With their new Velour Recordings release, Outta Here, Lettuce comes raw: no fluff, nothing smooth, just hard funk. The record combines the grit of the Meters, the harmonic textures of Herbie Hancock, and the hyper-tempo funk of live James Brown.
Back in `92, the guys met at the Berklee summer program and were drawn together by their love of classic funk. Only 15 years old, they began taking over clubs and jam sessions in Boston, storming the stage whenever they could. Underage and with no gear, everywhere they went it was, "Let us borrow your drum kit" and simply "Let us play." And Lettuce (Let us) was born. Since that summer, the guys have all had success -- Eric & Sam play with Soulive, Adam drums for AWB and the John Scofield Band, Erick produces for Sunshine Anderson, Ryan was a founding member of Rustic Overtones -- but they've all waited for this long-overdue reunion.
On the new record, Lettuce is joined by some of their heroes. Guitar great John Scofield rips on Flu the Coop and Back in Effect, to which Neal Evans of Soulive lends his B-3 chops. Trombone legend Fred Wesley lends some funk to the James Brown-inspired Superfred and the title track Outta Here.
Despite the record's title, Lettuce is anything but outta here. The band is focused on their upcoming tour of the U.S. and Japan. It's been ten years in the making, but Lettuce's bid to re-land the funk mothership on planet Earth has begun.
Artist(s): Lettuce
Disc 1
- Track 1 - Outta Here
- Track 2 - The Dump
- Track 3 - Squadlive
- Track 4 - Back In Effect
- Track 5 - Twisted
- Track 6 - Superfred
- Track 7 - Reunion
- Track 8 - The Flu
- Track 9 - Nyack
- Track 10 - Hang Up Your Hangups
- Track 11 - Nyack (live)
UPC:
687480020522EAN:
0687480020522
Similar Product(s):
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This shows a dichotomy of fleshed-out funk enveloped in cleanly outlined packaging, still totaling a fun but not entirely engrossing experience.
I pulled this out of the CD collection for another look a couple of years after I had written it off. Occasionally I do this with albums and kick myself for "missing it." Not so with this album, it just doesn't do it for me. It lacks soul, and not because of a lack of blackness as a previous reviewer had stated. It's just uninspired, to hear the likes of Herbie Hancock and James Brown mentioned in comparison to this disc is blasphemy. No really deep funky grooves here, and a borderline smooth jazz feel comes through. Soulive has put out some great material and I have seen some excellent live shows. Check them out if you haven't already. I wouldn't recommend this one though.
[+]
2.0
nah nah, no man no, uh uh not funky...
This album is not funk. It may have a few moments of near funkiness (may, depending on your "pocket" threshold) but overall, this band is nothing more than stiff, stilted, white boys desperately trying to be funky but failing miserably. I must give them one star though, for their effort in trying to bring back the funk. good try fellas. This is not to say that white guys can't be funky( sly & the family stone had two white drummers during their reign). It's just that in listening to groups like this, it becomes so readily apparent that they have no knowledge or respect for black history in general, and thusly, lack an emotional understanding that is fundamental. Much of the inspiration for this music came from a place of oppression and suffering. If you give that no heed, no respect, or study, then you are an appropriator. This is the piece that so many young cats are missing. If one is comfortable with that, fine, but they lose my respect unquestionably. I hold this sentiment for most of these contemporary wannabe funk bands. if you wanna listen to funk, go exhaust all the old resources. When you have "heard" (not just listened to) all of james brown, and sly and etc, and you have it memorized to where you can sing every istruments part from memory. then come back to this page and if you still feel like wasting your money on this record, by all means....
Great CD if you like Funk.
Catch them live if you can.
Better live!
[+]
10.0
What you want really want?
This is what was supposed to happen to jazz funk. Following in the footsteps of those who werent afraid to step away from traditional jazz, Herbie Hancock, Reuben Wilson, etc.. - jazz, funk, hip-hop and soulful grooves. Just enough horns to sweeten it up. Get the "Lettuce - Live in Tokyo" release for the long ride home.
Big Grooves in the Big Apple. Great stuff. If you like to groove and love funk and modern instrumental hip hop this is for you.
[+]
8.0
Like listening to Galactic
I found Lettuce by following the "others bought this" trail from Poets of Rythym to soullive to lettuce. These guys are great and though I can agree many of their flourishes are predictable, what funk isn't? Thats like saying all Blues music is the same!
Buy this if you like funk, you won't be disappointed.
RIDICULOUS. Just ridiculous. That's all there is to say. Best grooves around.
Good sound but without scofield and fred
i don t know how the tracks could turns ?
Still good modernjazz.
[+]
2.0
A funk lovers review
This cd lacks any imagination whatsoever! Most tracks contain long repetitve intros that make you say to yourself,
" If I hear that riff one more time I'm going to die". Then you hear it two or three more times. There is nothing new in the body of the songs, and then a long repeat of the intro again to finish the tune. I was so bored with the disc I couldn't finish it.
