Doin' Something

Soulive

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2001)
• Original Release Date: March 13, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000059QYA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,617 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #38 in	Music > Indie Music > R&B > Soul
  #38 in	Music > Jazz > Jazz Jam Bands
  #48 in	Music > Indie Music > Rock > Jambands

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Doin' Something, Soulive's Blue Note debut and second album overall, sees the organ-based groove-jazz trio creatively stretching beyond their heralded debut, Turn It Out. Where that session was a lean, live cooker that cemented the trio's appeal to the acid-jazz and jam-band crowd, Doin' Something reaps the rewards of time spent in the studio--there are overdubs and, more importantly, an ambitious, varied overall vision. Rather than just rattling off a dozen jams based on a single line, the tunes here are actual songs with memorable melodies that draw upon hip-hop, soul, funk, and pop to go along with the rump-shaking jazz grooves. Furthering the funk foundation, the trio--guitarist Eric Krasno and brothers Neal and Alan Evans on organ and drums, respectively, also brought in James Brown-veteran trombonist Fred Wesley to lead a four-piece brass section (and contribute horn arrangements) on a few tracks. This is the sound of a hot young band putting its best foot forward, and the great thing is, you won't be able to keep your foot from bouncing along. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Major Label Debut, April 6, 2001

By	J. E FELL "boogaloojef" (Carterville, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is Soulive's first release since joining the Blue Note label. I picked up a copy of their last cd "Turn It Out" and was impressed with that release. Soulive is trio featuring guitar, Hammond B-3 organ or piano and drums. Their music is a combination of jazz, funk and rock jamming. I am a huge fan of jazz/blues/funk organ combos and this band is one of the best new bands in this genre. My only problem is that the tight band is augmented by horn sections on some of the cuts. The horn section features Fred Wesley of James Brown/P-Funk fame. Sometimes the large number of horns tend to dilute the groove, if you will. So as a result my favorite cuts on this new disk are the trio cuts. My favorite cut is "Cannonball". Another interesting cut is "Romantic" which is the only track to feature vocals. However, the vocals work with this track and it is one of the best tracks on the disk. The guitarist Eric Krasno reminds me of Charlie Hunter another guitarist on the Blue Note label. In summary this disk is a good initial release for a major label debut. It may serve the band in the future to stick to trio recordings or to add one or two horns instead of a large horn section.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Horn Controversy, March 29, 2002

By	Ian Stewart (Milton, MA) - See all my reviews

As there seems to be a bit of controversy over the horn section I thought I'd break the tie. First of I play trumpet so there's nothing I like more than some fat brass licks and solos, however, most of the tracks with horn arangements seem a little out of place and choppy if you will. Also in comparison with their first album this one does have a smooth and slightly overproduced sound which seems to be taking them farther and father from their original vibe of "live preformance as the escence of music" (or somthin like that). Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad albumto put on and groove to, it just doesn't have that same raw, in-the-club, jam feel that turn it out did.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dope trio + Fred and the gang, June 27, 2001

By	Randall Gnatt (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews

Soulive puts the "ooooo" in groove with their first Blue Note release Doin Something, which is a collection of funky, hiphoppin jazzy jams cleanly compressed into well-produced 3-5 minute songs. I question anyone's judgement who criticizes Fred Wesley's horn arrangements on this album. Fred and the other horns launch the rump-shaking grooves to another stratosphere of funkiness. People, people... any funk band sound better with some brass. JB used to say "hapiness is hearing Fred Wesley play the trombone." Well, I say "hapiness is hearing Soulive break it down with Fred Wesley." Romantic, the one track with vocals hits as smooth as can be and is the perfect tune to throw on and kick back to with any fine female.