Doug Means Project

Doug Means has been dropping some great music since the late 90s, beginning with the highly influential Long Beach favorites Nobody Cares. Now on the solo tip, but supported by an amazing band, Doug Means is continuing to entertain with his unique blend of funk, rock and reggae.

While Nobody Cares was primarily a ska/reggae band, overall DMP 1.0 is more of a rock album with funk/hip hop influences. Either way Doug Means still knows how to bring the good times. This is demonstrated by such tracks like Don’t Worry Bout Nuna Dat, which is such a funky care free song it is guaranteed to spread the smiles and so will the fun driving rock of Hiding Out, with Anesha Rose on co-lead vocals and its catchy mid-song funk breakdown.

The album’s biggest attention grabber is the funky Guaranteed, its power is undeniable when it explodes into the heavy rock chorus and Doug shouts, “everything happens for a reason.” A similar song construction of funk transitioning to banging rock is utilized on Shark Tank with as equally effective results.

The artwork for DMP 1.0 displays a mix prehistoric and futuristic times. This ‘coming together’ approach of old and new is mirrored in the music, with Doug Means taking the positive vibes, soul and fun of his past work and combining it here with new rock and funk progressions. So just as the amazing cover art, it goes without saying plenty of thought and creativity has also gone into this release.

Reviewed by Pilipo

- thepier.org

The Doug Means Project/Rock/Hip Hop/Reggae
www.myspace.com/dougmeansproject
This out of the world band has an out of the world page! Visually I have seen nothing that can beat it, musically; they have a style that is so real, so street, So LA. They came from Long Beach, CA, Just a short drive to Los Angeles that they are true to where they are from. The tough streets of a city where the wealthy mingle with the poor, you can drive down one street and find mansions, a few blocks away The of this country has never seen, with music just as down and dirty, blending their infusion of Rock, Hip Hop and Reggae, in such a way, that your already saturated brain, has enough room, for their page, and only their page! After visiting this page which in look, may or may not have been inspired by the 101 freeway, which takes you from downtown LA, into Hollywood. Back in 1984 when LA had their chance to host the Olympics, they turned a small stretch of the 101 freeway into GRAFFITI ART. School children from some of the roughest schools in the area teamed with some great artist to show a cultural picture of Los Angeles so amazing that before the 1992 riots, that showed unity. It has faded a bit over time. Tossed around by racial tension that to this day, still simmers in the underbelly from the Valley’s to Orange County, The Doug Means Project, captures it physically and musically. Their music has a social message while delivering great entertainment. While all the songs are great, if you love infused music, listen to Don’t Worry Bout Nuna Dat, Toast, and Weird Ay. It will give you a great feel for the music, and the messages that have been tossed into Reggae from its birth. Even though they are a fusion of all musical arts, it is the Reggae themes and messages that totally prevail. Just open your mind and heart with peace and understanding.

- allaccessmagazine.com