Galactic We Love Em Tonight Genres:Dance & Electronic, Jazz, Pop, Rap & Hip-Hop, R&B New Orleans musicians have a long-standing tradition--no doubt brought on by the need to fill up that fourth set of the evening--of playing unlikely covers that end up transcending the original hits. The Meters did it with... more » "Wichita Lineman." Irma Thomas did it with "Wind Beneath My Wings." And Galactic set out to do it on this live collection, peppering their homecoming concert with groove-laden covers torn from the songbooks of Duke Ellington ("Blue Pepper"), Allen Toussaint ("Working in a Coal Mine"), Chocolate Milk ("My Mind Is Hazy"), and even Black Sabbath ("Sweet Leaf"). While those tracks earn points for novelty and eclecticism, the keepers here are unreleased originals like "Moog Marmalade" (think vintage Meters funk with lots of modal sax and analog synth tossed in for good measure) and fan favorites like "Two Clowns," which is arguably Galactic's most interesting song to date. The album is not without its excesses (the 90-seconds of applause baiting at the end of "Lumpology" wears thin quickly), but New Orleans's answer to Medeski Martin & Wood wouldn't have earned their place in the jam-band pantheon without an implicit understanding that anything worth doing is worth overdoing. --Bill Forman« less
New Orleans musicians have a long-standing tradition--no doubt brought on by the need to fill up that fourth set of the evening--of playing unlikely covers that end up transcending the original hits. The Meters did it with "Wichita Lineman." Irma Thomas did it with "Wind Beneath My Wings." And Galactic set out to do it on this live collection, peppering their homecoming concert with groove-laden covers torn from the songbooks of Duke Ellington ("Blue Pepper"), Allen Toussaint ("Working in a Coal Mine"), Chocolate Milk ("My Mind Is Hazy"), and even Black Sabbath ("Sweet Leaf"). While those tracks earn points for novelty and eclecticism, the keepers here are unreleased originals like "Moog Marmalade" (think vintage Meters funk with lots of modal sax and analog synth tossed in for good measure) and fan favorites like "Two Clowns," which is arguably Galactic's most interesting song to date. The album is not without its excesses (the 90-seconds of applause baiting at the end of "Lumpology" wears thin quickly), but New Orleans's answer to Medeski Martin & Wood wouldn't have earned their place in the jam-band pantheon without an implicit understanding that anything worth doing is worth overdoing. --Bill Forman
CD Reviews
Not Galactic? Huh? Great disc!
Bryan F. Jackson | Lexington, KY United States | 12/11/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Whoever said this CD was lacking "groove" or "soul" obviously knows little about music. This is Galactic's best release to date, just worlds better than their studio work. It's funky, laid-back, and groovin'. Good mix of tunes, a great "Blue Pepper" and the "Bobski > Villified" is awesome. If you are a fan of this hard-to-classify jazzy funk, Nawlins gumbo, pick this up. It won't fail to put a smile on your face and make all ten toes tap."
A solid disc worth having
senoramour | Philly,PA | 01/04/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Having seen these guys live a couple of times, I know they spare no expense (sweat) in kicking out the groove. This recording is no exception to the fantastic live sound that results. However, I think the creative punch of the band has been tapering since Coolin' Off. Granted, they've produced some gems since that first disc, but have failed to recapture that fresh feel that originally turned me on to their sound. This album is not necessarily a natural progression in that trend, as it does include some very interesting covers, and a previously unreleased Moog Marmalade (which is sick), but I feel like they need to switch gears to retain my interest. Bottom line, you should own this album, especially if you're into galactic, but don't expect it to blow your mind."
Hot funky jazz
Bryan F. Jackson | 08/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My first Galactic album, and it won't be the last. If some of the other reviewers (who don't like this album as much as Galactic's prior efforts) are correct, I have to get more. This is extremely hot."
This IS Galactic NOLA
sean-o | Boston, MA | 10/05/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"So much for the two star guy.. he needs to get his ears cleaned, and see the band now, not in 1999. This band is so progressive that he didn't even realize who he was listening to! Yeah, you don't get the energy of a live show on a CD, and Nick did fool with the dials, but the more you listen to this, the more you'll realize that these guys are the real deal. Funk, groove, jammin' rock and all the NOLA you want. Mercurio holding the base down, Stanton pounding, Vogel getting funked-out in the shadows and Raines stepping into the spotlight and tearing it up. The CD is a B, the band live is an A. Check it out."
Newbie fan; quite impressed
sean-o | 08/22/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Though I've been downloading random Galactic songs for a while, I've always been told that NOTHING can capture the intensity of a live show and, while not being able to attend one yet, waiting for this album seemed to be the next best thing. I must say that as I continue to listen, it becomes more and more worth it. Though some of the jams become monotonous without the true live feel, there are more than enough gems on this cd to keep a listener occupied. Check out "shibuya" and Sabbath's "sweet leaf".. you won't be disappointed."
