Customer Reviews

Color in Bloom

5 star:		(4)
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A friend introduced me to Percy Hill a few years ago, and since then I haven't been able to get enough of them. They burned me a copy of this album and it didn't leave my CD player for weeks. And addictive mix of feel good riffs and infectious melodies, in the setting of mature soul jazz. The members of Percy Hill are all accomplished and extremely talented musicians, making music that is simply irresitable. This album one the Jammy award in 2000 for Album of the Year, and surely deserved every bit of respect that was gathered. The album has a flow that is all to rare on studio albums by major label bands. Each song was went to be, and you'll find it difficult to pick out your favorite songs to listen to, because every song is a favorite. It's a beautiful mix of an album full of infectioulsly catchy and beautiful songs on their own, but that all fit into one big puzzle that becomes the album Color In Bloom. Truly a masterpiece from a band that has accomplished so much at a young age, and if we're lucky, will accomplish even more over the years.

I bought the album in 2000 after reading a few high praising reviews and I was more than impressed from the first listen. It's Steely Dan 'ish' with a jazz/rock feel lush with refined composition and a full spectrum of sounds....like the title suggests. It's the kind of music that will survive trends and is classic. Ammonium Maze is my favorite track but every song is good if not outstanding. I listened to it regularly and sometimes obsessively for a year and have put it on occasionally ever since. It flows extremely well from song to song and even though each song has it's own character there is a definite thematic quality to it. While most albums, especially these days, have good songs and others you skip over, this one makes you want to listen to the whole thing and almost feels like the whole is almost better than the individual songs.

What amazes me is that something this great and appreciated by the jam band community during its heydey is now going for 100 bucks new here. For anyone curious, this is by far their best work. I believe homegrownmusic.net has it for $13.

I have listened to a lot of music in my life - that's basically what I do. I first heard this album in an Econo Lodge in New Haven, CT surrounded by new friends and a bottle of whiskey. The joy in hearts when 313 came on is unique and will be with me forever - "Take my life if you are able, I don't want to be here when they come to take me in" sung with pop hooks and a jazz beat, brought tears to my eyes. The rest of the album is just as stunning. Sun Machine is a mastery of controlled power using rythm chords to a manifest pure joy and freedom. Even though this album won the Jammy album of the yeaar in 2000 it is still largely unheard and deserves more attention. The members of PH are pure muscians and people in touch with the rythm of the universe.