illScarlett

illScarlett's 1Up is a lazy return to the catchy reggae elements that first made waves back in 2006. There are a grand total of three songs that truly sparkle on this record: catchy, upbeat single "Take It For Granted," the smooth, chill "Can't Sleep" and the slightly more ska-infused (and sometimes Chris Carrabba-sounding) "Freezing." Despite steel drums, keys and even a cameo from Kardinall Offishall in "Milkshakes and Razorblades," 1Up doesn't possess the genuine qualities needed to make this album believable or inspiring. It exudes a great deal of pretentiousness that ruins any element of talent the band possess, inevitably working against them. The self-titled track is absolutely terrible, as the band brag about getting high and fat in California when they should have been putting more effort into writing better songs. The production is slick, thanks to Grammy Award winner Robert Carranza, but it sounds like illScarlett were too busy scoping out west coast bud to make a record they actually cared about. I hope they're not expecting this to go gold like All Day With It, because this album lacks the passion and ambition illScarlett once had.