Customer Reviews

One-Two Punch

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

 

 

After a four-year absence from the recording studio, Chicago-based ensemble LIQUID SOUL comes roaring back with their 5th CD release, ONE-TWO PUNCH. The man behind this band is saxophonist MARS WILLIAMS, whose lengthy resume includes the Psychedelic Furs and the Waitresses, as well as the Vandermark 5 and the Peter Brotzmann Chicago Tenet, among many others. Mars began
LIQUID SOUL in Chicago in 1994, and they've been active ever since, though there have been many personnel changes - except for Mars, no band members remain from the lineup that recorded the last release, EVOLUTION (2002).

The sound of ONE-TWO PUNCH evokes nothing less than the landmark early recordings of Public Enemy / The Bomb Squad - most of the tracks are dense and multilayered, with the hard-hitting rhythm section attack and funky / jazzy horn charts augmented by all sorts of DJ turntable stylings, occasional raps, tape loop effects, sound filters, found vocals, and additional percussion and keyboards. This approach has been used since the band's first release in 1996, and it's what makes them unique.

The immediate standout tracks on ONE-TWO PUNCH are "Kong", with appropriately monster-shredding guitar work from guest artist Vernon Reid (of Living Colour and Masque), and "Attaboy", a quasi-techno workout with irresistable trumpet / sax duels
and a party / dance floor feel. Repeated listenings bring out
great things in every track. This is great music for your listening / grooving / dancing pleasure!

Ok, I'm biased. I'm a trombone player. And the sometimes musicians have to move on to other things. I understand. I do, however, miss their trombone player a great deal, as he had a style and intensity unlike many others. Some tracks just scream for one of "showtime"'s raging, strident slide rides. It's a shame. The album, however, wicked. MMMUCH better than their last effort: "Evolution". No doubt many will give it 5 stars, yet, when it comes to MY OWN enjoyability of the album, I give it 4 due to large void throughout the album in which trombone should be giving bottom and cajones to the horns.

My personal opinion: Make Some Noise is still the benchmark disc for this band. Only Mars Williams remains from the earlier recordings and while he's good, this disc just doesn't cook the way Make Some Noise did. I'd give this one a pass.

"ONE-TWO PUNCH"

A clever title for the album of a band trying to make their come back. I fell in love with their earlier works. And now after five years of hibernating LIQUID SOUL is fighting their way back on the scene.

Great band to see live performing a new repotoire as well as mixing in some of the old songs.

I found this album as a great music to have playing in the background, but it also has potential to be the forefront music at the disco tech.

Sax solos, guitar solos, hip beats

Great buy!

If anyone complains about this album, it's because Mars set a standard for perfection in Make Some Noise. But reviewed alone, this album is just more of that same, boring, 5 star excellence. It must be hard being that good.

I listen to everything, and of all the bands I've seen live, I can promise that no one has ever left a Liquid Soul concert without a silly grin on their face. Young, old, white, black, rap, jazz, funk, rock, soul, big band, pop - whatever you're in to, open your mind and let the Liquid Soul flow.

A few melodic (boring) interludes keep this Cd from getting the 5 stars I gave the other Liquid Soul cds.