Drunk

Yo I'm so happy this album made it onto the list, I love Thundercat and this whole generation of young and talented hip hop/funk/soul infused Jazz musicians surrounding him. He doesn't take himself too seriously, it's fun, it's groovy and it is a very enjoyable listen, for me at least

Did I just listen to something? Perhaps I'm getting old, but I couldn't engage with this at all. It was just background incidental muzak to me. The musical equivalent of a stock photo.

Cool R&B beats and a jazz/funk fusion. A lot of the tracks reminded me of Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs, mixed with some modern hiphop vocals. These influences were confirmed when all of a sudden you hear Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins on "Show You The Way". Highlights: -Uh Uh -Show You The Way -Them Changes

Even Kendrick can't save this version of originality as indecisiveness from sounding like call centre holding music, though credit the band for completing the bad phone audio effect with an abundance of too trebly synths.

My man if you're going to hit me with 23 tracks you really need something a bit more interesting going on.

Nope. Just no.

Some clear musical talent in there, and occasionally fun to listen to. But he relies too much on being quirky. How does this album feel so dang loooong with all these 2 and 3 minute songs? It should feel like a breeze but it feels tedious instead. Fave songs: Uh Uh, Show You the Way, Jethro

Wonderfully experimental while also very relaxing. This album is almost trancelike and is punctuated by moments that are funny, irreverent, and topical. The features on this album are excellent and diverse. The musicianship on this album is excellent, and the songwriting is eclectic with moments that remind me of stream of consciousness.

I hate it. Seems like it's a joke. Awful.

Trys so hard to be relatable that it completely falls flat on its own merits. I dislike this singing style as well. Thundercat definitely goes on Reddit

I did it! i made it through this album. Holy Jesus. I think Drink Dat is the only tolerable song, the rest is just not fun. Can't do it.

So good to hear more from the mastermind behind ‘them changes’. I feel sometimes that Jazz fusion artists get complex for the sake of complexity, but Thundercat shows off his musical intelligence in a truly tasteful way

thunder thunder!

what a fucking piece of crap

Absolute utter fucking shite. I bet this rating is being generous but I will never re-listen to it in order to give it a 0. 1.8/10

When I tell you that this hit me at the perfect time, I mean that it was so perfect that I had to hit pause and make sure that the (multiple) Sonic the Hedgehog samples were coming from the music and not the SEGA picross game I was playing at the time, so I might be overrating this one a little. Regardless, Drunk is a real great time, loaded with smooth grooves, outstanding musicianship, and moments of introspection that feel as genuine as the dorky anime/video game shout-outs—which are so prevalent that they feel tied to the record's central theme of killing pain. Hell, throwaway punchlines like "Goku fucking ruined me" almost come across as Thundercat viewing even his non-alcoholic hobbies as potentially destructive; a bit of self-loathing no proper anime fan lives without. The worst thing I can say about this record is that the Pharrell feature is corny as fuck, but what are you gonna do? Pharrell is always corny as fuck. Key tracks: Show You the Way, Them Changes, Drink Dat

Wow, a piece of real musical craft in the recent years. The best combination of soul and classic r’n’b sound with modern genres that I wasn’t aware of, loved it!

Excellent album full of futuristic funk, soul, humor and impressive musicianship.

My absolute favorite album of the series (and possibly all time). There were a perfect amount of features and there was not a single bad song. This album represents true black excellence. Love it so much 100/10

A beautiful album. Thundercat is THE CAT.

Enjoyed this a lot!

I always thought Lion-O was kinda douchey, but this really made me laugh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHml_J1PN9Y). For the record, Panthro was my favorite Thundercat, though this guy might be my second favorite. Anyone that can work with Pharrell, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Kendrick Lamar deserves respect. The album was on the longer side clocking in at 53 mins., but Drunk kept moving. I'm not much of an R&B fan, but this is far less traditional than what I had expected. Unique repetitions, loops, beats, sounds it was wholly refreshing and was glad to have been turned on to this. Will listen more... Thundercat, hooooooo!

Simultaneously holding hands with seriousness, sexiness, and silliness, which is quite a feat to behold. Very enjoyable modern fusion, but I wish there was a bit more variety of sound here.

An intergalactic fuck party. Meow. Meow. Meow. Get your tits out and jiggle.

The silly pickle.

Thundercat dobla, retuerce y hace del jazz y los sonidos electrónicos lo que quiere. No es para todo el mundo, pero sin duda es un gran álbum.

Expected it to not be that great but wow it really surprised me. All really good. 5 stars easily.

I had never heard of this artist or album...but I enjoyed it. Goofy lyrics, my jam.

Love

Highlights: Them Changes, Tokyo, Show You The Way, Captain Stupido Lowlight: Walk On By What the...is this Bill Wurtz? Anyways, it's silly and fun, jazz-fusion-y...thing. Just like BW, but with a much fouler mouth and a lot more warble-synths, and plenty of meme-worthy lines ("Still feel weird...beat your meat, go to sleep") and humor all around. Allowing Spotify to continue playing suggestions also introduced me to other unique acts such as Little Dragon and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Revisit this for sure!

I knew nothing at all about this artist. The album cover is pretty funny. Listening to it I thought, "This has a real Yacht Rock feel," and then as if on cue, the next song that played featured two Yacht Rock titans. Some of the songs didn't seem quite developed enough to be songs but rather more loose sketches of ideas. Some of the vocals and melodies somehow reminded me of commercial jingles. Dude has a nice voice, though. I didn't sit and follow along with the lyrics, but I would catch snippets of them and chuckle and say, "Wait, what?" It's like he just took his chaotic inner voice and let it run amok on the tracks. A lot of it reminded me of something Issa Rae's character on insecure would say, that combination of awkward, smart, funny, struggling, frustrated, and flippant. A lot of it was delivered in contemporary language that will probably sound dated soon, so I don't know if this will ever rise to the level of an enduring classic, but maybe there's some universality in its specificity? Musically, toward the end of the album, it was all starting to seem a little repetitive and I therefore wasn't able to maintain as much attention to it.

This is a confusing project for me. I'm hit with the thought that it's a singles album which nevertheless flows. That flow isn't particularly satisfying, though, so the only explanation I have is that it's not particularly strong as a project. So far, so mediocre, but the musicianship is deft, and the harmonies might be intricate, just not ear-grabbing-for-me. Thus, my rating doesn't really reflect an opinion, but I may never revisit Drunk. The subject matter is a touch too silly, the vibe a bit too background.

Oh ffs.... I've been on such a run of underwhelming records, I just don't care about this boring ass R&B/soulless soul bullshit. None of Thundercat's supporting artists on this album could save this dumpster fire. Fuck I hate R&B music. Breath-y singing in super high octaves while porn grooves are played. Fuck off. I may just be too old to appreciate this overprocessed modern garbage. I'm not impressed by dicks who can push buttons on computers. My music needs substance. Like, these morons can't even do soul right.... Soul music..... Needs soul.....this just.... Doesn't have any. Favourite songs: Them Changes, Uh Uh Least favourite songs: this whole stupid fucking album 1/5

Awful.

Tough to listen. Definitely just good for an elevator.

can't listen to it, gives me anxiety

Did not care for this album at all.

I guess the fact that he played with Suicidal Tendencies for many years didn't help him win any stars

The funk is within you

Inject this shit into my veins.

4.5/5. Kendrick knows a good bassist 👍

Is this the 21st Century successor to Steely Dan? That’s the thought I had when I started listening to this. Really a fascinating album. I don’t know what I liked more: the interesting music or the lyrics... Songs like “Captain Stupido” (‘beat your meat, go to sleep, I think I left my wallet at the club’) explore the routine of daily life. How about a celebration of cats? Check out “A Fan’s Mail (Tron Song Suite II)” (‘Everybody wants to be a cat, it’s cool to be a cat… meow, meow, meow, meow)’. *swoon* As if the Steely Dan feel wasn’t enough, we get a REAL TREAT in “Show You The Way” (‘Tell ‘em how you feel, Kenny… KENNY LOGGINS’ *clap*clap*clap* ‘Ladies and gentlemen, MICHAEL MCDONALD’ *clap*clap*clap*). “Drink Dat” (‘The night is almost over but we still wanna party, Ain’t no one here sober the weed I’m rollin’s gnarly’) is a great after-party song. Actually the whole album would work well for that setting. There are love songs and topical references for millennials like in “The Turn Down” (‘Oh, ‘cause look at the mess we’ve made, who’s gonna clean it up? Oh my God, where’s Captain Planet?’) and “Tokyo” (‘It was Dragonball Z, a wrist slap bracelet’). The song titles often left me wondering where they came from… I look forward to future listens to unlock more of this album’s secrets! This is a smooth, jazzy, wildly interesting, wonderful album. Loved it SO much. Now that I’m familiar with the music, the submerged album cover has changed from scary to endearing. Man this album spills over with fun! I had no idea anything like this did (or could!) exist in 2017. The lyrics overflow cleverness - I could fill several pages with great quotes. Throw in guest spots from Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell and Wiz Khalifa and this is a super cool five star ride. Utterly brilliant!

This was so weird. There's a video where I guy sings all about this history of Japan and it really reminded me of that....this was enjoyable I think but I feel like I need multiple listens to appreciate it

I saw the cover, and the amount of tracks and thought "here we go, another overly long, self indulgent record" - how wrong I was, experimental and entertaining. Nice work Mr Cat.

**Review of "Drunk" by Thundercat** Released in 2017, "Drunk" by Thundercat (Stephen Bruner) is a captivating album that blends genres and defies categorization. Known for his intricate bass playing, Thundercat crafts a unique sound that draws from jazz fusion, funk, soul, hip-hop, and electronic music. The album, featuring 23 tracks, is a vivid exploration of life, relationships, mortality, and self-reflection, wrapped in a kaleidoscopic musical landscape. ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on "Drunk" are often whimsical, humorous, and introspective, showcasing Thundercat's ability to address complex themes with both levity and depth. Tracks like "Captain Stupido" and "A Fan's Mail (Tron Song II)" exhibit a lighthearted, playful approach, with the former opening with the absurd declaration, "I feel weird." The lyrics mirror the album's erratic yet charming nature, reflecting the strange and unpredictable moments of daily life. However, beneath the humor lies a deeper sense of vulnerability and introspection. On "Them Changes," Thundercat sings about heartbreak and emotional turmoil, using imagery like "nobody move, there's blood on the floor" to depict the intensity of his feelings. "Walk on By," featuring Kendrick Lamar, delves into the pain of loss and the passage of time, with Lamar adding a layer of lyrical complexity that complements Thundercat's musings. "Drunk" also touches on themes of mortality and existential dread. In "Jameel's Space Ride," Thundercat addresses police brutality and his own mortality with a mix of humor and earnestness, imagining a scenario where he might need to escape Earth in a spaceship. The album’s lyrics frequently navigate the line between the surreal and the deeply personal, providing a glimpse into Thundercat's psyche. ### **Music and Production** Musically, "Drunk" is a rich tapestry of genres and styles. Thundercat’s virtuoso bass playing is at the forefront, serving as the backbone for most tracks. His use of harmonically dense chords, syncopated rhythms, and intricate basslines creates a sound that is both complex and accessible. The album flows with a sense of spontaneity and improvisation, reminiscent of jazz fusion, yet remains grounded in funk and soul sensibilities. The production on "Drunk" is notable for its lo-fi, raw quality, which gives the album an intimate and immediate feel. The mix is dense but balanced, allowing each instrument to occupy its own space while contributing to a cohesive whole. The use of analog synths, electronic beats, and organic instrumentation creates a dynamic sonic palette that shifts seamlessly from track to track. Songs like "Tokyo" and "Show You the Way" (featuring Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins) highlight Thundercat's ability to blend vintage sounds with modern production techniques, resulting in a sound that is both nostalgic and forward-thinking. Thundercat’s falsetto vocals are another key element of the album's sound. His voice, while not traditionally strong or polished, has a unique timbre that adds to the album's distinctive character. The vocal layering and effects used throughout the album give his voice an ethereal quality, further enhancing the dreamlike atmosphere of the music. ### **Themes** "Drunk" is an album that explores a wide range of themes, often shifting between humor and melancholy. At its core, the album reflects Thundercat's personal experiences and struggles, capturing moments of joy, absurdity, pain, and reflection. One of the central themes of "Drunk" is escapism. Many tracks, such as "Tokyo," "Jameel's Space Ride," and "Bus in These Streets," deal with the idea of escaping reality, whether through travel, fantasy, or substance use. The title itself, "Drunk," suggests a state of altered consciousness, where reality is blurred, and the lines between the mundane and the extraordinary are obscured. Love and relationships are also recurring themes throughout the album. Thundercat explores the complexities of love, from the elation of infatuation to the heartbreak of loss. "Friend Zone" humorously deals with unrequited love and the frustration of being stuck in a platonic relationship, while "Them Changes" and "Walk on By" explore the darker side of romantic entanglements. Mortality is another key theme, with Thundercat reflecting on his own life and the inevitability of death. Songs like "Inferno" and "Jameel's Space Ride" touch on these existential concerns, while also reflecting a desire to find peace and meaning in a chaotic world. ### **Influence and Impact** "Drunk" has had a significant impact on the contemporary music landscape. Thundercat's fusion of genres and unconventional approach to songwriting and production has resonated with a wide range of listeners and artists. The album's blend of jazz, funk, and hip-hop elements has influenced many contemporary musicians, particularly in the neo-soul and alternative R&B scenes. Thundercat's collaborations with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, and Pharrell Williams highlight the album's broad appeal and its ability to bridge genres and generations. Tracks like "Show You the Way" showcase a seamless integration of 1970s soft rock with modern funk and soul, demonstrating Thundercat's versatility and wide-ranging musical influences. ### **Pros** 1. **Unique Sound**: Thundercat's ability to blend multiple genres creates a unique sound that feels fresh and original. His bass playing is both technically impressive and emotionally expressive, making "Drunk" stand out in a crowded musical landscape. 2. **Lyrical Depth**: The album's lyrics are both humorous and introspective, providing a multi-layered listening experience. Thundercat's use of humor to address serious topics adds a unique dimension to the album, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. 3. **Strong Collaborations**: The album features a diverse range of collaborations that enhance its appeal and showcase Thundercat's versatility as an artist. From the soulful melodies of Michael McDonald to Kendrick Lamar's incisive lyricism, each guest contributes something unique to the album. 4. **Production Quality**: The lo-fi, raw production style gives the album an intimate feel, while the use of analog synths and electronic elements adds depth and texture. The mix allows each element to shine, resulting in a dynamic and engaging listening experience. 5. **Emotional Range**: "Drunk" effectively captures a wide range of emotions, from the joy and playfulness of tracks like "Tokyo" to the introspective melancholy of "Walk on By." This emotional versatility makes the album relatable to a broad audience. ### **Cons** 1. **Lack of Cohesion**: The album's eclectic mix of styles and genres can make it feel disjointed at times. The rapid shifts in tone and mood between tracks can be jarring, potentially alienating listeners who prefer a more cohesive album experience. 2. **Pacing Issues**: With 23 tracks, "Drunk" can feel a bit long and meandering. Some songs feel more like sketches or interludes rather than fully realized compositions, which can make the album feel uneven in places. 3. **Vocals May Not Appeal to Everyone**: Thundercat's falsetto vocals, while distinctive, may not appeal to all listeners. His voice, combined with the heavy use of effects, can sometimes feel thin or strained, which might detract from the listening experience for some. 4. **Production Choices**: While the lo-fi production style adds to the album's charm, it may also be a drawback for those who prefer a cleaner, more polished sound. The dense mix can sometimes make it difficult to discern individual elements, which may frustrate some listeners. 5. **Niche Appeal**: While "Drunk" has been critically acclaimed, its genre-defying nature and unconventional approach may limit its mainstream appeal. The album's experimental qualities and quirky humor might not resonate with a broader audience. ### **Conclusion** "Drunk" by Thundercat is a bold and innovative album that showcases his unique musical vision and exceptional talent. Its blend of humor, introspection, and genre-defying sound makes it a standout in the contemporary music landscape. While it may not appeal to everyone, its strengths lie in its originality, emotional range, and willingness to take risks. Despite its flaws, "Drunk" remains an engaging and thought-provoking listen that solidifies Thundercat's place as one of the most exciting artists of his generation.

A smart, sophisticated set of funky grooves and soulful tunes, with a mix of funk and yacht rock sensibilities - layered vocals like Michael McDonald, jazz-influenced keyboards like Steely Dan

I didn't think this was amazing, but it was definitely "good interesting" in a way that intrigued me and will likely make me revisit it.

Groovy - like someone resurrected Curtis Mayfield, then sprinkled him with a bit of Childish Gambino, Beck and your favorite Twitch streamer (gotta love a Mortal Kombat reference).

Vous commencez à en avoir l'habitude, chaque nouvel album de musique soul - rnb est l'occasion pour moi de rappeler que les punks et métalleux sont totalement déconnectés de la réalité et qu'ils feraient bien de se décrasser les oreilles de toute urgence.

Yacht prog is a comfortable place to hang out in for a while. This is a pool of smooth with the homogeneity that implies. The peppering of humour is appealing, as is the consternation on Thundercat’s face in the superb cover photo.

You got your 90's R&B in my Frank Zappa.

Before listening I first read a bit about Thundercat, including that he was in Suicidal Tendencies. That context totally threw me off; I expected the album to be very different from what it was -- no punk/thrash, just a mellow mix of jazz and hip hop, with some tongue-in-cheek lyrics. There are some really cool chord progressions, like in DUI. I'd want to listen to this again.

This one was a bit of a roller coaster. My initial impression was mostly confusion. Then I started to warm up to it a little bit. Then I started to grow skeptical. Then anger and bargaining. Then depression. I finally ended with acceptance and hope. The songs are all pretty short so it was hard for me to really get into the flow. I'd like to see some of these grooves stretched out a bit which would therefore reduce the load carried by the vocals.

It's alright, don't think I'd listen to it again.

I had a whole review drafted, just disappeared! In brief - very silly, Alexander O'Neal-ass production, nah

This feels like something I would stumble across on YouTube at 3AM, which isn't a bad thing, but it isn't my thing.

It could be more interesting beyond the wobbly, psychedelic sound.

Not as good as the Thundercats. "Sword of Omens, give me sight, beyond sight". In fact, on reflection, would rather listen to the Thundercats theme on loop for 52mins than this again.

Sama soundi kuin se, jota Lamar on onnistuneesti hyödyntänyt pop-tarkoituksiinsa (todisteena feat). Tällä levyllä jazzaileva naljailu saa kuitenkin pöyristyttäviä piirteitä, ja kaikki sulatettava materiaali on haudattu "nokkelien" sointuvaihdosten ja rytmisen kikkailun massaan. En voi taipua: 1,5

Too experimental. 1/5

Not my thing

Not a good record. Sounds jumbled up with all kinds of beats. I like Thundercat on his contribution to Mac Miller's album, but this album is all over the place.

HipHop R&B. Strange. Interesting enough combination to listen once.

Absolute trash

Horrible

Why is this on the list. I don’t like all the falsetto and who has a song that everyone wants to be a cat. I’m out.

... doesn't want to have to listen to that !!

As a big bass fan I was hopeful I’d like this more as I hear me he was pretty good on bass. But it was just melodic talking to some ok music that sounded all the same with that little whimsical auto tune tone.

This was... just sounds that were probably meant to be the electronic version of a jazz note jumping up and down but it just sounded horrible to listen to. I'm sure there are people out there who would enjoy this and it would have made more sense if this was released in the 80s when someone may have experimented a bit, but 2017.. naah. I realised why this album is here - the Them Changes song towards the middle of the album is relatively popular, so I guess that bumped up the album quite a lot.

Just could not listen to the entire album!!!!!!

No not for me. I don’t get they hype here…

Alles wat vervelend is, zit in deze muziek; flauwe beats, zenuwachtige basloopjes, slechte raps en met zoveel valse lucht kan eigenlijk alleen George Michael wegkomen. Dit is toch geen Thundercat naam waardig?

Random sounds and words in the same whispering high pitch tone the entire album with a couple of guests

Sweet Jesus that seemed to go on forever. Some songs had good beats or incredible bass performances, but the saturation of the organ and the Leslie cabinet tremolo sound was just overwhelming throughout the album. The melodies are unfollowable most of the time, having this rambling, stream of consciousness feel. Those two points - the saturated keyboard sound and the aimless vocal melodies- made the album one of the dreariest and unlistenable things I’ve heard. I don’t even care what the lyrics are. They are lost in a hopeless morass. Thank God it’s finally over.

I seem to be on a run of Jazz influenced albums. This one, so far (track 6), is by far the worst to date. Then when he tries to mix jazz with rap it really goes downhill, Walk on By is just horrible. It was at this point that I decided that enough was enough. I tried Them Changes as it has over 175 million streams - but why is mystery. I can not recommend this collection of random noise to anyone

I don't get it

Have to be completely honest, this was way too funky and chaotic through out the entire album to be worth a second listen but one of the shortest songs on the entire album got 10 repeats from me. I really liked it, when Thundercat put actual musical effort into a song.

Nonsense, really

1.5

I was excited for this album based on the one Thundercat song I knew, but I'm very underwhelmed by the music. Seems too muted and the vocals aren't very strong or well integrated with the music

Not for me.

No me gusta

Guð hvað mér þótti þetta leiðinlegt!

What?

Dropped it, simple themes nothing that exciting its a mediocre shit I can't stand this jumping from theme to theme like idk the concept is all over the place with overusing the light thing he must use the word light like 80 times

i was really looking forward to this album bc it got a TON of hype when it came out but i honestly couldnt even finish it. i think its mainly an issue of not aging well bc to me it just sounded like cheesy meme songs with the voice effects he was using. i can appreciate his talent but not for me sorrrrryyy <3

Drunk. How does it feel to be drunk? Is it being dazed, feeling lightheaded and fuzzy? Then after it, you don't remember anything at all? Well, there's an album that portrays it well. It has weird synth and falsetto sounds that made elevator music sound like "Bohemian Rhapsody", and zero remarkable and memorable things. It was almost an hour long - pretty lengthy - but I didn't recall listening to anything at all. But at least the album did two things to me: (1) It definitely told me how being DRUNK probably felt like and (2) it changed my entire definition of what "boring" is.

Hated it

Short Songs, Weird.

Didn’t like

Pretty dull.

Allseits beliebter Könner seines Fachs jedoch bleibt mir recht unerklärlich, warum diese Palette an doodles ein eigenes Album benötigt. Verwunderte 1.3

Aprecio el espíritu "experimental" del disco, pero simplemente no me gustó. Lástima, porque hay algunas canciones que empiezan bien y parecen ser prometedoras, pero tiene demasiadas disonancias, y además mezclas de "rap" o "freestyle" que hacen difícil apreciar este disco.

Jazz raro de raperos? paso

Mellow, electro trippy. It is a vibe

Loved it. A bizarre but coherent fusion of hip hop, funk, r&b, and jazz. Easy to get lost in the flow of this album. Had a chance to catch Thundercat at The Vogue awhile back, but I passed to watch the Game Of Thrones series finale. What a terrible decision that was 😔

What a pleasant surprise to see this on the list. So re-playable, so eclectic, so much fun. The bass is extraordinary but the other instruments are no slouch. 'Them Changes', 'Lava Lamp', 'Friend Zone', 'Uh Uh' are my favorites, but love pretty much all of this. If you enjoyed this at all, hop on YouTube and look for Thundercat's NPR Tiny Desk Concert. It's a fun listen/watch.

I’ve never heard of Thundercat before and I was blown away. It’s jazzy and funky and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

this was truly great. i don’t think i can let myself give it below 5. truly incredible as a full work, and was able to get some hits out of it. the instrumentals are obviously the stand out here and are so damn good. i feel like it feels like a modern day combo of Zappa and Wonder. and it’s so fun too