Lovebox

by

Groove Armada

Edit

This album should be called "Glove Box," simply because you'll want to keep it in that portion of your vehicle for those times when you really need a soundtrack for your drive. With that said, this is not a chill-out album for drives in the countryside. Although it has its fair share of downtempo grooves, it's loaded with addictive head-bouncers that will have you pounding your palms against the steering wheel between gears.

While "Purple Haze" is a typically good intro track, something GA has been very adept at, it's a bit of a departure and doesn't fully fit. The album, to me, starts at "Groove Is On," a bouncy-yet-smooth number with flowing, gravelly hip hop and Neneh Cherry's sultry vocals.

"The Final Shakedown" features energetic reggae upstart Red Rat on vocals and should become one of the year's top club tunes, proving that the previous album's Grammy-nominated "Superstylin'" was no fluke in bringing ragga vibes to house music. Also bound to be a great club stomper is "Easy," a Sunshine Anderson-mic'ed house tune that seems to share some DNA with Andy Cato's side project, Weekend Players.

The band even take a grooved out Beatles-esque (don't you love that term?) turn on "Tuning In," which is also reminiscent of early 90's Manchester psychedelia in some ways.

"Madder" is an absolutely rockin' tune, with an energy that captures the vibe of their amazing full-band performance at the Glastonbury Festival - including the rain, the bright lights, and the thousands of people bouncing up anddown in unison. It stands as a testament to Groove Armada's capabilities as a band.

Unfortunately, the factor preventing this from being a five-star review is something a friend pointed out immediately: The order of the tracks. While the downtempo numbers are every bit as good as the standouts above, the fast song - slow song - fast song nature of the album tends to disrupt the flow for general listening. As amazing as Richie Havens' voice still sounds after all these years (on "Hands of Time"), it just shows up on the wrong part of the album.

But even with this track order, if you slide this album in your car stereo on the right day, you could find "Glove -" er... "Love Box" to be the perfect CD to match the syncopated pace of traffic over a one-hour drive between cities. (This CD has been road tested on the Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose.)

I have had this CD for about 3 weeks now and I keep trying to get into it with no avail. I love and have sought and purchased everything Groove Armada has ever put out(that I could find), but this is really different. Groove Armada set the standard for downtempo and chill music, the album vertigo is a classic masterpiece. This CD still shows the true genius of GA but it sounds like they are trying to shake their image of chill hipsters and gun for the big beat scene. There are still a few chill songs on here, but mostly house anthems and drabble you'll likely hear at the next drunken frat party. If all you want to hear stuff like the Fatboy slim cut of "I see you baby" buy this album, but if you want a little more go back and buy GA's Back to mine or even better Another late night if you can find it, either way you will still be supporting a great band.