Search - Hobex :: U Ready Man

"U Ready, Man" is Hobex's Best Yet!

coolquotient | Huntersville, North Carolina United States | 11/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

""U Ready, Man?" is Hobex's second full-length album (to go along with two ep's), and it's easily their best effort yet. Hobex has matured since 1996's "Payback" ep (an excellent debut, worth searching out if you haven't heard it), and this new album is more complex musically yet still unbelievably catchy and memorable. Usually instrumentals come off as filler, but "Ode To Billy G." and "Ken's Burn" (both instrumentals) are among the standouts of this recording. Funky bass lines fuel both, and these are also commonly played live by the band. Speaking of playing live, Hobex has regularly put on incredible live shows since their inception as a 3 piece over 5 years ago. Now a band with 4 core members (Greg Humphreys, Andy Ware, Dustin Clifford, and April Howell), Hobex adds several others in the studio as well as on the road. The result is satisfying in a way not unlike seeing Santana play live, which is a real compliment. Speaking of Santana, some of Greg's guitarwork on "U Ready, Man?" bristles and burns not unlike the God of Guitar, especially on "Playin' Games" and "So Far Away." Hobex really is a hybrid of classic r&b (Curtis Mayfield, Solomon Burke, Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder), beach music, jazz, and rock n roll (ZZ Top and even Rod Stewart come to mind at times). Occasionally, Hobex even veers towards jam-band land, and should appeal to fans of Moe., DMB, Widespread Panic, etc... although in my opinion they sound even better. Other standouts include "Maybe It's Me" and even the charango/percussion instrumental title track. From start to finish, this album is sharp and diverse, and benefits from live-sounding production by former Ben Folds Five bassist Robert Sledge. This album is getting awesome reviews across the board, and hopefully this will reach the ears of the unconverted. Hobex has signed a multi-album deal with Tone Cool records, a highly-respected Blues/R&B label. Great stuff, now go check it out!"

Hobex Has Soul

Tom Speed | Oxford, MS United States | 07/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hobex has continuously drawn comparisons to the soul masters of the 70s? folks like Al Green and Curtis Mayfield. And their sound does indeed hearken back to those days. What?s more, Hobex has infused the genre with the type of vital energy that can invigorate a style, breathe new life into it and drag it out of the graveyard. But this is no nostalgia act. There is a youthful energy here that is impossible to deny. Hobex is led by the wizened raspy vocals of frontman Greg Humphreys who gained near-notoriety in the late 80s and early 90s with his North Carolina indie band Dillon Fence. Soon after that band dissolved, Hobex began as a trio in 1996, released a couple of EPs and one full length CD before U Ready Man? Each of those releases set the groundwork.The current release marks a band primed and ready to resurrect soul music amid a sea of funk and bluegrass and pop music and all other manner of music felt and not felt. Throughout the 15 tracks of U Ready Man?, Hobex recalls the soul greats of the 70s, as promised. They do so with the brilliant slithering guitar work of Humphreys, the punch of a greasy horn section and the absolutely groovin? rhythm section of bassist Andy Ware and drummer Dustin Clifford.In addition to being bandleader, lead guitarist and vocalist, Humpreys is also the lead songwriter in this group and boy, does he write some doozies. ?So Far Away? one of the album?s highlights, oozes with Prince-inspired funk and Humprhey?s high falsetto. Instrumental interludes such as ?Ode to Billy G? and ?Oh Yeah? permeate the recording, popping in at all the right places, and provide a dozen smidgens of funk to the recipe. Much of the record is not only danceable as hell but also sexy as all get-out. Witness ?Why Can?t We Try? for just one example. In addition, there are catchy rock tunes and sweet soul ballads but most of all a band showing a full range of styles that can only be categorized as soul. Needless to say if you?ve read this far, U Ready Man?comes highly recommended. It?s more than an hour of well-constructed songs that are expertly performed, ranging among all manner of emotions and all exuding a deep soul. And soul is something of which Hobex has plenty. One of my top 5 CDs of the year.
?Tom Speed; Editor, An Honest Tune Magazine/anhonesttune.com"

Great Album

coolquotient | 11/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a superb new album from a very talented band making their debut release on the Tone-Cool label. U Ready Man? takes the listener on an enjoyable journey that includes soulful melodies and rockin grooves. The entire album is a pleasure to listen to. If you have the opportunity to catch the band in concert don't miss out - their live shows are electrifying as every member of the band brings a wealth of talent and energy to the songs. All previous albums from Hobex are excellent listening material as well."