Album Review: The Remedy By Keyser Soze

By Lindsey Jo Hand

Being a lover of reggae and ska, it’s hard not to enjoy The Remedy by Keyser Soze. Yes, that’s Keyser Soze the band, not to be confused with the maniacal Keyser Soze of The Usual Suspects. The album is energetic and everything you could want in a reggae/ska album. The songs are distinct and original, but stay true to the genres. What truly makes the album so interesting is that it’s not strictly reggae, ska, or soul. The Remedy imposes elements of each sound blending the best of ska, reggae, and soul. The band’s strong jazz background also comes through making The Remedy quite unique and incredibly enjoyable to listen to from start to finish. Also a real treat is Chris Williams on the trumpet whose sound is solid, smooth, and strong, especially on songs such as “Soul Ska” and “Happy Ending”. To put the cherry on top, the album features many guest artists including The Aggrolites‘ Roger Rivas and the incomparable Lauren Nagel, formerly of The Soul Captives.

(Photo credit: www.keysersozeband.com)

From Reno, Nevada, Keyser Soze was formed in 1998 by Jammal Tarkington and Rodney Teague, and their sound is evident of a band that has been writing and playing together for a considerable amount of time. The sextet has made a strong presence for themselves by regular regional touring and by being in the position to share the stage with some impressive headliners including Michael Franti, The English Beat, The Wailers, The Aggrolites, Steel Pulse, and The Skatalites.

The band completed its inaugural tour of Europe in May and June of 2013, where they established a strong presence and plan to return on an annual basis. In the meantime, singles and videos from The Remedy will be released and touring will continue throughout North America.
Members/Instruments:
Jammal Tarkington – lead & backing vocals, saxophones
Rodney Teague – lead & backing vocals, trombone
Chris Williams – trumpet
Ryan Hall – guitar, electronics
Mike Mayhall – bass
Jon Hall – drums