Customer Reviews

The Third Power

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

 

 

First of all, check out the members of this band:Bootsy Collins, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Shaba Ranks, Herbie Hancock, Bernie Worrel,Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, and Pee wee Ellis. Yet this album had very little promotion and so it is sadly relatively "unknown". Big Shame....To me, the two great tracks from this album are:COSMIC SLOP (cover of the Parliament song)MELLOW MOOD (reggae love song)The use of strings on both tracks is incredible, giving this album a very sophisticated feel that is lacking in alot of reggae.I heard an elevator was removed from its shaft, and a drum kit was put in its place, fitting microphones at the top of the shaft to get some special percussion type sound for the album!!!Anyhow, producer Bill Laswell is well known for his "unusual" practises but that is what makes him one of the most interesting producers around.The engineer on this album, Jason Corsaro, has also done some brilliant work with other artists..check out the Ron Wood solo album "Slide on this" that he mixed, completely different music but the quality is there.This Material album is fantastic and you should buy it - even if you hate reggae / funk, this album is worth every cent just because of who is on it.Mr

Musically - Bill Laswell's production is slick (everything in place) and fairly interesting as compared to much commercial music. But it's not nearly as adventurous or interesting as his own best work. I can't imagine someone who enjoys "Memory Serves" or "Seven Souls" really enjoying this album. It aspires to a fairly turgid commercial sound. The music combines elements of hip-hop, funk, and reggae - but not in any particularly adventurous way.

Lyrically, the album has aged badly. And it's a bit comedic to me for a caucasian such as Laswell to sit and produce an effort like this with its talk of "white devils" and so forth.

I would give this three stars, but I'm unnerved. This album is a) too short, b) not the Material I had hoped to find. I thought this was a find at a used place, and I expected Laswell's ambient techno side of Material to appear. Unfortunately only "Drive-by" and "Glory" are instrumental bordering on a mediocre version of what I wanted. The other, lyrical tracks are marred and overblown; I could not listen all the way through again, and I'm a very tolerant listener. I guess I just don't get it.

oh yeah this is for p funk heads cause you get bootsy, bernie worrell, michael hampton, and gary shider on nhere funk, reggae, industrial all in one open minded funk fans only.