Owane – Yeah Whatever

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

jammy prog rock with nu-jazz chops

Moods

guitar wanking

Thoughts

Progs not really my thing. I admire the technical prowess on display ( this album is impressively precise) but it lacks heart and songwriting. It veers heavily into wanky jammy stuff, making music for the sake of making music; not sure what purpose it serves.

There are moments and talent but I think you can find a better album to turn on.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Owane-Yeah-Whatever/release/11900528

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNjiQt1GbH8

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Owane – Yeah Whatever

Description: Album Review of Owane – Yeah Whatever


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Kids These Days – Traphouse Rock

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Rap with a rock band

Moods

The energy of a live show with the polish of the studio

Thoughts

I really like some of these productions, distinct in their use of instrumentation. The album didn't really resonate with me. Almost felt like canned aggression, too polished as a studio album.  

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kids-These-Days-Traphouse-Rock/release/4536212

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Kids These Days – Traphouse Rock

Description: Album Review of Kids These Days – Traphouse Rock


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Eddie Henderson – Heritage

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Jazz rock fusion

Moods

Jamming: as if the head hunters were playing under miles direction during his electric period.

Thoughts

Great fusion. Starts out groove focused and adds dark space as the album goes on. The later tracks remind me an awful lot of miles fusion, not a lot of other records are able to capture that sound.  

Patrice rushen is on keys, awesome! I always appreciated her solo work but I've gained a new respect here. She wrote one of the better tracks Kudu. I like the tight rhythm work too, Dr. mganga is a prime example of this.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Eddie-Henderson-Heritage/release/823311

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaStlmO_AbQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb3yT74C1cE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psxzgnUiWT4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJzwXA0N6fk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6JPtqhR770

Spotify


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Eddie Henderson – Heritage

Description: Album Review of Eddie Henderson – Heritage


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Ronnie Foster – Two-Headed Freap

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

tight keys driven funky soul jazz rock

Moods

Groover

Thoughts

Real good keys playing, dude lays it down. Like the rest of the atmosphere though wish he would breakup the super tight and quick keys playing into something chiller at times (kind of happens on let's stay together but it's a little to direct, I appreciate his loose-r approach when it feels like he's just letting the scales fly).

Overall this works with the rest of the band laying down groovy soulful tight jams. Feels like a record that would translate well to fans of modern jam bands.

On repeat listens I really only like the first half as the similar and quite busy playing started to get fatiguing.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Ronnie-Foster-Two-Headed-Freap/release/7659623

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul08TkjnuEo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKWHH5j-iOc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWp6ngco92c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhhpMvmCTtw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Y9MDo5Tc0

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Ronnie Foster – Two-Headed Freap

Description: Album Review of Ronnie Foster – Two-Headed Freap


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Miles Davis – A Tribute To Jack Johnson

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

Rock and Jazz fusion

Moods

Groovin – the perfect miles record for rock fans

Thoughts

Perhaps the most 'rock’ record in the miles discography. Purists might disagree but I think this is an exemplar of rock and jazz fusion due to it's heavy rock lean and accessibility. The mixing is weird: no single tracks but rather two lengthy sides where thing's fade into the other, often forcing unfinished ideas to come together abruptly; almost like an impatient DJ. Anyhow the music:

Side 1 is the better example of the miles 'rock’ thing with a driving bass line and angular guitars propelling things forward. It’s an extended classic  70s rock jam with a groove.

Side 2 is where thing's get a bit more chilled out and experimental. The music wanders and isn't as focused. Still.. things are being worked out and it's fantastic music by any means. A highlight is the moment ‘in a silent way’ breaks through. Glorious!

I consider miles electric period one of the pinnacles of music and this is one of the best intros, especially for non-jazz fans.

Essential music.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Miles-Davis-A-Tribute-To-Jack-Johnson/release/1941575

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8TdZFVj6tA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoH6kFbuYRQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfLvNwxnj6g

Spotify


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Miles Davis – A Tribute To Jack Johnson

Description: Album Review of Miles Davis – A Tribute To Jack Johnson


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?
Guitar driven classic rock

Moods
Collins Basement

Thoughts

The songwriting reminds me of prog rock due to a series of time changes and chops but at its core this is ‘classic rock’ through and through.

Songs are structured around Beck’s guitar playing and feature some great keys solos and impeccable drumming and bass. Beck’s style is fantastic: technical and precise while still maintaining a groove.

While later tracks like ‘scatterbrain’ kick things into full-on rock, I really like the easy-going, latin-tinged ‘she’s a women’.

Solid record.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Beck-Blow-By-Blow/release/1929704

Listen!

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwUq8ZE3d7c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcGlc45uHOo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_9C5MUJVHQ


Spotify

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Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow

Description: Album Review of Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Kneebody – Anti-Hero

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?
Rhythmic modern jazz with rock chops

Thoughts
This record is a very successful marriage of jazz and rock, listening notes:

* Like the drum player a lot here, uses the full range of his kit. Keys too, layers well.
* ‘Uprising’ is a good track, the 2nd half I could see extending into a tension building jam live.
* ‘Drum battle’ takes that and builds it into something a bit heavier.
* The sax player has great solos on drum battle and profar. Good use of distortion but otherwise the playing isn’t quite soulful enough.
* Album has a good flow. Almost has a classical like sway to it. Notes are long and melodic. I’d say this is where the ‘cool’ could be upped with this band..

More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Kneebody-Anti-Hero/release/10046749

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Kneebody – Anti-Hero

Description: Album Review of Kneebody – Anti-Hero


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Yasuaki Shimizu – Kakashi

⭐⭐⭐⭐

What’s it sound like?
Difficult to describe, I guess I’d call this experimental new wave jazz; compositionally close to modern classical.

Thoughts
It’s best to approach this with an open mind as it’s not really like anything else I’ve heard before. The album incorporates a number electro, pop, marimba, world, and dub moments and combines them into an engaging and exciting listen. I can see this album aging well as it rewards repeat listens with its layers and subtleties, even on my first few listens I found myself finding new things.

To me this is what the avant garde should be: exploring new ideas through familiar approaches.

More Info:

https://www.discogs.com/Yasuaki-Shimizu-Kakashi/release/11179432

Listen!

Spotify:

Youtube: