Customer Reviews

Town Called Earth (+ Poster)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

These guys will take you straight into the 70's before you can even smile, and believe me you will smile! Smile, dance, and shake ya booty. "Quantico,VA" is one of the best jams I've heard in a long time. Giving each instrument it's own time to swing out on a groove. This alblum is just plain worth owning! "Turnip's Big Move" is another good jam with a hip-hop beat to move 'dem feet, but with horns soooo jazzalicious...put it this way I'm a allstars fan for life now that I bought this alblum. Pick it up ASAP and let the Earth move beneath your feet!

Summer 1997's "A Town Called Earth" is a thoughtful, delightfully experimental follow-up to it's more funk-laced predecessor, 1994's "West Coast Boogaloo". The Allstars, a southern California band just beginning to break open the east coast jazz/funk club scene, consist of frontman saxist/flutist Karl Denson, virtuoso guitarist Elgin Park, bassist Chris Stillwell, drummer Zak Najor, and keyboardist Robert Walter. Having played together on various solo projects as well as two Allstars studio albums, the band has an intuitive grasp of each other's playing styles that makes "A Town Called Earth" their most fluid and well-developed effort yet. From the explosive "Toys 'R Us" to the the hip-hop "Quantico, Va." to the soothing "December's Bicycle", the album has a song for every mood. The Allstars also showcase their diverse talents on this album, varying from traditional rhythms and instruments to exotic sounds and beats. The album as a whole is a ground-breaking accomplishment, one that will leave both first-time listeners and old faithfuls thirsting for more.

Karl Denson, former bandmate of Lenny Kravitz, has put together a band that is under-recognized and full of talent. These guys truly are all-stars on A Town Called Earth. Happy Friends (track 3), simply said, kicks butt. Listeners of this song know how much soul Mr. Denson brings to the table. The band is versitile, as they can slow things down like they did on the beautiful song, December's Bicycle. I highly advise anyone who enjoys quality jazz/funk to purchase this album. You'll be happy you got on the bus before The Greyboys become mainstream.

I WAS TURNED ON TO THEM A YEAR AGO AND HAVE BEEN ADDICTED SINCE. IF YOU WANT A SOUL GROOVE TO MOVE YOUR BOOTY, THESE ARE YOUR BOYS! IF I COULD GIVE IT 10 STARS I WOULD. BUY THEIR STUFF! PEACE OUT.

What I love about this band is that they so easily make you want to get up and move whilst throwing down musically interesting improv. All the players are on board and headed in the same direction: funkytown.

The difference between this album and the classic West Coast Boogaloo lies in it's raw energy. West Coast Boogaloo is a brilliant expression of cool boogaloo - urgent but subdued; more precise, more accessible, and more deliberate. A Town Called Earth is at times a raw groove with more aggressive melodic styling and other times more moody. But it's all good - the whole thing. I love it. 'Happy Friends' is my favorite on this album and I would compare it to 'Fried Grease' on WCB.

This album is full of really well put-together grooves that you can't help but shake it to.

I've been a fan of the Greyboys for a long time, and this album didn't let me down at all! You can kick it with the funked-out goodness of Quantico VA. and Happy Friends, or relax to the soothing mellowness of The Many Moods of Eric Newson or Decembers Bicycle. This album has something for everyone! Traditional Soul based jazz at it's best.

Hey if you like Grant Green and Donald Byrd or Rueben Wilson or Jack Mcduff. Youll like this- its quite good very solid. The phrasing is lyrical and impressive.

Hey if you like Grant Green and Donald Byrd or Rueben Wilson or Jack Mcduff. Youll like this- its quite good very solid. The phrasing is lyrical and impressive.

These guys run out of ideas within a couple of songs. Everybody who loves to listen to the same concept / harmonies in all the songs will love this CD. Melodies never really go beyond simple pentatonics or blues scales. I know --- some people just like this stuff, I just don't.