Bela Fleck & The Flecktones...an amazing array of just about everything you can put into a band while keeping it edgy, listenable, and exciting for the listener. This album in particular I picked up a few months back, and it's barely left my player since. I just can't get over the musicianship and technical work put into each song with such detail. If you enjoy Bela Fleck or even just heard a few songs and want to hear more go grab this album quick, it gives you a great introduction to the band.
--Sinister Minister-- Starts the album simple and funky enough with the work of the over-talented Victor Wooten on bass. Which is quickly joined by Bela Fleck on banjo and the ever elusive 'drumitar' worked by Future man. Which will set you in the groove of the song, and then enters an amazingly simple yet ever so catchy harmonica line that quickly becomes the basis of the song. Throughout the song each player shows real style and class and really builds this song up into an amazing opener for the album.
--Stomping Grounds (live)-- Again started by Victor, this song i fell for straight away. Such a catchy happy tune with the addition of the mandolin and soprano sax, this song really takes you places with such force and melody. It's hard to walk away from this song without a smile. Again the whole band has the chance to really show what they can do technically with a 'call-response' battle between each instrument, it's really amazing to listen to, just makes me wish I could've been there to watch it.
--Flight of The Cosmic Hippo-- Takes things a bit slower and a little more, as the title suggests, cosmic. We're treated with a slow sliding fretless bass, chilled banjo, and relaxed drums. A great song for a glass of red. The addition of this song really breaks up what we've already heard and what we're about to hear, still a great track to listen to.
--Shocktime-- Perfect name for the song as you just get into the gentle groove of the previous track, your shocked back into coherence and begin to remember what your listening to. I found this song a little hard to listen to at first as it plays 100 miles an hour and it can at times sound like a bit of a muddle of an assortment of instruments and sound effects, that somehow seem to line up perfectly. However after a few listens I started tapping my foot a grew to like it somewhat.
--Sex In A Pan-- Very cathcy, funky, groovy song and will have you humming after about a minute. With the bass and harmonica taking on most of the lead work, they do spectacularly well at keeping this song interesting for the listener.
--The Yee-Haw Factor-- Definitely one of my favourite songs on the album. This song starts with a harmonica sounding almost like a train, then slowly accompanied by the banjo, then enters the drums and bass, and like a train the song slowly builds up speed. Once it gets under way, it takes off onto such an addictive ride of music. Bela Fleck really shows his bluegrass skills in this song and helps the driving of the track.
--Road House Blues-- Another one of my favourites on the album. Very bluegrass sounding starts with slide banjo and then enters Victor along with the drumitar and harmonica. This song has a great beat to it and will really have you bopping, whistling and humming.
--Vix 9-- This song reminds me a bit of the 'Shocktime' track, it took me a couple of listens then I got it and started to like it. It has much the same 'cramming everything we can into one bar' as shocktime jam-packed full of syncopation and off-beat playing but still not a bad track.
--Communication-- This is the only song I feel the need to skip on the album. But that may not be the case for everyone. It's the only non-instrumental song on the album, vocals by Dave Matthews. For me it sounded like a completely different band and I really don't think this song belongs on the album, but hey, thats just my view.
--Big Country-- An absolutely amazing rendition of a (traditional?) apologies if it's not, I looked everywhere and couldn't find who wrote it. Either way this is undoubtedly the best version I've heard of it yet. Every time I listen to it I can't help but get visions in my head of living on a cattle ranch! Not an easy thing to do in instrumentals. Also includes a great, yet short bass solo. Take your time to listen to this song, truly amazing.
--Sunset Road-- A great closer to the album another more chilled back track which begins with a reverberated banjo and the song slowly moves along and eventually introduces some new lines and a great groove to the song adjusted by the bass and drumitar.
I can't stress enough how important this album is to any CD collection. Such a great pick of songs, and being almost completely instrumental makes it a great CD to throw on when you have a few friends around for some quiet drinks (or whatever!) also a great driving CD as it still has a very constant beat. Hope ya'll enjoy as much as I did!
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Good
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Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Good
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