Reggae Icon, Bunny Rugs of Third World releases his 5th solo album, It’s TIME
Reggae Icon, Bunny Rugs wants to make great Time for his fans. Time, the new solo album from the lead singer of international pop reggae band Third World is a Time for listening fun and reflection.
Bursting at the seams with talent, Rugs’ 15-track album will in no Time at all be a sound track to affairs of the heart as well as soldiers of conscious reggae worldwide. Here, Bunny’s seductive soulful reggae melodies provide an anchor to jazzy vocal experimentation and cool bass, drum, sax and piano riffs.
Time practically stands still as one after another of Jamaica’s most respected musical minds–Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie), Dean Fraser, Mikie Bennett, Dean Pond and Richard Bell (Star Trail), to name a few–contribute creative direction for Bunny Rugs’ artistic talents. Don’t waste any more Time, the album will be in stores September 11 on Rugs’ label imprint, Raw Edge Productions, and distributed exclusively by VPAL, a subsidiary of VP Records, the #1 international source for the best reggae music.
Those familiar with the Third World band (“96 Degrees In The Shade”, “Reggae Ambassador”) will undoubtedly recognize the inspirational vocal style that Rugs helped to translate into a signature international pop sound. Songs on Bunny’s solo album including “Don’t Give It Up”, “Never Gonna Give Up” and all boast that quintessential roots rock reggae sound. Shining bright is the adult contemporary “Heaven Sent – Dat Feeling”, the soft reggae rock heard in the message music on “Bed Of Roses” and the easy pop listening evoked by “What Kind Of Man”. Bunny’s compelling plea for “Solutions” was recorded in the popular gospel tradition with Nyabinghi drumming, emotive background vocals and a delicate soulful guitar solo allowing Bunny to make it his own.
Bunny Rugs is a firm believer that, “A man who has no respect for Time has no respect for himself”. Indeed, Time stands on its own with the first single, “Land We Love” , Bunny’s tribute to his homeland in its 50th year of independence, setting the tone of unity and love in song and video. As Bunny says, “I am an extension of Third World and Third World is an extension of me.” In short, Bunny Rugs puts his soul on the line for the listener. Check “It’s Time”, “Just Deny”, “We’ve Got The Formula” and “Settling Down”, plaintive love songs sure to hit a nerve among soul aficionados from Motown to Montego Bay. And of course, reggae cyan done.
“Reggae is the root,” says Bunny. “This Time, it comes from my heart and soul.” It’s the kind of reggae music where chunky guitar lines and a walking bass embrace a crisp percussion section. Bunny Rugs embraces the social commentary side of reggae on “Kurfew” and an unshakeable commitment to one love (at a time that is) on the Sly & Robbie produced “Love Is Blind” or “You’re My Everything” both of which stay true to the original one-drop style. With “Thinking About You” Bunny demonstrates a willingness to break the mold on verses sung in a unique toasting style.
For “TIME” Rugs has employed the same illustrious musical standards that has earned Third World numerous hits and countless awards over the past 39 years. Rugs’ top notch cast of producers and songwriters includes mixing board maestro, Rohan Dwyer, the aforementioned Mikie Bennett, Jamaica’s premiere drum and bass duo Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, saxophonist Dean Fraser, as well as, Augustus “Gussie” Clarke, Dean Pond of Rymshot, Delroy Pottinger, Sheldon “Young Veterans” Pennicott, Anthony “506” Blair, Elise Kelly of Irie FM and Richard “Bello” Bell, who co-wrote with Rugs the lyrics of seven of the album’s fifteen tracks.
Bunny Rugs is lead singer for one of the longest running reggae bands of all Time, Third World, which is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The group was formed in 1973 and has released a total of 23 plus albums and Rugs himself has released 4 solo albums. Bunny Rugs has been nominated 10 times for the prestigious Grammy Awards as a member of Third World. Collectively, Third World has received numerous awards, including most recently “New York City Ambassador Award” in November 2009 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the 1986 “United Nations Peace Medal”, and “Jamaica Music Industry Awards for Best Show Band” in 1992 and 1996 respectively. Rugs, along with his band mates Cat Coore and Richard Daley, are the spokespersons for the Jamaica Children’s Heart Fund / Chain of Hope, a cause they holds close and dear to their own heart.
Music fans waiting for that infectious pop and rock reggae vibe can take solace in the fact that Time is on their side. Featuring real instrumentation, top line production value and timeless performances by Jamaica’s musical legends, Bunny Rugs’ new album, Time, is set to stand the test of Time. In the ever changing world, Bunny Rugs proves that some things in “TIME” remain constant; Love conquers all and he remains the true Golden Voice of Reggae Music.
Time is available September 11 on digital and CD formats via VPal, a subsideary of VP Records.
“All we have is…..TIME”, Bunny Rugs.
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