The jazz-soul-funk trio's first album away from Blue Note since its early indie days, and only studio release of fresh material since 2002, is another classy old-school-inspired concoction. Guest vocalists pepper the set as
Ivan Neville,
Corey Glover,
Reggie Watts, and especially
Chaka Khan serve up their soulful best on about half of the album's tracks, with the rest dedicated to the instrumental '60s and early-'70s-styled funk jams the band is known for. Except for a not terribly innovative but energetic -- even frantic -- cover of
Hendrix's "Crosstown Traffic" with guest
Robert Randolph, the disc boasts all original compositions. Most work well, but they sound like you've heard them before, maybe with a different title 30 years ago. "Freedom" in particular veers too closely to
the Isley Brothers' "That Lady," blurring the line between inspiration and replication. Guitarist
Eric Krasno's "Vapor" seems like it was grabbed from a
John Scofield funk album and, for those old enough to remember,
Chaka Khan's turn on "Back Again" can't help but be reminiscent of any number of
Rufus tunes, right down to the double-tracked vocals. None of this is a deal breaker, though, because the bandmembers clearly have their hearts in the right place, shuffling through their musty albums like a deck of cards and landing on an ace more often than not. Those who come from the
Crusaders era of jazz-funk will have no problem warming up to any of this, and when
Ivan Neville kicks up his best Sly Stone on "Got Soul," it's nearly impossible to ignore the spirit -- just shake your hips and go with the flow. They're not reinventing the wheel, but the bandmembers' refreshing refusal to pander to a hip-hop audience by hiring a guest MC is not just commendable, it's unique. About the only concession the band makes to contemporary electronics is adding a few drum loops and distorting
Cochemea Gastelum's rubbery alto sax on "Glad ta Know Ya," but even that sounds retro in its own way. Despite its title, the album is no breakout for the threesome, but it reinforces
Soulive's groovalishious talents and remains a stimulating listen for established fans. ~ Hal Horowitz