Reviews (page 2 of 15)
Some good funky bits, but the length of the songs ruined it for me.
Maybe the quintessential jazz funk album, I still remember the first time I ever listened to Chameleon.
Head Hunters was a pretty fun jazz record. I haven't really heard of this guy prior to listening to this album but this was another case where i knew exactly what it was gonna be. It feels like one of those jazz songs that you would hear while waiting for a representative from customer service to call you over some issue. And that's the thing with this album, it's best as background music honestly. That being said, it is good background music. The songs have a fair bit of energy and most of them introduced new things at a good rate. As a serious listening experience, it gets a bit repetitive but as background music, it works quite well. Best Song: Chameleon Worst Song: Sly
Look I am known to be fond of a jazz fusion album and this was good, I loved its eccentric and funky sound. I think my favourite song on here was “watermelon man”. Whilst this was a deceptively long album it would listen to it again. Not bad overall I give it a 3/5
Weird but good
My first exposure to Herbie Hancock was the song Rockit with its bizarre music video from the early Mtv days. It was many years later I learned that the dance track had come from a jazz legend. I can't remember the first time I heard Chameleon but it sounds as fresh and infectious today as the first time hearing it... despite the repetitiveness of that bass line. This is a great gateway album into Herbie Hancock's music.
Wow, this was an awesome fusion of jazz and funk with great grooves, basslines, and more synths than I’ve heard on a jazz record before. There is such great texture and attention to detail throughout the whole thing. This certainly feels groundbreaking and was quite enjoyable on first listen. 1 listen Favorite Track: Chameleon
A few odd choices noted but this was pleasant enough.
Album #215: Herbie Hancock – Head Hunters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Coming from Blood, Sweat & Tears yesterday, a jazz-rock album, to Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters today has given me literal whiplash. This is how you do a jazz-fusion album. The difference in quality is immeasurable, in my opinion. I’ve never listened to Herbie Hancock, although his reputation precedes him. I know a bit about him and could probably recognise a few tunes here and there, but this is my first Herbie Hancock album, and oh my God, what have I been missing? Let’s get the elephant out of the room here. Chameleon is the best funk song I have ever heard in my entire life, and right up there with the best songs I’ve ever heard. It absolutely blew me away today. It’s 16 minutes long. It could have been another 16 minutes and it still wouldn’t have overstayed its welcome. It still would have found new ideas. The drumming, the way it changes, the moods and expressions it goes through, and the way it all seamlessly flows together. It’s literally a perfect song. It needs to be celebrated more. Today shouldn’t have been the first time I ever heard it. It should be a well-known song by everyone. And I wondered to myself, that’s a pretty impossible standard to set with your opener. Would the rest of the album keep up? It really does. There isn’t a bum note on the album. There isn’t a moment where it dips at all. It’s so energetic. It’s so funky. For the most part, it’s more funk than jazz, but when the jazz does come in, and I’m not the biggest jazz fan in the world, it’s so angelic and beautiful. The choices made are stellar. Take Vein Melter at the end. This really odd, almost Disney-style section comes in towards the middle-end of the song, and it’s so unexpected, but not jarring in the way jazz can sometimes be for me. It’s just a real display of beautiful, beautiful funk music. That’s not really something you hear very often. Funk is funk, you know? It’s funky. It stinks in a good way. But this is beautiful, heavenly funk music. It’s staggering. As well as that, this is one of the best-sounding albums I’ve ever heard. This thing is impeccably produced. Everything sounds perfect. Everything is measured perfectly. Everything sounds so crisp and pristine. I need to listen to this thing on vinyl or a FLAC file or something, because it deserves the highest fidelity possible. This was a welcome, welcome addition to my musical experience today. I loved it.
Funky
Ok
Endnu en kæmpe goat Banebrydende jazz klassiker ku godt ha været længere
It's pleasant enough to listen to, albeit with nothing that really jumps out as being great.
a lot of funk not my style i'm more lyrical but it was short and sweet
I feel cooler for having listened to this.
Not bad but didn't get pulled in
Listened
Great background music, nothing more
Headhunters- Such an amazing album. Nothing sounds like it. Headhunters is one of the my favorite rhythm sections with Mike Clark on Thrust too (that album should also be on the list too!). Probably some of the coolest synth playing ever on Chameleon. Really cool how Herbie reimagined Watermelon Man and again on”Mr. Hands” three iconic grooves for each era. Love Sly and Vein Melter too. Each of the four tunes are really unique, distinct stylistically. Such great compositions
Haven’t listen to this probably since high school and i forgot how sick some of those grooves are. Definitely a classic for a reason.
Can’t say anything I haven’t said before
Deze plaat is de reden dan ik dit doe. Dit was werkelijk een pareltje onder de shitload en matige muziek die we soms moeten luisteren. Ik kan nog steeds lastig bevatten dat deze plaat al zo oud is! Waarlijk genieten van de experimentele dance achtige jazz uit de 70?! 6 sterren voor mij
Wat is dit een verademing na Broes! Het is echt een fantastisch album. Ik start de week met dit album en het is een leikker begin van de week.; Het nummer watermelonman had ik al wel eens eerder gehoord en nu het hele nummer. fantastisch. De albumcover is fantastisch! De fusion jazz is een hele fijne fusion en maakt het voor mij plezieriger om naar jazz te luisteren, omdat ik er niet zo mijn best voor hoef te doen. Het smaakt mij gewoon erg lekker. Genoten van elk nummer. Top album!
Phoe, staat er maar één keer in, zonde. Dit is natuurlijk de meest commerciële en daardoor ook de meest invloedrijke Hancock plaat, dus voor een lijst als dit is het wel logisch dat hij erin staat. Head Hunters is eigenlijk de toegankelijke versie van de twee eerdere albums Sextant en Crossings. Die zijn een stuk leiper en obscuurder, met veel meer abstracte elektronica. Als je meer een traditionele jazzpurist bent en fusion en meer groove als verraad beschouwt, zou ik Maiden Voyage of Empyrean Isles luisteren (mijn favoriet). Zal niet gaan zeiken dat er betere Hancock-albums zijn, maar vooral aanmoedigen om de andere ook te luisteren. De cover van Head Hunters is ook behoorlijk vet. Gemaakt door Victor Moscoso, een bekende kunstenaar uit de psychedelische posterwereld van San Francisco. Zeker het googlen waard.
Hoe komt dit uit 1973? Herbie Hancock is met recht een levende legende te noemen. Vier nummers op één plaat, het werkt goed voor mij aangezien iedere dag mijn spanningsboog op de proef wordt gesteld. Hierbij kun je je gewoon laten meeslepen door de muziek. Misschien val ik een beetje in herhaling, maar het moet gezegd worden dat ik echt een elektrische-pianofetisjist ben. Herbie op Rhodes is als appel-kaneel, als geitenkaas met honing (en walnoten). Jammer dat hij de lijst alleen maar met dit album heeft gehaald, maar niet getreurd: hij heeft ook nog samengewerkt met onder anderen Miles Davis, en die komt zeker nog een keer langs in de lijst! Sidenote: de saxofoon is weer gepromoveerd naar de sexy instrumenten divisie.
pilgrimage through the bush, stop to tweak out, continue
Har lyssnat rätt mycket och jag måste säga att jag gillar det. Initialt började första låten lite underligt. Men blev snabbt skön (samma med andra låten). Har lyssnat genom flera gånger. Första och andra låten är bäst totalt. De andra sådär. Kul!
nice discovery
Listened to this a bunch previously in high school and college, doesn’t get old
Onorthodox
When it was grooving it was good. When it was experimental it was not.
especially great paired with a full day of heads down computer work. Thanks Herb.
The best jazz type album ive listened to so far from this list. Admittedly the bar (in my opinion) has been very low....
First jazz record I’ve properly enjoyed as part of the 1001… The funk is just infectious
Head Hunters has arguably got one of the most iconic jazz album covers I've ever seen, yet somehow I have never listened to it....until today. I love the use of electronics in this project, not something I was expecting to hear here or anywhere in 1973 but I think Herbie uses it in a way that makes everything so much more funky and charming. This is a really fun jazz record, which I think is hard to pull off as usually jazz gives off simple emotions like happiness or sadness but hardly ever fun or groovy. The different soundscapes created by each song are such a treat, with the main instrument on each song changing every time. As much as I hate to say it Vein Melter is a very distinct shift from the sound a majority of this album was molding, but it isn't bad it just sticks out like a sore thumb. This isn't an album I would repeat a lot but it is for sure an album I can have a great time to.
A masterpiece
the only jazz i can enjoy is when it is funky
I really wanted to like this more. I'd recently watched a YouTube video on Herbie Hancock and this one featured heavily. So I tried...I think when it comes down to it, jazz isn't really for me. I respect all the talent involved I really do but it didn't grab me.
Funky! All I knew of Herbie Hancock was Rockit, this is not that. I suppose this is the jazzy/funk 70's version of that, whereas Rockit is the 80's equivalent. It's alright, not something I'd go out of my way to listen to again, but decent background music until I got to the back half of Sly which was too jazzy/chaotic for my taste. (2.5)
so funky and smooth. Amazing use of drums and the best type of jazz to have on in the background. The instruments used throughout this album mirror, to me, the sounds of nature; like the buzz of insects, or the rush of a river or the slight crackling of a hot day. Creates this gorgeous image of floating down a river while the sun beats down on me (a must try). A standout track for me was watermelon man the use of drums, piano and sax are to dieeee for. I really enjoyed listening but I do find myself leaning towards more lyrical based songs- but I don’t hate jazz…never that… just something I could only listen to selectively
not my jam
Forse non lo ascolterei per intero per piacere, ma Watermelon Man…
oh HELL yeah
I know the importance but I just can't get into it. It was actively punishing me at points.
It's funny how the common complaints are for the songs being long and that they all sound they same, but this guy can change the vibe more in one song than Bowie can in a whole album. Shit rules dude.
Jazzzzzz
Jazz with synths. Ok!
it's OK . 4th track is way too hot for my taste
Pretty decent funk jazz infusion, if that's your thing.
Watermelon Man is een mega klapper. De rest werd me af en toe iets te experimenteel.
Goooooodddmothafucking damn! Treasure trove voor mensen die knie diep in hiphop zitten. Elk nummer is minimaal 5x gesampled. Super mega hard en influenteel (hjb ik weet dat het geen woord is). Zou bijna een 5 krijgen maar het is een album die ik graag in album vorm luister, niet iets dat ik tussen de rest van mn tunes door kan luisteren. Alleen maar bangers!
Grinnell graduate of 1960 with a double major in electrical engineering and music!
Wouldn't choose to listen to this again but was pleasant listening in the background
Lots of sonic rewards for listening with headphones.
Four long (LONG) jazz-fusion excursions, with an extremely talented band stretching out over cool but repetitive chord sequences. If you like jazz jams, these are excellent ones; if not, this is unlikely to change your mind. Warning: "Chameleon" is one HELL of an earworm.
It was a chill funky album to listen to.
Groovy. Way more engaging than prog rock. Strong influence on Daft Punk it seems. Goes off on tangents sometimes but I would want to listen to this again. Maybe taking it a little too far in this first song... Second song reels it in, loving the jam. 3rd and 4th go off the rails entirely. I would love a scaled down version of this, but this isn't it
I'm sure it was good, but not a jazz guy.
Funky. Watermelon Man is a favorite on first listen, Sly sounds like the panic attack I’m about to have in the Cedar-Sinai ER waiting room and like this wait it refuses to end.
8/10 Herbie Hancock is just an absolute jazz staple and one of the jazz goats
No thanks.
i admire the talent behind this album while also not liking it much. i can only listen to funky (pos) and loud (neg) instrumentals for so long.
If someone were to ask my opinion on jazz the answer is easy - I don’t like jazz. This was very cool though.
I wasn't expecting this - but it was a real treat. Perhaps I do actually like jazz?
Always happy to get a jazz/ funk fusion album, especially in more a long form jam session format to let the songs breath and explore the space. From the outset the first track lays down such a funky beat and only takes off from there. The last 2 tracks lose a little bit of that magic but they are still great in their own right. I had heard about Hancock loosely through the years but glad to finally cement him into my mind and continue to listen to this album and his others in the future.
I have heard Herbie a few times and he is a master at what he does. Unfortunately, what he does is not exactly a fan favorite for me. This album was smooth and flowed well. It was an easy listen and the 40 minutes went by rather quickly. I would give it 7/10 and that means it will be getting a 3 from me.
Head Hunters is jazz that learned how to sweat. It takes the harmonic sophistication and improvisational freedom of jazz and puts it inside grooves powerful enough to move an entire room. And the brilliance is that Hancock never treats funk as something intellectually inferior. He treats the groove as a serious compositional language. “Chameleon” is the masterpiece. “Watermelon Man” is the transformation. “Sly” is the experiment. “Vein Melter” is the atmospheric epilogue. And together they form one of the most influential jazz-funk statements ever recorded.
The Camelion is a classic by Hancook. I also really liked the other Songs and the interesting instruments they used
bom para colocar enquanto estudo (sem letras)
It’s fine
A fusão do jazz com o funk dá liga, mas não me parece envelhecer bem. Vai soando mais como uma trilha de filme pornô dos anos 70 do que outra coisa.
Spent the whole time waiting for it to be over
Cool shit. Funky. I mostly knew this guy from the tommy boy referrence. Seems he's been pushing things forward for a long time.
I'm now 1 for 4 on albums I haven't heard before, which is kind of insane luck. Anyway I already knew I liked this album. It's ripper.
How can you give this anything but 5 stars? A near perfect album, and while I'm not the jazziest listener, it's impossible for me not to recognize excellence like this LP. 10/10
Favorite track(s): Chameleon, Watermelon Man, Sly, Vein Melter He might stand the slightest bit shorter than his fellow titan Miles but Herbie knew how to put the world in the palm of his hand. Heard before Previous rating: 8/10
Overall: 9/10 God, this is a trip. So much funk and swagger going on here, it's one of the most danceable albums in this list. I'm not normally a huge fan of strictly instrumental albums but this is one of the best I've ever heard. Genuinely my only problem is that it's too short! Fav Song: Watermelon Man
Pas mal, la premiere j'aime bien. Sympa dans un café. Un peu décu de la fin mais rapide et efficace
Jazz visiblement accessible. Je mets 3/5 pour la technicité qui reste hors de ma portée
Strong 4/5, maybe 4.5/5. I think with a few more listens this could be a 5/5. Amazing album overall.
422/1001 Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ Perfect for a Sunday morning this. It's equal parts really interesting, yet familiar at the same time. The inclusion of funk into the mix was a welcome addition. I'm sure I'll get more from this as I listen to it more.
I like sly, or least the the 2nd part of it
Nothing special, I do like HH, strange version of watermelon man
Play that funky music, Herbie! "Chameleon" has an insanely catchy hook and, while long (15:45!) is still a pretty sick groove. I was feeling good after that song ended, until track two, "Watermelon Man" started, and I felt as if I was listening to some 4th graders practicing for their recorder concert. Totally ruined the vibe for me. "Sly" was a bit of redemption, as it starts off sort of chill, but definitely cranks up the funky energy midway through."vein Melter" is good - slow start, again, but this time it maintains its sultry, cool, slow feel. "Chameleon " was the standout for me.
Lang eerste lied. 14 minuten. Dat zie je niet zo vaak. Leuke album cover. Ik vind het eerste nummer wel een beetje saai worden op een gegeven moment. Wow dat tweede nummer ken ik lol. Daar heb ik met Aaron toevallig naar geluisterd. Vind het jammer dat dat begin een meme nummer is geworden, want het is een best goed nummer. Leuke fluitjes op het eind. I like this one!
Well, well, well. Some jazz music that isn’t absolutely atrocious in every way! Like this for sure!
This is groovy and chill. It slaps
Short and sweet
Love Watermelon Man
Fuuuuuunky….weird
Nice
Not a fan of jazz, not a fan of instrumentals. Thus, not a fan of this
classy saturday morning
in the comfort of my own presence I’m willing to admit I don’t like songs without words. give me a couple at least. I have claimed to like improv jazz before, I was lying. we get it. bee bum bee de didildi dee dee. but it was fine, it made me want to light incense. my ranking is vein melter, chameleon, watermelon, sly. sly made me feel like I was going insane, vein melter was a welcome release. I’m not sure if I’d enjoy this more on shrooms or if it would make my brain feel like nails. part of me feels like me not enjoying it is a failure on my side. funky in a way I could at times. 2/5
I loved a slice of the Jazz being served up. More layers than British Sandwich cake!
no es mi estilo, pero conseguí disfrutarlo. No escuché el álbum entero, pero caminé de la facultad a mi casa por casi 30 minutos con esta música en mis auriculares y el sol de invierno pegándome en la cara. Linda experiencia.
Jazz é sempre uma delícia.
**2/5** – I thought this might be right in my wheelhouse. Four songs in 41 minutes is usually much more appealing to me than an album with 15 or 16 shorter tracks, and the funk influence gave me some hope. There are definitely some great grooves here, and the musicianship is impossible to argue with. Unfortunately, once it starts wandering deeper into jazz fusion and the more experimental sections, it loses me. I can appreciate what Herbie Hancock and the band are doing without particularly enjoying listening to it. **“Chameleon”** had moments that pulled me in, but even the strong grooves weren't enough to carry the more abstract parts. I understand why *Head Hunters* is so highly regarded, but this style of jazz just isn't for me. **4/10, 2 stars.**
I unfortunately wouldn’t to this again because I don’t listen to instrumental music. But I’ll give credit where it’s due this sounded incredible 7/10.
eh. джазік і бітки на 16 хвилин, шо сказати. ні сіль ні цукор
Head Hunters Herbie Hancock 1973 Genres: Jazz, Funk Styles: Jazz Funk 1. Chameleon (★★★★★) -Contexto: Tema instrumental de casi 16 minutos que abre el disco. Nació de una jam de la banda alrededor de un bajo sintetizado (ARP Odyssey, según los créditos, aunque Hancock alguna vez mencionó un Minimoog) tocado por el propio Hancock. El bajista Paul Jackson coescribió el tema. No responde a una historia narrada; es un groove funk hipnótico construido para la improvisación colectiva, en la línea de lo que a Hancock lo había "tocado" al escuchar a Sly & the Family Stone. El título alude a la idea de mutar de forma constante dentro de la misma base rítmica. 2. Watermelon Man (★★★★★) -Contexto: Es una reversión de un tema propio que Hancock ya había grabado casi diez años antes (1962, con Donald Byrd, en su disco Takin' Off). La idea de regrabarlo fue del baterista Harvey Mason. La introducción característica —los sonidos hechos soplando sobre botellas de cerveza— fue una idea del percusionista Bill Summers, inspirada en los cantos y silbidos de los pigmeos Ba-Benzélé de África Central. El tema original hacía referencia, según el propio Hancock, al recuerdo de su infancia en Chicago de un vendedor ambulante de sandías pasando por la calle con su carro. -Fav 3. Sly (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Dedicado a Sly Stone, pero Hancock aclaró explícitamente que no busca imitar su música: "fue dedicado a Sly... pero no fue diseñado para indicar que el tema estaba influenciado por su música o algo así". El propio Hancock contó en una entrevista de 1985 que escuchar "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" de Sly & the Family Stone "le llegó al corazón" y lo empujó a probar suerte con el funk. Musicalmente el tema tiene una estructura muy abierta que prioriza la improvisación libre, algo que Hancock atribuyó a la influencia de Miles Davis en el enfoque general del disco. 4. Vein Melter (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Cierre lento del álbum, dominado por el piano eléctrico Rhodes de Hancock y el clarinete bajo de Bennie Maupin. Hancock señaló que, junto con "Sly", es de los temas donde más se nota la influencia de Miles Davis en cuanto a libertad armónica y rítmica para improvisar. El título ("el que derrite venas") alude al clima denso, caliente y casi narcótico del tema, sin que haya una declaración del artista sobre un significado narrativo más allá de esa atmósfera. -TOTAL = ★★★★⯨ (4,5)
Now this is the kind of music that makes you feel cool even if you're not. Put this on and your chest hair grows and medallions start popping out around your neck. Suddenly you're not just small pimpin anymore. This is the sound of driving around 1970s New York in a brown Chevy Impala with suede interior. Welcome to funk. This whole album is great and I loved every note. I had already heard most of the records we've had so far but this one was a new and pleasant discovery for me. It's more accessible than Coltrane but still daring in the right places. The album takes a noticably jazzy turn near the end, which recalls Hancock's earlier work. This is the sound of a man moving through genres and experimenting as he goes. Highlights at the 8 minute mark of Chameleon with the song breaking down completely and then reforming itself with sixteenth notes. Many people were surprised when Rockit came out a decade later, but anyone who had listened to this album probably wasn't.
I just cannot seem to get along with jazz.
wraio periergo. 4 tragoudia 40 lepta. Auto me ta pneusta eixe asteio
Bridges the gap between jazz, pop and art rock - you can really hear Talking Heads' influences on the four-song tracklist. It's not an album I would listen to again in my own time, given the runtimes of the tracks and it being a bit outside my own taste level, but an essential piece of work.
Funk yeah! This album grooves so hard!
Enjoyed very much
Insanely fun and funky
Do ya like Jazz?
A strange and eclectic album, but I couldn't help but love some (but not all) of the beats that were here.
This album is a journey of funky and smooth jazz as it progresses from the futuristic synths in Chameleon to the jungle sounds of Watermelon Man and the more classically jazz tunes in Sly and Vein Melter. Hancock is very intentional with the arrangement of each instrument, and the percussion frequently claims much of the attention and sets the agenda for the other instruments to follow. This is an excellent album that I enjoy upon each encounter.
Jazz poging ??? Nog steeds niet leuk
Damn, that was fine. 4 "entranced bop" stars.
This album has grown on me with each listen. It starts off incredibly strong with "Chameleon" and "Watermelon Man." The second half loses a little steam, but those tracks are still really enjoyable. The more I listen to this album, the more I appreciate it. I'll definitely return to it in the future.
Pretty smooth, pretty cool, especially the first and third tracks. Am I going to listen to this regularly? No, but still it’s damn fine and better than 95% of the BS in this list.
It's got a good vibe and I like the musical ideas being done here. It's probably not something I'd come back to on a regular basis though. Pretty alright, nothing crazy, though. Fav Track: Watermelon Man
I love Herbie so much. This album is just so funky in the best way. Obviously, Herbie is an incredibly influential person when it comes to modern jazz, funk and just music in general and he did that through this record. His use of the synthesizer defined the genre. “Chameleon” does such a great job at exploring this new type of music and he does wonderful job at tying older jazz, Miles Davis esque, to modern day jazz.
Artiste connu en particulier avec le morceau ‘watermelon man’, très apprécié. Cette nouvelle version dans cet l’album est très différente de celle que je connaissais, mais est sympa aussi. Les autres morceaux sont intéressants (grooves, excellents chorus, cuivres, morceaux totalement instrumentaux, section rythmique, …). En particulier j’ai bien aimé ‘Sly’, avec sa montée en puissance très réussie pendant les chorus, mais un peu moins ‘Vein Melter’ qui manque de dynamisme. Il va donc rejoindre ma collection, mais pas avec la note max. =>4/5
Really atmospheric and experimental jazz album, fun listen and although I knew the first two songs, I enjoyed my time with the second more
Couldn't listen to it. Not my thing at all
I havent heard much Jazz other than a little Miles Davis and John Coltrane but not their whole discography or something so I am a bit of an unwritten paper when it comes to the genre. Many jazz records are just hard to access for me to be honest but oh man thats where Herbie Hancock plays his magic. The album opener is the funkiest jazz piece I have ever been pleased to hear and it catches you with an irresistible groove that keeps you the whole 15 minutes and works perfect as an opener. The second track is the "weakest point" of the album in my opinion. That being said I dont have bad things to say about it other than I dont really get the groove of the flute. "Sly" is the climax of the whole thing. The bass, the drums, the sax is otherworldly and Herbie himself solos everything out of that e-piano. This one got me really thinking why I have never dived deeper into jazz before but I guess theres a lot to explore in the future. After this energetic climax "Vein Melter" comes in and does a great job being the album closer. The calm groove the beautiful strings everything is just peaceful and relaxed. I dont know if there is some even more accessible jazz out there for people crossing over from rock for example but "Head Hunters" definetly did it for me. This will absolutely be a regular album pull for me. 4,5/5
Decent album of funky background noise.
I’m not a huge jazz fan. I have issues discerning different artists or often when one songs ends and another begins. That being said, this album was a bit more interesting than others. It’s aight.
not for me
Super vibes
à chaque fois j'aime bien est 3 première minutes du son et après c'est un peu trop long pour moi
BRO THIS DUDE WAS COOKN ON THIS ALBUM GOOD SHI YES INDEED
Jazz meh
In my short experience with Jazz music, there have not been many albums that I have found to be as amusing throughout as this one. Great overall record. 9/10 [KEEP]
Stand-out track: Vein Melter Hard to listen to this one just on its own. It works really well as background music or something to relax to, but if you try to listen to it super deeply with intent, I feel it does become a little repetitive. Certain parts of these tracks shine, but others feel like they just drag on.
bwum bwum bwum bwoom bwoom bwum
I mean it’s 40 minutes of funky jazz, nothing that blew me away but good background
Good
Groovy
4 songs - 41 minutes Jazz-funk and Jazz fusion
Watermeloooon maaan
Oh how I dig those funky ‘70s sounds. These compositions are fun, maybe not all the way through, but less boring than other jazz I’ve had to sit through.
A top musician blending so many genres it makes your head spin.
Herbie Hancock man, I don’t have much to say. I’ve listened to this one so many times even before this project.
this guys pretty famous, i don’t really like his stuff though way too weird for me undoubtedly a talented musician music like this is more like an experience to sit through akin to watching something
First song is great, but then it gets a little too weird and slow
buenisimo disco. se disruto
Leads off with some fart synth. Wow
My tired head wasn't really understanding this album when I listen to it for the first times, but just after getting some rest my first reaction was "Damn, this thing is funky and groovy as hell". This album is super fun. I really love the rhythm section from "Chameleon" and "Sly", the most high spirited songs. They have some incredibly funky bass and jazzy drums, both creating a very energetic, infectious and even hypnotic feeling that has my body in non-stop motion. And what's more, the incredibly playful solos from the electric piano and saxophones on top are not only very tasteful but also help keeping my focus on the music. So basically, these two songs end up being an incredibly cheerful and super frenetic jazz-funk fest. The other two songs are a bit more calmed down, yet very interesting on their own. "Watermelon Man", the second song of the album, has some funky lines and great grooves, just like the aforementioned ones, but the rhythm is slower. It is still very fun, and does have some nice details like the tribal sounds, but it doesn't really excite me as much as the other two. The last song ,"Vein Melter", follows a totally different vibe from the others, being centered in being super relaxing and even dreamy. The rhythm is slow, the instruments super smooth and the added synthesized strings (which can be found in the rest of songs as well) add a wonderful touch, making it a very beautiful ending. So overall, I think this album is fantastic, and I hope it helps me understand and like jazz more, as it seems like a great entry point for the genre.
very 2000s comedy movie ending
The head hunters was the collective noun for Len Houmous’ 19th-27th wives. 2.6 1/4 Chameleon
Just a greasy, groovin' jazz-funk fusion album with the right amount of experimentation thrown in, this is right up my alley. The sequencing is top notch, build up to that smokin' Sly then end with a ear candy cool down. I think the one critique some people will have is the length of the songs but man they keep them interesting the whole way through.
Jazz. Long tracks. Stepping into genres like funk and I'm not sure what I made of it. When the first track started I wasn't even sure which direction it would take. I won't listen again - I didn't hate it but not a great deal here for me
Great jazz with added funk. A pleasure to listen to.
Meh. It was fine music, but some of it almost sounded like it belonged in a porno. It was just OK. I know it has a lot of cultural significance, bit I thought it was just meh.
One word for this and it's, Groovy. Especially liked the first track.
Amazing jazz funk record.
Just really boring and repetitive
Correcto
Wait do I like jazz now??? As a jazz-hater how much I enjoyed this album has shaken me to my core.
Muy weno. Aunque super distinto a lo otro que tiene el artista wtf
Not the biggest fan of purely instrumental music. I very often need lyrics to associate with a song properly. But, I have to admit here, that the songs are still pretty damn good. The rythm, the groove, the soul.. the funk is indeed funky. I appreciate a lot how this album was groundbreaking in it’s genre mixing, combining jazz with funk and electronic music. Records like these who truly set the foundation for all kinds of music that came after always deserve an extra bit of praise. Though I have to say, I was ready for it to end around the 30 minute mark. Probably because there were no lyrics, which makes me feel like a song can drag. But of course that is something personal to me. Album itself is proper.
My dad listened to this a ton when I was growing up, and I stared at the cover for hours. Iconic jazz funk
I’m a big fan of Herbie and this record is a great combination of jazz and funk grooves. Love it.
So many reactions ... first, just going to the album and seeing how many significant releases he has, I'm reminded of how shallow my knowledge of Hancock's career is. On Chameleon, where they get the funkiness right, and the band is excellent, I'm thinking about how, even when it's good, I'm not sure fusion is really a good idea. Also, the sax player is great, but Herbie's soloing ideas are oddly pedestrian. Is he better as a composer and supporting player than a lead? I don't know. Watermelon Man is interesting, and a reimagining like this is always fun. I don't think it's great, but it's solid. And then -- Sly, with its great combination of funky rhythm and aggressive avant garde soloing makes it all seem different ... fusion Is a good idea. It Can work. But then ... all optimism is washed away by the irredeemably boring Vein Melter. It makes fusion seem like a very, very bad idea. And I'm reminded of how bad the Electric Piano Mind Virus that swept the 1970s was. It infected A Lot of music. Tickling the ivories is one thing. Tinkling the plastics is quite another. Everyone go to your room and think about, etc. Cool album, but ... decidedly a mixed bag.
This was pretty great. Maybe I was especially happy to hear it post-Korn [insert vomiting emoji] but this record made me happy.
The highest quality background music I've been given on this generator so far
I actively dislike this.
A funky, smooth journey through the early 70s. I was expecting jazz and got something like a jazz-funk hybrid. Very cool.
accessible jazz meets funk . Great Instrumental album but it doees miss the vocals . Somehow the bridge between jazz,funk, disco and early hip hop or at least break beats/electro
Amazing cosmic sounds from a master!
Your call is very important to us. Please hold on the line and a representative will be wth you. Desperately trying here but it's not my jam. Listening with open ears but it's not landing as "great" -- there is enough though to make it mildly compelling and not a complete washout.
Funky fresh
This is real cool easy listening. Just the kind of thing to put on in the background and tune out. I think Watermelon Man was my favorite of the set, but really it's just four long jazzy songs that are cool, and Herbie Hancock is cool too.
Waaay ahead of its time
( La copertina spacca )mi piacevano i rumori quasi di foresta che sentivo a volte. Bello
Funky fresh album. Reminds me a bit of Chick Corea if he leaned more into the funk side of things. Big fan over here in spotty review world.
This album was great.
What a great time. Listened through about 3 times and loved it. I can’t say I understand musical progressions or music theory or anything that might make this that much more enjoyable, but I had a fun time listening. Mid to high 4 Highs: Sly, the album artwork, the song name Vein Melter Lows: none
Excelente
This was an enjoyable rock/jazz composition
Very good musically, interesting sounds. I feel this really belongs in the 1001 list and must have been very exciting in the 70s. Today I think some of it is exhausting.
Sure is a lot of jazz on this list! But fusion this time. I listened to a lot of English fusion in high school, and heard about Hancock but never looked into him. So this one’s been a long time coming, and it’s a pleasant one! Hard to pick a standout track, but I’d say maybe ‘Vein Melter’ because it reminds me so much of the later Soft Machine albums I used to listen to. The main problem I have with it is…this feels like a ‘groove’ album to me, where very little emotionally meaningful music has arisen out of the players’ efforts. I think this funkier approach does make this one a lot more immediately approachable and lively than the Soft Machine ones I grew up on, but it still didn’t leave me much to remember except a few killer basslines.
Relisten. I mean, what else can I say? Phenomenal? Groovy? Fucks severely? Perfect? All of the above? Fav Tracks: "Chameleon", "Watermelon Man" and "Sly".
I've never been a fusion fan, and this album hasn't changed that. It's OK background music. I just finished listening to it and I could probably listen to it again without realizing it's the same album.
hum
Kind of jazz that is too free, sporadic and chaotic for active listening. "Chameleon" showed signs of good sounds but the second part of the album has those disharmonic tunes that just sound unpleasant. Or they are too meditative. If you are no avant garde jazz fan or something, this record cannot offer much.
Canciones largas que no aburren, logran mantener un jazz constante con ritmos funky y soul. Capas que simplemente desarrollan una propuesta interesante.
Masterpiece that I know very well.
Excellent album and bonus points for introducing me to something good 4/5
Listened to before, will never get tired of listening to.
나한테는어려움
How can this be only as 5? This is an album I go back to over and over again. Four tracks. Near perfection. Showed Hancock's genius. 5 stars? No, a 10.
My immediate reaction to seeing a 40 minutes album with 4 tracks is "Oh no.." There are elements here that I really like. Parts of it sound like the weird sound options my childhood electric keyboard had. I am brought back to my sister and I hitting random sounds on the "bass" setting over the pre-generated electric beat. I hadn't thought about that in a long time so I appreciate that it evoked a memory for me. Not for me at the end of the day.
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.
Honestly really captivating for some reason, similar to autobahn just without all the extra funks
‘’Next stop, Groove Central " You step off the train in a sea of people and watch as the sunlight ricochets off of the glass towers ahead of you in the distance. The station is large and open, ceilings high with vines intertwined with the pipes that run up the walls, above you and right beneath your feet. The train shuts its doors with a few beeps, and glides off as you begin to make your way toward the exit. Outside, the streets are busy and loud with some kind of activity on every corner. You make out people selling things, some in languages you aren't familiar with and brandishing objects you struggle to make out a purpose for. The buildings are large and host a myriad of vegetation on their windowsills and roofs- not glass, but a light grey concrete that feels warm to the touch. Suddenly, clouds begin to gather, and the sky darkens, turning the glass towers from dreamlike mirrors to icy monoliths. People begin to clear the streets, flocking to shop overhangs and crowding restaurants, as at last, it begins to rain. You duck into a sheltered alleyway as the drops hit your skin, sizzling slightly and leaving you itchy. A set of stairs leading downwards catches your attention as you wipe your hands on your coat, and you decide to head downwards. The underground is dingy and warm. There is a hum of electricity that seeps through your body, and the clear pipes adorning every inch of the city are aglow with neon liquid that flows deeper within the tunnels. It smells like earth and that acidic rain, and you look back to see drops trickling quietly down the staircase you came down. It is mostly empty, save for a few people smoking and talking quietly to one another. They are all dressed in dark colours and fashion unfamiliar to you, making you feel out of place, but they simply eye you without much interest as you pass. Most of the shopfronts are shut with metal guards and are covered with faded posters depicting concerts and events that are layered on top of one another. You keep walking until you find a door ajar, leading to a small room with a bar and a few booths, almost empty save for a few people drinking alone. The pipes cast the room in a purple glow, and the bartender looks up at you and nods. You nod back and walk inside. The room is dark and smells strongly like alcohol, though not unpleasantly. You sit at the bar, and the bartender- a person with three eyes and a bemused expression on her face- slides you a dark drink. You smile and pull out some money, but she shakes her head and leans on the bar, beginning to talk to you about where you came from. The hum of electricity is quieter here, you slowly realise as you talk, and the only noise is your two voices, the quiet breathing of an old aquanid in the corner and the trickle of liquid in the pipes running along the walls behind your new friend. The stools are worn down, but comfortable, and you get the idea they are either well used or very, very old. Two other people come in and wave to the bartender, who excuses herself with a smile and wishes of luck, and walks away from you. Remembering the drink in front of you, you raise the dark brown liquid to your lips and take a sip. It is cold and tastes like a mix of fermented apples and sugarcane, bitter and slightly sweet as you swallow it. The bar begins to get more customers slowly, increasing the volume as a plethora of voices start to work their way into the silence the place had shortly before. No one pays any special attention to you, save for a few glances and whispers, but you decide to get up and leave anyway, pushing your glass towards the back of the bar and dropping some money behind it. As you leave, more people enter and look at you strangely, but you head back towards the stairs you came from. The area outside is busy, and the shops are all open, each either glowing with that same purple hue or yellow with crude electric lamps. You hear laughter and the clink of dishes as the nearby restaurant hits you with the smell of meat sizzling on a grill, and some kind of sweet sauce that makes your mouth water and your stomach growl. You keep walking, weaving your way through a busy crowd, and the thud of music begins to reverberate through the tunnel as you hurry up the steps toward the alleyway you came from. It is dark outside, and the rain has ceased, the remnants of which snake their way down the drains that adorn the sides of the street and sit in small diamonds reflecting light on the leaves climbing across the walls of the neighbouring buildings. The pipes here are too aglow, this time with a green neon-liquid that casts a gentle glow on the people shutting their shops and making their way across the streets, but the main light comes from large electric bulbs that, strangely, triangular fruit seem to grow around, hanging above you somewhat precariously. It is quieter here than down there, but still quite busy, and you join the flow of people. The air is colder and a gentle breeze chills you slightly, given that you had gotten used to the warmth of the underground. The streets are still slightly wet and have small puddles of rainwater you try to avoid to save your shoes when you can, but the ones you do step into feel cold as they splash against your trouser leg. Vegetation sprouts from between the pavement cracks and is clustered near the drains, and a few steps ahead of you, a triangular fruit drops to the ground and bursts, much to the misfortune and grumbles of a few standing nearby who get splashed with the soft flesh. A drop lands on your finger, and instead of wiping it on your trousers, you curiously bring it to your nose to smell it. It smells familiar and sweet, and almost instinctively you bring it to your mouth. It tastes like spiced sugarcane- that same taste in the drink the bartender gave you earlier. You smile to yourself and keep on walking as the taste reminds you of her farewell and wishes of fortune. Moonlight settles comfortably on the glass towers in the distance and the city settles into a slow sigh as the night takes over the streets. In some places, the thud of music can be felt through the floor and stairways leading down lay inconspicuously down unassuming alleyways. The lifeblood of flora city still chugged everywhere you went, regardless, glass pipes filled with neon providing light everywhere, and the variety of oversized vegetation adorning every non- mobile surface. The night is young, and your journey is far from complete, so your thoughts still as you lose yourself in the veins of the city, continuing your walk until the finality of your destination.
Herbie puts the 'fun' in 'funky'. 41 minutes for 4 songs is a lot... this record could've been 20 minutes shorter and still would've been amazing.
Actually banging?? I will be listening to this on my own cause it’s acc so good??
You can easily relax to this, but that doesn’t mean the music lacks substance. Great album. The cover is fantastic and immediately made me more interested in what would be on this.
Never a bad time with Herbie. I already knew the second song. I enjoyed it
Watermelon man has an anxiety inducing aura
5/10 Pretty fun vibe
It’s not an album I’d put on, but if it was on I wouldn’t turn it off.
It's amazing that this album is just 4 songs, each one a long jazz jam session. Very invigorating.
Обалденный звук!
After 1 minute, I knew this was a 5-stars album. Am I an adulto contemporáneo now?
Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters is a seminal jazz-funk masterclass that successfully balances sophisticated improvisation with irresistible groove, much like your track-by-track breakdown highlights. While ambient tracks like "Vein Melter" lean a bit too sleepy and the midsection of "Watermelon Man" loses some steam, the album more than makes up for it with monumental highs. The opening classic "Chameleon" sets a brilliant, hypnotic jazz-fusion tone, while "Sly" stands out as a true triumph—driven by stellar drumming, a flawless interplay of bass, piano, and sax, and an explosive, head-nodding transition that proves the record's enduring brilliance.
YEEEAAAAAHHHH
Having listened to almost no jazz, this might be my favorite jazz album. So groovy and non-offensive.
No lyrics on this one. I think I gotta listen more carefully, but really recommended.
Bleepy bloopy funky & cool
I don't have a strong opinion about this one. I know it pretty well, and it mostly makes for good background noise at this point. The take on "Watermelon Man" is still funky and fun, but the rest of it feels like Jazz Fusion White Noise to me. Not bad but not amazing, just OK. (2.5/5)
Another album that I have heard one song from
Interesting instrumentals, but not my favorite
Chameleon alone is enough to love this album. It’s synths, jazz, groove, all rolled into one.
Min riktiga pappa <3
Underbart. Flasksjungandet i walermelon man ta såklart priset.
Det blir fullpott på Herbie
Möcket bra!
Seth - 2.1/5 Logan - 2/5
Too weird for me
Really enjoyed it, had been aware of this album for a long time and was happy to finally listen. Watermelon man was a highlight, with experimental sound effects that really created a unique experience.
Fun and funky. Almost always interesting and engaging. Long songs didn’t hurt the album.
Loved these songs!
What a stunner, this album! Even just the first half minute makes me super happy. When those drums come in! What a rhythm section, tight as a... (OK I can't find a politically correct expression). Well, very, very tight. This is so funky and groovy. And creative. An easy 5*.
#219 Heard Before? Yes, but not since I became a synth nerd. Notes: - i complain about the jazz albums on this list but consistently give them five stars. i think it's because even the most overplayed jazz-for-beginners albums aren't blaring from every grocery store and tailgate BBQ. plus with so few jazz albums here and an avalanche of classic rock filler, there's going to be more hits than misses. - to this day, few players have had jazz chops AND synth chops like Herbie. I have a sinking feeling we aren't going to see Sun Ra on this list, so this is my big chance. - recording so crisp and dry i forgot to really think about how great it sounded until later. - great balance of collaboration and showy solos. the heads are catchy as hell and all the players get a chance to flex. while at the same time Herbie is both the star and the anchor. Verdict: It's head music, it's body music. Bring it on, funk nerds. Listen Again? For sure. It's weird I left this for so long.
When the challenge arose to make a single setlist out of five full albums, HeadHunters was on my (very) shortlist. Ultimately it didn’t make it on due to being too obvious. The hottest DJ of my late 90s club days played Chameleon all the time and, against any conceivable trend, would pack the dance floor. Sigh…that DJ was very beautiful, and sometimes she would buy me drinks, but I was never single.
When I was in Brazil, I lived with this guy who was obsessed with this album. He looked like a stoned version of the sloth from Ice Age - unkempt vibe, large prey eyes on the sides of his skull, generally incapable of looking after himself. For example, I was away for a week, and the drain clogged in the shower/bath. He had no idea how to deal with this, so he just showered in knee-high brown water. It took me 15 disgusting seconds to fix this with the plunger under the sink, and he considered me a genius from that point on. He loved to choke bongs, listen to Watermelon Man, and play chess. We did quite a lot of this together. Eventually, it was time for me to move on, and he wanted to stay in touch through chess.com. I gave him my user name, and he said he’d add me. A week went by, then he contacted my girlfriend through Facebook, asking for my chess user name. She gave it to him. A month went by, and he asked her again. She gave it to him again. Another month went by, and he gave her his user name. I tried to add him on my end, but the account did not exist.
It was a jazz album. Nothing special to me - sounded like a jazz album. Definitely not bad but kinda boring and long.
5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Chameleon is a banger
??
Big vibe. Huge vibe even. Even though I missed a part of the longer songs, it kept changing it up, in a good way :)
I know I say this every time - more jazz, please. Especially more Herbie. Jazz and funk - two tastes that taste good together.
I like Herbie Hancock but it would be generous to even call me a casual Hancock fan. Future Shock was one of the first cassettes I ever owned (thanks to my obsession with the breakdancing fad and the ubiquity of "Rockit,") and then later one of my best friends, a sax player, really got into '70s jazz/funk and I got some through osmosis. I have liked what I have heard but it's just not a genre I ever really went digging into. All that being said, this is fantastic. Maybe I'm finally old enough and wise enough to enjoy it? (And I swear I'm not just saying that because I recognize the "Chameleon" bassline from Digital Underground, lol.) This version of "Watermelon Man" isn't my favorite but definitely interesting. Herbie Hancock is a genius. "Chameleon" is 5 stars, "Watermelon Man" is 4 stars, and the other two are 3 stars, making this a high-3-star album for me.
Una locura
Okay
quente, nos envolve, dá energia, é atemporal. diferente de tudo! 9/10.
Best jazz album so far
3 Funky jazz
This feels so familiar that I bet a lot of later artist have used this as inspiration. For early 70s music it feels very experimental to me. Its fun in parts and I had a good time listening through it although I wont come back to it again, its not really music I enjoy listening to. In the first two songs it often feels like some things are missing or other parts that get a bit to experimental for my taste. The later to I enjoyed quite a bit more, the classic jazz feeling is great.
Interesting jazz / funk fusion. As I've stated every time, I don't care for jazz. This, with a little extra funk thrown in was probably my favorite jazz album in the project so far. Still, didn't like it that much. The last track especially seemed to just drag and not really go anywhere.
This Jazz-funk fusion album is an all-time classic. The iconic bass line of Chameleon. Exotic sounds in the intro of Watermelon Man. Faster paced groove on Sly. Smooth relaxation of Vein Melter. Most with extended runtimes to guide you in the musician’s journey. Great instrumentation all around by this keys-sax-bass-drums quartet. As a bassist, it’s hard not to love this one.
I am thoroughly impressed by Head Hunters. This was one of the few cases where I've listened to a 1,0001 albums list selection for the first time and wished it was longer.
NIE MOGĘ SŁUCHAĆ BEZ WYJEBANIA GŁOWY Z KRĘGOSŁUPA
I like jazz now??
First listen….., This is amazing! So cool…how have I never found this before!? 1973….just wow. Coming back for repeat listening for sure. 5
these would all be fun live, but i’d never listen on my own
Needs lyrics. Giving elevator music.
Chameleon *chefs kiss * All songs should be 16 minutes long
funky
Gosh, two jazz keyboardists in two days! Generally enjoyed this. Vein Melter probably favourite track.
Another tricky one…not bad, not my favourite but listenable.
This was interesting and more enjoyable than I anticipated, has some spacey vibes.
groovy
It was a very interesting album. Not what I am used to, especially from Jazz music. It had a wonderful jazz vibe coupled with upbeat punk sounds that really made it unique. For 1973, I can really see how forward-thinking and futuristic this album would have been. All in all, a great listen but not my type of music; therefore, a solid 6/10.
Album bored me, nothing like popped out, first song was alright tho, nothing more I have to say
Herbie’s one funky motherfucker.
Not my kinda music
Enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected. Didn't realize that Watermelon Man was by Herbie Hancock. Really cool jazz pieces and the drummer was fantastic
Savage.
Good stuff
Four tracks, four grooves, four moods - this album is one of the most significant post Bitches Brew works and is seen as the album that brought Jazz, funk and rock together into a mainstream success and pretty much reinvented American music (along with with the likes of Thom Bell, Stevie Wonder's run of five 70s albums and Marvin's 'What's going on'). The album's title kickstarted the 'Headhunters' band who became a success in their own right and their playing helped to reinvent the 'chops' of future groups. Herbie was to go in another direction in the next decade but he came up with a unique album with this one.
This is one of those albums that becomes so familiar, you stop hearing quite how strange it really is. It arrived in my life through the BBC in 1973, when I was nine years old, and has stayed with me ever since. What struck me this time was not simply how inventive it is, but how carefully that invention is organised. “Chameleon” is not built like a conventional jazz performance. There are no obvious signposts announcing the theme, the soloist or the return. Instead, the music mutates. One idea quietly becomes another until you have travelled a remarkable distance without quite noticing how you got there. It feels less like a planned American city than an old European one, where districts bleed into each other and functions overlap. It has several distinct musical neighbourhoods, but no zoning committee has erected signs between them. The band’s great trick is making this complexity feel effortless. The synthesiser occupies the bottom end while Paul Jackson’s bass frequently moves into a higher register. The clavinet assumes much of the role traditionally given to a guitar. Bennie Maupin’s reeds drift between melody, texture and atmosphere. Harvey Mason, meanwhile, produces one of the great understated drum performances. His fills are tiny, beautifully judged interventions, sometimes almost resembling momentary stumbles, yet they never disturb the groove. Hancock’s synthesiser playing is equally physical. He is not merely playing notes on a keyboard with an unusual sound. He bends pitch, alters timbre and manipulates the instrument while playing it. The synthesiser becomes something pliable and expressive rather than a novelty machine. “Watermelon Man” perfectly embodies the album’s central idea: discovery. Hancock does not simply update one of his own compositions. He rediscovers it, almost as though asking what it might sound like if it were new to him. Bill Summers’ bottle introduction, derived from Ba-Benzélé music, immediately changes the frame through which the familiar melody is heard. Nothing on this record is treated as fixed. Everything is available for reinvention. Then comes “Sly”, which feels less like an imitation of Sly Stone than a tribute to the fertility of his imagination by attempting to become even more fertile. The final minute is extraordinary: cosmic, exuberant and forever threatening to fly apart without ever losing its balance. It reminded me of Phyllida Barlow’s sculpture dock, which I saw at Tate Britain. It was ramshackle yet composed, full of energy and apparently unpredictable mess. Both works provoke the same question: how on earth is this still standing? The answer is that the disorder is not accidental. It is composed unpredictability. The recording method helps explain that balance. This is not a purist jazz document in which the studio merely captures a performance, but nor is it an aggressively cut-and-spliced construction in the manner of Teo Macero’s work with Miles Davis. The core performances remain performances. Their long developments and gradual mutations are played rather than manufactured with a razor blade. What Hancock and producer David Rubinson then do is closer to the methodology of a rock, soul or funk record: overdubbing, layering and embellishing the basic performance until it becomes the finished record. The musical language is jazz, but the production language is rock. The studio does not replace the band or reconstruct it into something painterly. It reinforces and colours what the musicians have already discovered together. The emotional surprise comes with “Vein Melter”. Up to this point, the album has been driven by joy, curiosity and invention. Suddenly those impulses stop. The music becomes controlled, grieving and deeply respectful. It says, in effect: enough dicking around. This is the time for respect. But they would not want us to stop playing. The piece is three things simultaneously. It evokes the opiate state, from the shock of the syringe to the peacefulness afterwards. It is a requiem for a friend lost to heroin. And those two things together perform the critique. Hancock does not moralise or interrupt the music to explain that heroin is destructive. He allows you to experience its seductive tranquillity while making that tranquillity inseparable from the death it caused. Harvey Mason’s repeated snare rolls are especially moving. They are beautifully funereal, almost processional, less dramatic than dignified. They do not announce grief. They accompany it. That gives the album an elegant three-act structure. “Chameleon” and “Watermelon Man” form an act of discovery. “Sly” turns discovery into boundless imagination. “Vein Melter” introduces responsibility, remembrance and compassion. The answer to grief is not silence. It is playing with purpose. Listening again after all these years, I realised that Head Hunters has been listening to different versions of me for more than half a century. As a child, I heard excitement and possibility. Today I hear architecture, sculpture, grief and moral restraint. Some albums survive because they are timeless. Others survive because they are large enough to contain the different people we become. Head Hunters is one of the latter.
Fades to the back.
Estoy descubriendo que me encanta el jazz. Este disco es divertido, funky pero tambien tiene momentos de dejarse levitar un poco. Suena retrofuturista, que es el mejor tipo de futurismo. Quiero escuchar más música así.
You've got to be kidding me... Not really my thing I NEED VOCALD!!!
As always Herbie Hancock delivers. Innovative musician who deserves all the kudos that comes his way.
Watermelon man was cool, but otherwise it was a bit too out there for me. Too jazzy. Too funky. If it was toned down, I would like it more.
Never really listen to much instrumental jazz (maybe had one other album on here that was alright) although I've had my eye on this album for some time before listening due to how interesting the cover is. Chameleon was an awesome opening track, nice clean percussion and this weird warbly synth that sounds chugs along. Then that piano kicks in and some pure cinema started to unfold and that's only half of the song and my mind is already blown. Drums pick up a it and piano becomes a much calmer but still incredibly smooth sound with bouts of erupting notes, while the bass really takes center stage for me. That finally wrap around to the beginning of the song with even more elements coming to play was so satisfying after the explosion found throughout. Amazing way to open this, enthralling song the entire time the builds as it keeps going. Watermelon Man has such an odd but catchy intro. A simply done technique, blowing into beer bottles, but its done so excellently its going to get stuck in your head. the drums come in and from there the track builds into some smooth ass piano and saxophone. Again just some incredible bass here as well, accents the rest of the instrumental with a beautiful funky sound. Sly comes in immediately strong, and crescendos into a abrupt break before picking up into a fast tempo and infectious groove. The band just kicks into an almost manic playing that is keeping it moving forward at high speed and still finding ways to squeeze in these horns into the mess to create a overwhelmingly fun tune. Again it breaks and flies into a familiar sound with new changes that add further beyond to the past few minutes of playing. Ends on an absolute bang too. None of these tracks get old or drag their runtime, there's always something new coming into the mix. Vein Melter is much more lowkey track that I can still appreciate. Drums continue to march along with some bright synths taking the lead throughout along side great horns once again. Builds a calming atmosphere almost as a cool down from the absolute madness the rest of the record had going on. Overall, I'm so glad I got to hear the incredibly tight compositions here as they all engaged me the entire run time. Every track evolves and never stays too long in a singular sound. I definitely want to revisit this and I can see my self bumping it up from 4 to 5 stars as I return.
I enjoyed the many instruments that were included beyond the guitars, drums and keyboard.
I think there's an art to keeping a song brief. While the electronic overlaid with Jazz is interesting, it might be more interesting in 4-5 minute segments
This is a jazzy, YouTube meme-ish, laser tag kinda music. But I still liked it.
Awesome, futuristic, exemplary. I didn't love it as much as others seem to but I'm glad to have listened to it.
This absolutely ruled. What an insanely good groove/jazz/funk/experimental record. I had this on repeat for several hours and heard something new every time. The real killer track is the opener but they're all good in their own unique ways. So many instruments, so many layers, so many satisfying resolutions. I loved it.
A fantastic jazz album to just hit play on and you're all set!
long instrumental songs jazz though! but nothing I would revisit
Reasonable background music
Love this album! Great writing, great playing.
When I saw this album come up, I was embarrassingly a little disappointed as I predicted it would just be an enjoyable jazz album that didn't give me much else. I couldn't have been more wrong. This album is awesome, I fell in love as soon as that initial groove came through on the first track. I guess you would call this a jazz-fusion record? Super enjoyable, I had a dance and laid down and stared at the ceiling through the brilliant weirdness of Vein Melter. Loved it. Favourites: Chameleon Watermelon Man
Jazz funk fusion? Yes please!
Funky, fun. Maybe today as a good day, because i usually don't like this "jazzy" suggestions, but i really enjoyed this one!
Fuck yeah
Pretty fun listen
This is the kind of album that transcends a person's genre preferences and everyone can appreciate it for the energy and smooth jazz it is
70s jazz funk. Electronic elements are not my jam.
Another album without lyrics/vocals, but I thought the instrumentation was interesting enough to warrant listening. Good vibe, and makes for great accompanyment/background noise in an unbeat way. I could hear the jazz influence, but also how this might make a predecessor to disco later in the decade. Might listen again.
Really not my thing.
This grates on my every last nerve. So freaking repetitive.
I nearly gave this a 4 on the strength of Chameleon alone. Funky, inventive, freewheeling, and holding an awesome bass line. Loved it. However, I did not like Sly at all for some reason so the overall result was a mixed bag for me.
It was...fine. Not overly offensive but not overly memorable. One 15 minute jam session ran into the next.
amigo ta buenísimo
(´ ˘ `ㅅ) bwom bwom bwom bwom (ㅅ´ ˘ `) |chameleon 15:44| would love to be high and laying on the floor with warm lighting while listening to this this would also be good for bass practice bc i am learning bass and have been trying to find funky songs to play to so that i can learn how to improv with my bf ! also feels like something a group of friends would make together when they are just so in the flow and understanding of each other - i can imagine a circle of musicians improving this and just being in the background admiring the beauty of music and how music is truly a language i feel like a creature and it totally makes sense since i'm currently listening to chameleon i feel like i understand creatures now beautiful album cover btw synth appreciation oop you thought it was over nuh uh |watermelon man 06:30| i remember my bf playing this in the car i think YUP pieces like these make me miss playing in ensembles it just gets better what 〜(꒪.꒪)〜 add to my walking playlist, would be so nice in audubon park i miss jazz in the park when we would meet with friends and sit in the grass and talk about random things and also supporting our other friends that were playing in the bands - that was a good time makes me really pay attention to timing/cues |sly 10:21| prob my fav so far :P this would be so cool to hear live in a jazz club we just teleported omg weeeeee INSANE how they can stay together and make this sound so good esp bass i would be so lost if i were them lol this should have been my essay-typing song in college coconut mall for the funky def my fav i cannot imagine how tired that drummer's foot is unless they're using a double pedal it is beyond me how the human mind created something like this it's just so good and creative and unique okay we got teleported back welcome back |vein melter 09:09| okay funky diva omg vein melter and it like a heartbeat get it bc heart and vein get it get it love the smoothness of the sax so far a lovely, calm ending to such an album this is so nice - feels like i have energy but i still choose to slow dance and it makes me appreciate taking my time without having to feel completely slow - idk if that makes sense??? would actually want to learn this on bass out of all of the songs on this album i enjoy the simplicity of the support esp percussion and bass bc it still sounds rich, so easy to sway to okay this is a song to dance ALONE to like swaying by yourself and letting your body just flow in the way it feels to - it's liquidating and freeing |overall| super impressive and makes me appreciate jazz even more in such few songs, but that is where the 1 star got taken - i am greedy i want more
Incredible!
I don’t really understand jazz, especially fusion, but I know I like it. Herbie Hancock creates something special every time he touches a keyboard, and I do understand that. Funky and soulful, this is an excellent choice for this project. 4 stars
the groove is strong with this one. Killer rhythm section and the sounds he gets out of his keyboards are out of this world. Great album
Ok - first off: 5 stars for the cover art. When you put this on, you can feel the musicians as if you're standing in front of them. They play so tightly and yet give enough space for everyone to bathe in the spotlight - and when they do, they deliver so hard. You let the first song play and, 40 minutes later, end up with +5000 steps on your smartwatch. The beginning of Watermelon Man has strong The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time vibes. Love it. Many jazz fusion or funk albums can be monotonous, but this album is short, and each song has its own vibe.
I saw Herbie Hancock live with my father a few years ago in Stuttgart. Head Hunters already meant something before this listen. The album is jazz-funk from 1973 — Herbie taking his acoustic jazz roots and running them through synthesizers, electric bass, and a groove that never quits. "Chameleon" is seventeen minutes of it. The reworked "Watermelon Man" is almost unrecognisable from the 1962 original, and better for it. 5/5 — the real thing.
Chameleon and Watermelon Man are the definition of "cool". Jazz is a pretty uncharted territory for me, so this Herbie Hancock album was a pleasant surprise. The B-side is a little less memorable and a little less accessible for me. All in all I must say, I will be back. 3.5/5 - strong
Fuck it - this gets a 5. Jazzy funk at it's best. I had heard Watermelon before but every other song on this album slaps as well. Crazy that this was only 1973, this feels much more modern than the year suggests. Fave Songs: Chameleon, Watermelon Man
TBH hard to take in on my crappy earbuds in noisy background but I remember vibing with it on my run
Didnt like it
This slaps. A little too weird for me to just absolutely fall in love with it, but I get it's a classic. I prefer Empyrean Isles....but I'm a Bop guy
i could and do put this on all the time but felt weird listening to this in like about to rate the album mode... is it overly familiar or is it just missing something.... will continue to be a go to no matter what number i decide to give it tomorrow morning
Consider my head hunted