Soulive - Breakout (15 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

A disappointing effort.

R. Markert | 10/08/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Let's be honest: this is not a great Soulive CD. It isn't even a particularly good one. This is especially disappointing if, like me, you've grown to really like this band and know what they're capable of doing. With few exceptions the instrumentals are weak and uninspired. They simply weren't trying very hard on this one folks, and it shows. There's so little rhythmic variation among some of the tracks I wonder why they bothered to stop one tune and start the next, since the objective seems to be a kind of stupifying mid-tempo modal continuum. The unmemorable vocals are too numerous and mostly sound like quickly-prepared filler material. Overall there's simply precious little of the originality and fire for which Soulive is deservedly known. You have to wonder who let this one out the door. I'm just glad I downloaded it (legally) at emusic.com instead of paying ordinary retail. If after reading this you still want it, I strongly suggest you do the same."

A Slight Change In Direction

John Terry | Kansas City, Mo | 11/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Regarded as a "jam band", Soulive would like "Breakout" to be marketed to a soul audience. I'm not quite sure what made them a "jam band" anyway. Certainly, Medeski, Martin and Wood are placed into the same category too. I'm not sure what makes them like Phish and The String Cheese Incident. Maybe "jam band" fans just have a broad definition of what they like. Anyway, this album took a little while to grow on me. The funky jams are there but they have more of a seventies soul sound than ever before. Which is a little more subtle than the "acid jazz" category I placed them in. We have labels for everything, don't we? This is another one of those "and friends" efforts with standout efforts by soul royalty Chaka Khan and Ivan Neville, Reggie Watts and steel guitar virtuoso Robert Randolph. Give it a chance, they're still your Soulive and one of the tightest bands out there."

Now This Is What I Was Lookin' For!

Chicago Music Fan | Chicago, IL United States | 12/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Soulive since I first read a MODERN DRUMMER interview with Alan Evans in '01. After I read the article I decided to check out the "Doin' Something" CD and wasn't disappointed. I loved the sound of the band and couldn't wait for future releases. Welllll... the material that they recorded before (but released after) "Doin' Something" was a little raw but had excellent material, but I didn't count that as "new" stuff". "Next" really let me down- material wasn't quite as sharp, production was too glossy sounding for my taste and drums sounded weak. Then there was a live album and a remix album- both good, but I wanted something from the studio that would hit me like "Something". Finally it came with "Break Out"! It hit me from beginning to end, maybe even a lil harder than "Something". The material was fresh and on-point, had very good guest vocals, and there was definitely a different plan in mind (to my ear) as far as the production. The organ sound seemed a just a little further back in the mix, guitar and horns (most notably the trumpet) took a more prominent lead, and the snare had a little more body to it. Overall, a great sounding CD that shows some growth of the Soulive sound. Personal favorites: Reverb (too funky!!), Break Out, Take It Easy, Vapor, and What Can You Do. Pick this up if you are a fan!!"

So far...

T. Bradley | Denver | 10/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While it needs time to simmer and get more familiar, my first impressions are mixed. Speaking of the mix, occasional problems pop up like the solos are often buried and the low end keys are overpowering the vocals. If you listen for those type of details, some of the mix problems take away from the overall tightness just a bit.

Having said that, I love this band and I was going to buy this album no matter what. I like it so far and when bands venture into a slightly different direction it always takes a few listens before you get hip to the new sound. That's when you dig it the most. Can't wait for that to happen."

They're back

Timothy Riggs | 09/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"just to give uneducated listeners a taste of how talented this band is, i will inform my esteemed previous reviewer, who said that soulive's bass player was the best he'd heard in a while: this band HAS NO BASS PLAYER. they're organist is that good - playing in the style of jimmy smith, but bringing it to the more spare, funked-out, bottom heavy minimalism of the hip-hop era. yup, they're all that good.

i thought "next" was a step back for this incredibly talented, tasteful, and hip band. thank god they worked out the kinks. the sax player they recruited for that album nudged them into some smooth jazz territory that was like watching miles davis take the stage with kenny g. there were some good directions on that album, e.g. the cameo by black thought of the roots, but the sax just pushed the album into "hey man can i burn that cd from you 'cuz it's really not worth the money to buy it" territory. ivan neville proves that it ain't the horn that's the problem, it's the blower. hence the difference between maceo parker and dave koz.

highly recommended album, because at their best (which they are close to here), this band is one of the most exciting things in contemporary jazz. you must peep them live if you have a chance. you'll come away feeling refueled with hipsterdom, as well as with a rock hard ass from shaking it so much."

Search - Soulive :: Breakout

CD Details

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews

	Soulive Breakout Genres: Dance & Electronic, Jazz, Pop, R&B, Rock Track Listings (15) - Disc #1 Interlude 1 Reverb Got Soul Cachaca Back Again Break Out She's Hooked Crosstown Traffic Take It Easy Vapor What Can You Do Interlude II Freedom Glad Ta Know Ya Interlude III
? Larger Image