Customer Reviews

Money Shot

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

 

 

A rock-solid set of organ-driven, '70's-style instrumental funk easily reccommended to fans of MMW, Galactic, Headhunters, etc. IMHO, the 20th Congress are among the better practitioners of the increasingly popular neo-funk style. While nothing here could really be called original or groundbreaking, the disc features a nice variety of grooves, deftly avoiding the boredom-through-repition effect that all too often undermines groups within this genre when they attempt (and fail) to replicate the energy of their live sets within the confines of a recording studio. The 20th Congress displays a crack level of collective musicianship throughout(particularly Mr.Walter on the keys and drummer Stanton Moore, on loan from Galactic) and the disc is very well-produced. As an added value, this is an "enhanced" CD with additional audio and video tracks that can be played on a CD-ROM drive. I should also note that there is a bonus track hidden at the end of the album in the usual fashion -- it's a highly funkified cover of "You've Got Another Thing Comin'." (Yes, the Judas Priest song!)

I bought this on an Amazon recommendation while purchasing a little Galactic and Karl Denson. It took me a while to truly appreciate it, but now it won't leave the short rotation in my car. As with any of these jazzier jambands, I would recommend seeing them live to ge the real flavor. These honkies know funk.

It's not for everyone, but if you like that B-3, funk, 70's cop-show theme song sound, you'll like these guys. Stanton Moore, my new favorite drummer, does a great job on this album, but don't fret that he's not a permanent fixture. Whoever they have on drums these days is fantastic.

Give this one time. It'll gets better with age.

Robert Walter may have been born on the West Coast, but his style is from New Orleans. And how funky it is! All of these 11 tracks (even the hidden'12th one tha tcovers a heavy metal song) posess serious groove and bite - New Orleans style.

And while hitting that deep pocket, Walter and his cohorts do not forget to show off their musicianship. All too often, funk jams can get boring due to meandering and directionless solos, but that is not the case here. Of particular note is Walter's organ and Gustalem's alto sax for their ability to keep solos exciting and climactic.

And when I say this sounds like a New Orleans record, I am the oppositte of kidding. If one closes their eyes during the second track (originally played by Dr John and the Meters) one could easily be fooled into thinking that the Meters were playing this version as well, with Walter playing the part of Art Neville and Stanton Moore, the spitting immage of Joseph Modeliste.

Highlights for me were the aforementioned "Everybody waanna get rich) rite away," the slow, grinding "White Russ," the extended jam of "Instant Lawn," and the very experimental "Blues for Y2K."

Simply put, though, this CD grooves like nobody's business from front to back.

I love the Greyboy Allstars and follow the individual musicians as they have come into their own. Robert Walter is finding a niche, and it's a pretty nice one, but this disc isn't quite there yet. It doesn't have the drive of Soulive or the unbridled funk of Stanton Moore, I would recommend those before this disk. It's a little restrained to me.

RW and Stanton Moore put together some phat grooves in this album. If you don't mind some trite melodies once in a while, I recommend this CD. Peace :out