Ruckus

This album has a different producer than most of Galactic's do. It feels a bit more grounded in toe-tapping rhythms and recognizable lyrics than some of Galactic's trippier early tracks. There are quite a few good jams on this one: "Bittersweet", "Gypsy Fade", and "All Behind You Now" jump out as highlights. Not easy to find in CD form (for a good price, anyway), and comes in a conventional jewel case with not much going on aesthetically (as opposed to some of the very nice slipcases for their newer albums) but definitely an album worth searching for.To me, it feels like the transitional point between Old Galactic (funk jams with one steady vocalist), and New Galactic (stylistically diverse collaborations with New Orleans musicians of all sorts). There are no guests on this album, but there is a variety of styles.

Funkin great!!!

(Probably) Galactic's last studio album with Theryl "The Houseman" DeClouet features the vocalist more than any other release. "Ruckus" finds Galactic focusing more on tighter songwriting and less of a jamband sound. To me, an occasional fan of jamband music, this is a refreshing turn. I think jambands are fun, but after a certain point they can become boring and less meaningful (i.e. if you try and subsist on a diet of 7-minute-long solos, you're eventually going to get bored and they'll start to sound way too similar). Anyway, Galactic's tight new sound utilizes a few things that they hadn't dabbled in before; hip-hop sound (heavy drums and bass) and more songwriting contribution from all members of the band. The result is refreshing, new, and very successful. From the album's opening, the trademark Galactic instrumental qualities are there--great funk-rock guitar, keys, and fuzzed-out sax and harmonica. "The Moil" is one of Galactic's best instrumentals--if you've heard it live, you'll definitely agree. Songs like "Paint," "Uptown Odyssey," and "Tenderness" show a new pop sensibility previously unseen in Galactic's repertoire. A few of my personal favorites also include "Never Called You Crazy," "The Beast," and "Gypsy Fade." The drums on "Ruckus" are more beat-keeping than on previous, more jazz-funk albums, but they are solid and oh-so-funky nonetheless. Galactic also succeeds at trying different tempos and mixing it up a little with songs that are more like "instrumentals with a couple vocals." The bottom line: if you're a hardcore jambander who only wants to hear the same old 10 minute song with a long solo, Galactic is changing too fast for you. If you're interested in following a smart, creative, ass-shaking band into a new style which comes across as more unique and quality, go for "Ruckus." It won't disappoint, as long as you keep an open mind and ears.

for me. I'm not really familiar with 'funk' music since I mostly listen to metal and hardcore, but I discovered Galactic while looking through a different music site and decided to listen to the samples. I thought they sounded good enough so I bought the album and enjoyed it for the most part.The faster songs are better, in my opinion, and I like how the bass sounds. I just wish there were more keyboards and saxophones, because those made the songs stand out more. The album was also a little repetitive at times, like when the drummer kept repeating himself, although he did excellent fills.Pretty good and something different for me. I really like the songs Uptown Odyssey and Tenderness. Really good lyrics, too.

Samey Purists: "It lacks the jams and good old-fashioned funkiness of previous endeavors, blablabla."the Futurists: "Go listen to the old albums, then."It's the same old debate any time a band tinkers with their sound.But, as the album cover art nicely illustrates, one can follow the groove, so to speak, or one can branch out. Personally, I always found the grooves of Galactic a bit repetitive (nuanced, passionate, and infectuously danceable -goofy whiteboy style-, but a bit repetitive). If Dan the Automator (whoever that is) is the Man responsible for this change in tack, I'd like to give him a big pat on the back. This is a Galactic for the 21st century: one foot firmly rooted in the Orleans soulful soup of yesteryear and another foot stretching with digital tenacity for the Milky Way.

I've been into Galactic for nearly ten years now, and have come to know and love both their live shows and studio releases. While each seemed to build on its predecessor, this is by far their most progressive and risky endeavour to date. Ruckus represents more than a step, but instead a giant leap, forward in the evolution of this talented band of New Orleans muscians. From Stanton to Rich to Jeff and The Houseman, these guys have never sounded better. Air tight, nasty, electro groove funk with some of their best lyrics and balanced production to date, Ruckus has been in my CD player for nearly a week and I'm still hearing great new stuff every time I press play. Please keep it coming.

Galactic decided to go with a big-name producer named Dan the Automator. Dan the Automator took an amazing, explosive, quirky funk sound and gutted it of any soul it had. I'm sure these songs sound good live, that is without Dan the Automator's overproduction and mixing (Drum machines over Stanton Moore? For shame! The horror!). The album itself is flat except for a few high points - "Paint" is good, "The Beast" is funky enough, "Never Called You Crazy" is good, and "All Behind You Now" is a great song, or would be live. That's about it. The rest of the album varies from so-so to outright boring, and considering the amazing amount of talent Dan the Automator had to work with in Galactic that's a crime.Crazyhorse Mongoose and Late for the Future are both far superior records.