What Happened to Television?

Greyboy Allstars | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 17, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sci Fidelity Records
• ASIN: B000O590C0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,248 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Greyboy Allstars deal out healthy slabs of retro-funk, tempered with a cleanliness of production that leaves no note out of place (nor too venturesome). Fans expecting a rowdier outing after the band's ten-year hiatus will be disappointed by the many forgettable instrumentals that lope along on the blurry edge of lethargy ("Still Waiting," "Back in the Game," and the title track), but the upshot is that such ephemeral fare allows the tracks sandwiched in between to stand out like hits. The album is at its strongest when, as in opener "V Neck Sweater," song structures unfold in teasing succession, one instrument revealing and then concealing a riff that only later enjoys complete exposure when the full band finally digs in. Guest vocals by Inara George and the Living Sisters help the cause, as in lead single "How Glad I Am" (made famous by Aretha Franklin and others). Despite a number of unsuccessful attempts, Karl Denson's flute finally gets the supporting instrumental it deserves in "Old School Cylons," and moments like these blanch the efforts of contemporaries trying to create a similar throwback with samples, leaving the Greyboy Allstars' live instruments with an unshakable upper hand. --Jason Kirk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Return Of GBA,It's Been Awhile, April 18, 2007

By 

Andre S. Grindle "Andre' Grindle" (Brewer Maine) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What Happened to Television? (Audio CD)

Seem to recall that it's been a decade since the last studio album.And it does seem that Karl Denson and his group have learned some serious stuff about funk on 'What Happened To Television?',not that they hadn't when the hard grooves of A Town Called Earth came out.But only some of these songs,as a reviewer of that CD pointed out use that "same old" blues chords.Most of it is square in the mold of JB's variety funk and it certainly does do that job even better yet again.But there are deeper grooves;"Deck Shoes" digs deep into the bass while the quizical vocal stylings of Blue Notes Living Sisters add a spark to "How Glad I Am".The last four tunes do something serious-Zak Najor's drums just take the band to a million places in several minutes on "Old School Cyclones",the type of funk fusion that will have you glued right in.On 'Knowledge Room" Mr.Denson himself gets a chance to freak out on sax and again gets the band on the same roll with him.Robert Walter's punchy keys really draw out the very beautiful smooth funk of "Pigeons Under Water",but only before the band close out everything with the pounding call-and response groove of "Give The Drummer Some More".The Greyboy Allstars have too much funk overload in the case of The Meters and The JB's:sometimes melody does get sacrificed for the sake of a killer groove.But that doesn't mean this music is'nt filled with unbeatable hook after unbeatable hook.So I give them a lot of credit for maintaining the funk successfully.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More great stuff from the GBA!, April 16, 2007

By 

Jason A. Stevens "Wolfbrother" (El Paso, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What Happened to Television? (Audio CD)

Just listened to this today (via their one-day album streaming on their site), and it's another great batch of funky, jazzy, goodness, perhaps even better than their previous efforts. Of course, with the members having had 10 years to do their own thing in the meantime, it's no surprise that this is such an enjoyable listen. If you've liked their previous efforts, or any of their solo stuff (Robert Walter and Karl Denson come most prominently to mind), don't hesitate to grab this one up. Definitely a worthy purchase for fans of jazz-funk! A+

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great party music! They got it right this time., June 25, 2008

By 

Tim Lookingbill "Digital Dude" (New Braunfels, TX. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What Happened to Television? (Audio CD)

Stumbled upon this group, in particular this CD, tunneling through Amazon's nested referrals to alternative top 40 funk. This is one to get.

Unfortunately the rest of their work does sound like the kind of generic sounding funk music you would've heard provided as ambience walking into a Chicago bar or off road night club back in the '70's.

What Happened To Television changes that up considerably and creates a more distinctively upbeat almost quirky, fresh and unique sound to this style of music. The vocals and melody structure included on this album is what sets this CD apart from the rest of their work. How Glad I Am seems like a trippy retro, almost tongue in cheek homage to '70's local truck stop AM radio by way of CW McCall. And the scratchy James Brown and party style Sly and the Family Stone vocals makes you want to just get down and shake your booty.

I would say this album has quite a few hits that would improve upon current musical tastes and styles provided on today's top 40 and even give 'em run for their money if they would just play it over broadcast radio. Not going to hold my breath on that ever happening which is why I seek out new music with some originality here at Amazon.

This is definitely a keeper. I only hope and wish their next album has the same unique and quirky sound as this one because this is the only one I'm going to buy from them so far.