Reviews (page 8 of 15)
Nice so funky/jazzy/cool
one of those albums that will I will undoubtedly continue to come back to
I have recollection of listening to this on either my dad’s record player or CD player.
So good amazing insteumental music
Funky. Innovative. Dope. Hints of Parliament on the funk side, but much jazzier. Only 4 songs, but 41.5 minutes. Bang for the buck. I love the funk-jazz mix!! It's probably one of my favorite things. I'm giving this a 4.
Several seconds in, I could already tell I was going to like this. And yeah, I absolutely loved it! So interesting and ahead of its time, yet still very listenable. I listened to it a few times and played some for my kids, which happens rarely here. A great discovery for me since all I really knew from HH was "Rockit "and its freaky music video. My fave is probably "Watermelon Man," but I truly enjoyed the whole album.
I wish I was a filmmaker so that I could use these songs in a soundtrack. Great record!. I did have one problem with this, but it wasn't specifically with the album. For some reason the streaming version of this is so quiet that I had to put my volume to the max to be able to even hear it. Definitely a disservice to this grade problem.
this is so fantastic and good and makes me feel awesome
“Head Hunters” is, in my view, Herbie Hancock’s crowning achievement—a landmark in jazz-funk that remains as fresh and inventive today as it was upon release. Each track stands on its own, brimming with personality and groove, while the ensemble playing is nothing short of masterful. Hancock’s synth work is both playful and profound, and the rhythm section lays down some of the tightest, most infectious grooves in fusion history. A timeless, genre-defining masterpiece.
Chameleon and Watermelon Man are great. The other two are probably great as well, I'm just not as familiar with them.
Hancock's achievements are undeniable. This record was another cornerstone of his success. He bridged the gap between funk and jazz, making this music accessible to a broader audience. I'm not a jazz guy, but this was a nice background on a hot summer day.
Interesting.
Very funky and jazzy. Fell asleep halfway through it lounging in the sun which was pleasant, but probably means I need to have another listen. I'm not a jazz guy, but this record really has a good groove to it, especially those godly pseudo-vocals on Watermelon Man.
Forgettable unfortunately, but still good
Thanks to Tommy Boy, I’d heard of Herbine Hancock but never heard any of his music. It’s got… an interesting interpretive jazz, world music vibe. Kinda neat.
6/10 olvidable
Get funky, tira un botto come album. Peccato che sia solo strumentale e mi frena un po' come roba.
Corto y mayoría fue sonido extraño
Am I playing Toejam & Earl or am I watching an episode of Sesame Street? I thought I’d like it because of how similar it is to the music I love, but it just goes on and on. I think I heard a seagull in there somewhere. I should like this, but I didn’t and I wanted to.
Really liked Watermelon Man. My personal preference is towards shorter tracks, but this album has a great sound.
MASTERPIECE!
Funky
Vibes I quite enjoyed but can't get behind super long songs like this unless it's live
good working jazz music, very funky
4/5 A whole lotta funk, a whole lotta fun. Top 3 Songs: Chameleon Watermelon Man Sly
This is just random noise making, especially Watermelon Man. The music (?) is annoying and nothing on this album appeals to me.
Background noise jazz, not that interesting.
It's good for what it is, but I'm very much doubtful it can rise above interesting background music. Maybe we should celebrate how futuristic or modern it sounds for being a 1973 release?
Very funky Some long songs but the keep you hooked Easy to listen to
Percussion section is sick. Articulations are sooo clean. Watermelon Man was incredible and so creative.
Groovy, well thought out Jazz. I liked it. There were a few quirks, but overall I think it's worthy of at least 4 stars.
Nightmare. 1/5
Reminds me of Trapper McNutt.
Ik ben nog niet klaar voor jazz
Intense funky jazz. Met een aantal vrij exotische nummers.
Herbie Hancock walked so Shoji Meguro could run, specifically when he released what is universally considered the greatest Jazz album of all time, thereby ending the genre and any further contributions to it altogether, the soundtrack to Persona 5.
Chameleon sounds like the music that’d be in the background of a GTA stealth mission. Watermelon Man is a fucking mess. Sly is a very solid, enjoyable Jazz song. Vein Melter reminds me of the Mastermind Theme song. So to answer Barry B Benson’s question, I guess the answer is no, I do not ‘like’ Jazz. Chameleon (6/10) Watermelon Man (2/10) Sly (7/10) Vein Melter (3/10) 4.5/10
Funkyyyyy. Immediate toe tapper on the first track. Kinda long songs but they seem to keep my attention. Drummer needs a raise. Track 2 is insanely creative, loved it. Not into track 3 - felt like I was being yelled at by Jazz the whole time. Track 4 is some serious false advertising. “Vein Melter” could not be further from the truth for a song this slow and dull. Overall alright but wouldn’t listen again as a whole. 3/5
Electric jazz I would call it, very groovy and up-tempo. Sometimes it got a touch annoying with some of the electric sounds, I preferred when it the keys/percussion were the focus and other sounds in the back. Good listen
The name Herby Hancock will be familiar to many thru' his pop production work, which followed his Jazz-Funk era. This may be one of his most Jazzy-Funky work, and ... it annoys me. Sure, they does get in the groove a lot. But, to me, it seems to be "get the backing musicians in a full on groove, and then lay some random noodlings on top. Within the same song, some of it works, some of it justs seems to be aimless.
Cool stuff. 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 grooves hard, sounds fresh even decades later, and proves that jazz can move your body as much as your brain.
So good. So very good. Music is upbeat but not in a predictable or boring way. Lots of creativity, but its controlled. Would definitely listen to again. Great to have playing around the house on a Sunday.
So. Much. Noodling.
Nup, just no. Can't get into this album. 1/5 for me.
1/5
Man, just a solid ass jazz/funk album by the great Herbie Hancock. If this is what you want, look no further.
Nope. Too many weird sounds interrupting what might be a nice groove.
My head has been hunted.
I was all over this album in 1973. Herbie was at the forefront of the jazz/funk/rock fusion movement at the time and Head Hunters was blasting from every turntable. Chameleon and Watermelin Man were ubiquitous. Sounds somewhat dated now, but still an innovative move forward at the time. Herbie is one of my top musical heroes.
Inneresting
I think this album absolutely fucks. Start to finish. “Chameleon” is a wonderful funky intro that sets the scene nicely. “Watermelon Man” is the most innovative piece on the project and my personal favorite. That song feels fresh, unique, and original a half century later. “Sly” is a fantastic shoutout to the styling of Mr. Stone and features one of the best solo Herbie has ever played. Finally, “Vein Melter” is a beautiful finale that brings the ‘earthy’ concept of the album to a fitting end. This album is perhaps a perfect jazz album. Four great, experimental songs that offer a variety of moods and range. From intense and driving, to experimental and groundbreaking, to chaotic and awesome, to mellow and soulful, this album has everything you could ask for. I appreciate all of it in its complex simplicity. I could listen a hundred times and find new things to appreciate every time. Wonderful shit. 5/5
Favorite track: chameleon. Overall score: 8,6/10
I feel like most jazz records prior to this album was all about complex solos and sitting quietly in dark rooms. Then Herbie Hancock showed up with Head Hunters and basically said, "Forget that, let’s make people dance." This record is pure, unadulterated grease. It’s the sonic equivalent of a 70s street party, and it still sounds fresher than most of the stuff being produced today. The groove on this thing is absolutely filthy. We have to talk about that opening bassline on "Chameleon" - it’s probably the funkiest three notes ever played on a synth. The drummer, Harvey Mason, and the bassist, Paul Jackson, are so locked in they might as well be the same person. They don't just play a beat; they set a trap and you're stuck in it for the whole track. It’s not "showy" jazz; it’s just the tightest rhythm section on the planet doing their thing. Herbie himself is like a mad scientist here. Instead of sticking to a grand piano, he’s surrounded by all these buzzing, whirring analog synths and an electric piano that sounds like it’s being played underwater. The way they use "found sounds", like literally blowing into a beer bottle on "Watermelon Man", is just genius. It’s experimental and weird, but it never stops being catchy. It’s "space-jazz" that somehow feels like it was recorded in a hot garage. There are only four songs on the album, but honestly, that’s all you need. Each one is a journey. It’s the kind of record you put on when you want to feel cool, or when you’re driving at night, or when you just want to hear a band that actually knows how to stay in the pocket. If you don't find yourself nodding your head within the first ten seconds of this album, you might want to check your pulse. It’s a 5/5, no questions asked. 5/5
Weird and cool
Loved this one. It’s been a while since I’ve listened to this style of jazz, but I’ll be getting back into it.
Jazz x-funk-rock. Commercial success.
kivat wibat. hei kaikki herbalisti täällä tasa tehään brain blasterz -haaste.. tämä on tuttu varmaan kaikille ja kokellaas.. joo tosi kirpeetä on. ja tämä helvetin kusipää vielä kehtaa puksuttaa eteenpäin iässään.. piano piano was my first love.. and it will be my last.. pianos of the future... and pianos of the past... varmaan terv. herbie luultavasti lol.. varmaa vittu sanoo jotain tollast lol. mahdotonta tietää todellisuudessa, mutta voin kyllä arvata että jotain tollast sano vittu lol. eiks vaa? ooks samaa mielt.. mun mielest ainaki vois oll et sano tollast paskaa lol chameleon
Funky jazz. Pretty good all the way through. Rewards closer listening. Some far-out parts.
👎
Next to the Charlie Brown Christmas, this was the first jazz album I ever liked. With every listen, it continues to amaze and excite.
26 maj sos vad händer varför är första låten 15 minuter lång utan text lyssnar folk fr på det här. det här var inget för mig☺️ 1/10
It's not my favorite record of all time but it certainly is an important one. I like "Chameleon" partially because of Beck's "Cellphones Dead" which used the bass line. Worth a listen for sure, and makes for some great background music.
I can’t say Herbie Hancock isn’t talented. The man clearly has more musical vocabulary in one hand than most people have in their entire bodies. Head Hunters is very much a “musicians having fun” album. It’s jazz-funk built around long grooves and open space, and if you’re wired for improvisation, I’m sure it’s a feast. I’m not wired that way. To me, a lot of this plays like extended jazz noodling with occasional landmarks to remind you you’re still on the same track. That said, I get why this one is historically important. It’s one of the first times synths weren’t just sprinkled into jazz but treated as the main structural material. You can hear the shift happening in real time. The basslines, the textures, the whole rhythmic engine leaning into electronics in a way that would ripple through funk, pop, and eventually hip-hop. I even caught flashes of the rhythmic DNA that later shows up in “Take Me to the Mardi Gras,” which was a fun little lineage surprise. I’m glad I finally listened to it, but I don’t see myself coming back. It’s a landmark, just not one that lines up with how I like music to think. A solid 3.5/5 for influence, innovation, and the occasional groove that pulled me in before wandering off again.
C'est une découverte, mais pas à écouter pendant le travail ! De préférence le soir en milieu de soirée avec un peu d'alcool dans le sang, ça collerait bien au freestyle fou que ce disque est.
Like I'm all about The Watermelon Man...great track, but the rest of it just kind of fades into the background for me. It doesn't catch me really at all. Talented as hell and funky. I could see dancing around with this but really, just couldn't get into it.
Loved it!
Not my thing
It’s good for people who like Jazz
A classic. 10/10 would listen again.
Meget cool og unikt album
De er tydeligvis rigtig dygtige jazzmusikere men pladen er meget mere funk. Det er ret interessant og ret lækkert
Funky turning more jazzy towards the end
This is the first album I received on this platform that was truly unknown to me. This is what I'm here for!! While this album is a jam it's a bit repetitive but still good. Thanks for the exposure.
i like chameleon
Solid jazz and the artist is from Chicago. A few too many strange sounds for my taste.
Just when I thought I was completely done with Jazz for good, this record comes along and gives me hope again. It's pretty great for what it is. I'd still prefer to listen to almost any other genre, but I didn't have a bad time with this at all.
This is great. The bass is sick and Herbie is just givin' er on the keys.
Great background music
Fusão braba! Curti bastante, é minha pira. Dificil ficar parado ouvindo, te prende bem. 4
ABSOLUTE BANGER ALBUM wow I love this one so much. Funkiness therapy.
Musika ondo entzuten da, jazz animatua da, baina Jazz musika ez da nire gogokoa.
Starts Funky…Ends Smooth. In my top 5 Jazz albums. His Jazz-Funk Fusion is excellent. The tight rhythms on Chameleon are so good and make me just want to hit the repeat button over and over. Every song is different.
whats there to say, its head hunters.
Not sure how people can call this boring.
Nice, energetic jazz
Pretty good! I liked the more saxophone-forward sections less, but what did i expect?
largely listenable without causing me the anguish a lot of jazz does
Again, love this nonsense. Filing this next to Plantasia in my mind for vibey background instrumentals. Convinced there's a tune-yards song or something that samples Watermelon Man because it sounds SO familiar
I liked Watermelon Man and found the rest tolerable, which is real growth for me for greater-jazz listening.
Nice jazz vibe. Much easier sound than his 80s hit Rockit.
An intriguing fusion of jazz and electronic. Groovy. Good to have on as background music.
Album bangs, listened to it a few times today!
Elevator music, but I've heard much worse from this list. 3/5. Maybe I just have an unrefined, cromagnon ear, but there is a lot of HOT GARBAGE on this list. This artsy fartsy bullshit sucks. Give me some beats, give me some hits!
Eh
really groovy and filled with good vibrations. JAZZY FUNKY EASY LISTENABLE SPIN. (3.0/5.0)
get funked
Usually not a fan of short albums with long songs and no lyrics, but pretty decent funky music
Big album in jazz history but the solos can go on for a little too long for repeat listeners. But Chameleon especially has stood the test of time and is one of the most common funk/fusion songs young jazz musicians play when they are learning to improvise. Really fun to play
Groovy, funk, early 70's culture. Chameleon will live till the end of time. Pass the..
Takes me back to high school. Great stuff
Solid jazz album. Nothing really stands out to me. It’s Herbie Hancock and sounds like him too.
The album that made white college students think they could play funk
This album contain two tracks that I know were smoked by hip hop artists. I would have never known that it was from Herbie. In fact my first introduction to Herbie Hancock was the Rock It video.
The best parts were the opening couple minutes and the silence at the end.
Ok
No. I did not enjoy this at all.
Like this a lot. nicely bonkers
Standout Songs: Chameleon Sly Woah this album is weird. I honestly don’t really know what to make of it. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, but I was more just left confused by it. So many unique sounds. That’s the word I’d use to describe this album, unique.
jako dobro!
Every junior high jazz ensemble learns Chameleon and Watermelon Man for a reason. This is an electro jazz/funk primer.
Really groovy, pleasant background music. Not something I’d ever drive to or anything like that, but good for getting some writing done. I have to keep this in my back pocket.
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.
«Не нравится значит не поняли». Не мой стиль.
ok this is so cool, love it
Sehr nices album, love herbie hancock!
Funky
very groovy, fernetic at times, but always groovy
Otherworldly sounds, long and prodigious pieces. Exciting all the way.
Innovative, ahead of its time, but prone to repetition.
Killer jazz. 5/5
Funky jazz that takes a turn about halfway through. Solid listen, but I probably won't revisit.
The other day, YouTube’s algorithm put a live Herbie Hancock performance of “Chameleon” from 1975 on The Midnight Special in front of me. The arrangement of the song live is a bit different from what is on the record here. It starts with the more mellow part of the song, with Hancock soloing on his Fender Rhodes, but pretty quickly turns into the bouncy, funk part we know from the start of the studio version. Hancock then launches into a solo on his ARP Odyssey synth and as he manipulates its many sliders, it squelches and squeals atop the incredibly funky backbeat his band is laying down. Then, then with the flick of a switch, the Odyssey’s sound starts to get chopped up, rhythmically. He stands up and slowly lifts his hands off of the synth, but the sound continues. He lifts his hands even further, well above his head, and the sound still continues. The farther he raises his hands above his head, the more the sound is augmented, sweeping upwards into higher frequencies. When lowers his hands, the sound sweeps back downwards into a lower frequency. He continues to raise and lower his arms, seemingly modifying the tone of the synthesizer without even having to touch it, like us mere mortals would. Over and over, up and down, he moves his arms and the synth sound changes in time with his movements. The viewer is left with the impression that Herbie Hancock is some kind of funk sorcerer who can bend the will of his instrument and coax sound from it using only his thoughts. It’s cold as fuck. It’s not real, obviously, and there’s a pretty simple technical explanation for how it is done, but I won’t reveal the magician’s secret, you’ll have to figure that out for yourself. https://youtu.be/rsJV13Biapg?si=1gw76cZkV1L-hWht
One 40+ minute groove. And it's fucking great.
Meh. Kind of annoying.
it was a fun album to listen to but wasn't particularly moving. unfortunately that leads me to downgrade from a 3.5 to 3
Jazzy!
Excellent album, coherent not overly Freeform has a groove and style worthy of repeated listening. I enjoyed.
This is a chill, laid-back, and groovy album, though “Sly” picks up the pace a bit and gives some extra energy into the mix. Herbie Hancock is definitely an incredible pianist, and on “Chameleon,” you can tell he’s really having fun exploring the synth, even if it feels like he’s still discovering its full potential.
As the album description says was was already established and not new. Not really as significant as the first Tim with miles davis. Mediocre
Gets a little repetitive, but watermelon man is fun.
Really love this album. Has been a staple in my vinyl collection for years.
Cool 😎
Not much to say other than it's a new favorite instrumental album
I don't think I've ever listened to "Jazz Fusion" but this was great. So funky and flowy.
So funky and groovy. Loved it.
Oooh no, not Jazz again....first thoughts...BUT what a good funky Jazz stuff! Really liked it!
Headhunters. I once wrote the lyrics for a (so far) unreleased blues song titled ‘Mr Watermelon Man’ possibly while trying to learn the harmonica.. (Sample verse: ‘Mr watermelon man/Mr watermelon man/The Klan killed his mother/the cops shot his brother/now he’s left with no other/friends but his watermelons’). It sounded nothing like track two of this four track album. Opener Chameleon starts of as a solid chunk o’funk which could easily have been the theme tune for a 70’s cop show but at almost 15 minutes long it loses its way a bit in the middle. Herbie’s take on Watermelon Man is more of a dinner party vibe than my version (especially if the main course was jazz funk noodles) and Sly is also a bit…. ‘backgroundy’ although both are good grooves. The promisingly titled Vein Melter doesn’t do what it says on the tin. Could have been edited a bit more tightly (Hancock’s half hour?)
Precise and genre-defining album which you have to respect. Watermelon Man in particular is impeccable although across the album the momentum does flag for me in places
What comes before funk-b?
Opener Chameleon pulls you in slowly…head nodding already…. Not sure about the windpipes on track 2, they got on my nerves. But all in all a great jazz inspired quartet of tunes, Hancock was such a pioneer, this still sounds so fresh.
Absolutely cooks for 30 minutes, but Vein Melter is such a dud to end on
I did not really get this one, and the songs are very long.
Well, it was very interesting. Something I've never heard before and I don't think I will again. It wasn't completely my style but I can see how it challanges boundaries of what music is, so interesting.
Jazz easy listening
Going hard on the jazz funk
Interesting groovy album
Pretty good. Great opening track but didn’t blow me away or anything.
bello ma questo mix non mi convince
Not my usual cup of tea, but glad I listened to this. 👍
Excellent.
Love it! The album that introduced me to the joys of vinyl when I was 15. Still funky as hell.
Otro que me funcionó para trabajar. Watermelon man, muy rico. Nota: 3.7
i actually really liked this not what i was expecting
Pre-listening thoughts: 4 instrumental tracks… 41 mins… oh god… Post/during listening thoughts: on Tuesday I saw Remi Wolf in concert and that show was GREAT. Highly recommend seeing her perform if you ever get a chance to. But she had a jazz group called Dana and Alden open for her. Now, they were okay, but some of their songs were wack as hell. Let’s go to Trader Joe’s??? Let’s celebrate permaculture as a family??? Yeah you guys didn’t need to announce you were from Oregon at the beginning of your set, we can tell 😭. Anyways, my point with this is sometimes songs don’t need lyrics, otherwise it’ll just make them worse. So maybe I appreciate this album for just being cool instrumentals rather than yapping about linking up near the Kung Pao Chicken or keeping this family together over some squash in the front yard. 6/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah Fav tracks: Chameleon Least fav tracks: I didn’t dislike any of this but this isn’t something I’d revisit frequently
Not my cup of tea
So groovy and fun to listen to… although that weird flute kills Watermelon Man. The rest is cool though
The White Lotus theme song inspiration discovered LOO-LOO-LOO-LOO-LOO
I know this is a classic but even so, I find it quite challenging to concentrate on for the full duration.
I'm more of a classic jazz guy myself but respect where it's due
Different from the jazz I’ve listened to, electrics and synths were nice.
An absolute masterclass in Jazz and future think.
Watermelon man go hard feel like im in the woods
Pretty groovy. ButnotasgroovyasTheRiseandFallofZiggyStardustandtheSpidersfromMars.
Nice vibrant instrumentals!
Incredible, listened on repeat.
Groovy, funky, I liked it. A little to prog rock sometimes, but it's something I'll actually listen to.
watermelon man was best, but also liked sly. jazz isn't generally my speed but this is a good afternoon sountrack to doing other (slower) things album.
While I do enjoy the funkiness of that keyboard in the jazz, I still struggle to tap into the long form jazz. I can recognize the immense talent, but the super long screechy brass solos pull me out
i'm sure this is great and that herbie hancock really is as integral to music as people say, but i honestly don't care for flashy "wow that's really impressive on a technical / skill level" stuff. also just too whimsical for me in a theater kid way. clearly i'm bringing a lot of baggage into this
Chameleon is LIT. What a phenomenal song. The rest of the album is enjoyable...but a bit of a come down after Chameleon.
Bernie Hancock’s music just exudes “cool”.
First 2 tracks 10/10, second side 6/10
Really good. Easy to listen to and easy to enjoy.
All right. Just instrumentals aren't really my thing, I only listen to it if I really like something. This won't be going into any of my saved songs, but the I kind of liked the second song, might be worth another listen.
I was expecting jazz. The funk caught me off guard. But this album is a jam. Love it.
Na
Really enjoyed this jazzy, funky album. It felt like it should be the soundtrack to something cool.
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.
Yeah I didn't fuck with it I fear but shit happens. It was honestly probably the absolute lack of lyrics that sent me. That only works with classical music. I was just really bored idk.
Decent
War ganz gut. Höre ich mir wieder an.
Jazz for jazz lightweights like me.
This is my fav of the jazz-adjacent albums I’ve had so far (mostly because it’s shorter)
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
All killer
That mindless grooving that I like to listen to on some days. Lot like The Doors, but jazzy. But the songs have a lot of soundbites that are obnoxious.
I grew up on this, so side A is iconic to me
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
A sort of fusion betwen jam music and jazz music. It was pretty cool, I liked it more than expected.
An infectious groove Asks zany sounds to the ball They turn heads all night
This album was very different from what I usually listen to. 40+ minutes of pure instrumental jazz. And yet, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was nice to listen to something outside of my comfort zone. (would def give 3.5 if i could)
Liked the funky jazz vibe. Songs are very long but Chameleon was good.
I really hated this. Like I said on yesterday’s I’m just not a jazz person but this one like forced me to pay attention in a way the one before did while giving me personally nothing for it. I really hated “Watermelon Man” especially, just ear bleeding imo. I will never return to this. But I listened to it before I died…unfortunately
Definitely have to be in the mood for it. Interesting but don’t love it.
I mean, its jazz, right? All the notes, all at once, like if your brain took a funky bath in outer space and then came back to Earth just to strut down the sidewalk in platform shoes. By the time I got to Sly (track 3), I had to pop an extra Adderall.
So this was actually really calming and great to work along to. I’m never the type of person to vibe with this genre but this was kind of an exception on my part. I think it was really interesting.
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.
Kindergarten music class
Herbie Hancock with the heavy jazz-fusion vibes on this Jazz-funk record. Herbie is one of the greats and this is one of his best.
Good background. Not a huge jazz fan.
This had a great groove to it. Loved it!
I enjoyed this! Very funky and smooth.
Technically quite complex and interesting but quite repetitive and not really my thing.
Nunca tinha ouvido, achei a atmosfera que é criada durante a música muito sensacional, no geral um groovezin bão de ouvir
Didnt hate what I heard but a bit too "elevator music" -esque to me.
Jazz electro
Fantastic. Brilliant. Perfect!
Beautiful from start to finish. An incredible album! 10 stars if I could!
Masterfunkingwonderful
Cool and controlled funky as only experienced jazz hands can pull off. "Vein Melters" is awesome. Editors overstate the case that this record invented multiple genres (though it certainly predicted smooth jazz and hints at other forms). They also unfairly diss the Mwandishi records, which are every bit as cool as this, though with a different tone and timbre.
brutal
capas fodas. quentíssimo. vou usar ele pra estudar daqui pra frente pq putz só pedrada!!
Love the electronic rock-jazz fusion. Feels ahead of its time. Crazy good playing and solos, really interesting use of synths. Tracks are very long but don't feel repetitive at all. Very funky. Love the unison in bass and brass / rhodes melodic runs. 8/10
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
This one was a lot of fun. I usually feel a little limited when rating jazz albums; I don't love the genre enough to give them high ratings, but don't feel it's fair to knock one down solely for that reason. I really didn't run into that issue here. I think the groovy-ness really helped me get into it even if it wasn't my usual style. The frenetic energy of the songs kept me engaged too- it a situation where I was able to visualize the band ripping it up while the songs were playing. My biggest critique of albums I've had with this generator so far is that they lose my interest or have some meh/boring stuff on there, but that really didn't happen with this album until the end. Unfortunately, the last song was a little slow and felt a bit underwhelming after the energy of the first few. Still, very very solid. Overall: 3.5/5
Unbelievable!!!!
The funkiest of funk
funky!!
No private spotify session used. Pretty much what I thought it was gong to be, keyboard driven jazz. A little to frantic in some parts, but not too over the top. Some of these songs would work great if you get yourself in a car chase in San Francisco.
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.
Interesting change from the recent albums. Very groovy - but not my every day jam.
Groovy, very long songs. Instrumental and can get kinda repetitive at times but pretty good. Would listen to again. Electric jazz, funk, international sounds.
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 listened to this 3 times and never came away with any discerning thoughts. I think I liked it, so let's give it a 3.5 rounded down to 3. Easily could be a 4.
Herbie Hancock is a name I of course know, but I'm not sure I could have identified anything else about him before todays listen. Really good funk vibes. That's always a win in my book. That said, 5 minutes into the first track, I am slightly concerned it's going to run out of musical runway. This is a great riff, but do I want it for 15 minutes? After the rest of the album, yeah it's fine. Maybe if I was a jazz head it'd be really exciting. But I guess I don't really get it. We had a funky one, then got progressively less funky and more jazzy, but I can't say I understand. 3 stars--I would never mind this playing in the background, but I don't really have much to get out of it in the foreground.
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
a landmark jazz-funk record, and a full-blown vibe
Listened in May 2021. Jazz funk instrumentals aren't really my cup of tea but it's good for what it is. 3/5
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
Pretty iconic for only 4 songs and no talking.
My first Herbie Hancock experience. Fun little one. Added Watermelon man. Chameleon was a bit tiresome for my ears in the middle of track. Other two - can't really remember, but it was fine.
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.
Kinda neat but wasn’t really vibing with it
Banger
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!
No lyrics
One pretty good song
Watermelon man was good, the rest were bad and too long
Chill as hell I could boogie to this
-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
A jazz giant playing with synthesizers, sure! Early jazz-funk-fusion at its best.
Move to the groove was my first thought. Great sound. Great album.
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.
Song: watermelon man this song is weird because its making like a squeaking noise at first but later it gets better a little bit Song: ( sorry i didnt get the song ) this song is okay but its not my favorite
I do not really like this album because the vibe it brings is eerie. The album cover reminds me of Coraline lol.
I like this song because it is not that good at the start, but as it goes on, it gets better. I would recommend this song. I like this song because the beat is good. I would recommend this song.
im not a fan of this album because it kinda weird
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.
I dont like this because there are no words and I don't like the sounds. I would not recommend this to someone else because I don't think they will like it. I would give it 3 stars out of 5.
the first song started off alr it like started off strong but later in the song it was just like jazz I guess
What is the head of the yellow person on the album cover? I liked "Watermelon Man" it was very unique. I loved the beginning because the noises were unique and distinct but sounded great together. The guitar was also really good. The other songs were also really good. I didn't mind the lack of lyrics. I would recommend this album.
the first song is okay it sounds really weird and i like the sounds kinda its okay over time the song becomes less weird but it was weird in a good way because it sounded good. the next song is the same except it doesn't start off weird and it stays the same kinda but it still sounds the same as the middle of the first song. and the last song is also the same. overall it is okay.
watermelon man, I like this song because there is some bass and I don ¨ t know why there are no lyrics. Chameleon, I like this song because i have 2 chameleons One of them is named leo and the other one is named mojo
Herbie is the greatest living jazz artist, apologies to Sonny Rollins, Marshall Allen, Chick Corea, et al. Head Hunters is eternal.
I knew the song Chameleon before listening to this album and I think it has a monumentally funk groove. But even then it goes on for just a little too long, and that's how this whole album feels. It just feels like every song overstays its welcome a bit too much and devolves into something frantic because of it.
A bit invariable but most of the music was good
Prettu good pop, sounds great, but the songs themselves aren't very interesting for me. It wasn't that memorable and I don't see myself revisiting it in the near future. Not a big fan of pop and jazz either. 5-6?maybe/10
What a groovy project
More jazz but kinda funky
Super cool and funky
Nice and smooth. Just good background listening.
not my genre but clearly excellent at what it does
3.5+/5
Not herbies best work but still pretty cool
I absolutely loved this, I listened to the album on repeat all day.
Funky but repetitive. Would be an apt soundtrack to a melon bar party at work.
Smooth long jams with interesting solos. Not too heavy
“That song doesn't usually last three hours, but we got into a serious thing.” I don't listen to much jazz or funk music but this seemed pretty exemplary. Some serious musical talent at work here. The first track was probably my favorite. Kinda drifted off after that.
Well sheesh, this was incredible.
Really enjoyed this 8/10
The first true jazz album I've received so far and its one of the best the genre has to offer. Seriously this album is a delight. Its wacky and wonderful and like nothing else I've listened to. "Chameleon" and "Watermelon Man" are both perfect jazz songs. I'm tempted to round up on this one unfortunately "Sly" and "Vein Melter" aren't as amazing as those first two songs. Overall this is still a fantastic album. Definitely would recommend this to anyone trying to get into jazz. Favorite track: Watermelon Man 4.5/5
Herbie Hancock always cool. I’m happy I sought out more of his material beyond Rockit. Bringing the jazz and the funk together like PB&J.
That was funky!
Very very 70's easy listening
Very jazzy!
This was difficult for me to get through. I’m not a huge fan of jazz, and these songs just went on forever.
Not my jam. Love the cover art, though.
It's an interesting, exotic and sometimes I got goosebumps on my skin. The second song on this album was very familiar and actually I heard it în White Lotus episodes, so it explained why I thought it's a bit creepy.
A couple of the tracks really hit, great blend of jazz and unusual sound-samples. Wish it was a longer album!
Before: Herbie Hancock, jazz legend Herbie Hancock? Excited to listen to this all the way through. Not sure if I know any of his work by name, but jazz has grown on me a bit in recent years despite not loving it much when I was younger. During/after: OOOH, funky! Love a good meaty bass riff and Chameleon is the perfect intro. This is so jazz fusion-y and I LOVE it. Watermelon Man has the most streams out of the whole album and I can see why. It's my favorite track in this collection and it's short and digestible compared to the rest of the album and is just FUNKY. The winds are a really unexpected but delightful touch. Sly is just so technical and a testament to the levels of talent these guys possess, but not something that I could listen to often, as it just made me feel very jittery and isn't super palatable to my ear. I thought Vein Melter was a great cool-down track to end the album with. Lots of cool psychedelic elements while staying kind of chill. This was very much not I was expecting for a jazz album. It was really fast and had a lot of fusion with other genres that I noticed. There was a very psychedelic feel, so it didn't feel like the more (for lack of a better word) boring, standard, traditional jazz. With a few shrooms in my system, this would go especially hard. Overall, I likely won't come back to this much because it's just not what I gravitate to musically and some parts weren't very palatable for my tastes, but the talent is very evident and I really appreciate these tracks for what they are. I thought that it would be good background music for while I was working, but a lot of it was just so fast and crazy that I found myself getting jittery and scattered. That's not necessarily a bad thing, not all music is meant to be background music for working, but it was something I noticed. Even though it's not something I'll revisit much, I'm adding points for the sheer talent and coolness. 4/5.
Good stuff. Nothing to really come back to but I always enjoy some good 70s funk.
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.
Perfect for a diner or an apéro time
Interesting, but not my piece of cake
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.
These legendary vamps deserve better solos.
Bien
Love the intro to the first 3 tracks. especially love when the African influenced come more front and center without overpowering the more traditional jazz elements. The last track lost me a bit because it was missing the energy of the first 3.
Surreal and not my kind of thing.
Funked UP!