Head Hunters

Instrumental and got bored at the first track.

Not arsed. This didn't light up the sky with fireworks on bonfire night.

With a name like Herbie Hancock, who could go wrong!? And it's his real name, not a stage name! Born Herbert Hancock, and who wouldn't shorten that to Herbie because Herbies are famous. Like Herbie the Love Bug, that charming(?) automobile, maybe Herbie Hancock is more known for his name than his music? Because I don't know this album. Though I did watch Herbie the Love Bug. Not sure I could tell you what it's about other than a talking(?) car though. Oh! It's because I know Herbie Hancock for a song that sounds nothing like any of this! "Rockit" from "Future Shock," a decade after this, is the first "jazz hip-hop song," an anthem for breakdancers, and won 5 awards at the inaugural MTV Music Video Awards. That song I know! Both in it's original and in many samples I'm sure. It's filled with synth, scratches, samples, and is nothing like "Head Hunters." "Head Hunters" was mostly smooth and cool jazz funk that faded into the background until "Sly" came in with it's frantic, all-over-the-place self. Took me too out of it. But "Rockit" would get 4 stars. It's not on the 1001 though. Too bad.

It was jazzy but not really my jam.

First couple of tracks were interesting then it got a bit boring.

Was a high 3 based on Chameleon. Fell away after that.

I don’t know enough about jazz to really talk about it, but I’ll say this: this is the kind I don’t like. I prefer surprising harmonies and modulations to the same damned chord progression a bazillion times over, nothing more than a predictable undergirding for individual riffs that don’t even feel related. Not my jam.

Very interesting. A unique spot between jazz and funk. Not my jam, but glad I listened.

Not that original

Eka biisi oli vie iha hauskaa kuunnella, mutta sit toi meni kokoaja vaa vaikeemmaks. Musta ei oo tollaseen jazz sekoiluun jossa vaa lyödään instrumentit tulille ja sekoillaan 16min putkeen.

??

Not my kinda music

You've got to be kidding me... Not really my thing I NEED VOCALD!!!

long instrumental songs jazz though! but nothing I would revisit

Didnt like it

I promise you no song worth listening to is more than 10 min. Jazz is good they said. There are no lyrics and some songs can do that, but a whole album where there are 4 long songs, no. I'm sure there is some really good reason to like this but I don't. Mid even if some songs had good parts the good parts are watered down by bad music.

1. chameleon - 1 2. man - 0 3. zly - 1 4. vein - 1

Music for anteaters to wander through the Pampas to, wiggling their big fluffy tails from side to side as they go hunting for delicious, juicy termites. Not so much for me as I head to the kitchen hunting for chocolate biscuits and a nice cup of tea.

I made it through the first song Which lasted about 6 hours. I enjoyed the first minute or so of it, but then it just kept going. Not sure if I was still listening to it by the end or if I’d just gone into a trance. Please stop sending me jazz. Favourite track: isn’t it just one long piece of music?

No way am I finishing this.

Recursive

À partir du moment où l’album est composé de 4 morceaux de 10 minutes chacun faut aller se faire foutre. Et puis l’electo jazz alternatif (c’est comme ça que je le définirai) c’est vraiment pas ma tasse de thé, je pense qu’il faut être initié pour réussir à comprendre cette musique. Spoiler, c’est pas mon cas

Toujours pas bien...

Absolutely not my cup of tea

Not a fan of the funky fusion

Not really my thing

Less than a minute i to Chameleon and it was already annoying me and there was still 14 minutes left. It didn’t get any better for me either. Just a repetitive jam. Yes it changes periodically but it changes and then just loops the new bit round and round, change and repeat. Watermelon Man was familiar sounding, i suspect more than being sampled than the original. Sly felt a but too busy and vein melter just dull

I do not like jazz. Especially when it’s this long. And jazz fusion is still jazz, just with a few more steps.

Few things make my heart sink as much as seeing a 41 minute album that only contains 4 tracks. And then seeing the inevitable "jazz" mention. I kept checking whether it had ended yet, but eventually realised it had when my app autoplayed Funkadelic afterwards. Not for me. 1/5

Cool

Too funky for my taste

I tried, but I just couldn’t.

Chaotic

I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just can’t get behind long songs. Covid fried my brain is2g.

44 minutes- 4 tracks and not a clue what was coming. Unfortunately the electronic jazz movement I was surprised with was not for me at all, made worse I suppose by the fact I’ve recently been introduced to the work of Skys instrumentals. The first track started and 30 seconds in I was wanting a stevie wonder type vocal to accompany. Unfortunately the album became a blur of very similar sounding music. No face or worse tracks as it all blended as one. 1/10 for making some noise.

Not my vibe at all

Le falta un poco de sazón quizás, no se si banco el formato de canciones d emas de 10 minutos y discos cortos, se hace repetitivo en un momento, igualmente siempre hablando desde el desconocimiento.

0.6/5 The music is tight and well played but this just sounds like music I'd hear in a hotel lobby. Not my cup of tea.

Mmmm nop

Como van a ser solo 4 canciones y durar 40 minutos? Es una locura, necesito dopamina, no canciones largas. 2/10

15 minutos la primera canción. Oh boy. Oh gowd no.

No soy fan de los álbumes instrumentales.

Nope. Bad. Just no.

didn't hit me

Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Übel.

Okay? Sure?? This is not helpful while trying to do a test. I felt very overstimulated.

Музыка альбома вызывает чувство тревожности

Terrible! I hated this. 41 minutes and only 4 instrumental songs! Ugh!

Not a vibe

Wanky jazz yawn

so boring

didn't sustain my attention well, appreciate the jazz though

Can’t get through it. It’s solely musical, jazz perhaps? I gave it my best shot, it was an okay background album but I wouldn’t listen to it again

Being familiar with (and very much liking) 'Rockit', I thought this might be the first jazz album I didn't fail. I thought wrong. So, since I had extra time on my hands, I decided to audit 'Future Shock' to see if that album lived up to the greatness that is 'Rockit' (and to wash this 'Head Hunters' crap out of my ears), and while it didn't change my life, it certainly was the better of the two albums. But that's not what's being graded here... sorry, Herbie.

The top review said this was the most accessible jazz album? If that is true then jazz will never be able to access me. I feel fortunate about that. It’s like I have the antibody for a zombie virus. Except it’s better, because I’m immune to jazz. I’d rather eat brains than listen to this again.

It was alright. Not my speed but interesting to listen to.

I was going to listen to this jazz masterpiece but got sidetracked signing lomens EPs instead

Irritatingly noodly

Very long instrumentals but a classic with it being Fleetwood Mac

I managed it all and was reminded of Morecambe and Wise with Andre Previn "He's playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order" Jazz really isnt my thing.

Background music. Boring. Unoriginal. I would rather listen to babies crying.

Enjoyed and downloaded the first song on the album but, in its entirety, it was a bit too chaotic, for a lack of a better term, for me to listen to the entire album straight through. But this being the first album of the very long series has me excited :)

Not one for me, it became wall paper music after a while, probably better suited to a Starsky and Hutch episode

Best Song: Watermelon Man Wow, this is REALLY not my thing at all. Is Herbie talented? Of course. Would I ever listen to this again in a million years - nope! 1/5.

The back end might be brilliant but it annoyed me enough in the first track I peaced out early

Не мой вкус явно, больше нравятся песни с текстом. Но как саундтрек к игре подойдет отлично

not my style of music, didn't like any song.

dawg why is one song 13 minutes

I have great respect for Herbie but it really seems the band were just working their way up themselves.

The songs are soooo long. No way. But I did already have one song off of here saved already. But dang.

Only acceptable Jazz for now.

This album was the perfect reminder of why I hate listening to jazz.

Pas du tout mon genre de jazz

Not for me. More of a background track than a lp

Meh. Vein Melter is the closest non song I've heard since John Cage's 4:33, what is that? Chameleon sounds like the incidental music from Kojak. Ditto Sly. And re doing Watermelon Man? I've come across the record before as one of those must listens, and a deadbeat listen has only confirmed my original thinking. These guys can play, granted, but what's the point?

listening when: in the morning on the way to pilates thoughts: all instrumentals. i thought this would be an easy listen because it’s only 4 songs but they’re all 15 min long of basically just “jams.” rating: 1/10

ew jazz no, u won't fool me with this nice album cover.

7/1001 First listen. One play. I know Herbie Hancock from Rocket. That’s it. This is about as far from my tastes as you could probably get. The first thirty seconds were dope though. To my uncultured ears this sounded like old vhs porn music. My first one star review. Curiously, almost all the reviews I was shown were five stars in spite of the 3.56 rating.

Not for me

Interesting.......

Dreadful. Truly awful. Unlistenable Jazz. Goes on and on. Like a jazz quartet falling down a very steep spiral stair case. I don't think it's aimed at me.

I become ever more convinced that I dont like jazz fusion.

When this popped up I thought "not again". I've seen this album in so many different lists and tried to listen to it before but never passed from the second or third song. I finished the album but didn't listen to any song until its end.

For the first 3 minutes I thought "this is cool" and then it continued without changing much. I got bored. Perhaps jazz is not for ADHD listeners!

I absolutely fucking hated this album. Its everything I hate about Jazz, crazy repetitive nonsense.

I am not a fan of this. Just weird instrumentals and the songs are like 10 minutes. No lyrics but it’s certainly something…

Funk-Jazz shit

Not to my liking

Watermelon man apparently his best - I didn’t get it but then wasn’t brought up in 1960’s Chicago..the others were pretty staccato to me and not much rhythm or meaning. So Herbie’s firm of jazz not for me..

.eh

I’m sorry… I tried, I just couldn’t make myself listen to this whole thing. When I saw this album only had 4 songs and was 41 minutes long, I knew I was in trouble. I wasn’t even 30 seconds into track#1, and I knew I would not be able to make it through the entire 15 minutes of that song. NEXT!! It reminded me of music that would be on a computer game. The other 3 songs weren’t much better. Rating: 1/5

Me recuerda a Ross tocando los teclados

How on earth does anyone listen to this for enjoyment? To me this is as close to auditory torture as I have experienced. Never again Mr. Hancock

really overstimulating

Older people often bemoan the repetitive styles of modern dance music as if it's a sickness of the youth. What the fuck, then, do they think this is?

110% not my thing.

F-U-N-K-Y ! Good for samples, nothing that I personally would listen to again.

No

Nightmare. 1/5

Chameleon sounds like the music that’d be in the background of a GTA stealth mission. Watermelon Man is a fucking mess. Sly is a very solid, enjoyable Jazz song. Vein Melter reminds me of the Mastermind Theme song. So to answer Barry B Benson’s question, I guess the answer is no, I do not ‘like’ Jazz. Chameleon (6/10) Watermelon Man (2/10) Sly (7/10) Vein Melter (3/10) 4.5/10

Nup, just no. Can't get into this album. 1/5 for me.

1/5

Nope. Too many weird sounds interrupting what might be a nice groove.

👎

26 maj sos vad händer varför är första låten 15 minuter lång utan text lyssnar folk fr på det här. det här var inget för mig☺️ 1/10

Not my thing

The best parts were the opening couple minutes and the silence at the end.

«Не нравится значит не поняли». Не мой стиль.

No lyrics

Song: watermelon man this song is weird because its making like a squeaking noise at first but later it gets better a little bit Song: ( sorry i didnt get the song ) this song is okay but its not my favorite

im not a fan of this album because it kinda weird

This was difficult for me to get through. I’m not a huge fan of jazz, and these songs just went on forever.

Surreal and not my kind of thing.

jazz-funk... need i say more? 14/100

Not against instrumental albums but they better be good and this was not

Sometimes I think about how I'm wasting precious music listening time with this project.

Is R2D2 malfunctioning?

Il y a des jours où ce projet ressemble à une promenade de santé. On tombe sur une pépite oubliée, on redécouvre un classique sous un nouvel angle, on se prend une claque monumentale qui nous rappelle pourquoi on aime la musique à ce point. Et puis, il y a des jours comme aujourd'hui. Des jours où le grand livre sacré, la bible des "1001 Albums", nous tend un disque en nous disant : "Agenouille-toi et vénère, mortel !", et où tout ce que notre âme de vieux con peut répondre, c'est un "Bof..." sonore et un peu gêné. Aujourd'hui, mes amis, j'ai commis un sacrilège. J'ai écouté "Head Hunters" de Herbie Hancock, et je lui ai collé une note qui ferait passer un album de K-Maro pour une oeuvre d'art : 1 sur 5. Voilà, c'est dit. Le couperet est tombé. Je sens déjà les puristes affûter leurs saxophones pour venir me démembrer sur la place publique. Comment, moi, ancien disquaire, ex-animateur radio, je peux passer à côté d'un tel monument ? Un disque qui a propulsé le jazz-funk dans la stratosphère, qui s'est vendu par palettes entières, qui a influencé des générations de musiciens de funk, de soul et même de hip-hop. Un disque qui, selon le dogme, est l'alpha et l'oméga du groove intelligent. Eh bien, je vais vous dire comment. En m'asseyant, en mettant le vinyle sur la platine, et en me faisant royalement chier. Pardonnez mon langage, mais il n'y a pas d'autre mot. Pour comprendre mon point de vue, il faut resituer le bonhomme. Je suis né en 1970. L'adolescence, c'était les guitares sales du punk et la froideur synthétique de la new wave. Le début de ma vie d'adulte, c'était le bruit blanc de Sonic Youth et la fureur de Nirvana. Quand je bossais à la radio, je passais du Pixies, du Fugazi, du Pavement. Au magasin de disques, je défendais corps et âme les pépites indie rock contre les assauts de la soupe commerciale. Le jazz, pour moi, c'était ce rayon un peu poussiéreux au fond du magasin, fréquenté par des types en col roulé qui parlaient de "modes doriens" et de "signatures rythmiques en 7/4". Des types qui, soyons honnêtes, me filaient un peu les jetons. Alors, quand le grand livre m'a ordonné d'écouter "Head Hunters", j'ai obéi, mais avec la même appréhension que si on m'avait forcé à regarder un match de curling. Le disque s'ouvre sur "Chameleon". Quinze minutes. QUINZE. Je viens d'un monde où un album entier des Ramones dure à peine plus longtemps. Pendant quinze minutes, ça groove, ça funk, ça ondule. Objectivement, c'est impressionnant. Les musiciens sont des monstres de technique. La production est léchée, parfaite. Herbie Hancock tripote ses synthés ARP et son Fender Rhodes avec une dextérité qui force le respect. La ligne de basse est un serpent qui s'enroule autour de vos chevilles. C'est propre, c'est carré, c'est... chirurgical. Et c'est précisément ça, le problème. "Head Hunters", pour moi, c'est l'antithèse du rock 'n' roll. Il n'y a aucune crasse, aucune urgence, aucune faille. C'est une démonstration de virtuosité, une branlette de musicos de haut vol qui s'écoutent jouer. Chaque note est parfaitement à sa place, chaque solo est millimétré. Ça suinte le talent, mais ça manque désespérément de sang et de sueur. On est plus proche d'un exercice de style pour conservatoire que d'un cri primal balancé à la face du monde. J'entends le groove, je comprends l'intention, je vois l'influence. Mais merde, qu'est-ce que ça m'ennuie ! C'est le genre de disque parfait pour mettre en fond sonore dans un bar lounge hors de prix où les cocktails coûtent le prix d'un rein. C'est de la musique d'ascenseur de luxe. Le disque entier ne contient que quatre putains de morceaux. Quatre ! Après les quinze minutes de "Chameleon", on se tape une relecture de "Watermelon Man", puis "Sly" et enfin "Vein Melter". Chacun est un prétexte à des jams interminables, des solos qui n'en finissent plus de finir, des explorations sonores qui m'ont donné envie de m'ouvrir les veines avec le saphir de ma cellule. Je sais, je suis dur. Je suis même probablement injuste. Je reconnais sans peine l'importance historique de l'album. En 1973, c'était révolutionnaire. Ça a ouvert des portes, ça a cassé des barrières entre les genres. Ça a prouvé que le jazz pouvait être populaire sans se vendre au diable. C'est un album fondateur, un pilier du jazz-funk, une pierre angulaire, mettez tous les superlatifs que vous voulez. Mais le but de ce blog, ce n'est pas de réciter sagement la leçon. C'est aussi de confronter ces oeuvres mythiques à mon ressenti, à mon histoire. Et mon histoire, c'est celle d'un mec qui a besoin que la musique le bouscule, le griffe, le surprenne par sa folie ou sa fragilité. "Head Hunters" ne fait rien de tout ça. Il glisse sur moi comme de l'eau sur les plumes d'un canard. C'est trop poli, trop parfait, trop... adulte. Alors voilà. 1 sur 5. Une note pour la postérité, pour la place dans l'histoire. Mais pour le plaisir ? Le zéro pointé. Ce projet "1001 Albums" est une aventure, et toutes les étapes ne sont pas des extases. Parfois, on traverse un désert. Pour moi, "Head Hunters" fut un désert de groove, une immensité aride de notes parfaitement exécutées. Allez, sans rancune, Herbie. Je retourne à mes guitares qui saignent et à mes chanteurs qui gueulent faux. On ne se refait pas. Surtout pas à 55 balais.

So dull, got bored very, very quickly.

Not my style of music, experimental jazz and rock are not for me.

Not really my thing, sounds like something made up by the mighty boosh. Sure it is great for someone who loves jazz. Just not my scene

First listen Saved 0/4

Experimental

They used to say that this kind of jazz went well with ADHD. I think not. Shit is irritating

Started off not hating it, but by track 3 it was giving me a headache.

Nee. Zu experimentell.

No me ha gustado nada de nada

Kaufhaussound, nichts für mich!

Errrrm No.

MAKE IT STOP

Ich empfehle, dieses Album nicht bei Autofahren zuhören. Die gruseligen Bontempi-Orgel Experimente im Jazz Style hätten fast einen Verkehrsunfall verschuldet. Ich fand das Werk extrem nervig und vollends uninteressant sowie musikalisch sinnlos.

No words I don’t like jazz Songs too long

Did not enjoy this at all

With all due respect to people who enjoys this racket, this is almost unlistenable. 10 minute-long free jazz tracks has never been my idea of a good time, and it still isn't. The first track starts up nice with a decent main riff, but about a third into the neverending tune, the keys show up and destroy everything. It's not nice at all. The Watermelon song is just awful, making my ears beg for mercy. The third track has some periods of nice sounding melodies, but this time it's the saxophone's turn to make unpleasant sounds and ruin it all. The fourth and final track is mostly calm and soothing, but from time to time there are parts I absolutely hate, so it's a 2/10, which makes 1 star. Sorry

Songs are too long & too repetitive or just strange

This is a hard album for me to review because it is so far removed from what I usually enjoy. I can appreciate the musicianship and the influence it has had, especially in jazz fusion and funk, but as a listening experience it just does not connect with me. The extended instrumental passages and heavy keyboard focus feel repetitive, and with only four long tracks, it all starts to blur into one. It is the first album in this challenge where I genuinely considered stopping halfway through. That is not to say it lacks quality, but it simply is not for me. Favourite song: I honestly could not pick one Least favourite song: The overall sound feels too similar throughout Album artwork: Funky and striking. Easily the most immediately engaging part of the album for me

Not for me.

Not to my taste

Music for boring porno flicks set in department store elevators.

Started off fine, but just became boring. Songs are too long and start becoming unlistenable.

Wow. This is not music. This is torture.

No.

Tästä mulla on harvinaisen vähän sanottavaa. Taitavaa? Juu. Meni silti toisesta korvasta sisään, toisesta ulos. Ei herätä kuulijaa (mua ainakaan).

Uskaltaa funkata. Ei niin että kuuntelisin uudelleen. 1,5.

No

J'aime pas le Jazz.

Not a fan of this style of Jazz-Funk/Jazz-Fusion.

ugh no.

I looked up the artistes performing this live to confirm if they were the head-nodding, smug, self-satisfied musicians I expected. I’ve heard this music before, but have never enjoyed it. I still feel the same although they weren’t quite the arrogant performers I expected. Allegedly this is accessible jazz funk fusion. I just found it dull and repetitive.

I remember seeing the video for the song ‘Rockit’ back in the 80s. I hated it and never gave Herbie another listen. This album has not changed my opinion. The last song was fine but it was too little, too late. Questionably interesting sidenote: I had a boyfriend in 2004 who, very early in our relationship, expressed interest in going to a Herbie Hancock show. We broke up very shortly after that.

Known Before: Standouts: 2.0

not my bag

Absolutely not.

Can appreciate the talent that went into it, but just not for me.

Don't get it

Loved the first couple of minutes, but then it just dragged on and I disliked it so much I stopped listening.

First couple tracks were groovy elevator music. Last couple were torture.

At least it was only 4 tracks! Turns out I’m just not funky enough for Herbie.

Not my type of jam

Uber uber uber slecht

It's fine as something to have on the background but don't ever see it in my playlist. Especially for full instrumentals, not that into jazz.

Not for me. Was nice as some background music while I was making my breakfast. But I won’t be listening to it again.

Not for me personally.

1/5

Nope

Play kikuyu hi j. Bh hh. Gu

Not sure what category to put this in ……. Oh yes tge fucking shit category

Está un poco malo y repetitivo. Además de que no me gusta el jazz.

Just not what I look for in my music. I’m sure it’s good if you know what you’re listening to but does nothing for me

I've never heard of Herbie Hancock before, except on the movie Tommy Boy: Richard: I need your John Hancock. Tommy: John Hancock.... It's HERBIE Hancock! Herbie Hancock is a jazz fusion musician, who got his start as a member of the Miles Davis Quintet, before branching off on his own in the 70's. This record is apparently heralded as record breaking, because of its blending of electric jazz, funk, and rock, but it did nothing for me! What I heard was a jazz/funk blend on acid. Long, drawn out solos may work in rock music, but definately don't in jazz music. When a brass instrument is played in such a high key that it sounds like someone murdering cats, I lose interest. A painful listen. I won't be listening ever again. Glad it's done. Favourite song: Watermelon Man I guess, because it is the shortest runtime. Least favourite songs: Chameleon (15 minute instrumental jazz numbers are just too long!!), Vein Melter (the only thing this song melted was my brain out of boredom), Sly 1/5

Not for me.

Not my taste at all, I miss some vocals.

I've known of Herbie Hancock for a long time, I've always enjoyed the first few minutes of Chameleon and then it just gets very noisy and discordant and I'm no longer having fun. Unfortunately that's a lot of the same with this 4-song album. Won't listen again.

This might be the greatest cover I've ever seen. The music was a little groovy but dragged on and on for me. It sounds like these guys just went in the studio for 45 mins and that was the album. 2/10

This is obviously 1 star.

Not for me, too weird!

Nope

Nonsense.

Great cover, but then you should never judge an album by…

Freestyle jazz not my cup of tea

palloso