Lettuce

Rage

Velour Music Group

Rating: 3/3

Peanut butter, BBQ sauce and swiss cheese are all champions on their own. However, make them try and party together and they’ll most likely be less than stellar. Bear this in mind when listening to funky soul Lettuce’s new album Rage, born from a magnificent group of individuals who first gathered together in 1992 and described themselves as a mix of “artsy and party,” and have now reconvened in an attempt to collaborate on an all-encompassing soul tribute.  Independently they have funked with the likes of Britney Spears, 50 Cent, the Game and DJ Quik, but together they beg for entrance and playtime at underground jazz clubs uttering “Let us Play!”, hence the title Lettuce.  While the free jazz experiment that takes place on Rage is admirable and hyperactive to say the least, the talents seem to outplay each other in a personal pursuit of excellence. With the deaths of James Brown and J Dilla in 2006, Lettuce decided it was time to pay homage to all strokes of funk and soul with this newest album. Although their cover of “Express Yourself” is compelling, much of the album radiates incoherence and scattered intent. My attention span waned quickly, less than a minute into every song, as impressive solo pieces may only hold attention for so long.