The Green

For their third studio album, the Green come correct; the group rep their Hawaiian roots and heritage hard on Hawai'i '13, and have their evolving spin on island roots reggae down pat. Working with Danny Kalb (who's previously worked behind the scenes for artists like Beck, Ben Harper and Jack Johnson) adds a glossy vibe, and measured reverb, to the Green's maturing sound. Lead single "Take Me On" stands as the quintessential summer track: laid-back and breezy. The horn-heavy "Good One" goes boldface in borrowing a Marley-esque vibe, while standout "Chocolates and Roses" comes off like a lost Bruno Mars ditty and "Even Before" is a radio-friendly joint that's too laid-back for its own good. Hawai'i '13 is solid, but not stellar; the group's instrumentation and songwriting prowess are still improving with each new project. However, if "reggae by way of Hawaii" is viewed as a novelty, the Green's latest effort dispels such silly notions.