But the minute all but one of their vocalists open their mouths, spewing forth bland melodies and blander lyrics, it falls flat. Wait another month for his debut. Blake wears the influence of Charles Mingus on his sleeve, quoting and borrowing and alluding at regular intervals, as well as revealing the lessons of Duke Ellington and Carla Bley. To this, he adds a pinch of funk and a sprinkling of Afro beats, cooking up a bright, jungle-flavored stew. If only every cameo was a winner.
Trouble is, it falls apart under closer scrutiny.
First, the good news. Now the bad news. Their new musical skin isn't much better, switching between obvious, power-rock posing and balladry that sounds intense but smacks of insincerity. Change can be good, of course. But in this case, it's too little, too late for a group that barely mattered to begin with.