Illinois Entertainer October 2014 | Seite 63

Continued from page 57 Roots, rock and reggae permeate Amity Tribe’s debut Small Roots From Sacred Trees, which abounds with slide guitars, easygoing harmonies and a narrative songwriting style. The musicianship is top notch throughout all ten tunes, though sometimes the vibe is so laid back it’s hard to stay interested. Nonetheless, the punchier “Stop Josephine,” “Signs Of Life” and “Deep In Jamaica” are definitely worth discovering. (www.amitytribe.com) – Andy Argyrakis Playful suburbanites Ponds & Fleshman clearly aren't afraid to have fun on their debut. From the comical pink cover, featuring a girl wearing a gorilla mask, to carefree pop tunes with names like "Midwest Party" and "Here Comes The Ponds Summer," all six cuts on the trio's Better Days EP deliver sprightly, lighthearted moments. Give the disc a spin and, as the title promises, better days (as well as huge smiles) are sure to be had. (www.pondsandfleshman.com) -- Jeff Berkwits It’s hard to take Lafayette, Indiana-based five-piece ac ЁQ