Frenchy’s Fracas

General Description
Artist/Band: Plantlife
Album Title: The Return Of Jack Splash
Year: 2004

Swinging, up and down, still massively groovay..

How I Got Into This Music
Another one from last.fm that I just couldn’t ignore..

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Tracks that got my attention:
Jack’s Back
Kinda weird reviewing a 30 second intro but it’s worth it: a great way to start an album, a condensed version of what you can expect.
Promises, promises..

Appreciate
A bit lazy, a bit weak. Track’s very well produced, getting into a fine groove, but nothing spectacular.

Underwaterluvboogie (deep blue)
Well, they’ve been labeled as an electrotechnofunkrock band and they deliver as promised. But kinda so-so experience.

When She Smiles, She Lights The Sky
Ohwow.. Incredible build-up: the string loop, the soft falsettos, that bass/guitar in the background and then.. The Pay-off, sweet! Excellent track, yessirree!! Keeps your head bobbing with a great smile on your face..

Got2Get2Gether4Luv
Excellent funky nastiness, a Nile Rogers guitar, a plucking bass and a great chorus.

Two Beautiful Souls In A Crazy World
Here’s where the band keeps disappointing me (as if their existince is based on pleasing me, heh..). Just doesn’t work for me, yuck..

Beautiful Babies
Yeah, it’s been done a gazillion times, but they get this one right: just a sweet soulful kinda ballad, their style is right on the money for this track.

Stardancer
Hey, Jamiroquai got away with doing this kind of music for years and in this case, Plantlife nails it, even though I know I’d skip this track more times than I’d let it play on.

The Girl Said Give It To Me!
Excellent floorfiller. Plus a great MC Lyte sample at the end.

If I Wuz Ur Man
Hmm.. The title’s a dead giveaway - we’re invited to listen to a very Prince-inspired track. Kinda nice..

Conclusion
Here’s the thing, play some of these tracks on the dancefloor and the floor will go wild, but don’t you dare to play more than one song, it will become boring. And that’s the same thing with the whole album: some tracks are excellent, well-thought and deepdown Groovay. But most tracks just turn me off, there’s this laziness that just makes the songs a bit too cheezy to ignore. I love the fact that some classic styles are being recycled, but it’s not done well enough for me to enjoy. Probably getting way too many Outkast references from this record, but that’s my mindset being a bit too nasty.
The intro doesn’t deliver, but hey, we’re just talking about my expectations, I’m sure this album will work for other people..

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General Description
Artist/Band: Pete Philly & Perquisite ||
Album Title: Mystery Repeats
Year: 2007

Ambition, energy and quality.

How I Got Into This Music
Saw these guys on MTV (remember that?) and I didn’t realise they were Dutch. The strong presence of Pete Philly stuck with me and when Hieronymus Fox and me went to see them play live a while back, I saw a band that was entertaining, professional and ambitious. Their mix-up of rap and music styles works for me. Just read that this new album’s topping the Dutch charts, so I head to get me a listen.

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Tracks that got my attention:
Clap Kick Flow
Excellent intro track, the vocal setup is a pleasant surprise.

Womb To Womb
A genuine Floor-Filler, catchy hook, nice raps and subtle production.

Fish To Fry
This one’s a very intelligently produced track - almost single material, not sure if it’d work, hey, I like it a lot!

Q & A
A catchy chorus isn’t enough in this case..

Believer
Wow, old-school scat crooning (mind out of the gutter please..). A very catchy song, skillful performance, showing the diverse range of rapper and band.

Awake
There’s a Galliano and Jamiroquai vibe going on, not sure if it works for me. I can imagine many a teenager chanting this one.

Last Love Song
Another Jamiroquai thing and remember, Jamiroquai wasn’t the originator of that style either.. But this track’s also one you have to see live.

Freestyle
Intro’s just a bit too much Outkast for my taste. The rest is quite okay.

Empire
A very mature track, great airplay potential.

High Tide
Taking risks, nice! Less safe, more interesting..

Mystery Repeats
Smart song, great energy, nice string arrangement in the background and in the chorus.

Time Flies
Love this song, melancholy yet feel good. Catchy, great vocals.

Conclusion
Hmm.. Yet another impressively professional music production from the Lowlands. I love the energy these guys have especially live. There is nothing wrong with this album, it deserves the attention and success it’s having, because these guys work friggin’ hard to deliver the goods.
My review is a mix of pros and cons: not totally my taste, sometimes sounding a bit too much like other current artists, but.. They’re more than okay, I’m very curious how these guys evolve and there’s no friggin’ reason for this band not to become successful internationally.
In the meantime, go see this band perform live, their energy is worth it!!

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