Reviews (page 8 of 14)
Weird and cool
I thought this was wonderful! I don’t tend to love jazz, but this was funky, groovy, imaginative, and fun! The intro to “Watermelon Man” was so weird and engrossing. And the synth riff in the first track is such a bop. This is definitely one of the best discoveries of this project to me.
Different, I really like it. Pretty jazzy with some african influences, loved the second track with the breath beat
Pure groove. Hancock brings some of the prevailing funk of 1973 into this record and spends most of the effort playing some electric keyboard (be it a synth or a Fender Rhodes). Everyone in the band kills, here. Know that this is an instrumental jazz album and they're definitely not playing standards but the groove is solid and the rhythm is hot (at least listen to Sly). It meanders - they explore a bit for sure. But this is a fun effort from a jazz chameleon.
This shit got me missing DT racer on the ps2. Yeah this was a great listen sly was my favorite song every instrument on this album felt like it served its purpose and there was no wasted space. I was a big fan of the synth. Vein melter was such an appropriate name for that song I imagine the name is a heroine reference and I can only imagine that heroine is what that song felt like. You already know what I’m gone say about the horn! Anyways Soft five hard four tip creamed -B
Fun take on jazz with untraditional band instrumentation. This makes me want to listen to more jazz adjacent stuff. Why does Jazz need to be made with the conventional strings and horns instrumentation? To me this is sort of appreciating the musical elements of jazz but changing the sound palette and some of the grooves. Had fun listening
The rhythms, the grooves, everything that was going on was right. Chameleon is a classic jam song. The consistent bass line and building makes it great for that. Watermelon man was also great. I hadn’t heard that before. Would buy on vinyl
I really liked this album. It was like a soundtrack to my day. It is very funky and jazzy and good music to walk to. I really appreciated the fusion of synthesizers and traditional instruments, the contrast was interesting but it still felt cohesive.
Brill
Classic album!
I was not expecting to enjoy it so much. I really should listen to more jazz (and its sub-genres) to discover things like this.
A very memorable fusion record. Combines the nuance of jazz with the grooves of funk to great effect. All the songs were memorable and varied enough to avoid repetition. Only fault was some of the songs could've had more energy in their performance to stop the slight feeling of bloat.
Great
Solid from start to finish!
Jazzy instrumental that is great for a listen. Upbeat and playful.
jazzy fun
Net niet perfect wegens Vein Melter. 4/5
I hate the Grammys. I think they’re dumb and they generally lift up the worst that popular music has to offer. But I do remember watching in 2008 when Quincy Jones stepped up to present the Album of the Year award. And the collective look on everyone’s face in the theater read, “Who the fuck is Quincy Jones?” And then, to everyone’s surprise, who wins the award? Herbie Hancock for his paean album to Joni Mitchell. And the collective look on everyone in the theater’s face read, “Who the fuck is Herbie Hancock?” Well, everyone’s except for Quincy Jones. So even the proverbial blind squirrel finds the proverbial nut from time to time. The real irony of that Grammys was how little those musicians likely realized how influential Herbie Hancock was to their music. This is a man who redefined himself again and again without sacrificing any integrity. Listen to Takin’ Off or Maiden Voyage and you might assume Hancock was only another (albeit excellent) bebop artist. And then listen to this and realize how much conversation is being had with Sly, Parliament, or the Staples Singers. And then ask yourself what other jazz artist is noteworthy thanks to their presence on MTV like Herbie was with “Rockit.” Two of Hancock’s most recognizable tunes on this album - “Chameleon” (which I learned about when we played an extraordinarily simplified version in high school marching band) and an updated take on his own “Watermelon Man.” I prefer the original on Takin’ Off, but this really is excellent. Herbie Hancock is spectacular at every stage of his prolific career. I really enjoyed listening to this album.
Absolutely loved this one. Learning Chameleon and Watermelon Man in high school jazz band was a seminal moment for me as a musician. Getting to hear those tracks in their original, 10 minute format was a treat. I didn’t realize how much of Psychedelia had entered into Hancock‘s early work, I’m not sure if this is what is meant when we talk about “Acid Jazz“? That certainly seemed like the appropriate drug to be on while listening to this album.
Lots of fun, I knew watermelon man previously and enjoyed when it came up. The bounce and groove of the tunes are heaps of fun. I encourage multiple listens to get the full experience of all the parts of each song
Funky jazz groove
wackadoodle doo
Very solid with less vamps and more attitude. I understand why these songs became jazz legends. 4 stars
Tering harde vibe jazz is blijkbaar niet kut???
Head Hunters is widely regarded as a good gateway album into Jazz and I can totally see why. It wasn't my first personally (shout out Weather Report) but the recurring uses of common R&B tropes makes this almost feel like an off-kilter soul album. It has a nice groove and pace to it that a lot of other Jazz albums don't. It's a fusion monolith and it's more than earned its spot. 4
Masterpiece
Not usually a jazz guy but I thoroughly enjoyed it
I know a lot of people can put stuff like this on and just groove out to it - and it is undoubtedly groovy - but I love this for working music. It's incredibly listenable but doesn't distract me and somehow keeps me focused, which just about nothing that isn't classical music can do while I'm working. So to that end, I relate Hancock to Beethoven or Vivaldi or Chopin - not bad company, really!
jazz funk is weird. when i want to listen to jazz it gets excluded. when I want to listen to funk it also gets excluded. but this album I feel actually sits comfortably in both. it's funky. it's jazzy. its wacky and zany. epic
weak 4 but I like it, the latter 2 songs arent as captivating as the first two I think they might even be ordered in the album in the way I would rate the individual songs
Jazzy jazz. Felt very modern for its age. 4/5
I would classify this as fartstep. Very glorpy, very bloopy. I like it. I imagine this is what frogs listen to.
Cool
Great. 4.5
good jazz
This is brilliant. Not heard before I can see where Beck nicked a few good ideas.
Starts out with a clavinet and doesn't let up on the early 70s funk for the next 40 minutes, only four songs so you know you're getting a god bang for your buck. Standout Track: Watermelon Man
I’m not a jazz guy but this was very fun. He is obviously great! Also we played Watermelon Man in the band and it didn’t sound anything like that.
Jazz-Funk instrumental. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
the best albums are those with few songs but they’re all long ones
Jazz funk fusion. Groovy. I quite liked it. Nice.
High school jazz band classic
Lekker relaxt funky geklooi op zo'n jaren zeventig-synthesisertje, daar mag je me altijd voor wakker maken.
not my type
Experimental electric jazz-funk 70s, des instrus archi space mais très cool
The problem with any song over 6 minutes is that, no matter how sick the groove is, it's going to outstay its welcome. At 45 minutes and only 4 tracks, that's the issue with "Head Hunters", for sure. These grooves are out-of-this-world good. So sick. Every tracks slays... at first. And then, after about 5 minutes, you're just... ready for the next thing, you know? It really sucks because these grooves are absolutely insane. Legendary. But we need to talk about maybe trimming this stuff down a bit, Herbie. And maybe rein in that saxophone on "Sly" while you're at it. Bennie needs to just... just chill out with that noise.
Nice!
This album still sounds fresh, probably due to the fact that a number of songs have sampled their way into modern hip-hop and acid-jazz. I like Herbie’s electric piano playing more than his synth experiments and the sax playing in “Sly” is pretty crazy. The 1962 version of Watermelon Man is more to my liking but this one is certainly an outside-of-the-box cover. Jazz purists would have hated this album and called it "disco", but as they say, it’s a “jazz-fusion landmark.”
Great record. First track - Chameleon - has melodies I remember. Second track - Watermelon Man - is delightfully strange. Third track Sly starts sounding muddy then takes off into another world. Fourth track - Vein Melter - odd name for a cool low key tune.
Man, this is a mental workout. I have heard about it with reverence for many years and finally got a reason to sit down with it. Chameleon and Watermelon Man are face-melting. Sly is ok. Vein-Melter probably needs a lot more attention to recognize its cool bits.
The funk is strong in the first track, and the jazz certainly shines through with the hyper aggressive synth improv that hits a few too many sour notes to really hide behind the jazz guise for as long as it assumed it’s welcome. However, the clash of drums and bass hit some absolutely peak-funk grooves and the sheer stank on this album makes it a killer album to play in the background of any gathering that you’re trying to impress people with your jazz exposure. It is highly accessible entry into this genre.
i liked this
Cool stuff.
Legendary album and easy to listen to for jazz beginners.
Phenomenal progressive jazz record.
songs a bit too long but i love jazz
Bit interesting to hear a Herbie Hancock album start out with some acid bassline. Heavy use of electrical piano as well, which is absolutely some of my favourite sounding instruments. Was planning on going with a 3 first, but this is actually quite a unique jazz album, very different from what I've heard before. And it's very good!
A colleague of mine uses this album cover as his profile picture on our scrum board. Since I learnt it was an album I remember checking out a song but not more. I need to tell him that I now have listened to the whole album and really liked it! The intro of "Chameleon" with its synth has such a hook and a unique digital sound to it. Makes me think of old Sega mega drive games. "Watermelon Man" has a very wonky intro that is instantly recognizable and just when you are getting a bit bored then the high tempo bebop jazz that is "Sly" wakes you up and keeps you hooked. Just a unique, jazzy and funky record in all the best ways.
Funky
Okay
It's all been said. I come down feeling like it's a landmark of Hancock's development and not of music itself. It's hard to say where this fits in the development of "jazz fusion" between Weather Report and Return to Forever. It's more alternating than fused. He's one of the greatest musicians the world will ever have, and it's his greatest commercial success, but he'd admit it was an experiment and a test of his own range -- and range is one of the album's greatest strengths. It's heavily indebted, and he would continue to grow from here.
Funky arbejdsmusik.
This jazz has no right to funk like it does.
Wow! Yes! Now you're talking!
If you want to know how to do fusion jazz and funk the right way, this album might be one of the best example of it. Insane stuff!
This instrumental jazz piece is great, the first track blew me away. I loved this record, I feel there is no boring segment here (bar a flatline in track 3). It is really good, but I sometimes feel large instrumentals to be 2D. Favourites: Chameleon / Watermelon Man / Vein Matter
Good jazzy vibes
Very solid jazz album with a unique blend of funk and rock.
I liked this a lot. According to the track listing it was not remastered, which would make the production that much more impressive. Opening track was my favorite. Just a good, funky jazzy time. A high 4.
Good mix of funk, rock and Jazz. I imagine that this is one of the earliest fusion albums that influenced bands like Weather Report and Return to Forever, Spyro Gryra and even Steely Dan. Not my preferred genre but definitely the type of Jazz I like best.
It's not my type of music but you cannot deny the talent and creativity of the musicians.
los temas se hacen medio largos pero la música es muy buena
listened to again invention of the rhodes keyboard and keybass i feel like
Super funky and jazzy, really enjoyable album. This is the kind of funk/jazz fusion that I'm all about, even when some of the songs are 15 minutes long!
Fun, funky jazz. Love the bass work throughout the album.
Cooll Thing :thumbs_up)
I understand the appeal and yea it's really groovy. But come on, do we truly want to compare this version of watermelon man with the one with Hubbard? It's a completely different genre, I agree, but my heart lays there. 4 stars anyway because Hancock is a genius
Norah sea jazźzzzz
Great intro track. Got me groovin in my seat on a Monday morning. Track 2, "Watermelon Man" really makes you feel like you are in a jungle that may or may not be filled with headhunters. The sound space or soundscape or whatever you want to call it is so cool- the panned flutes, the bass groove, the here and there vocalizations... i love it! The drum groove that comes in after a minute or two is super tight too. Amazing shredding on "Sly". Jeez this is just like some wildly impressive stuff. "Vein Melter" is a really nice serene break from the previous track. There's one element in this one that I LOVE. It's these cheesy MIDI strings that come in around 2:15 sounding all Final Fantasy and corny. I love it. This is 1973 though so the sound is very original and not super developed yet, and man does it sound good. Herbie is one of the best keyboardists of all time. Amazing style, feel, approach, and ingenuity. This has the potential to be one of the better albums that I've discovered via this list. I love it. Easy 4/5 for me.
Really really really pushing a 5 but just too front-loaded. I absolutely adore the use of the electric piano (higher/lighter) synth taking the melody accompanied by the lower string-like synth on chords. Like around 8:30 of Chameleon.
Easy listening when working
Yeah I'm hunting for head
VRAIMENT NICE VIBE !
Love the groove. Great driving music through scenic southern Illinois.
Fantastic early 70's funk/fusion that helped shape listening preferences that I still maintain. Glad to see this on the list.
Very funky. Very playful. Very nice.
Really cool album
big brain groovy jazz jams. good for city walking and/or weed smoking. pretty iconic tbh. makes me feel 😎
Nice and easy backing tracks to listen to. Creates a nice vibe to work
I can hear the beginnings of afro-futurism.
listened
Kinda funky. I like how it is instrumental.
The improvised half of the Headhunters' fusion is low-key from the first drumbeats entering warm. It would be unfair to accuse the record of stretching out an EP's worth of melodic material: True multi-movement shows up on both sides. Any extension is fairly accusable of chill.
Really cool, love it. Watermelon Man is my fave, I'll forever think of that Bruce Lee parody on YouTube when hearing it. Chameleon gets used in another format I keep watching as background music.
Ну очень сладкая работа. Первая половина вообще великолепна, вторая спокойнее (и оттого чуть менее интересна) очень стоит ознакомиться!
Прекрасный альбом на фон (работа, игры, прогулки, что угодно). Он постоянно меняется, но не грузит тебя
В вас запустили бутылкой фьюжна! Кинь эту бутылку в 5 своих друзей, пока ты всё ещё не сошёл с ума. Недавно я сгонял на фестиваль, где наслушался разных образов и воплощений джазовой музыки - вот оказывается, в лайве под такое реально раскачивает! И неважно где это играется, в клубе или под открытым небом - тебя увлекает эта музыка и ты невольно начинаешь двигаться ей в такт. Это я к чему: не такой вау-эффект это производит в записи. Да, прикольные тягучие композиции, со сменой тем и настроений, но долго... на диване я головой качал, конечно, пока слушал.
Fantastic bassline or whatever it is that is leading the first track. So funky. A really solid and fun album.
8,5/10
Pretty funky
Fan of the funk. Less so of the Jazz. But I cannot deny how well this album sets a beautiful mood.
Pioneering jazz-fusion record that still sounds pretty fresh today.
I thought this was fantastic - super easy listen. 8/10.
Very cool jazzy jams 8 out of 10
"John Hancock? It's Herbie Hancock. Derr!" - Tommy Boy My high school jazz band played Chameleon. I didn't remember that until I listed to this album, so that was a fun little piece of nostalgia. I respect the Herbie found four grooves he liked and just turned them into 10-15 minute jams. Why come up with more crap just to fill an album? I'm not sure how many time I'd come back to this album, but it's a Master Class in jazz fusion and worthy of the list. As such, it gets a bump.
Funky jazz fusion. The song Chameleon gets many repeat listens. Head Hunters is a huge step away from "traditional" jazz but it's really a great listen.
15 minute songs for the win
Enjoyed the Vibe
Gimme dat funky funk
4..5/5. Good funky jazz. I like this one a lot.
pure magic
Walking around Florence in the sun 12th March
Wow! What sounds and grooves! The rhythmic synths in Chameleon to the strings sound in Vein, this was magnificent.
Great listen. Will put on again
The funkiest
I only knew of Herbie Hancock from "Rockit" and its adaptation into "Cantaloop Flip Fantasia". My eyes have been opened.
det går ret hårdt
What an album! I think this is a perfect record for someone that is starting their jazz or funk journey and don't want to be overwhelmed straight away. Everything just flows so nicely, beats are so catchy and exciting, and the multiple solos, or improvisation never takes you out of the groove, but even add an another dimension to the music. It is especially visible on the opening track, "Chameleon". The beat just goes on and on, but it never tires you, or make you exhausted, because the additional instruments always add something new and exciting to it. I'm not an expert in jazz, but in my opinion this album was much more funk focused, than jazz. Maybe that's why it started a new subgenre like jazz-funk, or funk fusion, like we can read on wikipedia. Anyway, great stuff, very nice album to listen to for a more classy party. Definitely goes on my party list.
Getting to this a little late because I procrastinated yesterday and ended up with a migraine! I tried listening at that point, but you can imagine how well that went. I really liked this. No lyrics, just the rare vocal noise and lots of funky jazz groovin'. I plan to listen again while cooking or working, things like that. My favourite songs were "Watermelon Man" (which I had heard before, possibly on the very good Snowfall soundtrack playlist on Spotify) and "Vein Melter" (not as scary as it sounds).
Cold fresh showers of funk
Töff og skemmtilegt. Renndi tvisvar, gæti oft aftur.
Funky jazz fusion-y. Pretty cool I think I liked vein melter the best
This album started slowly for me. In fact, I wasn't sure about it at all. But as I was kind of listening to it in the background, I realized that it had picked up groove that stayed throughout the album. As I was listening to this and really beginning to enjoy it, I pondered the fact that this was 50 years old. Considering where music and music technology was 50 years ago, it's amazing that it sound this good today. Of course, 50 years ago I would have never listened to it because I would have been discovering pop AM radio and singing to Top of the World by the Carpenters which definitely hasn't keep its groove over these 50 years. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - It was ok to listen to but I wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
👌
This album seemed really familiar to me. I think I listened to it a bunch in high school. Either way, it's a cool project that has stood the test of time. I love how watermelon man starts with a strange mix of a tribal chant and woodwinds, then gradually transitions into a really cool funky jazz piece. Favorite track - Watermelon Man Least favorite track - Vein Melter
Groovy and creative as always. Herbie is the man. The end of watermelon man was a tad bit annoying though, I can't even lie - The flutes were kinda overused. But what do I know? I'm not a legendary Jazz fusion composer. 4 stars though. Would listen again.
Best Song: Watermelon Man. Manageable. Frenetic, but manageable. Worst Song: Vein Melter. A disappointingly chill departure from the madness of the previous songs. Overall: Absolute musical madness. This whole album feels like it's running at full speed at all times, teetering on the precipice of coming undone but somehow always staying on track. Blistering and chaotic in the best ways.
Incrivelmente admirável a execução do jazz com as batidas de funk na liga sonora coesa e envolvente. Ótima lembrança para outras audições noturnas.
Quite weird some songs, i thought they were this century's. Kinda like it.
So inventive
5 checked this album out of the library a dozen times when I was in junior high.
The beginning and end of Watermelon Man give White Lotus theme vibes!! All in all this is awesome. This is musical talent and I feel like he just really enjoys what he does.
More accessible than expected. Maybe its my limited knowledge, but I get strong Bitches Brew vibes.
Great.
Funky as shit
This was pretty alright!! Didn’t care for Sly as much as the other tracks. Particularly dug Chameleon and the smooth yet sort of funky vibes on Vein Melter.
Kyllä korva lepää tällaisen taustalla soidessa
As if it were destiny, Herbie Hancock would build on the great jazz-fusion foundations laid by Bitches Brew. Hancock leans more into the jazz-funk sound compared to Davis' avant-garde jazz, but the end result is excellent regardless. It's building on a groove until everything is in full-swing. Headhunters is undeniably a great piece of work and one of the finest jazz albums of the 70's. Looking back today, it possesses a certain retro-futuristic sound that would give it a unique charm that has not been heard since. Truly one-of-a-kind.
Cool. Funky vibes and lines and I dig it, but not a relaxing or chill album when it gets to Sly. Goes back to funky slow grooves afterwards. 8/10 would listen on the record player.
Extremely engaging and listenable, jazz funk fusion crossover. Hancock makes impressive grooves and Watermelon Man is an unusual, compelling version of a classic.
I admit I had never listened to a HH project until now. It was so good.
Sensational
A bit off beat and groovy. Jam band-esque in some ways. I could listen in the background again easily.
Brings jazz into the modern rock ethos, elements of funk and soul give it brevity and emotion
This was funky as hell. Incredible arrangements and creativity, Will listen to it again
Varsin hauskaa funkkistelua. Letkeä meno ja sopivan pituinen platta. 4/5
the music that'd play when I'm swimming in a pool of Dr. Pepper
This music lifts! Hard to feel bad or down with this playing
I really enjoyed the groove. This is quite on the long end but the tracks come along smoothly. And bring sweet variation along. Would be an awesome ambiance album for sure. 4.25 / 5
4.5
That shits funky
I mean it's Herbie.
One of my favourite jazz albums
Ovaj album iduće godine puni 50 - a neki dan sam ga baš slušao, bio je ponuđen na naslovnici od rateyourmusica. Chameleon je mnogim hip hop pjesmama bio sample i to me je odmah zadržalo na ovom albumu, ngl, ali što dalje mi je album bio sve bolji.
Funky. I liked this way more than I thought I would. Album Cover: Weird 3/5
Ah, good quality jazz-funk. It's nice to hear an album of like four songs, reminds me a bit of Miles Davis in that regard. Not a big fan of this version of "Watermelon Man" with all the blowing through the glass bottles. Hindewhu is not my thing, I guess. I like "Sly" being a tribute to Sly of Sly and the Family Stone. Vein Melter wow! Definitely one I will come back to, although I may just get 3 of the four songs if I go buy it online....
So cool how he decided to change up his style & sound and produced this super funky album. Loved the opening track Chameleon - so much funk and great grooves. I'm pretty sure that French band Stereolab sampled the clicking bass or guitar sound from Watermelon Man on their first track of Emperor Tomato Ketchup. Nothing like homage to show greatness. I didn't like Watermelon Man as much as Chameleon - some weird stuff in the former while the latter was like listening to the best funk rock George Clinton could deliver. Sly and Vein Melter were also good but not as good as Chameleon; felt a little more reserved. Still, quite a good album that I would not have otherwise listened to. I love when that happens.
Never would have listened to this normally, but I really enjoyed this. Nice background music.
Very nice album to listen too.
Some very nice jazz/funk, especially the first 2 tracks
A lot going on through this album. Super expressive for having zero real lyrics. Watermelon Man scared me though
4/5. The last song is not great but every other song really brings it. Super funky and awesome.
Fantastic. Qintesential fussion of jazz and funk. Groovy all the way
Extremely funky.
For the past few months, because of a music class I'm taking that focuses on rhythm and groove, I've been listening to what I suppose one would call "jazz-funk" quite a lot. I hadn't ever before paid attention to this style of music, and, oh, wow, do I absolutely LOVE it. This album, the tracks of which I'm sure have shown up in various shuffled playlists on the usual streaming services, is a superb example of the genre, and it's great. Wow, the skill of these performers. Incredible. My only slight criticism is purely a matter of personal taste, and that's it can get a little too "synth-y" for my subjective preference. To my ears, that can a little shrill and kind of cuts into my listening too sharply. I get it: we're in the early 70s here and synths are still a fascinating experimental novelty to so many musicians, so it makes sense given the time. Despite that, the grooves and melodies are sooooo good, so I'll be sure to give this one additional listens.
Very progressive. Not my personal taste but a classic. Watermelon Man is brilliant.
Some unusual jazz stuff, I will be revisiting it
very funky. hope its good 4! i think it has the white lotus theme in it!
Very groovy. Loved the vibes. In some songs, the melody dragged out, but overall really enjoyed.
Saw the cover and knew this would be a banger of an album Funky jazz Crazy they did a cover of one of their own songs (highly recommend listening to their first attempt) Technically wild
All great tunes. Funky grooves synth is not typically my thing, but this hits me. Love Vein Melter.
Gasp - jazz I actually "like?" Well, I did like this one, a lot more than I expected to. I think the funk beats helped me get into the "grove" and stay with it.
Funky
Very of its time, there was some strong 70’s vibes coming out of this album
Favourite track(s): Watermelon Man While very jazzy, the album is not as exhausting to listen to as other more improvisational works. Some of the passages could even be described as smooth. The intro and outro of Watermelon Man are certainly most rememberable and enclose a track I will most definitely listen to again.
Fresh as hell grooves that hit on a hazy hot summer afternoon
Funky Jazz and the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence?!?! Amazing.
Some really great chill jams. They almost lost me with the last track, but Chameleon is a banger and more than makes up for it. Best track: Chameleon
Enjoyed it.
This is a very fun jazz album. The progressive themes hit just right. The opening track definitely feels like the strongest song.
Great fusion jazz / funk album. It's a classic for good reasons.
What an absolute jazz funk onslaught. Incredible album
Awesome jazz-funk album by Herbie, once again showing his versatility. Classic!
Ace!
I can certainly recognize the talent of this album, but it made me realize I'm not a huge funk fan.
The drumming at the end of Sly. What music is about.
Funky and jazzy, nice in the background
trippy parts are too trippy song two is great soundstage amazing (HD600)
Dreamy, trippy and funky
fun weird jazz.
i liked it, nice backround music ig, good production or whatever, it wasnt boring but only as a backround noise while doing something repetitive 8/10 (rated by a proffessional in the field)
This is pretty cool. I knew his name just not his music. I like it.
Not only a fusion classic, but also a favorite of modern dance/yoga instructors everywhere. If I were gonna recommend a Herbie album, this wouldn’t be the first on my list but it would definitely be at the top if I were gonna recommend a funk/fusion title. Essential.
6/2/2022 - ALBUM #126 Today's Album: "Head Hunters" by Herbie Hancock - What an absolutely breathtaking, diverse, and impressive Jazz album. From the opening song, Chameleon, it is apparent that this is going to be a jazz album unlike ones you have heard before. The 15 minute track runtime, Having one of the catchiest and funkiest basslines in existence, the ridiculous keyboard soloing throughout the track, the crisp and balanced production, the way the main bassline changes for the middle third of the song, the little embellishments from guitars and keys throughout the entire track, the incomparable performances from every single member of the band (especially the drums). Everything combines to create this absolute clusterfuck of a jazz song that hits you like a train and never gives up for it's entire quarter of an hour runtime. The performances don't stop being extremely energetic, impressive, and incredibly funky despite the changes in mood and it becomes more and more obvious how in tune all of these musicians are. Watermelon Man is also a really great track here that starts with this sort of pan-flute chant before the bass and drums lay down this absolutely psychedelic groove. It definitely is a bit more experimental and eccentric, but I think it really plays into the strengths of the group and very soon after the band is back to running on all cylinders, but this time with the more chilled out groove, there it way more skill put into the timing and style of the playing and it just lends itself to this really great musical atmosphere. The saxophone really shines in this track and I just think it's kind of wild how the thing that stands out the least in this group it probably the guitar, and the guitar performance is still leagues better than most. Everything in this album is just super catchy and puts you into this really great vibe. I really like how the tracks follow this sort of ABA pattern of playing, where the original grove that is constructed in the beginning is tore back down at the end. I can best describe the track Sly as the soundtrack to a spy movie when they're sneaking around the heist location, but then it sort of deconstructs into this nightmare trip of a chase sequence, where there is a lot of essentially chaotic, yet synchronized noodling. It's a really great track and has a ton of personality along with some killer performances all around, but it does sort of just start to sound like background music in the beginning and total chaotic nonsense in the middle, at least from just a casual listening perspective. Very fun and experimental track, but it definitely doesn't lay down as solid of a groove as the other songs. The last song, Vein Melter, is a pretty calm and meditative closer, with this really steady snare roll and hi-hat groove leading these really ethereal synth sounds and a really dreamy bassline. Some of the keyboard sounds do sound a little cheesy here like they're pre-installed on some midi keyboard, but the great performances from the rest of the band and the really steady groove make it a pretty enjoyable listen and a good way to end off the record after a pretty insane listen. Overall, this album loses me a tiny bit in the second half with some slightly less exciting tracks, but the album overall still feels really balanced and flows well from start to finish. Give this one a listen if you enjoy jazz in literally any capacity or have ever wanted to understand more. It's very accessible and super fun! Highlights: Chameleon, Watermelon Man, Sly, Vein Melter Score: 8.5/10 My favorite Jazz album to date
I've listened to this album a ton before and it is so damn good. Herbie Hancock is a groovy, jazzy, funky, creative mastermind.
4 songs for Herbie Hancock to lay it down. Chameleon is a solid funky groove all the way through and changes its stripes at set intervals. Watermelon Man is cool. Vein Melter also very cool.
I listened to Head Hunters once before because the album came up as a suggestion on YouTube after I listened to some Miles Davis. Herbie Hancock is a different kind of jazz than Davis, but Head Hunters was a good way to expand the music that I have listened to. The album is solid and as a whole I would give it a higher rating than tracks individually. I put two of the four tracks into my personal playlist ("Chameleon", "Vein Melter"), and I would come back to this album for a second listen.
I liked it...wasn't sure what to expect but reminded me of Vince Guaraldi and his music for Peanuts specials...turns out Hancock did Fat Albert specials. I learned a thing!
yir boi
Jazz-Funk instrumental. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
1st song: Nice groovy drums and bass throughout the 15min track. With some nice solo moments for different instruments (Electric piano, saxophone). Overall felt like a groovy, jazzy but also experimental track. Not super experimental, but just jazzy experimental. 2nd song: The woodwinds and guitars sounded almost like human voices having a conversation. 3rd/4th song. Pretty trippy. Overall this album was a nice, groovy, jazzy, experimental journey.
So cool! Very different from what I listen to normally, but I liked it. The layering of sounds and rhythms as an intro was really nice.
funky yellow rbobot
a stacked 1st half with songs apprentice jazz musicians will learn to solo to
Wasn’t expecting to enjoy this so much. I especially enjoyed “Watermelon Man.”
I really enjoyed this, such cool stuff!
It's Herbie
A really enjoyable funk/jazz album. The musicianship on this album is unreal, with the various segues into highly experimental jazz can be a real trip.
Side 1 5 stars, side 2 3.5.
Classic jazz fusion
Nice. Real nice. B
Really smooth, very nice. I’d give it a 5 except sometimes the horns got so high pitched it literally hurt my ears and I had to turn the volume down.
sau cool
Genre: Jazz-Funk 4/5 An absolute groovefest, Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters is one of the coolest sounding jazz records around, and is a true funk fest for the ages. From the opening bassline in Chameleon to the final tinkling chords of Vein Melter, we're gifted with a full set of intricate, technically brilliant, semi-experimental jazz pieces that can hold their nose to anything else out there, old and new. Sly, as well as Chameleon, has some of the best basswork I've listened to throughout this exercise, and not just the jazz albums I've listened to, but any of the albums. (Shoutout to Paul Jackson, bass extraordinaire). The piano playing, Herbie Hancock's handiwork, is superb. Futuristic, with lots of synthesizers used throughout, but still maintaining those classic jazz roots he's so familiar with and so adept at playing. An absolute treat, and an album that I would say goes beyond a dinner party jazz album. This is a get off the couch, shake-your-ass album. Really great stuff.
more than essential jazz
Great funky instrumental Jazz. A stone-cold classic in the genre. Favourites: "Chameleon", "Watermelon Man"
Enjoyed thus, especially the first 2 tracks, third was a bit too experimental for me.
Svona kjallarinn á Paloma jazz-funk. Heitt og sveitt.
Today I learned about the groovy clavinet. How could I not have been aware of this marvelous instrument before now? Wow, I loved the first half of this album! Funky and fun! The second half was a little less fun I thought.
I investigated this album not so long ago after hearing samples on a different album on this list. It is exactly what I expected from Herbie Hancock of the 70s. The funky jazz can really speak to my soul! I am more of a fan of the first two tracks than the last two, but overall, I can dig it.
Funky change of pace from my usual fare. Had a great time.
I was wavering a bit on this album. I really enjoyed the “Chameleon” although it got a little long there in the middle, and really enjoyed the dreamy Vein Melter. I sort of wavered a bit in the middle of the album. I would up in 3.5 territory, but found the whole thing pleasant enough that I’m rounding up to a 4.
I love Hancock’s music in general, and I was always intrigued by his genre breakthroughs. This one is one of those unique ones, and, more importantly, is still a pleasure to listen to today. I just love it!
De lo que más me ha gustado de jazz en lo que llevo de la lista. Jazz mezclado con funk, muy agradable y de buena duración. Súper recomendable.
No está malo el funk del principio, de hecho me tenía trabajando y bailando, pero se vuelve largo y hacia el final ya es lento y cansado.
Enjoyed this way more than I expected. Really funky and easy to see the influence on lots of later artists.
Épico. Se siente muy libre y he estado todo el tiempo dentro de la jam que es este disco. Muchos samples por aquí y por allá y muy dinámico, ha sido bastante disfrutable, y hay pequeñas frases y momentos que son infecciosos.
1973. Watermelon Man, Chameleon
one of those records that makes me wish i'd been a band kid in high school
Listened to this while riding a bike. "Sly" was a real nice tune, it actually synced to the high and low speed moments of the ride. It reminded of "Bixiga 70". It's probably a very historically important album, but I'd personally not write home about it.
Something new for me. Funky and fun.
sophisticated, swinging, funky electric jazz 4 stars
This was kind of fun. It dragged on a bit, but some of those grooves were quite funky.
Me assustei no início com a quantidade de músicas: quatro. Também me assustei com a duração delas: em média, 10 minutos cada. Álbum instrumental com muitas experimentações. Deixei tocando e fui fazer outras coisas. Gostei muito.
Fun tippy instrumental album. Kinda old, kinda groovy.
I had heard everyone raving about this album but never thought I liked jazz enough to enjoy it so I never listened to it... turns out I like jazz enough to enjoy it! Favorite song: Chameleon
Love this album
Very good but in the 70s era on sound
Memories of Jazz School come cascading down around me. They weren't all bad.
Rating: 7/10
Groovy
Actually fucking slaps. Chameleon is a slight masterpiece
8/10
7/10. Pretty good. Watermelon Man wasn't as annoying as I remembered.
Nice jazz album. J'ai plus aimé ça que j'aurais pensé considérant la grosse influence fusion
Woo hoo! Herbie time! A funky 70s Herbie, a bit of fun but can't hold a candle to some of his other works. Fat Albert Rotunda is one of my all time top ten, so competing with that is hard.
An under-appreciated genius. There is some serious funk underlying the jazz. Talk about fusion.
Starts with a super funky vibe (Chameleon) and veers all over the place from there. Straightforward funk, electric jazz and way out space avant- garde, at least to my ears
I surprisingly enjoyed it especially watermelon man
Not my favorite Herbie album but a stellar listen nonetheless. Funky and soulful, perfect playing by all involved.
Funky. I like it.
Headhunters can best be understood as a reaction to being ignored. In a 1974 interview, Herbie Hancock said, "One thing became apparent to me last year. I’d go to friends’ homes and see my albums on the shelves with lots of other people’s records, and they’d play all the others except mine. My intention at the time was to play music to be listened to with undivided attention; but how many people have the time to approach music that way? Before, I was so interested in spirituality that I didn’t recognize that a person puts on a record with his hands and not his spirit.” So the emphasis shifted from “heavy musical trips that try to expand people’s minds” to “making people feel like getting up in the morning and going to work.” Yep, sounds about right. If you really want to hear something heavy and groundbreaking, try Herbie Hancock's Crossings, not Headhunters, but Headhunters does have its charms. It's undeniably funky, with music grounded in the best selling artists of the day, like James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone. The keyboard sounds are varied and they don't suck, even the synths, at least in this context. For sake of comparison, listen to some of the synths on the Ohio Players' mid to late 70s albums, which totally stink up the joint. Why? Well, those old jazz players had ears like an elephant and apparently the patience to program synths. And even though these tunes are long, Hancock keeps things interesting introducing contrapuntal lines in the arrangements and of course he's a world class soloist. And I shouldn't forget to mention that Herbie's band are wonderful rhythm players and being jazzers, the groove is constantly shifting and evolving. Aside from the intrinsic value of the recording, which is pretty high, Headhunters is also hugely influential, not only for putting funk front and center in jazz, but for its use of synthesizers. It easily earns its place on the 1001 list.
Really creative and other-worldly. I like it a lot as someone who doesn't often get into jazz.
-"Chameleon" got some cool grooves and at least 1 cool drum fill -"Watermelon Man" is definitely the weirdest one from the bunch, with that vocal recording thing as part of the main loop in the song -Lots of cool jams and grooves throughout -Pretty sure I heard the lick in there a few times
Stark fyra, chameleon e en femma, eventuellt också vattenmelonsmannen. Bör lyssnas i vilket fall som helst.
Groovy!
Headhunters by Herbie Hancock (1973) Here we have accessible jazz in a funk/pop spread. The groove and two-chord alternation in the opening track “Chameleon” are both recognizable and memorable. I suspect, however, that jazz purists would be disappointed by the album’s overall simplicity, repetitiveness, and electronic gimmickry. Herbie Hancock creates a pleasing enough sound, with colorful whiz bang electronic keyboard and off-base percussion, but the improvisations and solos are tonally elementary, except Bennie Maupin’s soprano sax and Hancock’s keyboard solos on “Sly”—excellent. There are several moments of comic character; one hopes that this was intentional. The bass lines are monotonous, especially when played on keyboards. But Paul Jackson’s bass guitar performance is very good. The key feature on this album is its accessibility. It cooks. Everybody can dig it, tapping feet and fingers (thanks to Harvey Mason’s excellent and precise drumming). The best track is the relaxed and reverie-inducing closing track “Vein Melter”. But the dated sound (Fender Rhodes and ARP synthesized strings) robs it of any potentially enduring quality. Hopefully a serious listen to this album will prompt one to explore Hancock’s more compositionally developed work. 3/5
This was some Grade A funk & jazz, man
Everyone, ever has sampled this.
Good stuff, especially the first 2. There's just a bit too much going on in the other 2. I'd never listened to HH before. Glad that mistake has been corrected
Really cool and unique jazz, ranging from free to smooth-esque. Enjoyed it a lot.
I like the funky rhythms and the drums are really effective. I like that with that comes the futuristic undertones which come from the keyboard which really pack a punch alongside the drum and clavinet and other instruments such as say the saxophone or a woodwind instrument. the jazz-funk of this album is quite a pleasure to the ears. my favourite probably being the longest, chameleon man. while it doesn't make the 5/5 for me its a close 4.
No Lyrics, pure music. Funky 😌
emilie efterskole start running marathon opener
It's so funky
4-song Funk album. Open Chameleon is a 15 minute jam, great tune really enjoyed this one. Watermelon Man I didn't like as much, it was still good but wasn't getting into the pipes. Luckily this was the shortest in the album. Sly gets a little more jazzy/slow to start and then gets more and more frantic throughout. The last track Vein Melter is a bit more trippy, it's quieter and slower and more focused on some psychadelic sounds with the keys. Good album, opening track is definitely the strongest, and the last track is enjoyable. Both middle tracks were a bit weaker but overall a good listen.
eh it's aight
So much envelope filter on the first song, love it! Enjoyed the rest of it too, though I got a little too jazz for me in places. I'm definitely more interested in funk than jazz. Also, it's instrumental so it's easy for it to kind of become background music. Pretty enjoyable overall though.
oooh lekkere piano geluiden, deze hou ik bij voor tijdens het werken
Pretty cool listen
Funky
I liked it
I’m not a fan of Jazz but there’s enough to cling on to on the first side to make this enjoyable.
This sort of sounds like it could’ve come out at any point in the last 50 years. Very cool shit.
Cool album. Pretty good as background but not generic like a lot of "background music" albums on this list.
More please
Starting off, that is some funky as hell synth bass line (apparently from an ARP Odyssey. Love it. Once the horns came in I realized I've definitely heard this before, or at least a version of it, really good but for me might have went on a touch too long. Watermelon Man is a certified bop, definitely heard this one as well. Sly definitely increases the intensity. By Vein Melter I was starting to lose interest a bit though, but still overall pretty darn good.
First jazz album to sell over a million copies.
Funky and great beats
Some nice funky jazz. 8.2/10
5/10 Pretty fun vibe
It’s not an album I’d put on, but if it was on I wouldn’t turn it off.
Having listened to almost no jazz, this might be my favorite jazz album. So groovy and non-offensive.
No lyrics on this one. I think I gotta listen more carefully, but really recommended.
I don't have a strong opinion about this one. I know it pretty well, and it mostly makes for good background noise at this point. The take on "Watermelon Man" is still funky and fun, but the rest of it feels like Jazz Fusion White Noise to me. Not bad but not amazing, just OK. (2.5/5)
Too weird for me
It was a jazz album. Nothing special to me - sounded like a jazz album. Definitely not bad but kinda boring and long.
Big vibe. Huge vibe even. Even though I missed a part of the longer songs, it kept changing it up, in a good way :)
I like Herbie Hancock but it would be generous to even call me a casual Hancock fan. Future Shock was one of the first cassettes I ever owned (thanks to my obsession with the breakdancing fad and the ubiquity of "Rockit,") and then later one of my best friends, a sax player, really got into '70s jazz/funk and I got some through osmosis. I have liked what I have heard but it's just not a genre I ever really went digging into. All that being said, this is fantastic. Maybe I'm finally old enough and wise enough to enjoy it? (And I swear I'm not just saying that because I recognize the "Chameleon" bassline from Digital Underground, lol.) This version of "Watermelon Man" isn't my favorite but definitely interesting. Herbie Hancock is a genius. "Chameleon" is 5 stars, "Watermelon Man" is 4 stars, and the other two are 3 stars, making this a high-3-star album for me.
Best jazz album so far
3 Funky jazz
This feels so familiar that I bet a lot of later artist have used this as inspiration. For early 70s music it feels very experimental to me. Its fun in parts and I had a good time listening through it although I wont come back to it again, its not really music I enjoy listening to. In the first two songs it often feels like some things are missing or other parts that get a bit to experimental for my taste. The later to I enjoyed quite a bit more, the classic jazz feeling is great.
Gosh, two jazz keyboardists in two days! Generally enjoyed this. Vein Melter probably favourite track.
Another tricky one…not bad, not my favourite but listenable.
This was interesting and more enjoyable than I anticipated, has some spacey vibes.
Herbie’s one funky motherfucker.
Fades to the back.
I enjoyed the many instruments that were included beyond the guitars, drums and keyboard.
I think there's an art to keeping a song brief. While the electronic overlaid with Jazz is interesting, it might be more interesting in 4-5 minute segments
Reasonable background music