Search - Headhunters :: Straight From the Gate (24bt)

Straight From the Gate But Without any Direction

John Thayer | Avon, Ct. USA | 07/08/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The album starts out well with Straight From the Gate, a funky funkaldelic influenced groove, however, from that point on it fails to deliver. By the end, the album has become a little too cheesy for my tastes. Regardless, the first six tracks minus Ms. Yum Yum are great tunes. The addition of Derrick Youmam on vocals is a good one, but he needs more space to shine. The Headhunters are unarguably class A musicians but keyboardist Paul Potyen's jazzy style conflicts with Blackbiyrd's Hendrix influenced guitar playing. However, the reason I bought this album is for the drumming. As an avid Mike Clark fan I would dutifully buy any album he played on. Clark is one of the most underrated drummers of all time and has laid down some of the funkiest syncopated grooves ever. Anyone who enjoys his playing on this album should check out Thrust, the solo on Actual Proof is unreal."

IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AHOLD OF IN THE UK

Mr. K. Sinclair | leeds, w yorks United Kingdom | 07/27/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"ok this cd is not as good as survival of the fittest but it is worth a listen.Its got some decent fusion on it, some good straight ahead funk and some slightly uninspired work too. Even so its a decent companion to survival.But if it does dissapoint you a little dont worry there is a light at the end of the funk tunnel and its East Bay Rythm's A Little Love Will Help, recorded with key members. Its no holds barred funk (not a sniff of boring old fusion on there). Check it out now, funkaphiles. GO ON THEN !!!!"

Worth your listen !

ZAHZAH | MISSION VIEJO, CA USA | 10/05/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Survival..." was a real unique album, but this follow up wanted more pop airplay, so it wasn't as "outside". Can't blame 'em. But it really wasn't a sell out. It's got some really nice non-commercial moments. I had it on 8 track in the, what... 80's ? It actually stands out more as time has passed. Still unique from the day, especially after repeated listenings. These performances have a tendancy to sound shallow at first because the structure is so simple and the parts sound cliche at first, but, like all great funk, they lock in and really get worked! The "Ms.Yum Yum" drum beat is totally simplistic genius! This stuff is kinda like Hancock's "Spider" album. The compositions are definatly more locked down than Survival's, but the exicution is great and several times over the course of the album...uh, CD... the listener is transported to a good, SOLID fusion-land (or whatever we want to call this music).

The production value/sound of the CD is about what you'd expect from the time. Not great, not bad."