Cooking With Lasers

The Baldwin Brothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 9, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tvt
• ASIN: B000063UO6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,043 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NO, ITS NOT WHO YOU THINK IT IS, April 10, 2002

By 

Paul Lucie (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooking With Lasers (Audio CD)

Perhaps the most fearful aspect of the music industry if you are a musician in a band is the sophomore slump. The most difficult part, however, is establishing credibility as a band on your debut album. There is a plethora of ways to do that. Of course the quality of the musical content is the most vital part, but a catchy name that people (at least those of us who have seen "Beetlejuice") can associate with doesn't hurt either. The Baldwin Brothers " Cooking with Lasers" validates those points.

The quartet takes on an ambiguous role as songwriters. Although, the renaissance of electronic music in pop culture has been overwhelming in the past decade, few bands have been able to grasp the art of songwriting to complement their music. The Baldwin Brothers have done just that. By combining elements of house, funk, pop, chill-out and do I dare say jazz, The Baldwin Brothers have created an album that gets better track by track. Fortunately for The Baldwin Brothers, they have had the opportunity to be able to incorporate other musicians and instrumentations into their project and have taken the time to produce an album that caters not only to their needs, but most importantly the listeners needs.

Not only will "Cooking with Lasers" affect your chromosomes, it will have your feet tapping and head bobbing the whole way through.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAMBEBOPSHABOOMBAM!!!, July 18, 2003

By 

Darrell L. Lee "dlatrell" (Jackson, MS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cooking With Lasers (Audio CD)

That basically sums up this very impressive debut from The Baldwin Brothers (No, not those Baldwin Brothers...). Cookin' with Lasers is so funky that you'll have to air out your house, apartment, office or car after you play it--and I mean that literally! Reminiscent of acts such as Prince and the Revolution, George Clinton, Jamiroquai and 45 Dip, The Baldwin Brothers really deliver the dam to the river when it comes to acid jazz--that is, if you can even begin to put them in that category. Indeed, these very, very ecclectic and talented guys' unique style encompasses neo-swang (track 2 & 14), acid-rock (track 1 & 4), organic-gararge-funk (tracks 7 & 9), bossa-space-lounge (track 5 & 11), 80s retro-pop (track 8 & 12), and very cheesy popcorn-rap (tracks 3 & 10). The reviews on Cookin' with Lasers have been mixed, but all in all, it is a very daring and adventurous CD from a group of guys who obviously aren't afraid to mix various genres of music with an uncanny finesse that I have yet to see done with any of those other acid-lounge acts.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars That's right, June 4, 2002

By 

R. Treynor (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cooking With Lasers (Audio CD)

For those of you that know of nothing beyond "Moby" in the area of electronica/dance music - this is a great, non-intimidating album to try out.
The Baldwins are at their best with the instrumental groove - songs like "Funky Junkyard" and "That's Right" use amusing source material along with non-annoying beats and rhythms. You'll be sure to tap your toes along with 70's inspired tracks like "Lava Lamp" and "Viva Kneivel."
Their sense of humor shows up in their pop culture references - from samples of "Sanford & Son" to the Judy Bloom inspired title "Are you there Margaret? It's me God" - you get the sense that these guys are having a good time making their music.
Their downfall is in the more structured songs. While the guest vocalists do their best to add some gravitas to the compositions such as "Ether" or "Dream Girl" - it's still the area of creativity where the Baldwins aren't quite comfortable yet. I expect further growth in song development on their next album. These guys are ones to watch.