Reviews (page 11 of 13)
A real nice vibe.
Don’t like the electric sound
Eh. It’s ok.
Excellent
Great beats
Everything Don Simmons wishes he had.
Funky jazzy funky jazz. Really great rhythm section. Can't see me listening to this much in future but I very much enjoyed it
Recognize this as a great album, but don't really enjoy jazz funk. So I guess it's a 5 star album I'm giving 3 to, which is another illustration of the fact that not everything needs quantifying.
It IS cool! That second track is just a bop. I can understand why this was the moment Herbie went mainstream. Undoubtedly hugely influential. Maybe I overplayed it last week, but I was kind of hoping for more substance, more tracks like the second? 40 minutes but feels over much too soon. I'm not sure why that is! 3/5, great record, good time.
FFS, why do I have to start with jazz? Luckily, not too experimental. Okay background music, last track Vein Melter specifically.
Didn't want to skip songs but also not thinking of a replay either. 3/5
nice funky background music
Synes da leverte
Fijn plaatje. Blijft niet echt hangen
Listened for a bit. Jazz not my jam.
Just don't enjoy electronic music.
It’s ok, purely background music. Not bad but not really my thing
Wow we played this all the time in band. Nice to make the connection. Really matched my confused ass walking around this big af Target. Fav song Chameleon
It’s funk. It’s jazz. It’s a classic for a reason. Chameleon and Watermelon Man are all time tracks but I’m not a huge fan of side B.
A fine thing
Funk-jazz fusion combining to make something a little worse than either on their own
Schöne Jazz Scheibe: Unaufgeregt und gute Hintergrundmusik. Cantaloupe Island bleibt mein Favorit.
A pleasant ride
Okai. Völlig anders als erwartet. Ich hatte Herbie Hancock mit Rock it aus den 80ern im Kopf. Da Album steht aus meiner Sicht im kompletten Kontrast zu diesem Titel. Aber durchaus hörbar
I get it. I just didn’t like it.
Known before: Artist Standouts: Sly 6.5/10
I need more substance to fully enjoy
Too funky for me. Like the first couple of songs but lost interest on the later.
An album I’ve always wanted to love but never clicked.
All music no lyrics. It was about 45 minutes or so of jazz and funk music. It went on a little long. At no point was it bad. It was just there. I will round up.
Funky! But gets old after a while.
Notable track: Chameleon
It was mediocre
I don't really listen to music like that but it was nice music especially to enjoy in the background whether working, reading or just relaxing in bed.
Really funky instrumentals. Album only has 4 songs but 2 of them are over 10 minutes long. Some great moments but overall the last 2 songs lose me.
Not my fav kind of music but still some nice sounds
The instruments/synths chosen for Vein Melter sound so much like 2000s era videogame soundfonts. Like Twilight Princess. I'm not sure this is the comparison Herbie Hancock would want me to make but here we are
2.8 - wasn’t for me, however the intro to watermelon man was 5/5
The first track reminded me of being in a Chicago jazz club which was wonderful. Didn’t enjoy the others as much.
Very chilled and relaxing - will give this another go
This started out so funky that I had high hopes but the it was jazz-y and fusion-y or whatever and I lost interest after the 886th hour. 2.5
This was okay. Kind of not my thing and I fell asleep during part of it.
Мне всегда интересен "нетанцевальный" джаз. Кайф есть, прикольно на фоне нудного занятия.
Solid Jazz Album with funky vibe. I wouldn't say that it was something I haven't heard before and it was life changing. Good background music I guess.
Herbie Hancock is incredibly talented, and this album perfectly showcases that. This isn't the kind of music I seek out, but I really appreciate it when I listen to it.
Interesting listen. 70s jazz, combining light notes of electronica/funk. Watermelon is instantly recognisable for its ‘whistling motif’ that repeats throughout the song. Parts of the album feel very drawn out and repetitive, bit too harsh in ears during a 3 minute repetitive jazz beat. 3.5 or so?
Vet
It's easy to see why this was a commercial breakthrough for Herbie. As jazz goes, it doesn't get much more approachable or digestible than this. Deep grooves and quality playing.
Ahead of its time. A very different style of music. Groovy.
An ambivalent cup of tea to me. However, Watermelon Man is nice, 5 stars. Vein Melter is nice background music, 4 stars. Chameleon and Sly are partly nice before bursting out into cacophony. It reminds me of falling asleep on the sofa in front of the TV as a child to the listenable parts of these songs and then waking up feeling sick to the cacophony parts. 1 star for these 2 songs. Average 3 stars then. Maybe I need to listen more to take in all of it.
Very Listenable
3.5 No lie, whenever I think of Herbie Hancock, I think of that scene from Tommy Boy where Chris Farley fills his name in on a college History final as a framer of the US Constitution. That WAS the case anyway, but coming off the heels of this, I may now have other fond memories and feelings associated - what a surprisingly enjoyable listen. I mean, surprising probably only to me, someone who has historically never been particularly predisposed to jazz, but I think this album finally helped fill in some of the pieces for me - there’s nothing but grooving fun times to be had here. Apparently that lumps me in with the majority of its listeners though - this album is historically known for pulling in rock and funk music audiences, largely in part due to the fusion of said genres across. I guess that makes me something of a jazz normie, but whatever, I’m glad I was able to find some connective tissue to get me there somewhere on this list. I don’t feel like I have a ton in particular to call out musically (or lyrically obviously), but as someone who rarely listens to instrumental music (let alone jazz), I found myself bobbing in my chair to just about everything here - you can really tell there’s some solid musicianship on display here, and more importantly, that they know how to have fun with it. The first two tracks are admittedly much stronger than the last, but you really can’t go wrong jumping in anywhere. So, while I don’t think I’m walking out of this with a newfound favorite album, I do see myself giving this another listen in the future. Don’t quite feel comfortable pulling the trigger on a 4 - yet - but let it be known my appreciation is growing. I’m definitely interested in exploring where the genre takes me from here.
jazzy! a lot of noises. most are good!
1st one to start this off, the album was not bad, would listen again
Funky. Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry funky.
buh buh ba dum
Pretty chill but some songs were chaotic and somewhat distracting in my opinion.
I've seen the artwork for this album before but did not realize how short it was and that it's only 4 tracks. Obviously from the age of 70's funk. I can't tell if this is an actual bass or if it's played off a keyboard; it's probably a real bass but because I can't hear a difference, it makes me appreciate the really great studio mixing when it rarely occured in the early years. I know that jambands were born out of the 70's experimental blues/jazz/rock scene, but it's interesting to hear some of the early pioneers and see how vehemently underwhelming they are; not a ton of layering going on at all. The drums in the 3rd track 'Sly' are actually pretty fun, very sporadic but still in time. I am curious how people reacted to this album the day it was released, seems like a basic jazz/funk album to me, but I am not sure how much ground was paved by this point.
good funk. Nice listening while working.
I thought he was supposed to be a jazz pianist, this started off really funky. I liked it. Not something I rave about or go chasing after, but equally not something I would stear clear of either. Would consider it if I saw a nice cheap CD.😁 high 3.
Didn't know what to expect when I started this up at 5am but I really enjoyed this very interesting take on Jazz. The first two songs were the best out of the four. Loved the looping hythm section and all the 70's electronics going on. The intro to to Watermellon Man was great in a very peculiar way. On the whole I'd listen to this again and have already. Would have got a 4 if it wasn't for the last song, so a high 3.
Short album. I might not have given it a fair chance, but I’ve always had a challenge with instrumental bands. Would listen to it again.
Not bad, but not the best by Herbie. I'm a fan of his older stuff.
Jazzy, a lot of repetitions. Not for me but acceptable as a background passive album.
jazz. bleh.
Sounded like video game music. Fun to listen to but I struggled to get through the whole length of each track
Again, sucker for a funky jam 3.8
this was a cool, funky jazz album. crazy that you can just put four songs on an album and call it a day, but herbie's just built different i guess (he's fully loaded). this was like 3.5 stars for me but i don't know how often I'll revisit it. gonna have to clear my schedule if i want to listen to all 16 minutes of chameleon. cool tracks though favorites: chameleon, watermelon man
I could imeadiately hear the talent of this music but I didn't really get into it.
Groovy! Elevator music at times. The flutes and hooting gets annoying. Ok music for working/drawing.
Seeing a 4 song album that's 40 minutes long is definitely something I'm not used to. My favorite song so far is Watermelon Man. The cool kind of flute sound at the beginning is really unique and I could definitely see it being sampled for modern music, if it hasn't been already. The freestyle form of jazz is definitely mind boggling and amazing technically, but it makes my anxiety skyrocket when it takes off. Not really the genre for me, but I definitely respect the amazing talent and skill, in particular the keys and guitar. The sax of Vein Melter is also very soothing and gives a cool noir/smokey room vibe that I'm down with.
This is how you fuse jazz, funk, and rock together. It's fun and light, expressive with some freeform without being out of control. Wonderful record.
Solid. Enjoyed the listen.
Leikkaa hyvin mutta brutality jää saamatta.. ei leikkaa loppuun saakka.. ajatonta 1973 musiikkia kuitenkin.. Kolmosta Vai olisko vitosta koska nautinto incredible.. ei voe... vaikka album art ja kuva nimi vuosi musiikki artmanshio....kaikki kertoi nauttimista tiedossa..
Jazz just doesn't move me
Wandery jazz, with some electronic influence. Interesting blend
Headphones, train, first listen, single sitting, FT: Watermelon Man
Chameleon: Heerlijk toegankelijk en swingend nummer. Het heeft een duidelijke basis. Maar toch blijft het een kwartier lang interessant. Soms door wat afwijkende (hoge) tonen die hij toch goed in het geheel weet te verwerken. Wat mij wat aan de Chemical Brothers doet denken: 5 sterren. Dat smaakt naar meer. Maar helaas kan ik van de rest van het album niet genieten. Het gefluit van het tweede nummer werkt me op de zenuwen. Het derde nummer begint met wat soepele jazzy klanken. Tot er ineens een volle bak geluid doorklinkt en het vooral neurotisch wordt. En om dat weer te compenseren kakt het album aan het einde volledig in. Het eerste nummer duurt 15 minuten, dus mag zwaar wegen in de beoordeling. Dat trekt het album naar 3+ sterren.
Dit is early 70s, maar vertoont veel gelijkenissen met de lounge uit de 90s. Het is funky, het is jazzy, maar dus ook loungy. Dit was zijn tijd ver vooruit. Ik ben blij verrast, ik kan dit zelfs prima op het werk aanzetten, zonder dat mensen fronsen als Frank de Boer. Het vervolg is wel wat meer (funky) jazz, en ook ouderwets zenuwachtig gepriegel. Nog steeds prima te pruimen, maar niet het niveau van het eerste kwartier. Blijft daardoor steken op een doorsnee 3.
The quintessential funk vibe with some quirkiness
Great musicianship. Have to acknowledge that. Listened to it while running, I don’t think I could have sat and listened to it. It’s just not for me, eventually the duelling saxophones got on my nerves. There is just an element of self-congratulation that finally tires. However, if this is your kinda music, there is no doubt about the skill and talent involved
It was alright
This is a good jazz funk album. That being said, I'm not really someone who listens to a lot of funk or jazz. So, while I can appreciate this one, I don't see myself coming back to it all that much for return listens. The production sounds great and he gets into some really enjoyable grooves throughout the four songs. Standout Tracks: Chameleon, Watermelon Man, Sly
Laidback Jazz, I feel like I'm always just describing the genre... But if I'm describing it, it can't be too bad
Jazz Funk Chaos Liked this more than I thought I would. Need to settle back down my multiple personalities after that listen.
Góð smá fönkí electronic
电子迷幻的感觉？好吧，我对音乐的流派和发展确实所知甚少。
It's hard for me to rate this album because jazz/funk is not my main thing. Or even a top five genre for me There's some I like, but this didn't click with me. But maybe it was a big deal 50 years ago. I don't know. Based on how it resonated with me, I can only give it 3 stars.
It's a vibe, but I'm not super into it. 2 stars. Maybe 3 stars. It's definitely unique.
I don;t much much about HH or the genre but the album is hot
Four songs. Forty one minutes. That's about right. Let's go! Definitely a Vein Melter for sure.
Enjoyable.
I recognize the albums quality but I’ve just never been a fan of his more experimental work
It was good, funky
Wel aardig, maar niet heel bijzonder. Tweemaal instrumentaal op rij is ook opmerkelijk.
good but longgg
Saw Herbie Hancock at Glasto 22 not knowing any of his stuff and was thoroughly impressed. First track here was great, think it was even one of the ones he played. Heard a lot of Squarepusher in the latter half. Definitely one to listen to more. 2-4 didn't do much for me though.
No my usual sort of thing as not a big jazz fan, but it was funky and fun. A little bit dinner party background for me but can admire the musical skill in it. 3/5
Played snippets of ‘Chaneleon’ for a marching band show so I’m definitely partial on this one. While the back half does run long for the melodic content it has to share, the two heavy hitters up front are more than loaded with enough bounce and personality to compensate. Not going to be for everybody due to the length, but I greatly enjoyed the 40 minutes of grooves this one provided.
Jazz/funk. Not an obvious one but glad i listened.
Bit too much of a meandering jazz thing for me, equal measures of moments of brilliance and irritating bits. Overall it was pleasant enough in the background.
I'd been meaning to listen to this for a while. Good beats and grooves, tracks are a bit long though. I'm sure the music on the ToeJam & Earl on the Sega MegaDrive borrowed a lot from Herbie Hancock.
While sounding great and being effortlessly unique, at times it drags on and fails to fully grab my attention; with the exception of the unbelievably hard 'Watermelon Man'. I love this but I'm not sure when I'd listen to it.
My dad would be so pleased I listened to this album. He was obsessed with "Chameleon" a couple of years ago, and tried to get me to listen to Herbie Hancock. I told him this kind of music wasn't really my taste, and he told me I need to be more "open minded." And that apparently, I only listen to "female singer-songwriters who write catchy pop songs." I don't listen to actual good, classic music. "That's not even true!" I told him. "I listen to the Beatles- they're not female!" But he said, "that's just one band." So I tried to force myself to like this album. The thing is, for all its technical brilliance, I find instrumental jazz extremely hard to pay attention to. It ends up becoming background music at best, and annoying noise that I deliberately tune out at worst (especially fast, high saxophone solos). But when I was halfway through "Watermelon Man," I reprimanded yourself. "You're not paying enough attention, and your mind isn't open enough!" I stopped it and started the album again. And though I tried, I didn't pay "enough" attention the second time either. Because I'm listening to the album online, I would get distracted by the screen, which I couldn't use for maximum absorption by pulling lyrics up because there are none. But the way it stands is that I would find it very hard to pay attention during the fast solo sections. "You're a keyboardist," I'd tell myself. "At least pay attention to the keyboard solos. Learn from the greats. Listen to exactly what Hancock is doing." I couldn't make myself. And as I've said, I couldn't deal with the fast, high saxophone. It hurt my head. I can only handle saxophone when it's slow and low. I should say that I did like this more than most jazz I hear. And my favourite parts were the softer sections- they were truly sublime. The final track, "Vein Melter," was the softest overall, so it was my favourite. Hopefully, one day I can return to this album with a more open mind. I know it would be good for me. Favourite track: Vein Melter
More accessible to me than most of the jazz albums I've heard. I'm going to start listening to this regularly to see if I can get more into it. Chameleon and Sly were the highlights for me but Vein Melter just sounded like a bit of ambient music.
Pretty good stuff
Good fun this one. 3.5 stars.
Leuke ontdekking, luistert lekker weg in de ochtend. Ik zou het niet zo snel zelf opzetten en de laatste nummers waren doorzetten.
Oops!! Forgot to listen, but I will this week
Yep, a jazz fusion classic.
Funky, fun. Nostalgic.
This was fine but I'm not sophisticated enough musically to appreciate jazz-funk.
Very funky, grappig om je ochtend mee te beginnen. Deed me ook een beetje aan de soundtrack van het spelletje Serial Cleaner denken.
jazz
Ces petits gars ont passé un album entier à se prendre pour les Crusaders. Dommage pour eux mais on me la fait pas à moi.
Cool, kinda full on
Homenatge al funk des del jazz, amb un so eclèctic d'ambdós géneres, sofisticat i transformador. 'Watermelon Man' és el tema més conegut del disc, però on destaca realment és en l'elegància embriagadora de 'Van Meilter'
3.5/5. I can say with great certainty that jazz fusion is at least better than fusion cuisine.
No, sorry - can't do jazz Just noise
good study music
Нормас так бодрости рвануло на время работы в тупую, но как будто единоразовая акция, ибо повторно это просто забавно...
Funky jazzy banger
once again, another album of strictly instrumentals. but, i have to be honest, it wasn’t that bad. i found myself actually getting into it a bit. not usually my thing, but was just ok.
Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters is like a sonic journey through a futuristic jungle. It's a fusion of jazz, funk, and electronic music that takes you on a wild ride through uncharted musical territories. Hancock's keyboard wizardry is on full display here, and the band's tight grooves and funky beats will have you dancing like nobody's watching. It's like a party in your ears, and everyone's invited. Tracks like "Chameleon" and "Watermelon Man" are like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart, and the album as a whole is a testament to the power of musical experimentation. It's the kind of album that makes you feel like anything is possible. So if you're a fan of jazz, funk, or just good music in general, then Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters is a must-listen.
Overall a good album, went off the rails with Sly but even that had some good moments. the drums on Chameleon were a great listen and worth the cost of entry in and of it self.
Like this album better than I thought I would.
If you like jazz, this is an enjoyable album. If you're not sure, give it a try.
Funky funkiness.
I enjoyed it. Good background music, although I didn't mind focusing on it either. I like longer songs so that part was kind of fun too. It all sounded pretty unique (especially for the time). Overall, a fun enough listen. 6/10
Interesting to see the different directions Jazz was taken to but ultimately just a standard 3
3.5 Jazz!
On the bright side, this album can be super funky. On the not-so-bright side, it can meander just as much as jazz stereotypically does. Overall, I enjoyed it.
Starts very funky, finishes very jazzy, but is consistently accessible, despite opening with a 15 minute epic. Bold choice the put 'Arthur' the cartoon aardvark as the cover art. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Chameleon Date listened: 02/03/23
Some chill stuff. Not really my cup of tea though
Not bad. My favorite song was probably the first one
All I knew of this dude before this was the Rocket music video, and that Stevie Wonder liked him. This album also made me realize I've been bleeding from my ass for a week. I'm not blaming Herbie Hancock. I'm not even blaming the great Steve Wonder, despite the fact that all signs suggest it's his fault. It's always his fault.
It’s fine
Leuke Jazz / elektro oid, maar iets te eentonig
The synth integration blended in well, but the song development felt forced on many of the songs.
I have never felt more lied to by a song title than this album's "Vein Melter."
Funky jazz instrumental, long tracks, no lyrics
Interesting.
This is what I'm talking about. An interesting album that I have never heard of and probably not experience without this list. The funk and jazz were fun and cool and all that. but... I was ready for a different genre before the end of the album.
Trying to work and listening to this was giving me anxiety, I need to listen when I'm just chilling. But as of now. 3 stars.
Interessant, no el coneixia. Comença molt bé i requerir més escoltes per captar bé les estructures i matisos. Al final se m'ha fet un xic llarg, però segur que li donaré noves oportunitats.
I thought that’s a great album for the weekend but I was disappointed that it was “jazz like” I enjoy some jazz and his hit record was good. Nevertheless on subsequent listening it was OK so 3*
I liked it BUT WHY ARE THE SONGS SO LONG.I could never listen to any of these songs in full because of their immense length.
I love this form of jazz which incorporates funk and experimental electronic sounds too! I type of jazz I can really get into! It's innovative and experimental which makes it very exciting to me. I love Chameleon and Watermelon Man they're both really fun and playful tracks, very cool and soulful at the same time. After that the album goes downhill a bit for me, I find Sly has too many stressful sounds for me, it's too chaotic and I ended up clenching my jaw by the end without noticing... I want to rate it higher just for the first two tracks but the second half does bring this down for me.
Have to say this was another jazz album I just didn't get into. I'm not there yet with jazz and uncertain what could possibly make me get there to love something like this. It made good background whilst I reorganised my parents bathroom
We've had worse jazz albums, this was a groove I could get on with
OK. It got rather tedious, but that is probably because I am not a fan of Jazz in general, nor a fan of instrumental music. So it falls outside of my area of interest. Good to have heard it, but I will probably never play any of it again.
Classic jazz. Great background music.
A little too funky for me
Weird. First track was dope, I'm.just not a jazz boy
Jazzing it
Tää on yks kummajainen. Periaatteessa genren ja soundien puolesta mun pitäis tykätä kauheasti, mutta jotenkin ei oo koskaan ihan lähtenyt. Ehkä liian teknistä tykistystä. Watermelon Man on toki huikea.
Don’t usually listen to stuff like this but it was very enjoyable. Super relaxing and I fell asleep but in a good way.
Pretty good. I should probably listen to it again though because I don't remember much other than "I enjoyed it." Also, no standouts since I can't remember any of the individual songs.
Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool.
The baseline on the opener Chameleon was at the forefront of the song for far too long and turned me off a bit but Watermelon Man pulled me back in with softer vibes. Sly was a frantic thrash of a song but it was excellent and Vein Melter chilled things out again to wrap things up. I liked how they kept it tight at 42 mins. 3.5/5
This was more cultured than I am
Funky and definitely listenable, a couple of cringe moments but solely due the use of synths lol
sven: poslušat ću još jednom kika: okej u pozadini maša: mau mau
What cool album art shame the music isn’t my cuppa tea (it’s still good though just don’t expect me to re-listen ) … Chameleon opens the album and it’s literally funk Tarkus it’s way, way too long (even if Tarkus is longer) but this track is a okay instrumental. Watermelon man is a song I really appreciate, I really like the sound they made out of the flutes. Sly is too long just like Chameleon was but I like the almost spy vs spy esque mess it makes. Vein melter as well to be honest all of these tracks are cool but would all be better as a part of a grander song.
I've never been a huge fan of this album, but I have to admit that it's grown on me a bit. I used to find it dull and vaguely corny, whereas now I think it's all right, but head-scratchingly overrated. There are some decent grooves on here, but there's also some really obnoxious timbre choices. There are a lot of recordings from this era that come across livelier and more exciting. I'm assuming I lack the historical context to appreciate this album for what it was at the time, but I guess that means that it didn't hold up to the test of time as far as I'm concerned. It's all right, no great shakes. Moving on.
Pretty solid funk music. Good background/study music
Funky
Interesting and impressive but not really for me. Best song Vein Melter
i really liked watermelon man, it was super jazzy but overall the album was incredibly long.
Creative and experimental. Could become a bit heavy but if in the mood of long songs with complex arrangements, great. Interesting use of electronic instruments.
Different from my current taste.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Watermelon Man (2) 2 - Chameleon (1) 3 - Sly (3)
Je ne prends aucun plaisir à écouter ça
je dois admettre qu'il m'a cassé la tête par moments
Confirmed I don't have a taste for jazz. Appreciate the musicality though.
Feel like my grandparents would always play watermelon man
funky grooves
Instrumental from front to back. Watermelon man is clearly the most famous here but the instrumentals were different enough to keep me invested.
Es muy dificil calificar el impacto de un disco tanto tiempo después, sobre todo en este tipo de música que la han copiado demasiado al dia de hoy. Lo mejor para mi es la versiòn Watermelon Man.
It's a bop
Interessante, bem música ambiente.
a mixed bag
Lol head. As in noshing off.
First half is great, real funky. Second half doesn’t have quite the same charm
Too chaotic
I listen to lots of disco/funk outside of this challenge and this should be in my wheelhouse. Hancock is such a great pianist but this album just didn't do it for me.
Jazz fusion
this is funky!! Also I lol at this artist's name because it reminds me of the scene in Tommy Boy when he thinks Herbie Hancock is the first person who signed the declaration of independence. Watermelon Man reminds me of the white lotus soundtrack
I like Rockit. But I didn't know this music. It was okayish
3/5
Niet helemaal af kunnen draaien, maar leuk plaatje!
Funky
Hmmmh, what a groove! Sehr funky. Chameleon Erinnert in seiner Loopigkeit schon stark an entsprechend gefärbte House-Tracks. Die Clavinet-Soli-Strecken gehen einem bald auf die Nerven. Später in diesem Track wird die Rythm Section aktiver (u.a. mit so skippy Bongos), der Bass wird präsenter, da machts dann wieder mehr Spaß. Watermelon Man ist toll, schon das Intro (dessen auf einem Flaschenhals zu hörender Multi-Loop im dritten Drittel noch mal zu hören ist). Noch weniger "klassisch"-jazzig als Track eins. Damit ist mit Sly Schluss, hier sind wieder mehr Impro und disharmonische Melodien drin. Vein Melter als letzer Track nimmt das Tempo raus, bleibt aber stimmungsvoll und detailreich. Fast wird hier Dub vorausgeahnt.
3 Crazy shit. "Sly" is awesome Was late for morning control, but suddenly I had plenty of time when that piece came on.
I have previously said that I find reviewing jazz deadening: I have neither the expertise nor the inclination to write about jazz in a considered manner. Also, who wants to read about jazz? Have you ever read a genuinely entertaining passage about uncommon time signatures? (Postscript: I sent this piece to a friend to read before it was uploaded, and she refused, saying she hated jazz and would decline to read a jazz review regardless of who wrote it or what it said. That, my associates, is vindication.) Still, I should seek to toughen myself up, and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters is properly labelled jazz-funk, so perhaps I could treat this as a bridge from one genre I'm comfortable writing about to one that makes me uneasy. But then, I remember the genre is jazz-funk. Quick primer on jazz-funk: in the late 60s jazz cats, most notably Miles Davis, start to take inspiration from hard rock, because everyone understandably wants to be Hendrix. Likewise, soul musicians also start to take inspiration from hard rock, because everybody understandably wants to be Hendrix, and thus devise funk. In the febrile conditions of the early 70s, both camps merge, begetting a form of jazz that's all about the bass and rather synth-driven. Now, among some of your clever-clog music journos, jazz-funk (a.k.a. fusion) retains somewhat of a high reputation due to its, well, fusion of jazz and funk. However, it's hard to think of a genre more widely despised than jazz-funk. Miles Davis' Bitches Brew has perennially battled Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica as the album most heralded by pseuds who secretly prefer Girls Aloud (e.g., my mate Rob), and just as many clever-clog journos decry jazz-funk as utterly fucking unlistenable. As for myself, I guess I'm a jazz-funk pragmatist. If it sounds good, it's good. If it sounds wank, it's wank. Miles Davis' On the Corner? Good. Weather Report's Heavy Weather? Wank. The opening to Headhunters is promising. The first track Chameleon starts with a stone groove. But you drift. Your attention takes a little walkabout, and without realising it you've somehow brought a cheesemaking kit on Amazon, all because your brain was looking for something to do whilst listening to jazz-funk. Now, none of that is meant to imply that Headhunters sounds bad: it doesn't. It sounds alright, but nothing more than that. And it drags. When one is arsed enough to concentrate, individual passages impress, but one inevitably loses focus and Headhunters just becomes something on in the background. Is that a mark of a good jazz album? Upon a second listen to this album, I am wholly unshifted in my jazz-funk pragmatism. I know that some will treasure this, and some will loathe it. I enjoy the possibly sanest position of deeming it okay. It sounds fair, but a bit dull. What a great virtue concision really is!
If I must listen to Jazz, at least make it funky.
3.5
groovy
Some of the roots of funk found here. Herbie is known so well as a serious jazz musician who branched out into other areas. As part of the generation that first heard him with Rock-It, it’s great to hear that he was breaking new ground long before that!
Love the funk! 3/5
Fusionsjazz, funk, fremragende klaver, 4 lange numre, rimelig skarpt
All right.
mongo mango
good of its kind but gave birth to too many youth jazz band versions of Watermelon Man...
Fun interesting funky jazz listen, but not something I’d listen to all the time.
This held my attention for generally half of each song before it fell into the background. I can't argue with the playing on here, but it all seems more like noodling than something you can really invest yourself in, listening-wise. Would've loved to have heard this when it first came out - maybe it would've blown my mind. But having lived through the 90s when most acts were repurposing this sound... it doesn't come off especially special for me.
I like jazz but not a big fan of fusion. This album has moments where rhe groove gets pretty intense, but for me thecsoloing intrudes on the song and serves no useful purpose except to show the musicianship and speed with which each player plays. 3 🌟
Not bad. Easy listening background. It was ok and harmless, but not something I’d actively listen to.
Nothing I would seek out on my own, but overall a pretty enjoyable album. I felt the length of some of the tracks in a bad way, but each one had something good for me.
It starts off with a bang with Chameleon and the other 3 songs aren't bad, just not on the level of Chamelon. A solid listen, but not something I'd want to listen to often.
I enjoyed this a lot. The first half more than the second where it lost a bit pf momentum. Probably now my favourite jazz funk album
Fun jazz funk keyboards. Written as a suite of four pieces.
Pretty funky, long songs but only 40min. 3/5
Pleasant and unassuming, so not that interesting, but I'd never object to hearing it again.
Funky, jazz music. More enjoyable than I would have guessed at first. Only complaint would be it’s was a bit repetitive and blends together. 3
Funky
I like Jazz, I like Funk and I like this. First song Chameleon a brilliant grove, maybe does get a bit tiresome after that. Chameleon a 4, but the rest of the album just a 3. An album I think I’ll come back to, but more likely to listen to a jazz classic over this.
nice
Interesting listen. Not much of it really jumped out at me but would listen again.
Shoutout mike white, white lotus
3/5 for the song name “Watermelon Man”
Pretty nice jazz album. It’s very unique in some aspects and it still flows nicely. They keyboarding is really cool and the horns are what ties it together. Solid album. 7.1/10
I don't like music without lyrics, but this one was pretty good
Fun background music. Veered between genres which was fun.
Heel bijzonder jazz album, zou hem wel aanraden voor een gare zondagochtend
One moment interesting and groovy, the next moment crazy free jazzy. Always cool though.
up there for album covers. good depiction of what happens to your head if you try to understand what is going on with this album.
Jazz funk. The mixture. The cerebral musicality of jazz mixed with the visceral groove of funk. What a combo. Jazz's deformed cousin.
// Favs: Vein Melter Score: Strong 3
I just finished watching White Lotus and I'm pretty sure that they used parts of Watermelon Man to build eerie tension and impending doom in some of the episodes. I'm glad that I was introduced to this, Chameleon went on forever, and it was good, but could've ended about 12 minutes sooner. All of this was good to experience and provides a basic foundation of electrofunk. I'd be open to hearing more and exploring this genre a little further.
I wish this album stopped after 2 tracks. Chameleon started off strong. I feel the FUNK! Watermelon man is weird…good weird. And then we get to Sly. Sly is all over the place…bad all over the place. Vein Melter bored me to death…bad boredom. I’m stuck at a 2.5 here. I’m putting a priority on the innovation in the first two tracks.
I liked this pretty well throughout bit it did sure feel like another trip to the jazz genius noodle factory. Too sophisticated for me probably.
The only Herbie Hancock track I know is Rockit. Which is great. I know that other than that, he is much more of a jazz artist. I think I checked him out when I was 15 expecting more electro and being disappointed when there was So. Muck. Saxophone. Chameleon has one of the dirtiest bass lines ever. I'm not a 15 minute funk jam person all the time, but this is pretty alright? It has the decency to essentially transform into another track at the 7.5 minute mark, which is a relief as it didn't feel like there were many places left for it to go. That bassline then feels welcome comming back at the 13 minute mark. Watermelon Man is weirder for the first minute. Once the beat kicks in it sounds like it could be a hip hop track. 2 minutes research tells me Dilla sampled it because OBVIOUSLY. Unlike Chameleon, I can't think of multiple ways to edit it down! Sly feels more traditionally 'jazz' than the first two tracks. And a couple of minutes in, I feel, depressingly like I'm listening to something I find boring, but that cleverer people will understand... Gets more fun when it goes double time. Feels like music from a hyperactive 70s spy thriller. Vein Melter is a brilliant song title. The track is vaguely atmospheric synth noodling and shmoove sax, at least up to the three minute mark. I do not feel it is melting my circulatory system, the name feels very misleading at this point. 5 minutes in and I am still very bored.Has it's great points though, but I can't say I'd be going back to it any time soon. A minute and a half in, and I can't see it going anywhere vein melty in the remaining minute and a half. Very disappointed, a waste of a great song name that should probably have gone to a speed metal band. Ultimately, there's some me brilliant, exciting fun stuff on here. As always with jazz, it has far too much widdly technical noodling going on. I would listen to Watermelon Man again, but I'm not sure I want to sacrifice the listening time for the longer ones on here. I can see how the instrumentation must have been important to move jazz forwards, but I can't bring myself to love it.
Jazz no convencional
Herb is the word
My method of how I want to review albums is still evolving. I may also do it differently based on album. Anyway, for this one, I wanted to share the bulk of my play-by-play experience of listening to the first (and longest) track off Head Hunters, "Chameleon." A roughly play-by-play retelling of my listening to “Chameleon”: Ooh yeah, funky groove. I’m into it. Okay the horns are getting a little sharp and too much now. Okay, they’re dying down, so I’ll make a note of the point at the song that I’m not really digging- ::checks Spotify, sees this had all happened between about 2:30 and 3:30 of...a 15-minute song? Wow:: Whoa this song is longer than I was expecting. But okay okay, I can settle into this. You could just like live in this groove you know? Ooh this part is really chill. Like a totally different vibe, really relaxing. The other energetic one wasn’t bad, but this is nice- OH LIKE CHANGING LIKE A CHAMELEON. Ha. Nice. And a break from horns (love you horns, really!). This isn’t the normal length of a song, and that’s okay. But it was much more relaxing to my brain to be able to see exactly how long to expect the song to be, because if I hadn’t seen I would have been constantly anticipating an ending that wasn’t coming for ten more minutes LOL Ah, and now I have a sense that it’s almost over ::looks, sees there are a few minutes left, so, yes:: yep. And now it’s circling back to the early motif. Good song."
I sold a power amplifier while I was listening. So, it must have been good.
you have to be in a very specific mood for this one. perhaps one track, on a boat trip, with an Aperol Spritz, anything after that and I'm a bit done with the expressive jazz funk bass
goed voor op de achtergrond, met momenten dacht ik dat het in ene rick & morty aflevering kon
Solid but just not able to get deep enough into its groove.
I cant get all of this album on Amazon. A first. Got chameleon and it was alright.
Enjoyed it! His later work is more adventurous, creative.
The year is 1957 on the mean streets of Chicago. Herbie can play, Herbie can compose. But here's the thing, you don't tape people. What is this society, that we tape everything? What's going on? Do we not live in the moment anymore? We just tape everything from a phone? I don't like that. You know, that's what Herbie's music is against. But that dog was not humping my head, despite what Herbie Hancock says. That's why I love Herbie Hancock. He loves to lie.
Damn that Moog bass synth on the opening track just gives me the chills. Love it! Sly gets a little insane. 3.5
not bad
This jazz funk album has instruments all over the place, but they all come together to create an interesting piece of musical history. It's funky yet soulful - smooth jazz mixed with funk melodies. Amazingly this is the only "jazz" album to sell over a million records.
Un des premiers album de jazz fuzion que j’ecoute. C’est bon et eclate mais je prefere encore le bon vieux jazz. Meme si cela est drole a dire etant donne les epoques.3.75
Quite funky, upbeat jazz.
Herbie will always be Herbie
4/10 Sounds meh Really repetitive
Well it's funky alright, but pretty insubstantial. I mean, Watermelon Man, what's all that about?
pas ma vibe, je préfère la musique avec des paroles et qui sont pas aussi longues même si je comprends l'attrait
As an instrumental fan I was excited for this album. Especially as it's a commonly recommended instrumental album people recommend. For whatever reason it doesn't land for me.
Ack. Another instrumental. It doesn't matter how funky or cool the music is. A 15 minute song with no lyrics is not my jam. I decided to listen to a few and didn't really care to hear the last song. 2 stars because it's in no way offensive, I just didn't like it.
A fun vibe but overall a bit long and repetitive for me. Could work as background lofi
This surprised me, Chameleon was great. This is probably the highest rating I will give a jazz album, it’s a 2.5 (not quite a 3)
jazz is a little too much for me
Vibes but not mine
A jazz‑funk record built on grooves and electric textures. Long, repetitive jams make it more about feel than emotional punch. “Chameleon” and “Watermelon Man” carry the album.
I can tolerate Herbie Hancock’s better-known (and somewhat shorter) tracks a bit better. This album sounds a bit too experimental to my ears. Two stars...
I do love a solid instrumental album, still not a jazz fan though
312/1089 starting off with some luigi’s mansion aura, nice the second song, watermelon man started off with some strong White Lotus vibes this was nice and chill, i’m not super into jazz (when it’s non-lyrical at least) so i’m glad i listened but not in a rush to revisit 22/100
Not a fan of jazz…..
Making jazz even slower is too boring personally.
Not something I would listen to again
Not so great. A bit of nothing
Jännä instrumentaali mut eka biisi 15min pitkä ja ekat 5 min iha samaa??? Ei pysty...toka biisi 5 min siinähän meni tylsä.. kolmas 10 min 5min jakso joo vikaki paska ei pysty
Day 3 Before: Cool album art, I also don't know this one. Really don't listen to Jazz or Funk, so this is gonna be new. Head Hunters feels like one never ending solo, from various instruments. Sometimes the bass, sometimes the drums and other times the horns. This album really is a groovy feel. While it differently is jazz, the production adds in strings which I really like. It gives an unexpected lift to the music. It also has some really interesting song intros, and its use of various instruments gives it this crazy experimental sound. The tracks are really long, and that gives the album the feeling at being extremely long as well. That is something that, in my opinion, drags Head Hunters down. This album is not something I'm personally a huge fan of, but I can appreciate is as a piece of art. Favorite(s): Sly, Vein Melter
For one minute I liked the first song, then I realized it was jazz, thank god it was jazz because it further proved that i hate jazz, this is just another example of how trash jazz is
Zzzzz en los primeros segundos tuve mucha experiencia porq pensé que las canciones iban a ir como que creciendo a algo muy disfrutable, pero nunca pasó. No es inescuchable, pero no esta bueno.
More interesting than good.
Started off strong with Chameleon but then kind of ventured into spacey jazz.
Meh. It feels a bit like jazz, and I don't fully appreciate it.
Trop long les musiques et spatiales. J’ai vraiment pas réussi à rester dedans. Mais je le réécouterais en d’autres circonstances
Album progressif, ça s'écoute, ça ne se met pas en fond n'y rien donc un peu dommage, mais beaucoup de travail notamment.
Nope
Hade jag varit en lärare på Estet Musik på Katedralskolan i Växjö hade den fått en femma, men som tur är är jag inte det.
Not my goto but a decent change and much better than expected. Less jazz. Not sure about the replayability tho. 2.1//5.
Maybe there aren't 1001 albums worth listening to.
Ok
Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters Liked the first two tracks. Not loved.....but definitely enjoyed. Second two, absolutely no chance. Just not my thing. I'm super sure that they guys playing this are musically brilliant but.....it's beyond me. I'm afraid. Fave Track - Chameleon. Least fave - Sly 4/10 plus 1 for a great cover = 5
First minutes are quite enjoyable, the rest huh?
pretty ok jazz album
Was a bit of a chore to get through and very rapidly slipped into being background music. Two stars.
Nice beats
2 Inte så spännade
Började lite spännande blev snabbt tråkigt.
허비 행콕 - 헤드 헌터 카멜레온, 워터멜론 맨, 슬라이, 베인 멜터 총 4개곡 수록인데 앨범 길이가 41분(어째서?!) 펑크 재즈? 재즈는 알지만 펑크 재즈? 원래 재즈는 오소독스함과 거리가 멀지 않나? 라는 생각을 하기도 했습니다만 수록곡 여기저기에 앨범아트뽀이한 이국적인 악기가 나옴 특히 카멜레온과 워터멜론 맨의 슬라이드 휘슬(추정)이 엄청나게 비정형적이라는 감각 슬라이의 급격한 박자 전환도 거슬리지 않고 부드럽게 넘어갔지만 뭐랄까 색소폰... 색소폰 너무 경박해 색소폰은 좀 농후한 맛이 있어야 한다고 생각함 그리고 앞의 세 곡이 너무 독특해서 베인 멜터는 맛이 옅다. 마지막 곡이라 잔잔하게 간 것일까 흐물흐물한 감각을 연출한걸까 그러나 제가 원한 것은 그랜드 피날레였나봅니다 한줄평: 난 재즈 피아노가 아니라 스윙이 좋은걸지도 몰라 취향★☆☆☆☆ 재방문★☆☆☆☆
Pretty cool if you are into jaxx
Al final no logré escucharlo por completo porque no es mi gusto, diría que instrumentalmente es estupendo ,muy Bahidora
More confirmation I just do not get jazz.
Boring
This is one of those albums where I feel out of touch with most of the reviews, I really wasn’t a fan of this, I’m not hugely into Jazz to begin with, so maybe this is lost on me, I just found it a bit of a mess of instruments.
Good Jazz/Funk artist. Good music.
Its giving ross con el pianito
I felt like I wasn’t on enough drugs to be sitting in his den jamming with him. Just my take. I respect it.
Not my cup of tea. The musicality is undoubtable, but it's not for me.
Not my kind of jazz, a bit all over the ye place
It was ok but not a huge fan of instrumental
3/10 When I first saw that this album was 40-minutes long and had only 4 songs I was alarmed. Upon listening, I feel extremely indifferent. It's fusion jazz from the 70s. Every song is overly long, lacks vocals and a climax. Not things that work for me. Overall I find the album to be background music, but like, the kind of background music I wouldn't even realize is playing because it's so dull. Don't get me wrong: the album is perfectly fine, and nothing is actively bad. I just don't think it's good.