Like others here, I was pretty shocked at how conventional this remake was, that is, when I downloaded the mp3.
However, buying the whole album and this month's Straight No Chaser on 4 Hero set me straight.
When you listen to the whole album all the way through, Les Fleurs, at track 14, makes perfect sense.
To me, it was as if the first 13 trax show how badass this crew is, and track 14 is their hommage, their tip of the hat, to Charles Stepney.
Because, other than the drum patterns, Charles Stepney's arrangement sounds a damn site like a 4 Hero arrangement!
The fact that it is so remarkably close to the original is the ultimate tip of the hat; at least, that's one way of looking at it.
Anyway, a great album, in my opinion.... can't wait to listen to it again... other instruments are important too, not just the drums, eh?
What I'm also feeling is Rae & Christian's comp "anotherlatenight." That's a nice mix, and again, look towards the end of the set, with Rick James and Jose Feliciano! Another nice hat tip to previous masters....
Also, Prince's "Rainbow Children" is something else. What will happen if he starts designing the wardrobe for the Jehovah Witness missionaries? This proves, beyond any doubt, that he is a master musician; his guitar and keyboard playing on this album are unbelievable... but why that stupid voice effect over and over? kind of cheezy, imo...
Otherwise, brilliant.....
(ps... new year's resolution; never trust the opinion of anyone who uses the word brilliant more than twice in any conversation...)
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