3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not quite right, 4 Jan 2007
This review is from: Feedback (Audio CD)
I bought this album as a huge J5 fan, who owns all of their previous releases, and was curious as to how they sound without the departed Cut Chemist.
The first time I listened to this CD I was very disappointed, but now after several listens I believe Feedback is a solid album, but is easily Jurassic 5's weakest offering, but only because of the quality of their other 3 albums (J5 LP, Quality Control and Power in Numbers all 5 out of 5).
I am not sure exactly what is inferior about this album, but it just seems to lack a definitive deluge of quality songs, the sort of thing that defines their other 3 releases
(J5 LP- In the Flesh, Concrete Schoolyard, Action Satisfaction);
(Quality Control- Influence, Quality Control, The Game);
(Power in Numbers- Day at the Races, Thin Line, What's Golden).
Having said all of this, I have only owned Feedback for the best part of a month and Quality Control and Power in Numbers both took a while to "get", so it may be a slow-burner that will grow on me but my initial opinion is that Feedback is and will remain inferior to their other releases.
I would recommend purchasing if you:
a) have all the other J5 albums
b) are "bored" of the other J5 albums
c) are a big fan of J5
If you want a J5 album, get any of their prior albums(J5 LP, Quality Control, Power in Numbers).
I personally rate Quality Control their best, but not by much.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Coming to terms with a new direction, 26 July 2006
L Foulkes review is spot on. This LP is different from their previous efforts - definitely more commercial and `modern' in its approach - but I'm just not sure whether I like it as much.
Perhaps because key member Cut Chemist has left the group, the retro funk/soul/blues beats and samples have taken a backseat in favour of a more stripped-down feel and a wider use of programmed drums and synths. The lyrics are still very J5 - albeit with a bit less interplay between the MCs - and Chali 2na still stands out as one of the best rappers about.
But parts of it do sound very un-J5-like and some people might find this a problem. Many of tracks here echo songs like `Thin Line' and `Freedom' from `Power In Numbers' with only `Radio' truly harking back to `Quality Control', whilst `Brown Girl' really stands out as a very new direction for them without breaking any new ground hip-hop-wise. I have read some poor reviews of `Work It Out' too but I thought it was one of the stronger songs showcasing this `new' direction.
It's not a bad album and it still reeks of J5's quality but the new stuff takes it`s time to work. I'm just not sure it will still be on my stereo this time next year - unlike `Quality Control' which I hardly have off.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth the money., 31 July 2006
This review is from: Feedback (Audio CD)
Whilst many hardcore and loyal J5 fans are criticising the album for straying away somewhat from their previous sounds, and opening up to a more mainstream sound, I still think this album is very much worthy of the money.
The collaboration with Dave Matthews Band seem to be a obvious way at working a 'money spinning' Single - but why is this a bad thing?
Sold out? Not quite. J5 are still behind the release and are doing what they do well, and 'Feedback' is well worth the money.
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