The reggae group sensation, The Green, brings their Hawaiian vibes and roots inspired music into all their songs on their sophomore album, Ways & Means. After their largely successful self titled debut album won them the iTunes Reggae Album of the Year 2010, The Green signed on with Easy Star Records to create their highly anticipated second album.

Now with a fan base and popularity in the reggae music community that has swelled, The Green’s Ways & Means shows off the strenghts of the four lead vocalists and progressively modern reggae sounds.

A major component of Ways & Means is not only their hits, “Love & Affection” and “She Was the Best”, but the fact that their maturity as song writers and musicians is easily heard. The progression the band has made since their first album is an undeniable reason as to why The Green has been constantly holding top spots on iTune’s Reggae Chart, as well as Billboard’s Reggae Chart.

The layers of instrumental music showcases their technical skills, and their natural song writing talents are easily seen in the album’s lyrics. The interchanging vocals throughout the album, sung by Caleb Keolanui, JP Kennedy, Ikaika Antone, and Zion Thompson, bring a distinctive flavor, as their beautiful melodic harmonies prove that they’ll be in the music scene for the long haul.

A handful of The Green’s songs were released in the summer on an EP, including the hits “Love & Affection”, “Got Me in Love”, “Travlah”, and “She Was the Best”. “Love & Affection” masterfully combines reggae beats while making it a bit more mainstream, attracting fans with the popularity of the song.

The upbeat tempo of the song makes it an easy one to dance to and the catchy lyrics tell a love story that many can relate to. One of the band’s signature components is their ability to infuse the cultural sounds of Hawaii into their songs. The laid back groove of “She Was the Best” brings on a relaxing feel and can easily take a listener to the beaches of Hawaii without ever leaving home.

“Travlah” is a perfect example that shows how the band has been able to push the envelope since their debut album, with a memorable keyboard sound and powerful lyrics about change and growth.

The Green collaborated on one song with Jacob Hemphill from the popular reggae band, SOJA. Entitled “Come In”, this slower paced song highlights the smoothness of Caleb Keolanui’s voice, combined with Hemphill’s distinctive sound. The harmonies heard in “Come In” proves exactly why one of The Green’s strengths is in their talented lead vocalists.

Hit tracks, such as “Gotta Be” and “Love is Strong” have gained much momentum in the reggae community. Radio stations in The Green’s home state of Hawaii have had songs from Ways & Means on heavy rotation as well. Ways & Means proves to their fans, as well as critics, that they are masters at creating songs using traditional reggae sounds, along with roots inspired music and distinctively Hawaiian nuances.

The members of The Green know how to write catchy songs about love, but more importantly, they know how to join their song writing skills with their musical talents to create simply great music. Toonari Post had a chance to sit down with Zion Thompson from The Green at their recent concert in New York City. Check out the interview here.

Ways & Means Track Listing:

1.Keep On
2.Decisions
3.Gotta Be
4.Travlah
5.Ways & Means
6.Jah Love
7.Got Me In Love
8.Love & Affection
9.Good Vibration
10.Love Is Strong
11.She Was The Best
12.Transparent People
13.Come In (Feat. Jacob Hemphill of SOJA)
14.That’s The Way

Image Courtesy: Tammy Moniz

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About the author

Sarah Dayan
I'm a Brooklyn native with a strong love for New York City, traveling, photography, writing, and music. I have my Bachelors degree in psychology and communication, and my Masters degree in school counseling. Through my writing, I want to share all my fun experiences in New York City.