Customer Reviews

This Journey in

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album has blown me away so completely, I have to write a review just to tell someone (anyone) about this! I know little about this band except the background info provided above, but believe me - I'm a devoted student of the bass guitar and have spent my music-collecting life tracking down music that grooves - this album has been one of those rare revelations that makes all the searching worthwhile.

In terms of genre, this album falls in that hybrid jazz/soul-funk, acid jazz realm. No surprise that Gilles Peterson is supposedly all over this band. They recall Roy Ayers' and the Mizell Bros' finest moments, but with a modern vibe and more adventurous playing and arrangements. They also draw comparisons for some to acid jazz's leading acts like Incognito, Brand New Heavies, etc., but unlike these bands, Rebirth focuses less on pop song structures and more on simply laying down the groove.

The album rolls out one hooky groove after another, including funky shuffles, smooth mid-tempo jams, a double-time brazilian number, even a little drum and bass sprinkled in. You figure the inspiration has to run out sometime, but it keeps on coming the entire album, with not one throwaway in the bunch.

The playing is first-rate, full of nuances that make musicians nod and references to the idiom that make fans smile. The vocalists aren't amazing as soloists, but the harmonies are tight and swingin. The production is top-shelf, with plenty of vintage sounds and styles.

In short, I haven't seen anything in recent years close to this level of musicianship, taste, mastery of the idiom, and groove. It seems like this band assimilated the 70s jazz-funk golden age and the early 90s heyday of acid jazz and appeared fully formed out of nowhere. Where did they come from? Who knows, but they've landed bigtime and in my mind have set the new standard.

I have been a fan of the Rebirth since I first heard the single "Everybody say yeah" and "This Journey In" back in 2004 when they were released as singles. I had been waiting for their CD to drop ever since and needless to say I wasn't disappointed. This CD is simply great modern soul music with no weak tracks to mention. I also had the pleasure of seeing them live in New York. They gave an awesome show and you shouldn't miss them if they come to your town. Very few CD's are worhty of 5 stars but this one is a no brainer. Easily in the top ten of quality underground soul CD's released in 2005.

The Rebirth are a soulful/live act based out of LA. They've got 7 member band and when you hear their sound, it becomes clear awfully quickly that every one of them is loaded with talent. They've appeared on numerous compilations and have a few 12" EP's out too, most notably, their appearances on the Om Lounge series, Gilles Peterson's now hard to find GP Eclectic series, and even the Rewind! series off of Ubiquity records.

This is a terrific album. Fusion, Funk and soul. Probably one of the top, if not THE top, album I picked up this year. I spun "This Journey In" and immediately people asked "Who is that?". That's the title track and you get a sense of the vibe for the album from there on. Soul, surprises, and tight musicianship. But it doesn't stop there. Another song that gets you up is "Shake It". It's got that classic guitar funk and sound to it that'll give you nostalgia to 70's soul. "Talking Me Down"'s got a bossa bounce to it and a harmonious part that's pretty amazing. It's just that snap, that change of pace that takes you by surprise of the music and adds loads of different directions to their sound. Other songs that I relaly liked were "Walk Talkin' Mizell", the mood of "Sinkin'", the sweet broken beat (weird) of "Got Your Madness" and the powerful ending with "Revolving Door".

Hard to find many faults in this album. I can't pretend that I 100% understand their inspiration. But I don't have to pretend that I like this because it's a fantastic album and Rebirth are masters at producing terrific and deep music and perhaps as importantly, sensational sounds. You have to hear this one to believe it. Sort of like... Jiva meets Jazzinho who meets Da Lata produced by Gilles Peterson. And, if you like this, you definitely want to check out Jiva, Jazzinho, Wagon Cookin's album titled "Appetizers" and maybe work by Fertile Ground. Whatever you do, don't miss this one.

My best friend, who's a singer and has a very sound knowledge of what kind of music I like, introduced me to this band. I only had to listen to the first few bars of the opener, "This Journey In" to know that I needed to have this CD. I immediately ordered two copies - one for me and one for him.

This seven-piece band with Noelle Scaggs and Carlos "Loslito" Guaico doing most of the lead vocals give us funky, jazzy modern soul at it's very best with a distinct retro vibe. If you're a fan of early Incognito or early Brand New Heavies, you'll like these guys. I really don't know what else to say. This album reflects everything I love about music - Jazz-inspired, and led by beautifully played electric piano; pleasant vocals and positive lyrics - and it's shot right to the top of my best buys for this year, (excluding jazz) even above albums from the likes of the Brand New Heavies and Frank McComb. I haven't stopped playing it since it arrived earlier today. I also haven't felt like dancing in a long while, due to this, that and the other but I tell you, with this on the player, I've been finding it very hard to stay still. I put this CD on and it just takes me away. It's almost as if the CD has lifted my spirits. From beginning to end, this is my kind of music!

Why we don't see more bands like this on so-called music television channels, I'll never know but this is one band I'll be looking out for with a keen eye from now on. This is also another band I cannot wait to see perform live. One (wo)man's meat can often be another's poison but I'll be shocked if anyone reviews this album with anything less than the five stars they deserve.

Heck, just like an earlier reviewer, I'd give them ten stars if I could.

"This Journey In" is the absolute truth! If you are sick and tired of the drivel that is played on R&B radio stations, "This Journey In" is the antidote. If you enjoy the artistry of Incognito and Brand New Heavies, this CD is for you. As a matter of fact, I haven't removed the CD from my car since I purchased it last month. Believe me, if you purchase this CD you won't have any reason to tune to your local radio station. Don't sleep on it.

This is one of the rare albums that you can listen to from beginning to end and not have to hit the skip button even once. Every track on this CD is great in its own way. Their style falls somewhere between neosoul and brand new heavies style acide jazz. It's great to listen to anywhere, lounging, driving, sleeping, making out, whatever. Definately one of the best soul albums I've heard this decade. If you dig The Rebirth also check out Fertile Ground for a similiar vibe.

Mellow, funky, electric groove. This is a must have for your NU-soul collection. Very peace, very "I'm cleaning up on a Saturday morning OR I'm hanging in a coffee shop reading a good book" kind of record. If you love good music.... buy this!!!

Atlanta natives and a growing number of others will recognize the compliment and the comparison when I say that The Rebirth reminds me a great deal of Seek. Subtle, moving vocals over a very organic and musically adept band all combined with a hard to place, vaguely spacey feel. Noelle Scaggs has the kind of voice that you can listen to all night without being blown away and yet simultaneously have absolutely no desire to go anywhere else.

The Rebirth is essential summer mood music. Songs like "Stay Away" make you feel good in the same way that it's always harder to be down when the sun is shining. It's sunroof open and windows down music. It's dance in the living room with your sweetie music.

The band has a Sweetback-type funk to it. The grooves are solid and the instrumentation tight, but there's nothing that might threaten to take the spotlight off the collective output. There are no wild solos, nothing to draw attention to individual players. It's playing for the sake of the audience. Songs like "Shake It", "Got Your Madness", and "This Journey In" are demonstrations of The Rebirth's ability to create an atmosphere where their audiences can enjoy themselves. It's not necessarily about the audience singing along, it's about the experience.

Im a "Cog" head (Incognito fan) and The Rebirth give that same vibe. I had the same experience as another reviewer had where I played this durring a small gathering and everyone was like "WHO IS THIS? I GOT TO HAVE IT". I love when I score with some new music that my friends havent heard yet and it knocks them out!!! I'm such a big kid. Thanks Rebirth, my friends and I are waiting for your next one.

THE KAJMERE COMPILATION WHICH FEATURED THIS GROUP, WON ME OVER, HAD TO OWN THEIR CD , IT IS EXCELLENT RETRO SOUL, THROWBACK TO THE DAYS OF EWF,DONALD BYRD, HERBIE HANCOCK, THEY ALSO INCORPORATE MODERN GROOVES FOR THE NU-SOUL CROWD. OVERALL GOOD CD.