Review: Herbie Hancock, Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock's 1973 recording, Head Hunters ,is arguably the best album in fusion genre. (and don't argue with fusion fans, what's the use? They like weather report...) Think of it as Bitches Brew without the coke, or Miles Davis's pretentious attitude.

A man wiser man than myself once said, "Funk is like sex. When it is bad, it's still good. When it's good, it's really good." Let the listener be warned that this album is comparable to good sex, and you will want more. However, the rest of Herbie's albums will let you down after this peak experience. Chasing after the Head Hunter's dragon left me with no less than six rather horrendous Hancock albums. I think I even have a Weather Report album somewhere as a result of those dark days ::shudder::.

The climax of the album is track II, "Watermelon Man"[listen in WMA]. Don't make describe this track with those tiresome, and cliche music reviewer phrases: "a funky alliance of pulsating Afro-percussion and deep grooves building into an electric rainforest". No, listen to the track -- that's why I've bothered to find a good free sample of it. We have the internet now, we don't have to use those words to describe music.

But if Watermelon Man is the climax, than the 18 min track I, "Chameleon" [listen in WMA] is the perfect build up. After years of listening to this album, I'm almost tempted to say that this it's my favorite track.

I've gotten into a lot of arguments with jazz lovers about track 3 and 4 with (with fusion loves, they usually turn into fist fights). "Sly" [listen in wma] and "Vein Melter" [listen in wma], to take this sexual-funk metaphor to its close, are like that afterwords cigarette [though not quite as cliche], and obligatory "that was incredible" small talk. I usually panic, and bail from the house of Head Hunters before Vein Melter even begins. Hints why this album didn't get 5 stars. Nevertheless, the experience of the first two tracks is worth its under 10 dollar price tag [or free, if you are into certain music gathering practices :-)]. ****