Availability: now
The verdict: Instrumentals on the album are strong but songwriting is weak.
Bella Fleck and the Flecktones’ new album is good, but not good enough to pay $33 for – stick with the 10-song mini-version.
Bla Fleck and the Flecktones have finally captured their virtuoso musicianship on a three-disc CD. The jam band fills every single track on “Little Words” with a variety of musical styles.
Every song boasts the determination and ambition of a group that has been in existence for more than a decade.
Though almost entirely instrumental, the Flecktones strive to keep the listener intrigued, using various kinds of sound effects and taking full advantage of years of intense musical training to provide fans with impressive quickness and complex arrangements.
Many of the album’s songs are uplifting and even soothing at times. However, the spooky bass lines created by world class bassist Victor Wooten and the chaotic, disturbing percussion pounded out by gifted drummer “Future Man” somehow fill listeners in on the darkened minds of the musicians themselves.
The Flecktones also make vain attempts to convey the idea that the band members and the devoted fan base they attract are deep, intellectual thinkers. This misconception is destroyed by the fact that these people are unable to compose actual song lyrics and can only give us shallow, phony attempts at spirituality by annoying listeners with songs such as “Centrifuge” and “The Fjords of Oslo.”
And as if the songwriting was not bad enough, the band felt compelled to waste talent and time by putting effort into a silly rendition of “The Beverly Hillbillies” theme song entitled “Ballad of Jed Clampett,” which is pitifully performed by the rap “artist” Divinity. The woman’s work is as far from the word “divine” as it gets.
The negative aspects of “Little Words” can be overlooked by focusing on the mind-blowing landscapes of such songs as “Off the Top” and the surprisingly good improvisation of special guest Bobby McFerrin, a one-hit wonder who recorded the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”
In summary, this album is worth listening to, but it’s difficult to let go of 30 dollars only to discover many of these jams sound strangely alike. However, there is no denying the incredible talent of each member of the band.
You and your pocketbook would be better off purchasing the one disc version, “Ten from Little Words,” which spotlights 10 songs from the three-disc album.