Search - James Taylor :: Bigger Picture

JTQ does disco

M. S Swanson | Elkhart, IN USA | 02/23/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I enjoyed most of this CD from the ever evolving JTQ. The coolest tracks were the awesomely rhythmic "Mr. C." and the ultimate neo disco fantasy "Living". JTQ doesn't even compare to Incognito, but I haven't heard a cut that even comes close to capturing the razor blade and spoon euphoria of 1977 like "Living". The vocal mix is weird-spacey and cosmic-you can't understand the words but you get the high. The rhythym is hypnotic and seductive-eerily reminiscent of the disco era. There are other good tracks like the Swing out Sister inspired opener and the Incognito inspired second cut. Clearly JTQ is branching out. But there are a couple of real clunkers here. I disliked the repetitive TKO and the discordant Out of Sight. These songs sounded amaturish and awkward. At 63 minutes you can excuse a few weak songs. I especially liked the three instrumentals at the end. I've never thought of JTQ as a vocal band and I still don't. The vocalist, Yvonne Yanney, is mixed in very lightly and heavily supported with backing vocals and effects. But I've got to give her credit for the sublimely sexual "Living": a fabulous cut worth the price of the CD."