Customer Reviews

Hustle (Dig)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ah, it's good to see G. Love back in top form. After the extreme suckage of "The Electric Mile" I was seriously concerned that it was all over. Happily, however, I am able forgive G. Love for that little misstep after hearing "The Hustle." Here he gets the mix of feel-good soulful blues, rap, and funk just right, with Special Sauce's trademark jazzy arrangements sounding as loose as ever. Excellent effort, guys; keep up the good work! I'll stop complaining about the Electric Mile if you keep putting out albums like this one. Deal?

i was dragged to a concert back in the early 90's in a small bar in DC, and this guy gets up and starts wailing on his harmonica. there must have been less than 100 of us in this place, and he hooked all of us from his first note. i've been a g-love believer ever since (and admitting a minor slip with "electric mile", but he had enough behind him to overlook it), and this album does not stray. we played it through the first time and can honestly say that i didn't want it to end. the production is top-rate, and every song on this album shows why he has such staying power. he refuses to slide into the mainstream while staying true to his unique sound and style, and this album can count as one of his best.

For those of you already acquainted with G Love and Special Sauce I say this: this album fits in with his previous work. Lyrically and stylistically the songs are closest to Philadelphonic - and he even closes with a solo acoustic blues song very similar to "Gimme some Lov'n." For those who are G Love fans and enjoy his past work, this record will not disappoint.

Now to address those of you who aren't familiar with this music. My argument in favor of G Love's music is this. G Love has come along and somehow managed to incorporate elements of so many styles: rock and roll, funk, blues, jazz, folk, and - hip-hop. His records are hard to classify, but so what. When he rips into a harmonica solo (as he does often on this record) you feel you could be listening to Howling Wolf. The first track (astronaut) sounds a bit like Lenny Kravitz. But beware: the second tune is more hip-hop infused. I would say the music is a perfect hybrid for our modern times.

G Love and Special sauce are three people. G-love plays the electric guitar, acoustic guitar, slide-guitar, and harmonica. There is a jazz bassist who adds heavily to the band's sound, adding to the rhythm and often pushing the melody as well. The drummer has a busy sound, one that often sets the backdrop for G Love's raps. On this record there are plenty of other musicians to fill out the texture, from backup singers to pianos. My only G Love complaint on this record is his lyrics - they are limited to hooking up with some chick, being stoned, or talk abstractly about "love." I know it's his name and all, but he would be better served expanding his lyrics occasionally to say something different or more important.

I own 6 of G Love's albums. This one was the first I bought and it remains my favourite. I was one of many who discovered G Love through Jack Johnson. The first time I heard 'the Hustle', I couldn't stand the first 5 of 6 tracks. It was the more acoustic second half of the cd that enticed me. 'Front Porch Lounger' and 'Sunshine' were played over and over again on my cd player.

However, it wasn't long before the more upbeat tracks grew on me and it became one of those rare albums that I could play right the way through. G Love has a really unique sloppy blues/rap sound - incredibly relaxing, great to listen to any time of the day. Definitely recommended.

Favourite Tracks:
Don't Drop It
Front Porch Lounger
Ain't That Right
Loving Me

I should admit that I listen to a plethora of different music, and pretty much get sick of hearing the same songs on the radio repeatedly. Having bought this album because one of my friends, (who has had repeatedly had great taste in music) was upset we missed G. Love at Bumbershoot in Seattle one year, I was pleasantly surprised initially. On the first roll through I enjoyed the complexity, and after that I was hooked. My husband heard it the first time upon borrowing my car and asked who it was. Later that week I found "Hustle" missing from my car, and it just happened to turn up in his. I would recommend this CD to anyone looking for a little something different. And although I was not a G.Love-addict prior to this album, I will be anxiously awaiting his next!!

The Hustle is album worth buying. All the songs are solid. The Astronaut is a cool song. Love uis a real happy fun song. Booty Call is a funny song song with a good groove. Give it to you with Jack Johnson it has a nice reagee beat. Back of the bus and fishing song are awesome. Most of the other songs are mostly acoustic and good for smokin a J n sippin a cold brew and enjoying the good tunes.

FUNKY, Funny, folksy, from Philly...what more could i ask for? Oh yeah, Bluesy! Sounds like me. Ok,so I'm old enough to be Garret's mother.I found the 1994 G.Love and SS CD for $1. at a Flea Mkt recently. I was hooked and went out and bought the rest (retail). Hustle is my fav so far. He incorporates so many different sounds and does it so well. I rock every morning to work w/G. or Jack J (where I first heard of G.) and it's heaven when they're together.

I have been a fan of G. Love and Special Sauce for several years. While his other albums are great, "The Hustle" has somehow topped all of them. It offers a well rounded listening experience, frequently changing pace throughout the album.

The band hits on all it's strengths in "The Hustle". The strong guitar riff in Astronaut is reminiscent of Cold Beverages, while Back of the Bus is the second coming of Rodeo Clowns.

While other albums such as "Coast to Coast Motel" have a distinctly different sound, "The Hustle" is a compilation of all the band's experimentations. This album exemplifies the versatility that makes G. Love and Special Sauce great.

I had G's debut CD the day it was released and have purchased each of his subsequent CD's over the years. I have also seen him perform both solo and with the Sauce probably 25 times. Therefore I will review this record from that perspective.

To this day I still believe the first GLASS album is the strongest from start to finish. The Hustle is very good, and probably the next best effort in terms of consistency and strong songwriting. While I feel that all of G's music is good, each of his albums suffer from one or two (or three) weak songs that don't really seem to fit. Philadelphonic and It's That Easy definitely suffer from this, with Electric Mile perhaps being the biggest culprit. On the Hustle, I think the only song that stands out as weak would be "Booty Call", and I say that because the live version is just so much better than the studio take. Other than that flaw, G dishes out his typical dose of blues-induced hip-hoppin' grooves. It's a steady stream of songs about love, music, partying, and childhood misadventure. The songs are as tight as ever, and not very "jammy" (a good thing). The production is very good (I believe Mario C is at the helm on most tracks) however I tend to like the under-produced quality of his first two CD's, which sound like the band just went into a room together and played the songs in one take. I definitely think that unnecessary production does not help this band, and I think it really hurt Electric Mile.

This CD will more than satisfy current GLASS fans, and fans of his older stuff may be pleasantly surprised of how good the Hustle is in comparison. At the same time, newbies should like these very accessible songs.

On a side note, does anyone know why this CD is credited to G-Love rather than G-Love and Special Sauce? Could it have been a business/song writing royalty decision?

Another great album from G. Although I felt the production and overall feelgood vibe that G Love personifies slipped a little on Electric Mile ( although still some great tunes on that album), this one feels back on track with a few gems in there. I have been a fan for a while now and have to say this one is fast becoming my favourite. It still has that raw feel about it ( like their self titled album)but the production is up there with Philadelphonic. A great effort by a great band doing their own thing in their own style. I love my blues and hate rap, but G Love just gets it right. Some wicked basslines in there too. Well worth the purchase!