Search - Marcus Miller :: Sun Don't Lie

Superb bass-driven album.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 04/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Sun Don't Lie" is one of those albums for me-- maybe I heard it at the right time in my life, maybe it really is that good, but even in the face of what many consider better records, this is my favorite of Marcus Miller's catalog-- certainly, his playing (as superb as it is) would be better on later albums, but I think this is some of his best work.



Marcus Miller is, of course, regarded as one of the great bassists, and with good reason, this album shows that nicely-- from breathtaking plucked runs (the intro to "Panther") to just stunning slap playing ("Rampage"), delicate fretless work ("Moons") and a great solo bass piece ("Mr. Pastorius", originally recorded with Miles Davis). But its the songwriting on this one that really shines, from the delicate "The Sun Don't Lie" to the great funky jazz-rock of "Funny (All She Needs is Love)", the hard swining "Rampage", and the totally brilliant "Panther"-- but what makes Marcus so great is that when his songs are bass driven, he somehow gets away without having a concrete bassline until another solo voice joins, when he steps back into a supportive role on the instrument. And with a generous supporting cast including guest performances by Miles Davis, Kenny Garrett, Wayne Shorter, and Vernon Reid, this album is nothing short of spectacular.



Certainly, if you're a Miles fan looking to explore Marcus' music, this is a great place to start, its how I did. This album is excellent."