Rocket Science

Tribal Tech | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tone Center
• ASIN: B000053VI6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,787 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Saturn 5

2. Astro Chimp

3. Song Holy Hall

4. Rocket Science

5. Sojlevska

6. Mini Me

7. Space Camel

8. Moonshine

9. Cap 'N' Kirk

10. The Econoline

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let's try a little thought experiment, May 28, 2004

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rocket Science (Audio CD)

Let's say you stumbled on this music kinda a-referentially. You know something about music. You've heard (of) Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Steve Howe, Jimmy Page. You've heard a little bit of prog rock. What would you think?

You'd be blown away, I'd say.

But what if you came at this music with a thorough knowledge of the above players, as well as owning all of King Crimson's Yes's, Hendrix's, Led Zeppelin's, and Bill Bruford's Earthworks records--and, here's the kicker--all of Tribal Tech's discs?

I think you'd be underwhelmed.

So which is the right response? Blown away or underwhelmed?

Neither.

In the Tribal Tech canon, this represents both an apex and a nadir, it seems to me. An apex, because it's some of their most complex, interactive, chops-heavy music on disc. A nadir, because it doesn't really seem to go anywhere very interesting or amount to much.

In short, I'd say it's the fusion version of those technically brilliant hard-bop/post-bop neo-traditional jazz sessions where the musicianship is beyond reproach, the vibe is generally electric, but the listening experience leaves much to be desired.

I thought Thick, their previous effort, was great.

But this strikes me as too much of a good thing, like eating three crèmes brules in a row: gustatorily magnificent, in a sense, but so far over the top as to instigate a palate revolt.

Still, worth at least four stars (maybe more) for even attempting something of this (albeit star-crossed) magnitude.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tribal Tech's best, May 9, 2005

By 

Milesfan! (Margate, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rocket Science (Audio CD)

This CD represents Tribal Tech's best , most consistent, most self-assured work. Also, sadly, it's probably their last. In the same mold as Thick, this record consists mostly of improvisations off of simple riffs. Thematically the songs are all over the map: techno, caribbean, blues, funk. The playing is superior, the overdubs limited, the mix terrific.

My love for Tribal Tech has been fraught with disappointments. It seems every album has a couple of masterpieces which rise above the boredom and cliches, which is probably to be expected with a band that only gets together to record and gig occasionally. Rocket Science, however, is quality from start to finish with only one down moment (Mini-me, a weak jam over a sample-and-hold riff from Kinsey). The rest wails.

And the highlight (other reviews notwithstanding) is the finale, Econoline, which is perhaps the funkiest 9 minutes of instrumental soul ever recorded by middle-age white boys.

New to TT? Start here.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music meets rocket science, May 22, 2008

By 

David C. Kraft "MR. FUSION" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rocket Science (Audio CD)

This is the best in this series, good techno sounds and heavy Jeff Beck inspired guitar work. Scott Henderson does everything well, he has his own style but pays a respectful omage' to Mr. Beck in many songs. His treatment of style can only be compared to Hendrixs' interpetation of dylans' All Along the Watchtower. Insted of hanging back the other band members carve out coice cuts for themselves showing their true professionalism. Jazz and rock fuse in this work leaving the listener with NO bad tracks to listen to.