Customer Reviews

Yin Yang

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a huge fan of the Flecktones, I was excited as ever when this album came out. I love the increadible licks and speed that Victor makes seem so easy when you see him live. I didn't know a bass could be played as well as he played when I first heard him. Thats why I bought this album. His other solo albums are great, but "Yin Yang", I listened to it twice, and hid it away for ever. If your looking for the funky sound of the Flecktones, check out "Live Art," this isn't worth your money. I was only disappointed when I heard it. It's clear his talent is there but the music didn't fit my taste. He even trys to dub his daughter's voice into a song to making it sound like she raps. It was one of the most disturbing songs I have ever heard. With no disrespect to Vic, this album is just a bummer.

As a bassist, I purchased this album as a "must-buy" especially after Victor's outstanding "Show of Hands" CD. On a few cuts, the excellent musicianship continues but other tracks that highlight a child's "rap" and random squeals make much of the CD unlistenable. I suggest Victor drop the self-indulgence and get back to the solid, fabulous funk and awesome technique he's known for.

I rate this at 4-stars because I would have to say that the Yin (instrumental CD) is 5-stars, while the Yang (vocal CD) is 3-stars. The 2-CD set, however, is well worth buying solely for the Yin half. Victor Wooten's amazing compositions, with stellar accompanists like Béla Fleck, Carter Beauford, and Jeff Coffin, make this CD a very fun, enjoyable listen. This comes from both Victor's technical mastery of the bass guitar and his beautiful and exciting compositions. Highlights of Yin: "Zenergy," "Resolution," "Joe's Journey," "Imagine This." Yang however, lacks the creative writing that Yin holds. Two highlights are "What Crime Is It?" and "Singing my Song." Both provide a very enjoyable listen. In the end, this CD-set is worth its cost in solely the Yin half, while Yang's few highlights add to its great enjoyment.

I'm sorry Vic. While "A Show of Hands" and "What Did He Say?" are two of my favorite CD's, I felt this set just didn't connect for me as well. For my tastes, it was a little too much like "cool jazz." I would have prefered something a little more funky. In truth, Vic's best stuff seems to come from his solo work, just him and his four strings. While some of the songs, namely Yinin' & Yangin' have that groove Vic is so good at, overall it just gets too busy. Everyone should definatly check out Mr. Wooten but start at his first two albums.

I've been a True Flecktone fan from the eighties when they were nominated for for their first grammy. I can even go back futher when I saw the Wooten Brothers play live down in Virginia Beach in the eighties. I have every single album that Victor has ever recorded and have been to over 200 live shows. I feel that this album showcases Victor's talent to the upmost level of maturity. Every "True" Flecktone fan knows that Victor is the best bass soloist/player out and he proves it live on stage and on his last two solo ablums. But in this album he showcases his skill of song writing by laying down funky grooves that allows musicians when they hear this to feel his message behind the music. The grooves are so moving that you can't help but be engulfed by them. I feel that this 2 cd-ablum is one that every music lover should have. There is a little something for everyone in this one.

To state the obvious, Wooten is an amazing bass player. He can slap like a maniac, keep a groove like no one else and improvise with amazing skill. His writing of music is amazing. Now that we've established how amazing Vic really is (which is that he's probably the best electric bass player on the planet right now), let's get into this album.

Yin-Yang is a very bold project. Wooten has made one disc of instrumental music, and one disc of vocal music. The instrumental stuff is quite amazing, really exhibiting Vic's musical genius, technical brilliance and outstanding collaboration with many great musicians. The second disc has something that the first disc doesn't have, lyrics. Corny lyrics at that. That's the problem with this album. The lyrics are cheesy and silly much of the time. Some of the vocalists don't have much to flaunt either. Especially Tabitha Fair on "Hero" and Allison Taylor on "One." The music itself is still quite good, but I like Wooten not because I like listening to him as accompaniment, but because he's an amazing player and he shines like the glory of the Lord when he's in the limelight. I wish he was in the limelight more often. After hearing the vocal work on this album, I don't know that I'll be able to bring myself about to purchase "Soul Circus."

I am a huge Vic fan, but this album did not do it for me. It seems to be slick, and overproduced. Also, the playing is not as inspired as it is on other recordings.

If you like commercial, smooth jazz, buy it. If not, check out "Show of Hands" and "What did he say?".

I have all of Victor Wooten's solo albums and a bunch of the Flecktones' stuff, and I must say that this is Vic's most polished and mature work yet. Evidently secure in his all-universe status, Vic is more content than ever to apply his superhuman skills to a very "human" enterprise, that is, making MUSIC with substance and taste. Many of the songs on this album falls on the "smoother" side of jazz fusion and, thus, will probably disappoint those looking for something more on the edge. Still, Vic and his cohorts play with a level of mastery that none of the smooth-jazz schlock meisters could ever touch. All in all, a very satisfying album, although I agree that it probably could've been distilled to a single rock-solid disc.

Those wanting to hear Vic show off his jaw-dropping chops should look elsewhere -- his solo debut "Show of Hands" or the Flecktones "Live Art." Those who want to hear Vic's skills in a less bass-featured and more musical context should check this album out.

I love victor wooten but this album kinda .... Vic fans can get ... but not one of them will disagree that he sounds 10 million times better live or with Bela Fleck and the Fleck tones. If you want a great album of vic listen to Bela fleck and the flecktones "Live Art" or get one of his other solo albums i.e.,"what did he say", "A show of Hands" Sorry vic, I still love ya man.

This was the first Victor Wooten CD I bought, and was very dissapointed. I was hoping for up-beat slap/funk. This is a very mellow cd set with one upbeat song. I don't like ballads at all, and Victor seems to love them. I'd rather not talk about the "yang" cd. The vocals make it intolerable. I havn't listened to the yang cd once through yet. I've owned the cd's for three months. If you want to see victor at his jaw dropping best, buy his "Live at Bass Days '98" video. he is umquestionably talented, but these cd's don't bring that out much.