Dirty Heads - Sound of Change

Dirty Heads' Sound of Change catches the California band in transition, a 2014 album where sun-baked reggae rock meets bigger, brighter pop hooks.

Their fourth studio album moved away from the hip-hop-flavoured reggae of their earlier records toward a broader, more radio-ready sound, with Sublime with Rome frontman Rome Ramirez producing most of the tracks. The shift paid off, as the record debuted in the top ten of the Billboard 200 and topped the alternative albums chart, proof that the band's laid-back charm could travel well beyond the beach crowd.

The title track sets the tone up front, and My Sweet Summer, the lead single, is a breezy, windows-down singalong made for long days by the water. Burn Slow brings in Tech N9ne for a rapid-fire guest verse, while Franco Eyed teams the band with Cypress Hill's B-Real for a hazy, unhurried groove. Elsewhere, a guest spot from Jamaican dancehall outfit Ward 21 pulls the record back toward its reggae roots.

On vinyl, the record's warm basslines and easy rhythms feel right at home, with plenty of low end to fill a room. It is a fine soundtrack for long summer afternoons, backyard barbecues and slow drives along the coast, and a key entry in the band's catalogue.