There is a VERY fine line dividing the spontaneous magic of intuitive jamming from the tiresome hooey of self-indulgent noodling. Unfortunately, Schleigho frequently crosses it. The band has made waves on the live circuit, building up the grass roots following that made stars of
Medeski, Martin & Wood and
Phish. But like so many jam bands, the New York quartet has a difficult time capturing that magic in the studio, giving
Continent a sound somewhere between jazz fusion and the quiet storm pap that passes for jazz in the post-
Kenny G era. The album opens promisingly with "Babyman," which rides the same sort of off-tempo groove that bands like Galactic work into a sweaty, funky frenzy. The problem is that they don't know when to quit: By the six-minute mark you're ready for it to be over, but you've still got four minutes left! Other tracks aren't quite as fortunate, whether it's the so-lite-it's-almost-not-there fusion influences of "Go Children Slow" or the directionless noodling of "Keep It in the Car." Ultimately, the band seems to have more instrumental chops than songwriting skills. ~ Bret Love