Center: Level: Roar

The horns get all the credit in this review, and the 5 stars are all for them. I personally hate the rappers they have. I don't like their word choices, delivery, rhythm, what they choose to emphasize, really no redeeming aspects as far as I'm concerned. But of course don't take my word for it, find out for yourself whether you like it or hate it. However, I am going nuts over the horn section. Oh my god the sousaphone player!!!!!! The instrumentals are freaking great and have caused many a giddy laugh they are so awesome. They do a fantastic cover of Micheal Jackson's "Human Nature," and the tune they have titled "Brooklyn" is worth buying on its own if you are worried about not liking the rap. VIP is likewise a great, great tune minus the chant part they do about 2/3 of the way through. And did I mention oh my god the sousaphone player?!?!?!

Done with the style and flair of a LA, HBC Love it.

Youngblood is one of my favorite groups and I've been listening to them for several years now. I'm one helluva fan, but I'm not feeling their style on this album as much as Unlearn or Word On The Street where they were more lyrical with songs like Crescent City. It's still an awesome album with Round One, Brooklyn, Nate McCarish Handbills for No Man, and Is an Elegy. I prefer their jazz style more though. P.S. THE TUBA PLAYER IS SICK NASTY!!! THAT'S REAL TALENT!!!

cant get enough of this band saw them live and they are great loved Brooklyn, movement and VIP but all others quickly grew on me!!

This is a fantastic album, the horn players are furiously good, and the rap lyrics are passionate and artful, as opposed to hateful "gansta rap". Absolutely a must-have. IF you havent seen these guys live yet, get off you @s$..

Okay this album has got to be one of the best I own, the music is incredible, these fellas have some serious talent, I have played for a few years and these guys do stuff with horns I have never heard and it sounds incredible. The lyrical poety is phenomenal, and it sounds more like poetry than hip-hop or perhaps rap with a much deeper meaning to it. If you have nothing from these guys you have to get this. Truly Good Music, hands down.

Though not as consistently good as Unlearn, the highlights on this album are beyond belief. Brooklyn is far and away their best cut, followed up by Culture: Envy: War, Elegy, and Human Nature Pt.2. But the highlight is definately Brooklyn, with it's classic call and response, inspired improv, and the player's talent for blasting away, while remaining slightly understated.

i first heard some of youngblood brass band's stuff while listening in to one of my school's jazz band rehearsals, and later asking the director what they were playing. from then on i was hooked. as a wind instrument player, i can appreciate the talent these players have, and their obvious love for the music they play. "brooklyn" is the standout track on this album for me, i highly suggest buying that, if not the whole album.

I discovered this album last summer and that summer I listened to it more than any other album in my collection. I've been looking for other music by this band for a year and was ecstatic to finally find some on iTunes. Center:Level:Roar ties Gorillaz's Demon Days and Coltrane's A Love Supreme for the best album of all time.

I actually bought this CD about a year ago. It is still in my top 5CDs. I swear that if you put this album on your iPod or in your CD player that you can listen to it over and over again and not get bored. I made a 4 hour car ride one day and Center.Level.Roar. was in my CD player the entire 4 hours. This band has the ability to grasp your love for music and your heart and twist them together and all you end up with is a smile and a funny feeling in your stomach. I can't even begin to tell you how much you'll just "groove" to this band. You just need to find out for yourself! Alan Greenville, NC