Customer Reviews

Mushroom Jazz 5

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this, and listened to it on a long bus ride back home late at night. Usually on such a long bus ride I would just fall asleep, but after putting this on I had to stay awake to listen to it in it's entirety! This is simply one of Mark Farina's best offerings. I'm a huge fan of all the other Mushroom Jazz albums, but this one puts the rest to shame!

This album ise a bit more uptempo than the past Mushroom Jazz albums, and the fact that there seems to be new life breathed into the series is refreshing. You should go buy this album!!

DJ Mark Farina, without doubt synonymous with "quality", has put out yet another astounding release. The sound on this one is not as hardcore as on IV, not as cloying as on III, not quite as hip as on II and not entirely so silky smooth as on the original. It's absolutely beautiful to hear 10 years of evolution passed off as just another release. Farina's quiet thunderstorm had better not be overlooked, though. This release packs a trendy and substantial punch.
My first major complain is that no track really enjoys enough time to develop. I guess that is a problem on a release 70 minutes and 21 tracks long. At best that's 3 minutes per track, nearly a radio vibe passed off as a deep setting. The moods also change drastically, from chill vibes to pensive anticipation of the next song while in repetitive limbo. However, these minor, although nagging, setbacks don't even for a second detract from the mind-blowing content of the disc.
The opening by J Boogie is infectious and sets the nocturnal tone for the rest of the disc. Charlie Tate's Colossus alias does him no justice in the slightly lackluster "The Tribute." Soundproviders' beautiful "Autumn Evening Breeze" thankfully saves the mix from becoming transfixed on entirely simplistic rhythms. With a quick introduction to Chali 2na, the track transitions into DJ Numark's "Chali 2na Comin Thru". Great rhymes, great beat, but however not really fitting on this disc after heard a few times. Red Astaire's "Come Down" is a good chillout track, really nothing much else. Zion I's "Flow" instrumental is great at finally shedding rowdiness and replacing it with a flowing aesthetic. DJ Spinna's "Nostalgia" possesses his signature sound and comes off strong just like all his other work, a muscular, perplexed track. The next track, Farina's own "Cali Spaces" is not only undeniably unforgettable, it also holds its own against the other great artists on the disc (Farina's entirely original project, Air Farina, lacked tremendously in places). Blu Bizness's "Funky For You", reminiscent of Deadbeats' Funky For You (whose work strangely was absent from this release, unless they're under a different alias) holds its own and is catchy. We Bee Foolish's "Puttin in Work" is not too great. DJ Dez's "Hollywood" is also not the best track on the CD, it packs no punch and appears like a party favor more than anything else. Jazz Liberatorz' track comes in saving the disc and setting it up for a few moments of bliss. For one of the shortest cuts in the mix, The Strange Fruit Project's "Maintain" easily wins me over any other track on the disc. It's almost a throwback to the old chill-out days, though rudely interrupted with the upbeat "Back in 92". Shortie No Mass's track is surprisingly good, sandwiched inbetween stellar male MCs. The Earl really confused me with his all-over-the-place track, not quite focused anywhere, but rather standard Mushroom Jazz fare. Johnny Alpha's track is great, although by this time in the mix, fashionably late. Starving Artists Crew's song is alright, even if only a minute long and layered inbetween other samples. Pete Rock's track is strange and unfitting for this kind of mix, but then again, it is Pete Rock. The great Thes One really pulls the mix out of its drag with "The Yacht Club", a super track with quick, clever rhymes. The worldwide collaboration Foreign Exchange finishes off with the mellow "Nic's Groove."
Overall, a great disc, with some dull tracks, some entirely blinding tracks, unmatched mixing, and moods only Mark Farina can evoke. At a sturdy 21 tracks, it packs more music in than most CDs and it feels like a solid, thought-out, although sometimes just a tad abstract project. 5/5.

This album has it all... from hip hop beats and rap to soulful jazz and his usual blend of unmatched mixing abilities. If you are a fan of Farina, do not hesitate and get this album NOW! You won't be dissapointed.

My girlfriend introduced me to Mushroom Jazz a couple of years ago when she was still courting me. We woke up one morning and she put on this cd that I thought was dope, so I had to go and get it. Mushroom Jazz is great to wake up in the morning to. I really enjoy MJ #4 and MJ#5 picks up right where it left off. Great jazz riffs mix with nice East Coast hip hop beats. This is a nice escape from the commercial hip hop of "HWhat!?" and "Yeah!" that crowds the radio waves. Get this cd. Cook some dinner for your man or lady. Then play it through your system while you wine and dine. Or save it for that morning sunrise and get a feel for a beautiful day. My favorite track, #3 Autumn Evening Breeze".

I'm ashamed to admit that I discovered Mark Farina a few years ago by happenstance while browsing, and bought vol. 4. and subsequently purchased vol. 3. Love em'! Vol. 5 - oh my goodness I didn't think it could get any better. It did! I purchased this earlier today and after several times through I'm still tryin' to dissect it. It can't be done - Farina's got a gift. The way he blends, locates rhythms, and takes risks is still unprecedented. Two of my very early favorites are 9 & 15 (the beat on 15 is ridiculous) and quite frankly everything else makes you feel good as well. For those who ushered in hip-hop in the 80's - us 40 somethings - and still thirst for beats with an inordinate amount of sophistication, this is it. 5+!

This is a good downtempo album that gently fuses hip-hop with acid jazz. If you are a fan to the series, I'd have to say Mushroom Jazz, Vol. 5 is one of the better ones.

21 tracks that are nicely mixed, but I was a little disappointed how the set loses its steam (even for a downtempo set) in the second half. There is major lull from tracks 14 to 17 due to track layout causing monotony.

Highlight track on the album for me is "Chali 2na Comin' Thru" by DJ Numark.

4/5 stars

First of all, let me tell you that before buying this CD, I was sure that I would be disappointed, cause it was nearly impossible to make better than MJ 2, 3, or 4.

I'm a big fan of the serie, which is in my opinion the best downtempo mixes EVER!

But Mushroom Jazz does not smell like the other MJ...
In fact, I would give 3,5/5 stars for this mix. (5/5 for all the other MJ, except the first). I would give 4 stars for the tracklist. Farina still have very good tastes, and tracks like "Autumn Evening Breeze", "Hollywood", or "This Love Thing" are really sweet. Why not 5 stars? Because I think there are a few tracks whose atmosphere / ambiance don't fit with Mushroom Jazz. "Tribute" for example, or "Down" by Red Astaire. These tracks fit better with old school / dirty / funky mixes. A bit too much of rap tracks as well in my opinion.

But the real problem comes from the mixing. Mark, where is your wizardry?! The mixing technique is just ok... Where are your sweet sound / voice collage through the mix? Inexisting. Overmore, the mix is not a story-telling anymore, the tracks don't flow together. It begins with a sweet & jazzy thing, just next the raw track of Colossus with it's heavy percussion, next again a sweet piano track, and a dirty ambiance next with DJ Numark... well we are far from the perfect structure of it's predecessor (MJ4)with only one rap track (superb track with talented rappers People Under The Stairs) in the beginning, and a female RnB voice in the middle (like in Mushroom Jazz 2), then only instrumentals.
Too much rap or singing is killing the particular dreamy ambiance of Mushroom Jazz unfortunately...

Well, it was the point of view of an elitist fan (lol). I think it's the worst of the serie... It's not the classy/innocent/ urban sound anymore, but more like a common jazzy/funky mix with no particular ambiance.

I think that fans who don't have bought it yet will be disappointed.
But for those who like quality HipHop sounds, it's a very good mix by the way...

But if you are new to mushroom jazz and you want to discover something different, you absolutely must buy Mushroom Jazz 2, and then Mushroom Jazz 4, which are one of my all time best musical experience.

Overall an excellent compilation of jazz, down tempo beats, and underground hip-hop, though I would have to say that Vol. 4 is still my favorite. My favorite track has got to be #3...wonderful beats with multiple layers. #4 with Chali 2Na reminds me of classic J5 mixed just right over a soulful beat though it doesn't really flow with the rest of the album. I've collected a lot of compilations over the years and I can say that the Mushroom Jazz series is definitely the first one I reach for. Farina is incredibly gifted as an artist, like the conductor of an electronic Pops orchestra seamlessly mixing tempos. Highly recommended.

Just wanted to add my two cents to reassure everyone out there that this is an amazing mix! If you know Farina, then you know what I'm talking about. If you don't, just go ahead and place your order. You won't be disappointed!

Mark Farina was an innovator of sorts; he started implementing jazz into his sets early on. By now the mushroom jazz formula has gotten a bit tired. Besides, where is the jazz? The opening track "Afros In Ya" promises greatness with sax bending in and out of the song, while the slow but funky beat creates a nice acid jazz ambience. From there it goes downhill.The disc has more hip-hop flavor than anything else. Maybe he should have called this one, Mushroom Hip-Hop. Don't get me wrong, I like most of the tracks because they have good beatz, but seriously, this is basically a take off on acid jazz."Autumm Evening Breeze" seems to feature the hip-hop vocals of the Ozomatli singer Zen Dog. Each song flows seemlesssly into the next for one funky groove. The emphasis is more on funk, it is like house music mixed with acid jazz. With songs entitled "Funky For You" you get the idea. Strange Fruit Project's "Maintain" is a nice instrumental that can fit into the electro-jazz label as it leads into a similar song entitled "Back in '92." This isn't my favorite in the Mushroom jazz seies but it is still pretty good. This is recommended for those that believe in one nation under a funky groove.