Lost in Transition

In this day and age everyone has a band, and it’s easy to get lost in the haircuts and the this-core” and the “post that” and the long band names that invoke bloody doom, so when a bunch of accomplished musicians get together and use their abilities to craft sun soaked Southern California reggae and laid-back ska, it’s like, “finally, a band that I can just drink beer and dance to.”

That band is ELLWOOD. Originally born out of lazy days that Chuck (the golden-voiced singer of the Mad Caddies) and Todd (Mad Caddies original drummer) spent jamming together for fun, ELLWOOD organically matured into a full-fledged band with the addition of friends Dustin (Cherry Poppin’ Daddies) on keys and Graham on bass. The result of this collaboration is Lost III Transition, a nine song album that could aptly be described as a soundtrack to the long, slow, carefree days of the California summer.

The synergy amongst the band members is palpable, as each track flows with a natural effortless harmony that is so seamless it almost goes undetected. Lost In Transition takes the most flavorful bits of the Mad Caddies often frenetic sound and hones them into a fluid brand of reggae that immediately entrances the listener.

It’s a refreshingly honest album with no agenda other than to be exactly what it is: the product of four friends/musicians riding a groove and imparting their unique perspective. If there’s a better formula for composing a smooth, kick-back, irresistibly catchy reggae/ska album, we don’t know what it is.