Marshall Law Band
Bring It Back to
12th and Pine

Forged in the blaze of The CHOP, 12th & Pine is named after the intersection outside of the East Precinct, the epicenter of the protest. The album, produced alongside Sub Pop legend Jack Endino, gushes with the band’s personal pain and frustration yet flows melodically, administering the bitter truth of Seattle’s current state in sweet delivery. Lyrically, these songs are complex and cerebral with references to figures of Greek mythology and tenets of Jungian psychology. Musically, MLB deviates away from Funk and leans more into the Blues and its various subgenres. Hip Hop meets Big Band Swing In the movement anthem “BLM” in which frontman Marshall Hugh incorporates scatting along with his leisurely style of rap. Beyond the blues harp harmonica in “Mercy” and the soulful choir in “Don’t Wanna Die”, there’s also the surprising inclusion of Disco in “Louder (Black and Proud)”.

To say that this album is fun to listen to would undermine the sobriety of its themes and message. However, the drums, the guitars, the keys, the saxophone and bass lines make 12th & Pine an exhilarating auditory experience, each masterful lick extracting a tap of the foot and a smirk on the lips. Ultimately, Marshall Law Band took full advantage of this project to give a platform to the marginalized and a voice to the voiceless. With music this good, anyone would struggle to avert their ears from this plea for progress and change.