Galactic

Already Ready Already

BY Matt YuyitungPublished Feb 7, 2019

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In case you haven't figured it out yet, Galactic wear their New Orleans pride on their sleeves and then some. We're talking about a band who released a concept album all about Mardi Gras, have worked with dozens of other notable New Orleans acts (including Allen Toussaint, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and members of the Meters), and draw heavily from jazz and funk traditions.
 
But most of all, there's a real party atmosphere to what they do. They make it their mission to convey the fun energy of carnival season, and Already Ready Already is more proof Galactic are a party band at heart.
 
You probably need more than one hand to count the number of genres the band embrace across the record, but the end goal is simple. All you need to do is look at songs like "Clap Your Hands," "Going Straight Crazy," and "Dance At My Funeral" to see Galactic have their sights set on getting audiences up and dancing with this record. The band's just-say-yes approach to songwriting is on full display here, where you can hear shades of jazz, funk, R&B, hip-hop, rock, dance, pop and whatever else happened to cross their minds.
 
That attitude also applies to the band's collaborators, as seen with Princess Shaw's R&B-driven vocals on "Going Straight Crazy" and the manic energy rapper Boyfriend brings to "Dance At My Funeral."
 
The record packs quite a bit into its short runtime, with a healthy mix of jazz-driven material alongside more contemporary tracks. While not as sonically adventurous as past efforts, Always Ready Already still satisfies with infectious energy and spirit for those looking for a piece of Mardi Gras to take home.
(Independent)

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