Shack-man
1996 studio album by Medeski Martin & Wood
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Shack-man is the fourth album by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood, released in 1996.[1][3][4] It was widely considered their commercial breakthrough, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.[5]
| Shack-man | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 15, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | June 1996 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Jazz-funk, soul jazz, acid jazz | |||
| Length | 55:29 | |||
| Label | Rykodisc[1] Gramavision | |||
| Producer |
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| Medeski Martin & Wood chronology | ||||
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Production
The album was recorded in an isolated shack in Hawaii, with power supplied by solar energy and generators.[6]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [8] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [2] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [9] |
AllMusic called the album "the best example to date of the trio's cerebral fusion of soul-jazz, hip-hop, and post-punk worldbeat."[7] New York wrote that "the changes are episodic, as in funk, rather than conversational, as in jazz."[10] Relix called it a "dark, funky dorm room breakthrough."[11]
The Cleveland Scene wrote that the group "made it cool to groove again with 1996s Shack-man, a Hammond-hammered Phish-lot mainstay that opened the door for instrumental improv groups like Soulive and Particle."[12]
Track listing
All music by Medeski Martin & Wood except where noted.
- "Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus" (traditional, arr. by MMW) – 4:27
- "Think" – 5:16
- "Dracula" – 4:16
- "Bubblehouse" – 4:27
- "Henduck" – 4:38
- "Strance of the Spirit Red Gator" – 7:06
- "Spy Kiss" – 4:22
- "Lifeblood" – 7:06
- "Jelly Belly" – 4:42
- "Night Marchers" – 4:26
- "Kenny" – 4:43
Personnel
Medeski Martin & Wood
- John Medeski – Hammond B3 organ, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, Pianet T, toy piano, Yamaha CSO1 II
- Chris Wood – guitars, acoustic bass, electric basses
- Billy Martin – drums, percussion
Production
- Hans Wendl – executive producer
- Medeski Martin & Wood – producers
- David Baker – producer, recording, mixing
- Katsu Naito – mixing
- Carl Green – recording assistant
- Mark Kindermann – recording assistant
- Bob Ward – editing at Current Sounds (New York City, New York)
- Dr. Toby Mountain – mastering at Northeastern Digital (Southborough, Massachusetts)
- Michael Macioce – band photography
- Billy Martin – artwork
- Liz Penta – LP management