Customer Reviews
Slick production ,cool sounds, but nothing ground-breaking - By: , 16 Feb 2002 
GO AND SEE COURNEY PINE LIVE!! I saw him on at an outdoor festival last summer, & I have never seen a sax player whip up a crowd of mixed-tastes into such excitement...his digeridoo style circular breathing (being able to play for about 3 minutes at full blast without taking a breath) is awe-inspiring!
This album, however, I dont think Is Courtney's best effeort. Unfortunately he seems to have slightly sold out to the British R'n'B scene (with Kele le Roc & Lynden David Hall guesting) whilst losing the cutting edge experimentalism that made everyone's easrs prick upin the first place. Perhaps its something to do with him leaving the mighty Talkin' Loud...
Having said that, you can't fault the record for listenability. Although it might not be as sonically interesting as Underground or Modern Day Jazz Stories (which are Jazz genresin their own rights), it must be acknowledged as an solid attempt to provide a Jazz perpective on contemporary London.
Better than Kenny G in Every way!! - By: , 28 Mar 2001 I have written other reviews for Mr. Pine's other albums. This is truly the best album that he has done. He has taken all the elements from his past albums, added with "Wu Tan Clan-esque" skits from Hong Kong flicks & heavy break-beats from the Rap/Hip Hop 80s generation, all mixed together well. I bought this albumin Germany last year & I have to admit that it isin regular rotation on my CD player.
Surprisingly, his cover versions of "Love & Affection" & "Lady Day & John Coltrane", manage to give these songs a freshness that only Dry Cleaners dream of.
If I were stranded on a desert island, I would probably ask for a Solar-powered CD player & this album (possibly also a bottle of Smirnoff Black).
easily his best album - By: , 08 Mar 2001 this album is courtney pine at his best. after underground it seemed difficult to envisage improvement, but this is definitely better. Unlike modern day jazz stories, it isnt overindulgent (solos anyone?) but manages to capture pines obvious talnet while keeping his solos to the point. it is much easier to listen to & except for a dodgy version of gil scot herons lady day there is no track that i would skip.
Dissappointing follow-up to so many great albums - By: , 04 Dec 2000 
Courtney Pine's albums reflect both the contemporary jazz scene & the contemporary music scene more broadly. He combines his own style of jazz, which reflects his rich musical influence, with hip-hop & breakbeat to make very innovative jazz tunes. Once again he has produced an album that has a good deal of these numbers of a quality that would please his fans. BUT, there are other songs on it. Not the more traditional tunes that have bulked out his previous albums, that remind you that they are jazz albums & Pine is a contender for best-living-saxophonist. Instead what we have is a collection of wierd mutated hybrids of jazz, r'n'b, & garage. This could be your cup of tea, but if you don't like either of the two previous musical genres - & the worst aspects of each are used - then you will be left unhappy. Courney Pine is one of the few musicians who have genuihne musical genius so the album is a good album, but a dissappointing Courtney Pine Album.
Stunning, crossover with a true jazz flava - By: , 21 Nov 2000 I love this album. I'm not a jazzer but I am a music fan, this is the best introduction to jazz any music fan could have. I have seen the man live at Glastonbury & he is awesome, never have I seen an artist who stretches the boundaries & defies conventionin this way. If you love jazz buy this record, it does more for your cause, & British Jazz, than any other before it - & if you just love music & are jazzophobic (I was!) buy this album - make it the only jazz recordin your collection if you want, just don't miss out!!!!
I agree with the previous reviewer - buy it, buy it, buy it!
