Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(34 customer reviews) 12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Too Cool For Words,
January 17, 2000 This review is from: Left of Cool (Audio CD)
His first release since the in-concert Live Art 2-CD set, Left of Cool continues Bela Fleck's genre-bending journey into finding innovative applications for the banjo. For the uninitiated, the banjo (at worst) is associated with the in-bred geek playing "Dueling Banjos" in Deliverance or (at best) it's still little more than an instrument for bluegrass music. This album (or any of the Flecktones other albums) will go a long way toward dispelling that myth.I've always enjoyed Fleck's exceptional skill as a banjoist, whether it was in more traditional settings like Tasty Licks and New Grass Revival or his early solo work on the Rounder label. With the Flecktones he incorporates bluegrass, jazz and Third World rhythms to create a unique hybrid of these diverse styles. [There's even a couple of vocals by Dave Matthews--yes, THAT Dave Matthews.]Put this in your CD player and get ready to be transported to a musical universe where Earl Scruggs and Bill Monroe...Read more
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
An eclectic collection of great music that defies labels.,
September 30, 1999 John Heyrman (Berea, KY USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Left of Cool (Audio CD)
Anyone musically open-minded enough to listen to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in the first place will be highly rewarded by listening to this album. Even more exciting and wide-ranging than most of their other albums, "Left of Cool" is a picture of a group of creative musicians who worry not a bit what you wish to label their music (jazz, bluegrass, rock, or whatever...) The album's highlights range widely from the catchy "Communication," with guest vocals from Dave Matthews, to the beautiful and meditative "Shanti." The Flecktones venture further into vocals than usual, but most of the album is still instrumentals, featuring Fleck's great banjo playing, as well as the outstanding rythym section. This group can jam in almost any format. Very highly recommended.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Things you have not heard before.,
October 12, 2004 Andrew Wagner "Drew" (Champaign, IL USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Left of Cool (Audio CD)
If you are new to the flecktones, your first impression will probably be that it sounds a little like muzak due to the orchestration that usually involves a lot of saxophone and a lot of synthesized sounds. Soon, however, you will discover that this is some of the most varied and conceptually dense music you will ever listen to. Definately worth a buy.
