WITH pure album sales totalling 9,672 copies, American reggae band Stick Figure dethrones Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Legend from number one on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart with Wisdom.
This ends Legend’s remarkable 140-week run atop the chart.
Wisdom was released on September 9 via Ruffwood Records. The 14-song set, which was produced, recorded and mixed by Stick Figure’s lead vocalist Scott Woodruff, features collaborations with Barrington Levy, Bermudan singjay Collie Buddz, and fellow Californian band Slightly Stoopid.
This is Stick Figure’s fourth chart-topping album. The previous are 2012’s Burial Ground, 2015’s Set in Stone, and 2019’s World on Fire.
In a recent interview, Woodruff spoke about the concept behind Wisdom.
“It’s the continued evolution of the Stick Figure sound. I’m a producer first and foremost. I’m constantly being influenced lyrically by everything that’s happening in my life. I love experimenting with new sounds and styles and mixing techniques, constantly trying to push myself in the studio. I’ve always been influenced by dub masters and music from Jamaica but have recently been very influenced by some electronic music styles as well, particularly Kygo and Major Lazer, which you’ll hear some subtle influences from on this new record,” Woodruff explained.
Formed in 2006, Stick Figure’s line-up also includes Kevin Bong (KBong) on keyboards, Kevin Offitzer on drums, bassist Tommy Suliman, John Gray (Johnny Cosmic) on guitar, keyboards and backing vocals, and percussionist Will Phillips.
Wisdom hears the group maintaining a contemporary reggae vibe. Woodruff is optimistic melodic songs including Showdown (with Collie Buddz), Old Sunrise, Paradise, Soul of the World (with Barrington Levy), Falling Stars, and Edge of The Ocean can reinforce their dominance on the American reggae scene.
Stick Figure has been one of several bands from the United States West Coast that have dominated the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart for the past decade.
In April, SOJA out of Virginia became the first American act to win the Best Reggae Grammy Award for Beauty in The Silence.
