Standing O by Little Brother Project: A Wild Ride Through Funk, Soul, and Psychedelic Jazz Vibes
Alright, let’s get real for a sec. Standing O ain’t your average smooth jazz record you throw on while sipping overpriced coffee at some hipster café. Nah, this is raw, uncut energy from the funk underworld, with enough acid jazz twists to make your brain do backflips. Released in 2002 under the radar (literally—Not On Label), Little Brother Project came through swinging like they had something to prove. And damn, did they ever.
First off, let’s talk about that Untitled Track. Yeah, no fancy name here, just pure vibes. It hits hard right out of the gate with a bassline so thick it could choke a rhino. The drums are loose but tight—like a drunk guy trying not to spill his drink—and there’s this sax solo halfway through that sounds like Coltrane decided to crash a party hosted by Funkadelic. You don’t forget tracks like this because they grab you by the throat and refuse to let go until you’re sweating bullets and nodding along like an idiot.
Then there’s “Psycho Groove” (or whatever it’s called; track titles seem optional here). This one dives headfirst into psychedelic territory, layering trippy synths over a relentless jazz-funk groove. The keyboard work? Insane. Like someone took Herbie Hancock, locked him in a room with a bag of shrooms, and told him to go nuts. By the time the horns kick in, you’re either dancing like a lunatic or questioning every life choice that led you to press play. Either way, mission accomplished.
What makes Standing O stand out isn’t just its genre-blurring sound—it’s the attitude. This album doesn’t care if you “get it.” It’s too busy being bold, chaotic, and weirdly beautiful all at once. Listening to it feels like stumbling into a secret jam session where everyone involved is channeling their inner musical beast without giving two shits about what anyone else thinks.
Reflection time: Honestly, I didn’t expect to still be thinking about this album days later. But here we are. Maybe it’s the Untitled Track haunting my dreams or the fact that Little Brother Project managed to pull off something so fearless and unapologetic in an era dominated by cookie-cutter pop. Or maybe…just maybe…it’s because deep down, we all wanna live in a world where music can still surprise us like this. Now excuse me while I try to find more info on these mysterious geniuses before they vanish into thin air again.
