Reviews (page 3 of 13)
Every junior high jazz ensemble learns Chameleon and Watermelon Man for a reason. This is an electro jazz/funk primer.
A Jazz-funk classic. The baseline on Chameleon still gets my heart racing after all these years
so many good tracks. thoroughly enjoyed this on my bike ride to city hall today.
Killer jazz. 5/5
One 40+ minute groove. And it's fucking great.
Not much to say other than it's a new favorite instrumental album
So funky and groovy. Loved it.
Going hard on the jazz funk
Different from the jazz I’ve listened to, electrics and synths were nice.
An absolute masterclass in Jazz and future think.
Incredible, listened on repeat.
Groovy, funky, I liked it. A little to prog rock sometimes, but it's something I'll actually listen to.
Bernie Hancock’s music just exudes “cool”.
I was expecting jazz. The funk caught me off guard. But this album is a jam. Love it.
Yes, yes, yes, one of my favorite jazz albums from the time when we still called it jazz rock and not fusion. "I'll give you a fusion right away." Anyway, wonderful music that we even found danceable. What I'd like to emphasize is that there's no singing here. There are no stupid lyrics, wonderful. An absolute highlight in music history. 5 stars, no doubt about it.
YES! I'm so happy I finally got a jazz/funk/fusion album on this list. This one is such a legendary record. Infinitely cool, exploding with charisma and style. Really looking forward to a revisit of an all time classic. Genuinely excited. PS. This cover goes so incredibly hard. Chameleon This groove is illegal, doesn't get much more head-boppingly infectious than this. There's so much rhythm in the drumming alone, and with that great rhythm guitar on top of it it's just magical. Never gonna get sick of that bass tone either. Sounds both retro and futuristic at the same time, the keyboard sounding almost alien. A technicolour musical wonderland of magical surprises and imaginative ideas. 5/5 Watermelon Man Iconic intro with the strange bottle blowing techique which sounds so incredibly unique. The composition of this track is so smooth, each instrument playing a crucial part in the creation of a rhythmic complexity that makes it such a fun listen. The bassline is like butter, just melting inside your ears trickling into the canals and tickling the brain. Such a deliciously funky track which really has you paying attention all throughout. Amazing. 5/5 Sly The moodier, more picturesque sound of this track has a very modern, slick aesthetic to it. Feels very grand and ellaborate. Has a freer form to it which creates some spontaneous sounding moments which adds a layer of unpredictability to the track. Love the tempo of the drums, and how much they dictate not only the pace of the track, but the entire structure of the instrumental solos. An impressive journey, which really makes you live the music as it is happening. 5/5 Vein Melter Starts off extremely calm and relaxing. Has a fantastically pleasant vibe with genuine moments of beauty. A magical journey which takes you through mystical landscapes meeting many of the quirky and interesting creatures who reside there. While taking its time, the track never ceases to be interesting as long as the listener allows the instruments to lead them through it. Fantastic. 5/5 This was never getting anything less than 5 stars from me. It's just so infectiously fun and innovative, while still allowing someone like me who knows very little of the genre to get lost in each and every moment. Even writing the notes for each track became difficult as I was entranced in the music the whole way through. Just a masterpiece in composition and rhythm, taking you on four distinctly different journeys that all let your imagination run loose. I love the drums, the bass, the guitars, the sax, the keys, and every other untold instruments, some with names I've never heard in my life. I feel like an idiot even attempting to review this album, ss the level of knowledge and craftsmanship that goes into this is just a level beyond my comprehension. This is just absolute perfection to my ears, and an album I intend on revisiting many more times. 5/5 Fave track. N/A Least fave track. N/A
Somehow this missed me before, but it turns out that fusion jazz has a variety of styles and some of them aren’t pure chaos
An infectious groove Asks zany sounds to the ball They turn heads all night
Well this was an easy 5. Favourite song: "Watermelon Man" but my favourite moment is in the classic "Chameleon" at ~6:53 when Herbie dials up the pitch wheel for a few bars. It's kind of ridiculous and non-traditional and perfect. One of those "no shit" classics that everyone should just *have* in their collection. 10/10 5 stars.
Fantastic. Brilliant. Perfect!
Beautiful from start to finish. An incredible album! 10 stars if I could!
Masterfunkingwonderful
According to the Amazon bio, Herbie is a controversial artist, of which I don't have any on this project. I don't see there as being much controversy surrounding this at all, it's 5 stars and anything else is ridiculous.
This album is so so cool, I've never listened to this one from Herbie Hancock, I'm only 5 min in to the first song and I'm so into it. 5/5
funky!!
So f-in' cool, this is how fusion should be done and maybe the high-water mark for the (sub)genre, largely due to its extremely high groove factor and overall tightness. It doesn't drift too far afield or get lost in excessive and pointless exploration. Still this covers quite a bit of ground, with masterful playing at every step. "Vein Melter" is a particular revelation and one thinks this is the best "Watermelon Man." Editors overstate the case that this "invented" lots of other (sub)genres, though influence them it certainly did. It's P-funk as much as Sly, too. And certainly there's no disagreeing with their assertion that it "retains a vestigial aesthetic sensibility."
DERGOAT
Yes, finally a master! Had the immense privilege of seeing Hancock at a Jazzfest in 2023. The man is an icon of groove. He is himself The Culture. Whenever something goes wrong in the world, you can know that God still exists and cares about humanity just by listening to this album. shout out to the weird opening/closing of one of the greatest songs of all time on watermelon man. shout out to one of the most beautiful relationships to have ever existed as being between a Black man and a rhodes piano. I will have this stuck in my head on my deathbed
A great electronic music experience. Herbie never disappoints.
I was so stoked when this album came up; Briefly perusing the full 1001 list, I think this might be my second or third favorite on the whole list (probably a bit of a low-ish bar - are there seriously more albums attributed to Sinatra on this list than any other 'jazz' musician?). Hancock was instrumental in finding (one of) jazz's new voice(s) in a post-Coltrane world. I typically like the evolutionary line that progressed into the sort of third-wave, avant-garde jazz in this era (Coleman, Mingus, Alice Coltrane, etc.). But Hancock makes a powerful statement with 'Head Hunters' that electronic sounds don't have to lose the soul of the genre. 'Chameleon': when has a 16 minute song passed by so quickly? The slow progression of this groovy opening that transforms into this call-and-response between a groaning saxophone and percussive keyboard over modal chord progressions... Extremely innovative, while staying true to Hancock's roots working with Miles. 'Watermelon Man': This song has such a special place in my heart, I have been obsessed with it for decades after playing it in 7th grade jazz band. How can you not love this song? Panflute, that weird wheezy mumbling at the beginning, chordal bass line... who thinks of that? Masterpiece. Sly: Definitely the weak link of the album (I think kinda famously so?), but whatever; it's a bit boring, but still fine and carried sufficiently by the other three songs. Vein Melter: It's so rare to hear such a textural cohesion between such disparate instruments; the way that the music just seems to oscillate between your ears, fantastic. No rounding here, just a 5/5 through and through.
What gorgeous textures, instrumentals layered upon each other, melding into a funky jazz. Some instruments stretched and taken to layers I didn't know were possible, like the blowing into beer bottles with a groovy bass/ drums on top in "Watermelon Man", sounding like velvet weaving through lace. I'm definitely adding this to my music to listen to while writing playlist.
I do not feel the need to justify my five star review. It is self-evident upon listening to Head Hunters why it deserves it.
I loved this album. it was fresh, interesting, funky, playful. What feels like musicianship at its peak should feel like
I was in jazz band in high school. To say this album was a formative one for me is about as big of an understatement you could make
Loved the atmosphere. Funky, groovy. Throwing shit it on and showing it to everyone.
A relentless display of skill
Good golly this is a cool album. Just such insane sounds.
Herbie Hancock is a giant of jazz, in fact a colossus of the music world full stop! This is his seminal album and classic of the jazz funk fusion whatever genre. Superb!
-ahhh yay Head Hunters!! i got to see Herbie Hancock in concert in September and he was phenomenal one of my favorite jazz artists -there’s really nothing bad i can say about this album! very fun and still sounds pretty unique today. some of herbie’s best work -Favorites are Chameleon, Watermelon Man, and Vein Melter
I rate Watermelon Man a 5 star because the beat and all the instruments are good and it´s just a good song. I rate camileon a 5 star because the beat and all the instruments are good and it´s just a good song and the dynamics are really good.
Do you want to listen to some music that has a keyboard? Well in Watermelon Man you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I highly recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has some keyboard? Well in chameleon you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song.
Herbie is the greatest living jazz artist, apologies to Sonny Rollins, Marshall Allen, Chick Corea, et al. Head Hunters is eternal.
I absolutely loved this, I listened to the album on repeat all day.
Well sheesh, this was incredible.
Funky
A great album and a long tiume favourite of mine. The beginning of the use of synths. I give it a 5 for its milestone status.
Being yet another classic from the master Hancock, this album is, without a doubt, a definitive work—not just in jazz-funk, but in music as a whole—owing to its vast and enduring influence. It’s not only fun and unpretentious, but also creative and fiercely groovy. At just 40 minutes and 4 tracks, with Chameleon and Sly both stretching past 10 minutes, each could have easily been 30 minutes long, and I would have still wanted more. Transcending genres and eras, Head Hunters remains one of my all-time favorite albums.
Disco, artista y portada incónicos. Hancock es un referente en múltiples géneros, sobre todo el Jazz pero también en el Funk (aquí por ejemplo), la fusión africana, Post-Bop, electro (Rock it)... ha tocado durante muchos y fructíferos años. Ha hecho de todo y siempre con un innegable sello de calidad. Cuatro años antes había participado con M. Davis en In a silent way, obra referencial del Jazz. NO incluye su mayor éxito: Cantaloupe Island (aún no la había compuesto). Este fue el disco más vendido del jazz en la historia en su momento, razones no le faltan. Si quieren leer una crítica completa, háganlo aquí: https://barroquita.com/2024/02/22/herbie-y-los-cazatalentos-entre-camaleones-sandias-y-mascaras-africanas/. La otra opción es darle al play y disfrutar del álbum.
Seminal and enjoyable on all accounts, not just for jazz-heads. Proficient (to say the very least) playing backed a lot of soul. Head Hunters offers slow-burn groove-fest jams as well as absolutely fiery fusion. At least half of the tracks here have become jazz standards, deservingly so. If this album interests you at all, definitely check out every album Herbie released from 1969 through the latter portion of the 70’s. Funky fusion for a lifetime.
One of the instrumental albums that I like the most, from the first second you can recognize that it is Herbie Hancock, I dare say that it is his best album.
Absolutely no notes. Flippin slaps. Right down to the album art. Turned off whatever wuss rock I was listening to and immediately laid on some Herbie. Seeing this rated highly really soothes my soul. I love that the most popular one star review guy got this and then immediately gave up on music; blew it!
Herbie Hancock has had a long and storied career with so many cresting waves that it’s hard to name any one time as the peak but 1973-1976 was undeniably special. Head Hunters (an album so great that the band he formed for it went on to their own successful career), documents Hancock at the forefront of another rising tide. But not just part of that wave, he helped point the way. This music is supple and propulsive. No doubt, that motion comes from one of the tightest rhythm sections in jazz fusion. Paul Jackson’s basslines are the atomic essence of groove, endlessly elastic, kinetic and hypnotic. Harvey Mason’s drumming is as deep in the pocket as the Mariana Trench, keeping everything simmering just below a boil. Hancock’s clavinet and synth work surfs right on top, playful, slinky and memorable. Popular music genres have been crossing streams since the day anyone put a boundary up. Hancock knew jazz was at its best when electrifying and accretive — absorbing funk, soul, pop and rock. Head Hunters fused it into something smooth, funky and fully locked-in.
One of my favorites. I really respect Herbie for going in this direction.
just some absolutely awesome stuff
Loved it.
Ahh.. the album that made me an insufferable jazz nerd in high school. Need I say more?
Easily my favorite Jazz album! It's just so funky and groovy that it's impossible to have a bad time while listening. That bass tone is legendary. I also love how slow they start playing Chameleon and then by the end of the song they are grooving so hard it's like 25-50 BPM faster then when they started. High 5.
As someone who is very interested in the development of electronic music I'm so glad to have heard this meld of synth and jazz!
Very funky and accessible jazz. Chameleon is an epic track, Watermelon Man is also fantastic and Sly is pretty great too. I didn't enjoy Vein Melter quite as much but I'm still giving this a 5 because the rest of the album already earned it.
5 for the sentiment I have with this. Always will remind me of how proud I was listening to my son drumming Watermelon Man at his first public appearance. I am biased.
herbie is yet another big influence in my music taste, i love most every thing he's put out in his lifetime, and this iconic album is no exception. it's probably one of his best, if not the best. very stylish and very funky, this album is essential to the world of jazz fusion, blending standard jazz rides and lines with VERY crazy keyboard solos and maybe the occasional african influence or two. there's probably studies about music that stimulates the brain in a positive way... this is certainly an example of that. only 4 large tracks on this one.
i always put off hearing this album but i'm soooo glad i finally gave it a listen Chameleon - 5/5 (a bit long but really good, was far from bored) Watermelon Man - 5/5 (i have no words this shit was just pure 🔥🔥🔥from beginning to end) Sly - 5/5 (another long but good one) Vein Melter - 3/5 (real slow and chill, sounds like music to sneak around at night to) this album really changed my perspective on jazz 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
funky, groovy, amazing instrumentation and soloing, tight, amazing keyboard playing, incredible sax, nasty hooks on watermelon man, nice drumming to accommodate the mesmerising passages 10/10
It was silly and I had a lot of fun
I feel cooler for having listened to this
Phenomenal stuff, Edgy but not rough Bassline that slaps Under the smooth I collapse A seminal album from a seminal year 5 stars, no fear
spacious
Nioce
2/6/25. Incredible jazz fusion by Herbie. Great musicianship and awesome sounds, all timer for me.
This was dope, Watermelon Man & Chameleon are classics, but the following two tracks are solid too. All felt very different but felt tied in together. It feels 70s with the clavinet, and it's definitely jazzy and funky. Drummer and bass were killing it, and keys/synth are the cherries on top. Plus there's just so many weird little accents throughout every song to keep it interesting.
Goes down easy, vibes vibes vibes
One of the best albums of all time.
It would be a classic with just Chameleon and Watermelon Man. The fact that the other half is here and is really good too is just icing on the cake. The snare that drives the lumbering Vein Melter caught my attention so much I had to play it again to listen to the other instruments.
This album is definitely a “where have you been all my life” album. It’s a psychedelic funk album…. What’s more to say? It’s fucking awesome and your wasting time by not listening to it right now!
This is one of my top 20 favorite albums of all time. Totally deserves a spot on this list
Diabolically groovy. Big 4.5
An all time classic, absolutely a tent pole of jazz funk fusion.
Desert island selection. One of those records where every note feels celestially preordained. Herbie Hancock is an American treasure, though people like me who first encountered him when "Rockit" became a hit may understandably require some convincing (BTW that has aged better than you might have guessed). The problem with records like this is what they spawned in terms of horribly inferior imitators. Definitely should have come with a DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME warning label for other musicians who picked it up.
short track list, long trip, very fun journey
"It was a stone groove, my man" Standouts: The 15min-long "Chameleon" and "Watermelon Man"
People used to dance to jazz. At the start of the twentieth century the nascent genre was born, and by the 1930s jazz was dominating airwaves and dance floors during the swing era, so called for the music’s rhythmic trait and the dance style it inspired. Jazz abruptly shifted out of the spotlight as popular music moved on to other budding genres including R&B and rock, and it was around this time that jazz permanently shifted its gaze inward, becoming less focused on inspiring corporeal reactions from its listeners on a dance floor and instead setting its sights on cerebral pursuits including technical expertise, experimentation, and improvisational prowess, making the music more complex and intentionally unpredictable — ultimately making it less approachable as it aged. By the early 70s Herbie Hancock was over a decade into his career, and he was determined to return jazz to the dance floor. During those first ten years Herbie made significant contributions to the growing catalog of jazz standards, scored, conducted, and performed three major motion picture soundtracks, and spent years as an integral member in a few of Miles Davis’ consequential bands of the late 60s. But the headier territory jazz was entrenched in frustrated Herbie. The three albums leading up to Head Hunters made with his Mwandishi band from ‘70-‘73 were arguably in this vein: while the music of that period was the most visceral and raw of his career (Sextant is another classic album of his), and the virtuosity and synchronicity of the band was undeniably on display during live shows at the time — these albums built on the spaced-out fusion aesthetic that bloomed after Miles Davis’ landmark fusion records Bitches Brew (1970) and In A Silent Way (1969), the latter of which featured Herbie on the Fender Rhodes. Jazz had become pretentiously self-indulgent during fusion’s rise, and was in desperate need of a fresh approach. The late 60s/early 70s was a revolutionary time for most musical genres. Herbie was a fan of all kinds of music, and Sly & The Family Stone was a particularly favorite band of his. Sly’s psychedelic spin on James Brown’s funk expanded that genre, and Herbie wondered whether he could intertwine jazz and funk in a similar fashion — and by doing so bring jazz back into the popular music fold, something young hip folks put on at parties and danced to, and that DJs played on popular radio. And so Herbie conceived an approach and assembled a band, the Headhunters. Their eponymous debut record changed jazz forever. It reached No. 13 on the Billboard charts and eventually went platinum, and it is the second-best selling jazz record of all time — it’s also worth noting that Herbie and Miles hold 5 places on that top 10 best seller list. The forty minute, four-track Head Hunters is stylistically and technically impressive, bursting with joyful funky energy every second of its run time. Every member of the Headhunters is firing on all cylinders, all aces on their respective instruments. The album is dominated by the rhythm section, and the grooves that come out of their collective pocket are so infectious. The record is propelled by Harvey Mason’s incredibly funky patterns. James Brown’s drummers Clyde Stubbeldield and John Starks are rightfully considered the greatest funk drummers of all time, but had Mason dedicated to playing how he did on this record his whole career he would’ve easily snatched that title from their deserving, time-keeping heads. Most of the record Mason is restrained, deceptively simple in his execution, but firmly locked into patterns that are so pleasantly off beat, a skill he honed playing a wide array of genres as one of the standout session drummers in the entire music business who backed countless jazz and rock stars during that era. With support from Paul Jackson on bass and Bill Summers on percussion (and famously on half-full beer bottle for the whistling riff that opens ‘Watermelon Man’), the rhythm section was firmly rooted in place allowing Hancock to express his unique sense of modalities and melodies using an assortment of electronic keys and synths. Head Hunters overachieved its aims, energizing a genre that had grown stuffy and intellectual, and propelling him even further ahead of his peers; Herbie was a jazz virtuoso with enough accolades to fill multiple careers at the time this album was released, and Head Hunters turned him into a pop star. Herbie remained fixed on that upward trajectory and continued to merge jazz with popular music trends decade after decade, consistently chipping away at the exterior of jazz music until a new form is born.
A true funk masterpiece!
Got about 5 seconds into Chameleon and instantly knew it was gonna be a banger. I’m really surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. Album cover is cool.
So good. a jazz-funk masterpiece and those synth bass lines just heralded a new era.
In my opinion not one of the greatest albums of Hancock but still great music.
This is the good stuff.
Love me some Herbie Hancock. Used to listen to this album regularly in college. 30 years later, it still holds up.
I like the album cover of this one. By the artist name, I could imagine that Buster would like this album. Amazing album. very jammy. Must be amazing to see live.
Amazing new find here! What a great mix of funk and jazz that never fails to be entertaining and exciting.
Jazzy, funky, synthy and all that good stuff!
Coincidentally heard this like 2 days ago lmao. Loved this, love the Herbie Hancock sound. You’d be hard pressed to find a Herbie Hancock album or, hell, a song I won’t like.
As smooth as it gets
This album, and I'd say Herbie Hancock in general, is one of the few that's mastered the art of being really really cool. The music here resonates with the listener not on a spiritual, emotional, or even visceral level - but on a level that's very subdued, not in plain sight but still strongly present...a "bass" level. Each percussive element, drum fill, key hit, bassline, and sax note is sequenced meticulously to ensure that these relentless grooves can go, at times, completely off the rails. This aspect can lead to something undeniably tight and groovy like on the faster vicious saxophone and key solo passages of 'Sly'. Or it can lead to something satisfying like that cute refrain on 'Watermelon Man' that uses space effectively enough to keep the listener slightly disoriented, constantly guessing, but hooked all the same. That key hit acting as an almost starters-pistol for this one particular passage is great... In general, I'd say 'Watermelon Man' is my favorite track here - it's just such an iconic piece of jazz, especially given its bottle flute opening. 'Chameleon' is another song that's just cool - an iconic and funky bassline is at the core of this one, and while it stays in that very repetitive place for a good chunk of the song, it eventually evolves into something unrecognizable with those keys and synth, becoming warmer and more elegant as the track blooms and opens up. Elegance is also the name of the game on the closer 'Vein Melter', especially in those closing minutes. It's easily the least "aggressive" song here and serves to send off an otherwise explosive album. Very few albums land in this unique space between electronic, jazz, and funk music. Because of that, I'd argue that this album lacks a strong "musical" identity, at least in the traditional sense...that's to say it's very eclectic in its styles and transitions. But there's a kick here, one you get from very few albums, a sense of satisfaction that's difficult to pin down, but is made clear as day when actually listening.
This was a fantastic album, a brilliant blend of jazz and funk with some amazing synth playing. Chameleon was an absolute bop - That bassline is infectiously good, and while some long songs have a tendency to overstay their welcome, I didn't feel this at all. In fact, it didn't feel like a 15 minute song at all, I guess just because of how fun it was to listen to. My one nitpick of the song is I wish it had an ending rather than a fade-out. Maybe they are still jamming out to this day... Watermelon Man was cool, I thought the bottle-blowing was neat, and it goes into a super-cool funky beat. I like the various changes in energy throughout Sly - It starts out quite chilled and funky and then explodes with this crazy jazzy energy, then returns to those chilled funk vibes at the end. Vein Melter closed the record off very nicely with a nice and more laid-back chilled sound. Overall, this whole album was jazzy, funky, groovy and just brilliant. I'll come back to this one. Favourite: Chameleon
Now here's something excellent to start a week out with. No issues with this one, it's been a staple in my collection since college. Love the funk bass and drums mixed in with that early 70's electric jazz.
Now this is what I signed up for. I'd only known Herbie Hancock by name but never listened to his stuff. This is excellent. Funky instrumental jazz that just grooves the whole time. Experimental yet accessible. Now I need to listen to his earlier stuff.
Amazing album. Tons of fun sounds and experiential instruments. Think blowing into a coke bottle
Absolutely STUNNING display of Jazz/Funk fusion. Incredible album straight through.
An amazing jazz funk record.
Jazz turned hip-hop classic
Indomitable, endless grooves. Wanna hear more of what Bill Summers was theorizing while recording his grace notes
Coincidently, the weekend before this came up on my list I was having a party and put on this record. Halfway into Chameleon a friend said, "can you turn this off? It's way too anxious." Fuck her. I love this shit.
Good vibes
Very special album. Holds a special place in my jazzy funky heart. I will give it 5. In my opinion it’s really that important. I even own it on the Cd
Phenomenal. Chameleon and Watermelon Man make it 5 stars by themselves.
This is a classic. Watermelon Man blew my mind when i first heard it and remains one of my favorites. Chameleon is closely behind. Very approachable Jazz and for someone who was/is a Jazz novice that loves funk I really appreciated this. This time through I did find aspects of it boring, but I think thats because I'm maybe less of a jazz novice now? Or maybe I've just heard it too many times. Either way, classic album 5 stars.
Such a bangin jazz fusion experience. What I really forgot about was how awesome Sly (named after Sly and The Family Stone, Sly) is. Super inventive and doesnt feel old. 4 stars for my taste, 5 star jazz fusion experience
I started learning and became obsessed with guitar in fifth grade. My Catholic grade school didn’t have a jazz band, but we were a few blocks from the public middle school, and my dad was friendly with their band director, Mr O, who let me “audition” for and join the band in 7th grade. A few mornings a week, my dad would drop me at the public school at 7am, and after practice I would lug my guitar to my school down the street - even in the Iowa winters. I didn’t really know much about jazz at the time - still know only a drop in the bucket - but Mr O was this super passionate, light hearted, and sincere guy who made everyone want to learn and get better. He would stay after school on Fridays to host bonus jam sessions with a smaller group and booked us monthly gigs at the local wine/pizza bar to play to a crowd of slightly drunk parents and their friends. Mr O had a way of making very awkward middle schoolers feel cool and important. After my “audition” he sent me home with a CD I had to listen to to get started with jazz/funk - that album?Drops of Jupiter by Train.
Expertly crafted songs that take you on a musical journey.
There was a skate video back in the day called 'Mouse', it had the best music on it. It opened my eyes to a lot of new music including this. Loved this album ever since discovering it back then.
5/5
Just pure genius
The essential jazz fusion album. Groovy as hell and a great gateway into the genre but also has some proper weird moments like the squealing synth solo in Chameleon
I've never really listened to jazz(-fusion), and this was a nice introduction to that. The soundscape is very layered, it's groovy and sound so ahead of its time. Changed the rating to a 5 as I've grown to love Herbie's projects, and this probably his best. The trip the album takes you on is so rewarding, especially on Sly. It feels like you're dragged into this immense chatoic and colorful world, and in the end you land safe and sound thinking back to that experience with pure bliss. Best song: Sly Worst song: Vein Melter
Now this is the kind of music I'm looking for! I don't want another hundred British new wave and electronica albums, I want stuff like this! Despite not having any words, this album speaks to me. Head Hunters is amazing. Of course, I can't praise the writing or singing since those things don't exist in this album, so all I have to praise is the instrumental sound. Fortunately, I love the sound of this album. The blend of jazz and funk (junk, if you will) is wonderful. Some of these songs are pretty long, but they never drag. Speaking of songs, there's only 4 of them and they're all great. "Chameleon" is an excellent opener. It's the album's longest song, but it absolutely warrants the 16 minutes of runtime. "Watermelon Man" has this really unique sound that I absolutely love. "Sly" is just crazy in the best way possible. Finally, "Vein Melter" is a solid closer. It's pretty chill and I really like it, even if it is probably the weakest song on the album. Overall, this album's great. I will now eagerly wait for more albums like this. If only this website could give me some Miles Davis soon. I've heard his stuff is kind of similar to this. If so, I'm in for a treat with those. For now, Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock gets a light 5/5.
This is the first album I listened to after a long break. Love the breakneck jazzy paste and bizareness of it, especially how it doesnt overstay its welcome
Very jazzy. Very Enjoyable. A good addition
Le super album trop groovy pour que tu le touche juste une fois. Trop de bombe pour un et un plus deux tu n'auras, capiche?
a very familiar listen for me at this point! this album was one of a few that provided me a "way in" when I was first trying to get familiar with the history of jazz. I was an alt-rock and prog kid first, and I was about 4-5 years into my journey as a saxophonist, so at first I gravitated towards various flavors of fusion. fusion often has one foot in the world of rock music, but the universe of funk music presented here by Herbie and His Hunters was something alien for me at the time. having listened to this album dozens of times for over a decade, I've come to really appreciate the overall mood it places me in. it really feels like funk music that got inflicted with a heavy dose of jazz, rather than the other way around. the pockets from Hancock's rhythm section (Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason & Bill Summers) run incredibly deep; they're just as capable of creating that signature hypnosis-through-repetition effect of the best funk (the opening few minutes of "Chameleon" being the best example) as they are at providing a playground for Hancock and Bennie Maupin to weave some incredible jazz yarns (Maupin's soprano solo on "Sly" is easily the highlight of the whole record for me). the lack of a guitar (other than the bass guitar, I mean) definitely gives the timbre of this album a kind of dryness that really works in its favor. the arrangement of "Watermelon Man" here may be the definitive version of the song; the bridge on Ab7 is a welcome addition that I miss when I play the Takin' Off version on jam sessions (ditto for the entire form of "Chameleon" with all the different bridge sections and solo vamps!). "Vein Melter" also grows on me a little more each time I listen; the synth strings on that track, and throughout the album, are the one part I would say hasn't aged as well as the rest. on the whole I was shocked at how contemporary this album still sounds in many respects, especially "Vein Melter", which stands out as a precursor to the ground that experimental groups like The Necks would later break. I guess I'm just a sucker for ambient, extended harmonies over a slow drum pattern! an album I can listen to at any time, in any place, and guarantee myself a good 42 minutes. strong 9/10.
First song instantly put a smile on my face with the funky intro lick
Watermelon man yes !!!
Really great to listen to
Oh man, I fucking love Head Hunters. First heard Watermelon Man as an example of poly-rhythm in a History of Music class I took in college, and it is one of a few songs that I immediately fell in love with. Off to a funky start on Chameleon with the plonky synthesized bass line. Layers of pleasure a built on top of that simple line and tight-shifting drum beat holding it all together. The groove established around the 8:30 point with the key soloing is just fantastic. The whole introduction to Watermelon Man is incredibly gratifying. When the drum and bass enter the equation everything just clicks. The rest of the song is a certified head-bobber. Thick globs of bass with soulful sax and keys with some sex guitar licks floating around in the background. Honestly, what's not to love? Sly taps into a Shaft like funky shuffle. Love everything here 5/5
Absolutely phenomenal album plated five times today.
He's jammin pretty hard. The album cover is also super cool. Will I listen to again: 100%
What can I say. My dad was a musician so we had jazz, classical and world music on in the kitchen pretty much every day. I deeply adore Herbie Hancock, and this album is spectacular. My soul feels nourished, touched and tingled in all the right ways.
Super funky and innovative. Really surprised me in a good way.
Gorgeous record. Have loved Chameleon for years anyway, but the whole thing is just slick and cool AF.
I love funk, and I'm instantly into this. 5* Watermelon man sounded familiar but I can't place it.
LOOOOVEEEEEEEEEE
Can’t hold no grove if you ain’t got a pocket … and this album is a pouch! Hope you had lots of driving to do today
Chad
Gran disco. El track 3, “Sly”, me parece absolutamente genial. Perfecto para una noche de chill y copas.
Blew me away. Gonna get it on vinyl!
I've never listened to this album before, but had a feeling that I was going to love it. This immediately made my morning better - fantastic.
I enjoyed this album.
Funk from the future beamed into the past.
it should not have taken me this long to listen to this album. incredibly good, incredibly important - classic 5 star material
Phenomenal instrumentals. I wish more music like this existed.
Very funky good stuff. Good working music. Should try to listen while not working too
This was a much needed respite after a particularly brutal week of Bruce Sprinsteen, Syd Barrett, Culture Club and Kid Rock. Sometimes the generator taketh, but today it giveth.
This is quite easily one of the best albums ever made by anyone
My new favourite Jazz album. Shit was fantastic :)
Heard of Herbie Hancock, but never heard this. Amazing, thoroughly enjoyed a couple times.
Herbie is the GOAT. The solos, amazing.
the template for everything that came after. it's not perfect, but it really doesn't need to be. i mean, you don't have to like drinking water to know it's important to everything alive on the planet. i'll put it this way: 100% of all funk owes its existence to James Brown, that is indisputable. in that same vein, 80% of all jazz-funk owes its existence to Head Hunters (with a remaining 20% of consideration for Miles Davis's works in the 70's). what more can i say? Chameleon is everything.
Fakker med d ass, 4.8
I LIKE MY JAZZ DEEP FRIED FUNKY I listened to the first song 4 times before getting a new album generated. That doesn't sound like a lot, but considering that's longer than most albums altogether, I think this rightfully deserves a 5.
Absolutely love the funk built into this. I agree with my fellow reviewer that this is a jazz album for rock fans.
didnt think i would even get to this cuz ive had a very emotionally draining day, but it got better and this was the cap off to me slowly picking myself up, an album that i knew i liked suddenly clicking as the best thing ive ever heard in my life. its probably not That impressive to perfectly sequence an album thats only four tracks, but the balance of the A and the B side is absolutely perfect, with A as the perfect idiosyncratic introduction and B taking their overall vibes to greater extremes (sly is even more explosive and exciting then chameleon, vein melter is even more chill and relieving then watermelon man). so many instruments here sound nearly unrecognizable, its such a vivid and unique and creative palate that changes up slightly to give every track its own completely different rainbow (and yet still aesthetically Part Of Head Hunters). the band here is godly and every solo knocks me into next week, its hard to tell whether the hyper-disciplined tenseness or the moments of pure explosion hit harder. vibrant, sweaty, unbelievable music
What a gem! Holy crap. This album rocks. Its so varied in its sounds and totally take the listener on an strange journey. I love how it starts with Chameleon, on the surface its sounds somewhat generic but then it really starts to groove and dig. What blew me away on the second listen was how the synth is matching the brass tones, but its slightly off. Its really trippy, but super cool. I was only able to pick it up when I had headphones on. Also, the synth throughout is just rad. It kind of blows my mind that you can make such rad music on such an annoying sounding instrument. Watermelon Man blew me away. The flute!! I love how it starts and ends. The middle is so groovy and jammy. Sly took me to new levels. I was ripping a downhill mountain bike line while listening to that, and it was just perfect. The percussion gets so crazy and the horns are so tight. Vein Melter is a great way to end the album. Its so chill, not sure if its about heroine. It kind of feels like it might be. Killer album. Stoked to have this one today.
One of the best jazz fusion albums that stars slowly but shows his brilliance over time. This band is in harmony and feel like a well oiled machine in the best sense. The last track is the best.
Damn this is really good. Herbie went hunting heads, and found them. All the heads I knew back in high school gravitated to these tunes. Slapping that vinyl down on the turntable in Clint's dad's place would bring the heads running. The cuervo gold and fine columbian didn't hurt either. But that's a story for a different album.
Absolutely love this album. I think I first stumbled upon it 6 or 7 years ago when I started my first office job and used to listen to full albums on YouTube. I had so many great discoveries from that algorithm, before they decided to start forcing Shorts upon me. I've since got it on vinyl though, which allows for full appreciation of that fantastic album cover. The band look like they are absolutely trippin balls. I can only imagine how incredible it must have been to have heard this for the first time back in the early 70s.
Funk with good rhythm and jams- excellent
Loved this Album. Super techno retro funky. "Chameleon" was my favorite song out of this album.
Awwww yeah, this is funky as hell! I've listened to this album once or twice over the years, I'm sure, but it didn't leave much of an impression. Possibly because it works too well as background music. It certainly landed this time though, I really dug it. Fave track - "Chameleon" is awesome. Love the beer bottle on "Watermelon Man", too - I think maybe Cristobal Tapia de Veer heard that and it set off an explosion in his brain and led to his weird wibbly wobbly sound!
4.5
This is a very good, very funky album. I wonder how much herbie hancock is on this list opposed to how many fucking brit pop bullshit albums the editor decided were important. 5/5
Re-invention of a genius!! Worth a listen…
Herbie Hancock's jazz funk lives rent-free in my head. He just automatically slots into the soundtrack of my life. My jazz band? One of the first songs we ever rehearsed was Watermelon Man. Hancock is just *there*, you know?
Really nice and funky! Amazing keys
Awesome album. HH slipped into jazz funk, smashed it, moved on.
A jazzy Yes!
5/5
From the first few notes I knew I'd like this album. I recognized it from being sampled by Beck. I think it's more fun to haphazardly discover the origins of samples than to listen to a sample in a song and already know it's source.
yessssss easiest five of my life
Chameleon and Watermelon Man are all time. This album introduced me to more funky fusion type projects back in the day. My only critique is that the second pair of songs aren’t as memorable as the first pair, they’re still good, but the hit rate should be a little better for a 4 song album. (4.5/5)
This album is one I already own and is regularly played. I'm so happy it is on this list as I absolutely love it, and it's a form of validation (especially when compared to some of the absolute shite I've encountered on this list already!). It was one of the albums that really turned me on to music. Only four tracks but every one is a gem.
LOVE LOVE
From the first notes of “Chameleon” I was enthralled, and it didn’t even matter that it became chaotic during “Sly” or sounded like music that would be used on Buck Roger’s.
Jazz
Outstanding
man this album is pretty much it. so funky, so effortlessly cool. particularly the first side is iconic. the musicianship from herbie, as well as the entire ensemble is so great. the part of chameleon where it goes out of tune is unfathomably cool. the whole thing is just cool. cooler than cool jazz. front to back.
Fantastic!!!
I'm glad that Herbie Hancock returned (mostly) to standards and straight ahead jazz, but I'm grateful that albums like this helped to define funk jazz.
Beautiful album. Could listen to this any time of day. The arrangements bring you into a fantasy world full of curious adventures and playful storylines. Each instrument a unique character’s voice speaking out and telling you it’s story. Jazzy chill vibes that calm the soul.
Some of the best sounds and jams I could ever want
Some of the absolute coolest music ever recorded. the only reasonable complaint one could make about this album is that it's too damn funky!
God damn. This is good.
I love this album. It was groundbreaking at the time But still sounds great and actually still a little bit otherworldly. Hancock’s jazz chops definitely come in to play, but the sound is dark and very funky, which was new at the time. Well, the music can sound very spicy. It doesn’t drift into the stratosphere like Mahavishnu or weather report. The base drums and percussion are present in an intoxicating mix. Highly recommended.
Pleased to have listened to it, after many years. Got me also listening to a bit of Miles Davis and John Coltrane too
10/10. I’d love this album listening while I focus. I’d love this album listening passively while I’ll chill. I loved this album listening intently. Unique to me. Added the first 3 to the 5 ⭐️ playlist.
One of the best records of the 70s, and one of the best jazz records. Period.
Fucking great.
This is one of the best, not just by Herbie Hancock but by any musician
A great example of jazz improvisation of the 70's with a strong funk element to it!
Utterly tremendous - it had that "live" feel of people having fun and being ruddy great at their instruments. Any criticism I might have about it being 4 songs over the best part of an hour are offset by the fun I had listening to it. It's zany, out there, and this is the third time I'll say it, fun! :) This one goes firmly up at the top for me so far, because it sounds like they really nailed what they were going for, and it managed to surprise me in a few spots, which was really cool! :)
BL: I firmly believe this may be the best jazz record of all time. If not, it certainly has a place as my favourite jazz record of all time. The steps forward Hancock took in this album and his whole career are reflective of one of the biggest jazz pioneers of the 20th century. While he may not have gone into as wild experimentations as Davis or Monk, this groove filled exploration of electronic and acoustic sounds in harmony is everything an album should be. AL: see above. FT: “Chameleon”, “Watermelon Man” 5/5
Loved this
I mean, wha can you say, it’s Head Hunters. But, I have to tell you how bizarre an experience it was listening to this at 8 in the morning waiting for a replacement for a cancelled train, in the middle of North Wales with seagulls crying all around me
A classic! But haven't listened to it straight through in 15+ years probably, so I'm glad it popped up today!
This is not what I was expecting from a Herbie Hancock album but I am blown away. I rarely do this, but I listened to the album again immediately after it was finished. I loved all of it, but especially Chameleon and Watermelon Man. I expect I'll be listening to this again very soon.
Amazing my favourite
Herbie GOATed
Chameleon and Watermelon Man are defining. Great work on jazz<-->funk. Good thing these make up majority of the album, I can turn it off by the last song, which is in a hard spot to follow these first tunes. But still gets a top rank.
What a musical odyssey. Powerful, driving drum beats, awe-inspiring melodies. And despite only 4 tracks, so much emotion and uniqueness between them. Absolutely incredible
Not his best album but so so cool.
This album is fucking incredible. So damn groovy with some very proficient playing. Love the drums, Harvey Mason is fucking nuts!
Jazz for the uninitiated
Gracias 1001albumsgenerator, contribuyes a mi lista pomodore. Conocía de Herbie Hancock pero no había escuchado su música antes, entiendo la monumentalidad de su obra familiar
Funky, surprising
Durisimo hermano 10/10 chameleon god
Perfectly funky and fun
Funky, psychedelic, instrumental jazz that absolutely rips
Something this dated and smooth jazz like shouldn’t be this funky and good.
Classic Setbreak
Cool original hard to beat 4.6
Acid synths, bass loops, funky keys, soothing strings, singing woodwinds, tricky drums taking the listener on a walk, no questions asked.
The opening track Chameleon is pretty fun. They sort of sound like a jazzier version of Funkadelic. The bass part that comes in about 1/3 of the way through the track is sick. I usually don’t like songs that go on for 15 minutes, but this is a vibe the whole way through. Watermelon Man feels like the inspiration for the White Lotus theme song with the flute (which is apparently actually a beer bottle?! What??) and weird vocalizations. Maybe this is also where Andre 3000 drew his inspiration for his flute album? The sax is dope. This is another cool track that has a lot of different movements as it progresses. The last two songs are also good, but I didn't take notes on specifics. Really enjoyed this album, though. The songs are long, but they never get boring. And because they're instrumental you can listen while doing other things (or just fully enjoy listening). 5/5
There is no album better to listen to when you are about to listen to Miles Davis.
The grooviest of the groove to ever have grooved. Try to get Chameleon out of your head, I dare you.
My head was hunted
One of my all time favorites of any genre. Funky, jazzy, everything you want from a great Herbie album.
Great, actually
instrumental funkero lo he disfrutado y quiero tenerlo en mente para ponérmelo más
Love this album!! Love all of the different noises and instruments
I guess I'd say I struggled with this one, or at least found it challenging? Its definitely out of my wheelhouse. I've been aware of it, and its place in the music canon forever but never fully listened. I mainly just knew it as the album with Watermelon Man on it. Having now listened properly, I'd say its incredible but not quite my cup of tea. 5 stars cause I can't give it anything less, but not giving it an x/10 rating because I don't have my feelings on it sorted yet. A+ album cover
Funk genesis
This album fused funk like elements into the famed herbie Hancock jazz. I liked the inclusion of what I think are synthesizers? Thus guy has a long career of pushing the genre and I would like to listen to more.
One of the very best. Love the early jazz/funk fusion. Wonderful layering. Beaut soundtrack for a summer’s evening.
Had this on repeat, late 90s, teenager, was convinced I LOVED jazz. 25yrs later amd some big jazz records stay in my heavy rotation. However, it's come to light that I love Herbie Hancock and I just appreciate jazz. To me, the best music utilizes soundscapes. This is prevalent on most of Herbies early 70s work and on masterful display here.
I love Herbie Hancock as a concept. The same guy wrote the classic jazz standard Cantaloupe Island and the 80s electro pioneering Rockit. That's just mental. This should be two different guys. I did a bit of prep before listening as I don't know this record. Went back to Takin' Off for the original read of Watermelon Man a decade before this. Not much to say other than, astonishing. Jazz-funk, Sly Stone, yes. Probably one of the best albums new to me I've found via this book.
The streak continues. I was first introduced to the power of Herbie Hancock on In a Silent Way. And his electric piano work pushed that album to another level of perfection. So I was ready to embrace this record with open arms. Of course it didn’t disappoint. There really was no way it could. This is that sort of faster-paced rock influenced jazz fusion music that I really can’t ever get enough of. The way the opening track builds and each instrument gets added on, which eventually results in 15 minutes of near flawless jazz music. Or the woodwind intro of Watermelon Man. Or how Sly picks up the speed and is consistently moving forward at a break neck pace. I really love how this album paces and carries itself. Each element is so fine tuned, it sounds excellent, and it’s progressive in the movement of the instruments. With only four tracks, this is very close to being a near flawless jazz experience. But the last song brings it down slightly for me. The energy gets slightly less exciting. And while I’ll admit that it still sounds beautiful, it does dampen the mood a little bit too much for me. But even still, this is a marvelous piece of work. Even past the true golden age of jazz, Herbie proved that he doesn’t need those big names to find success. He was a pioneer of the post-bop style, led his own group, and created a masterpiece with them. Rating: 9/10
Seriously cool, funky 70’s jazz. Love the vibe!
More stars than are in the night sky. Magnificent. Everything I want in a record. Ordered a copy, immediately.
This is exactly what I needed right now!
Amazing experience, lovely background. Would listen again.
pre listening notes: i have heard of herbie hancock before but u honestly have no clue what i’m getting into. i like the album art, let’s go! Chameleon - funk! holy shit funk. i’m omw to work with a latte in hand already late and this song is making me want to call out. i can’t work with this juicy baseline and saxophone in my ear. y’all this song is 13 minutes long. this rips!! and then halfway through it changes to a. well i was going to say sounds like Louie Zong but then i looked into it and louie zong cites herbie hancock as being one of his biggest inspirations so i guess no one was fucking doing it like this! Watermelon Man - pretty much immediately a different vibe! there’s woodwinds here. flute and recorder and something else i’m not sure what it is? ahh but there’s that bass. this one was less hype to me than Chameleon but still very good! would def listen again Sly - aptly titled, this song feels sly. smooth and inquisitive. fuck i love the saxophone. where was this while i was studying at college?? looking for jazzy lofi beats. i didn’t know i was subconsciously searching for herbie. Vein Melter - much different vibe. more chilled out and laid back but still technically impressive and easy to listen to. although this album is only four songs, the range shown and the musicianship is literally mindblowing. once again, i find myself immensely grateful that i’m trying this 1001 album thing out because although sometimes i get frustrated (cough cough morrissey), sometimes i’m introduced to genius. 5/5
Chameleon opens with a simple, funky bassline before overlapping waves of synths come in, almost overwhelming the listener, then retreating. The bass becomes more insistent and the synths softer. The clavinet (?) comes in and the drumming is intricate, then the bassline from the intro returns. Watermelon Man is shorter, with pan flutes creating a vibrant atmosphere. Sly stays closer to jazz, with a rapid tempo and very complex rhythm section. Vein Melter is calmer, with fragments of melody over a rhythm recalling a marching band. Incredibly dense and rewarding music.
fucking sick awesome amazing album!!! i really need to get more into jazz,, this seems like a good entry point for me. 9/10 fav track: watermelon man
Wonderful. Soooo good.
I had never hear dthis before and i can confidently say now that this album goes hard. And when i say hard i mean this album is unrelenting in it's funkyness. I was enthralled for the entire duration. Will listen to this on repeat for a week.
I like jazz, especially jazz like this
Loved the three tracks other than Watermelon Man, but I think I'll listen to this again often.
Echt nice
Still sounds so hip and funky fresh!
An album like this is exactly why I'm on this 1001 album journey. I never would have listened to this otherwise - while I know who Herbie Hancock is, I just never felt the need to give him a listen. I'm very glad to have heard it now, though! Great music for a morning at home or a study session. I know this came well before Cowboy Bebop, but it's like I just found a long-lost soundtrack from that show in the best way. 5/5
Beginning
Love this album. Herbie Hancock's entrance into a funk and it's a classic!
One of the greats. Watermelon Man is a masterpiece.
I want this on vinyl. Not at all what I expected but find myself dancing through the house to this one. It's a good early morning album
I got a lot of homework done with this album!
What a weird album, but honestly I super loved this. Not sure about the vocalizations but everything else is A++. Favorite song: Chameleon
Nog lichtelijk comateus na deze funk overdose, probeer ik toch een stukje te typen. Om te beginnen, soms heb je van die albums die klinken zoals de hoes eruit ziet. Deze cover art bereidt je voor op een perfect afgewogen lading buitenaardse funk. Herbie en de rest van de koppensnellers zijn allemaal in de vorm van hun leven, waar niet over valt te twisten als je het openingsnummer hoort. Die bass line is als een levensader door alle jazz rap die een decennium later pas volgde. Sterker nog, de gehele compositie zou als een bijbel hebben gediend voor groepen als A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers en De La Soul. Ik snap dat jazz niet ieders cup of tea is, maar als je deze groove niet rechtstreeks door je poriën opneemt dan is er iets goed mis. Door zo groots te beginnen schrijf je je eigen doodsvonnis al bijna als jazz band, hoe ga je het nu nog interessant houden voor de gemiddelde luisteraar? De re-imagination van Herbie's classic 'Watermelon Man' houdt zich uitstekend staande. En de spacende flow sust mij nog iets dieper in m'n funk-coma. Een tip voor de mensen die een hond hebben: zet hem eens op in het bijzijn van je viervoeter. De hond bij m'n ouders geeft nooit ene fuck om welke muziek dan ook, tot dat die eigenaardige tribal fluitjes - hoogstwaarschijnlijk geproduceerd door een echte kannibalenstam - door de speakers blazen. Dan verlaat de geest van je huisdier z'n lichaam, en wordt het reptielenbrein maximaal getriggerd. En ook die van mij, kan er geen genoeg van krijgen. Bij 'Sly' wordt de spaceshuttle echt gelanceerd, en belanden we in een 10-minuten lange free-jazz trip. Ik waardeer de wat subtielere grooves op deze plaat meer, maar deze adrenaline rush is een schoolvoorbeeld van hoe je een album dus wél interessant houdt nadat je al je kruid al verschoten leek te hebben bij een legendarische opener. Het slotstuk met de toepasselijke naam 'Vein Melter' zorgt ervoor dat we weer veilig op aarde belanden. Het nummer geeft je overprikkelde zenuwcentrum de ruimte om tot rust kan komen, ondanks dat er af en toe nog een buitenaards geluid langs dwaalt waar je toch weer even paranoïde van wordt. De angst om weer terug het luchtruim ingeschoten te worden is nooit ver weg. Toch is deze come down ietwat onbevredigend, en voelt hij een beetje leeg aan. Maar al met al overheerst het vakmanschap van deze gasten. Elk lid was on top of his game tijdens deze sessie, en elk instrument kreeg de ruimte om te schitteren. De kracht van dit album ligt hem wat mij betreft grotendeels in deze balans, waar 40 minuten ook een ideale dosis jazz-funk is zonder dat de vreemde geluidjes, abrupte tempowisselingen, en zélfs de dominante bass lines gingen irriteren of vervelen. 9/10 Highlights: Chameleon Watermelon Man
goat music. fun, funny, groovy. I love music and these instruments
Legend.
No notes. Those are my notes, no notes. you get it? Like, these aren't here to provide notes on the album because I have nothing to say that could possibly inform on something so magnanimously awesome
this slaps
I have listened to other albums of Herbie Hancock, but this was the first time I have heard this one. I enjoyed it. Very energetic. I could tell it was HH right away. Same familiar sounds and vibe.
Very fun album.
4 nummers, duurt 41 minuten! Interessant album wat een beetje het midden houdt tussen jazz en funk naar mijn mening. De nummers duren ontzettend lang en dat kan een nadeel zijn Maar tering wat funkt dit hard zeg. Het is chaotisch, het is jazzy, het is funky. Dit is wel echt behoorlijk alles waar ik op hoopte toen ik een Herbie Hancock album zag. Vein Melter is echt een prachtig einde en een goede titel! Ik ga dit album hierna nog een keer luisteren denk ik. Dit album doet voor mij wat Kind Of Blue ook deed, ik wilde meteen meer en meer en heb sindsdien dat album echt vaker geluisterd. Fuck it, 5 sterren! FAVO: Chameleon, Watermelon man, Sly, Vein Melter
Badd azzz!!!
Absolute perfection. Chameleon is my favorite track ever. This album cover is on my favorite T-shirt.
Wow!!!!
Absolute banger. Watermelon man is a 10/10
This one is an instant 5* album for me. I'm a big fusion fan and this is such a big record that I've been familiar with since childhood. Everything about is is fantastic: the strong rhythms, exploratory solos and developing arrangements that stay funky all the way through. All of the musicians on the record are superb but Harvey Mason's drums stand out for me - I would love to be able to play like him. Love it.
Proving that Funky can be Fun, Head Hunters is one of the great Jazz albums ever. Peaking at #13 on the Billboard 200 (in 1974), it had great crossover success, and is one of the top selling jazz albums of all time. Wikipedia says it was “Among the defining moments of the [then] emerging jazz fusion and jazz-funk movements…” That pretty well sums it up. I own this album, am quite familiar with it. I’d certainly recommend it to anyone interested in classic Jazz, fusion or funk It is an easy 4.5/5, in this case I’ll round up because of its significance. 5
Absolutely phenomenal thank
Man have I been lucky this week. The Police's "Reggatta De Blanc," Muddy Waters's "At Newport 1960," and now this. What is there to say about Herbie Hancock that hasn't already been said? This feels like an album that absolutely belongs on this list not simply because it's popular, but because of its influence. This album *needed* to be on this list. If you have any interest in funk, soul, jazz, or hip-hop (especially old school hip-hop), you will like this album not just because it's an absolute joy to listen to, but because it went on to influence all of those genres. It's only 4 tracks, but man is there so much funky soul, so much attitude, so much precision and confidence packed into them. The synth work in this is exceptional. He uses it as an instrument and not as a gimmick or something just to add layers. And rhythm section is absolutely in lockstep. He really assembled such an excellent group of musicians for this one. This is one I would want to own a physical copy of. This is one I'll have on repeat for a while. Standout tracks (even though there's only 4): Chameleon, Watermelon Man, Sly (though the fading heartbeat-like bass drum at the end of Vein Melter almost makes it a standout)
For someone who doesn’t listen to much jazz or funk, this is the best jazz-funk record I’ve ever heard.
Extremely groovy. Great look at the mixture of funk and mod.
I listened to this for a week straight when a trusted friend first introduced me. He said I would love it, and sure enough I did. I remember playing it one afternoon at a stoplight and the gentleman next to me motioning to roll the window down, and proceeded to tell me about seeing Herbie and how it changed his life. So glad to have been introduced to it myself!
fucking groovy
5/5 already know and love
Listened to this one a LOT when growing up. It was influential. Even covered Chameleon in a ska band I was in. Revolutionary in the use of synth.
Easy. Vibin' and boppin' here. (Made me peak at the 1001 to see whether my jazzfusionrock favourite is on there and now all is good.)
Sooooo groovy!
I like it! Good for stimulating background music at dinner.
This is one of the first albums I heard on Ian's McIntosh system and it was amazing. I also met Herbie Hancock at Sound Warehouse and had him sign my hand LOLOL
Great album. I’ll listen to anything Herbie Hancock.
Extremely funky jazz. For what it is, it's basically perfect.
Repetitive but interesting.
Nice upbeat Jazz, really fun to listen to
“It’s a mixture of Jazz and Funk. It’s called Junk” Chameleon is an absolute bop Watermelon Man is weird but I do like it The rest of the album is dope
I enjoyed the album Head Hunters. I am motivated to listen to more of Herbie Hancock’s music. What a musical genius!
Wonderful listen. Was fortunate to see Herbie not too long ago and can’t believe he is still touring.
Absolute classic.
Great - Chameleon and Watermelon Man are 2 of the greatest Jazz Funk tracks ever
Absolutely awesome album. This band reminds me so much of my favorite group, Snarky Puppy, and it's clear to see them as an influence to fusion jazz pieces everywhere. Incredible stuff.
A vibe.
A ride to funk ville
Sublime and fun Jazz/Funk record. Short and sweet even though it has 15 min songs. Gotta love Herbie.
Absolutely groovy, lots of interesting sounds, a gem of its kind. Though it's an album whose musics are a bit long for today's standards (10' on average), so it has to be adequately ingested in order to fully enjoy it.
Wow. This was incredible. Loved all of this. So fun and delightful.
JAZZ
The musicianship on this album is incredible; the drumming is so tight, the bass locks into the groove. The keyboard solo 12 mins into Chameleon is excellent.
Good stuff
Each of the tracks has pretty impressive creativity - going from the funky acid bassline over a funky breakbeat on Chameleon to the hectic psychedelic saxophone solo over a perfectly metered cacophony of hand drums, breakbeat drums, and syncopated organ hits on Sly. Then you've got the off-kilter flute melodies on Watermelon and the march like feel on Vein Melter - pretty impressive on a 4 song album.
Fantastic album. Really funky and accessible Jazz.
Just wow
Watermelon man and Chameleon
This is definitely a bit of me. Love the jazz funk fusion, and also whatever the fuck was happening on track two. Best new album of the game so far.
Soulful, funky, fun. Great for a party background.
magnificent
4.75
Great album
Quite odd for the last track off Head Hunters to be called Vein Melter because this album, as a whole, should be called Face Melter. It feels quite appropriate for this to be the breakthrough for Herbie Hancock after a little over a decade of toiling under the likes of Miles Davis and putting out slivers of greatness in between (the Mwandishi albums in particular), for Head Hunters arrived at the right place at the right time. It proved that, no matter how jazz was perceived in the music world back in the 70s, it could still be on the cutting edge and the pinnacle of innovation and evolution. Fifty years later, it's still seen as such.
jazz and good fucking bass with some weird effects. Catchy themes.
8:30 into Chameleon - the synth/keys that join are so nice. Watermelon Man groove is delicious. Sly is my least favourite track, but still pleasant. Vein Melter is a woozy way to end it. 4.6/5