Search - Sound Experience :: Soulville Collection

Uh, hmmmm....

Campbell Roark | from under the floorboards and through the woods.. | 04/22/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First of all- the same thing that happened to 'Guy,' the next reviewer, happened to me- I only got ten tracks on the CD, and the last one cuts out 2 minutes into it. Second, I'm not feeling this nearly as much as I thought I would be. It's maybe a 4 star release, maybe... And only if you're into a different kind of funk (the latter-era, late-70's, early 80's- slicker, more disco-esque type stuff). But Certainly not 5 stars. I really hate the way the horns sound on a lot of these tracks- so tinsel-y and sharp, to be honest the recording over all doesn't impress. This is a bit too close to disco for me, the beats are a bit repetitive. Now, I have to say- 40 Acres, is a great tune! It's really dense and starts out with a crusty, hot as hell, fuoonky guitar lick and drums that bust all over the place! Also, 'He's Looking Good...' starts off with a sweet wah-wah guitar/horn combo, pretty nice, kinda disco but nice, the guitars add a lot. Those two tracks are really up there- if the whoe album were of that caliber I'd be more charitable.Tracks 1, 6 and what I heard of 10 sound pretty cool. BUT. Track 5 is an awful slow jam that's way too long. And the rest are just a bit boring (all of the tracks are a tad long). So, 2 hot tracks, 2 and a half decent tracks and a bunch of filler... Not exactly 5 star stuff. There's better funk/soul craziness out there to be had. Don't stay away but caveat emptor seriously- and beware that you might not end up with all the listed tracks- as two reviewers and god-knows how many other have been burned..."

Experience The Sounds Of Sound Experience

visuals | Philadelphia PA | 10/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You have wound up on this page for one of two reasons....either by accident or as a hard core funkateer that followed one of the links found throughout Amazon that another listener/reviewer recommended. Which ever one you are, You have stumbled upon a great piece of musical history that deserves to be discovered by any listener who digs the 70's powerhouse funk groups from back in the day.



This is one of those groups that barely made a splash in the industry but sounds wonderful and fresh when listened to today. I tend to hear the influences of groups like Parliament, Ohio Players, Bootsy & maybe mid-late 70's Bar-Kays in some of the songs. Sound Experience is a rather large funk outfit that hailed from Philly under the guidance of Stan Watson, A man who, along with many other artists/producers of the time, contributed some of the best funk music offerings of the "Philly Sound". The bass and drums are deep and driving & the highs are sharp and tinsel-y.



I feel that musically, The group sounds great and could have held their own alonside many of the hard-hitting groups within it's genre any day. I also feel that the vocals are average but could use work. This groups charm was definately in it's musicianship. If you like and own at least 7 of the groups mentioned below, Then Sound Experience belongs in your collection...providing of course, You consider yourself a TRUE fan of funk music. You wouldn't be making a mistake with adding this to your archives.



Ohio Players (early mid to late 70's)

Bar-Kays (mid to late 70's)

Parliament (mid to late 70's)

Rasputin Stash

Black Heat

Slave (late 70's)

Commodores (the yrs of the clavinet)

Bootsy's Rubber Band (frank waddy, maceo & fred wesley yrs)

Cameo

The Counts



There are many more that deserved to be listed but I figure the above 10 should be a sufficient guideline to follow. If you like this sound or the "instrumental" sound of Philadelphia in the mid to late 70's then you are advised to dig on "Sound Experience""