Never Stop the Jam-Pop
Gambia's colorfully named Roots Bongo Band brings reggae influences into the pop-rock sector with "Never Give It Up," a happy little root jam with drums, horns, keys, and the pretty melodics of their lead singer. The song is about perseverance, sung with heartfelt tenderness using nice (if somewhat predictable) lyrics. Banjul is a coastal city in the tiny West African country of Gambia, where the Gambia River meets the ocean. I can honestly say this is the first musical artist I've heard from that part of the world, and it's an absolute joy to do so.