By Fred Bloom
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Published: October 01, 2009

By Fred Bloom
Daily Titan Staff Writer

You may have never heard of Marc B., but chances are you have heard his songs if you have ever hung out around a beach. His debut album, The Yellow Jelly EP, was released in 2007 and is now getting attention worldwide.

His lead single and first track on the album, “The River,” was so popular it was featured in surfer Kelly Slater’s ninth World Title video and propelled his nomination for Best Surf Artist at the 2009 Orange County Music Awards.

The slow tempo track, “Mellow,” sounds much different – immediately changing the album’s tone from upbeat to relaxed. Despite the frequent changes of pace, the songs still flow nicely. Along with other calm tracks like “The Right Way,” “Mellow” allows Marc B. to display his soulful singing voice and ability to use the acoustic guitar.

Marc B. grew up listening to several types of music in Newport Beach. His music is an eclectic mix of genres, but Marc B. claims that the ocean is the biggest influence on his music. His album recreates and combines these influences, thus not allowing it to fit into one genre. The mix of surf rock, reggae and jazz provide laid back songs that are perfect to listen to on a trip to the beach or at a backyard barbecue.<–this is AP style apparently, I checked it out. -Brittny Ulate 9/30/09 12:25 PM

Although much of the album is simple lyrically, Marc B. taps into his reggae influence for the track, “Democracy,” in which he makes social and political statements.

He also effectively uses lyrics in the track “Comin’ Up,” which shows that he can tell a story with song. He shares his experiences and also encourages people to think about the often-changing local environment.

The album’s biggest weakness is the lack of songs. It contains eight tracks but one is a live version of a song already on the album. It leaves the listener wanting more.

The Yellow Jelly EP is a unique experience that any local would enjoy. Due to the variety of musical styles, the album has something for everyone but is difficult to categorize. Marc B. is more like a mix of several artists like Jack Johnson, Sublime and Bob Marley.

Marc B. frequently performs in Southern California. For more information on upcoming shows visit his Web site at www.marcbmusic.com.