Genre-inspecific REHAB sets out to ‘Graffiti the World’
On their new album “Graffiti the World,” REHAB musically creates the reality of lives filled with a difficult past and a positive future. The music makes sense, seeing as how this is a Georgian band that got their start after two of the band members met in rehab, became good friends and decided to start making music.
There are many possible musical genres that REHAB could easily wiggle into. Rock, hip hop and country are the main categories that come to mind; and after seeing that their main influences include Sublime, 311, Kid Rock and Outkast, the genre-bending, broad classification makes a lot more sense.
REHAB’s latest album has been getting air-play throughout much of the continental U.S., and can now be heard on radio stations in New York City and Los Angeles and many places in-between.
“Graffiti the World” is filled with positive, motivational lyrics that focus on the difficulties faced by those recovering from various addictions.
In general, music has an inexplicable way of talking to people. Sometimes through lyrics that seem to know us better than we know ourselves, at other times through melodies that caress or, at some times, beat ones emotions. REHAB seems to have a similar goal for their music. Their lyrics are full of emotion and experience, and their musical talent clearly comes through in many of the melodic measures making up a good portion of the CD.
Of the album, critic Donald Moore said, “some songs are a hit to my ears from the get go while others take a few hearings to understand them. Then they take hold, gripping your auditory senses, not willing to ever let go.”
Although Graffiti the World is somewhat enjoyable, it was nothing that really caused my head to bump, or my ears to tingle. Hence, I can only, justifiably, give this particular CD a three-knuckle sandwich rating. Although, I wouldn’t recommend the CD to others, I can’t not recommend it. It fits all the requirements of a very successful CD, but I don’t really care for the album. Even if a lot of people hate Picasso, that doesn’t detract from the fact that he was a master painter.
“Graffiti the World” can be purchased at Best Buy, or online from Apple iTunes and Tower Records. The band has also created a website (www.rehabcollege.com) specifically for the college market which offers a discount not found at iTunes, Tower Records or Best Buy. The website handles all formats (digital, CD, including iPod).
Josh Law is a music critic for the Utah Statesman. Comments and questions can be sent to him at joshlaw@cc.usu.edu.