow
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