Search - Mandrill :: Best of

Debemos hacer caso ,el mejor "funk".......

Peppino | 10/27/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"....con ritmo, sonido, & estilo! Mandrill,me alegro de verlo!Another of the underappreciated bands that the current neo-funk, sampling-generation tends to ignore rather than applaud.
I was thrilled to see 2 "greatest" hits packages currently avaliable ,this one is the "condensed version". Although missing some of my PERSONAL favorites, it has NOT neglected to fire on both cylinders-- hitting both Mandrills "hard funk" and quasi-jazz soul balladry.
As the English say, "HAT"S OFF" to Polydor Records for putting out an even handed sample of Mandrill's musics!In Chicago, "Fencewalk" was "the cut" en el barrio, in the early 70's. You had to swing to this funk, as well as Fania & Eddie Palmieri to be on the "cuttin'edge"( I guess "style" has always been important, hehe!).I tend to bore quickly with "riff" grooves, but the ostinato line in "Fencewalk" still gives me a joyful shiver.As with most GREAT groups lumped under the "funk" banner, the body politic tends to neglect the various band's more melodic side and stick with the "hard stuff".(Mandrill, Ohio Players, Tower of Power, etc...)Mandrill's "outro lado"(other side) was a very soulful,"flute/vibes- doowop/gospel" sound(WHEW-- a mouthful!!, entiendes Mendes??? hehehe), represented on this disc , "Symphonic Revolutions" and "House of Wood".(I love these songs.)"Hang Loose" and "Cohelo", "Mango Meat"and "Mandrill", I had forgotten this band thru the years, my lps are dusty and scratched from extreme usage!The music sounds a bit dated, since technology has changed so much in 30 years, but for me, KEEP ALLA THE "NEW" OLD SCHOOL(I HATE that term!) bands ,this stuff was/is the real thing, and i'm glad i was around when it was first "happening", those were great times,ESPECIALLY RELATING TO THE MUSICS!Mas vale tarde que nunca, if you havent REALLY heard these guys, here it is ,Funk and Latin Jaz-Rock in one of its finest hours.
Vaya Mandrill!!"

This collection focuses on their more accessable tunes

tehuti | 04/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mandrill were a very early (formed in 1968) progressive rock/jazz/funk/latin American band, perhaps best described in retrospect as Afro Prog. This collection, while a solid collection of tunes, does not do justice to that pioneering progressive rock aspect of their music. The closest example here is Children of the Sun. If you just want their great funk tunes though, this is the CD to buy! If you want a better example of their unique approach to prog then get either their first album, with the 17 minute Peace and Love suite or the second album, Is."

Neglected genius

Michael St John | St. Paul, MN | 10/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rock critics would have us believe that in the Realm of Funk there is James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone, and Parliament/Funkadelic, and then there are a bunch of knockoff sub-bands like the Ohio Players, EWF, War, etc. that may be hardly worth mentioning except as fun, guilty pleasures. What garbage. That they hardly ever remember to even mention Mandrill is proof that most of them have no clue about the music.I don't know everything, but I do know that Mandrill can hang with anybody as one of the most creative funk bands there ever was. Really one of the very best bands I've ever heard, period. The blending of funk, latin, soul, and rock (Omar Mesa is a terrific rock guitarist) is a seamless fusion, a real revelation the first time I heard the music and it continues to amaze me. Kind of like War, but I think Mandrill is even better. It just makes no sense that this band is practically forgotten in the histories of pop music. People say they were too creative/experimental for mass consumption, but it's not like this music is hard work to absorb. It's fun.If you haven't heard Mandrill before, this collection is an excellent introduction. Even if you just buy the cassette, I think you'll find that it's the best...money...you ever spent."