New Bela Fleck and the Flecktones CD!!

[DigMe]

Hey! I got my new issue of Bass Player (August, w/ Tim Commerford on cover) and read the extended review of the new 3 CD <!> Flecktones release (they are also releasing an abridged 1 CD version with ten tracks) "Little World." Sounds like quite a release. Has anyone heard any advance stuff from this? Any thoughts? I'm excited to hear it although the review in BP seems a bit too enaraptured with Vic's chops..(which while they are outstanding, I think most long-time fans of the Flecktones are kind of over the "OMG check out his chops!" phase).

One of the lines from the review:
"Oh yeah, bet you didn't know he <Vic> also plays upright and cello." Uh...bet I did along with anyone else who's been a fan for more than two months. Anyway... back to the original purpose. Anyone heard any of the album yet?

Here's a little pre-order page that also has some info:
http://stores.musictoday.com/store/d...5Fid=572&sfid=

brad cook

[Osama_Spears]

I really dig the cover!




-Jon

[Basho]

I've heard tons of the new album because I've downloaded a bunch of their recent live concerts from the Live Music Archive. Obviously it was without the guests that will appear on certain tracks, but still... it sounds like it's going to be great. It's also now available for pre-order on Amazon, if anyone's interested.

[neptoon]

hey, right on! more flecktones! i'm there...

[IAMERICCOCHRANE]

Yea I hated that guys review of the CD in Bass player. He sounded like he was talking to a group of 12 year olds who just got into music.

But anywhoo I am definately going to be buying this cd.

[jerry]

The new Flecktones comes out on 8/12....should be cool

[Basho]

Man, everytime I think I'm over Vic's chops I see him play and I'm blown away. Magic.

[peteroberts]

I have not heard him play upright, but a friend told me once, 'you're lucky for that'.

[Planet Boulder]

As long as there is more Vic and MUCH less Future Man (no offense to the family, Vic), then I'm all for it! It's when Future Man starts rappin' and singin' (and fervently playing his drum machine) that my interest wanes quickly.

[jerry]

I saw the flecktones about 6 months back, and Future man was playing a lot more real kit then he used to......to my delight

[DigMe]

Originally posted by jerry
I saw the flecktones about 6 months back, and Future man was playing a lot more real kit then he used to......to my delight

True dat, man! When I saw them in '94 or '95 he only had the Drumitar. Then when I saw them in '99 he had a whole acoustic hand drum and percussion setup. It was indeed better. When I saw them the first time they did this one section near the end that was not amplified at all in which Vic played cello, Bela played acoustic banjo and Futch played an old trunk with brushes. That was actually pretty nice sounding overall.

brad cook

[Wrong Robot]

Say what you will about the drumitar, but that thing is a damn good piece of equipment.

and Futch plays it soooo well.

certainly there are times when it doesn't sound all that great, but a good percentage of the time it's solid and it really works well.


I really want to hear Roy's other creation the Roy-el, it's like a synth piano, except it plays the resonant frequencies from the periodic elements(brought up to audible ranges of course)

[IAMERICCOCHRANE]

I love the Drumitar and I think Future man is well, the man. Only he could play it and he does a damn well job at that. I like every single member of Bela Fleck & The flecktones equally, they have the greatest band of the '90s IMO.


Oh yea peteroberts, your friend is horribly, horribly wrong. Wooten is the man at the upright and the cello.

[Wrong Robot]

Originally posted by IAMERICCOCHRANE


Oh yea peteroberts, your friend is horribly, horribly wrong. Wooten is the man at the upright and the cello.

Opinions opinions, I personally think victor's upright playing is very good, but I'm not very fond of his tone. His cello stuff is neat, but again, I don't like his cello tone.

[jerry]

One time when I saw the Flecktones, Edgar Myer opened the show solo......he was awesome! Later in the show Victor came out and they did a dueling bass thing and Victor grabbed the Upright, he sounded like he knew how to get around on one! He wasn't close to Edgar....but who is

[DigMe]

Yes, Edgar is unbelievable.

brad cook

[jazzcatb17]

i luv the flecktones. No one has there sound, no one could. Bela is an amazing banjo player (actually im saving up to buy a banjo right now because of his playing), Victor is a great bassist, and i use to not be able to stand that drumitar, but now i actually think its kinda cool. The cat plays it awesomely, and i got to say, although it gets old sometimes, as all things do, (i can think of a few times when vic just dont seem to know to stop slapping and get back to holding down the low) it's a very groovy thing at times.
As for vic's Cello\upright playing, he has a unique aproach to it, as the whole band has to everything, and although sometimes unconventional, its very fitting for the flecktones sound.

[Wrong Robot]

Ya know, I used to think the flecktones were one of the most inventive acts around these days. But then I heard a bunch of indian music, sitars and tablas and stuff, ravi shankar et al, and I was surprised to find myslef constantly being reminded of the flecktones, many tracks, while there was no banjo, sounded almost exactly like flecktones songs. granted they still do have a unique approach , I was really surprised how much it sounded like these artists(that came before bela)like the flecktones.

[Basho]

Update!

If you head over to flecktones.com in the recordings section there are 30-second clips of every song on the album except for the bonus track. 29 songs! Go go go!

[Christopher]

These guys should do an album with acoustic banjo, upright and trap kit.