A bit different, but still great
4
By Remillo
I haven't listened through the entire album yet, but I thought I'd go ahead and write a bit of a review. While the music is still incredible, it's almost a complete change from the older Flecktones. The songs are much more pop-styled (simpler background parts and vocals), rather than being used to amaze listeners and float solo sections. I admire Jeff Coffin's skills as a Saxophonist and Flautist, and believe that it brings a huge amount to the table in terms of what the Flecktones can do, but I believe that he's not quite the best replacement for Howard Levy (though, I can't say I could name someone better suited). I find myself not quite liking most of the vocal songs, however nice it is to hear Futch sing.... a lot. I'm more drawn towards things like Big Country, Oddity, Trane to Conamarra and Almost 12, which is mostly (if not all) instrumental, and highly technical, musically. I feel like I'll grow to appreciate the rest of the music more as I listen to it, but I only just downloaded it tonight and I haven't listened to anything else they've done with Coffin (aside from a few live versions of Stompin' Grounds).
If you're more of a fan of the Older (and Rocket Science) Flecktone's music, this start of the Coffin Era may not quite be what you're looking for, offering up fewer vehicles for solos and more vocal, jazzy songs, but I urge you to explore everything these guys have to offer. Their music is too great to pass up. Even if I don't like this album quite as much as, say, UFO-TOFU, I'll still listen to it with pride, knowing that it was produced by my favorite band in this time of seemingly sub-par pop music.
