In a Perfect World (Aquarium Rescue Unit album)

In a Perfect World
Studio album by
Aquarium Rescue Unit
ReleasedNovember 8, 1994 (US) (CD)
March 4, 1996 (re-release)
StudioSouthern Living At Its Finest Studio (Atlanta, Georgia)
GenreRock, southern rock, blues-rock
Length55:33
LabelVelvet Dwarf Records, Intersound Records
ProducerRicky Keller and The Aquarium Rescue Unit
Aquarium Rescue Unit chronology
Mirrors of Embarrassment
(1993) 		In a Perfect World
(1994) 		The Calling
(2003)

In a Perfect World is a 1994 studio album by the Aquarium Rescue Unit. It was the band's first studio album, following two live releases, and their first record following the departure of former frontman Bruce Hampton.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide[2]

In a review for AllMusic, JT Griffith wrote: "The album is packed with some great jams and beautiful sounds," but noted that although it "probably translated well live," "on record the band falls flat."[1]

John Swenson, editor of The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide, awarded the album 4 stars, calling it "a burnished fusion effort featuring magnificent performances from Herring and Oteil Burbridge."[2]

Writer Dean Budnick commented: "The level of musicianship is quite high on this disc... Burbridge is... creative and compelling... Herring distinguishes himself on a number of tunes."[3]

No Treble's Ryan Madora praised Burbridge's playing on "The Garden," stating that he "exhibits impeccable technique," and "uses clever interval leaps and chords during the flute solo, only to give way to a fierce and acutely punctuated groove before returning to the original theme."[4]

Track listing

  1. "Search Yourself" (Henson, Herring) – 5:58
  2. "Stand up People" (Ingram) – 4:58
  3. "How Tight's Yer Drawers" (Henson, Herring) – 3:50
  4. "The Garden" (Bubridge, Henson) – 5:04
  5. "Swallows" (Bubridge, Bubridge, Henson) – 5:12
  6. "Headstrong" (Henson, Herring) – 4:25
  7. "Plain or Peanut" (Burbridge) – 2:25
  8. "Highly Overrated" (Burbridge, Burbridge, Henson) – 4:33
  9. "Overload" (Burbridge, Henson) – 5:46
  10. "Satisfaction Guaranteed" (Baird) – 4:03
  11. "Turn It On" (Burbridge, Henson) – 4:34
  12. "Splash" (Burbridge) – 4:12

Personnel

  • Jeff Sipe / Apt. Q258 – drums, percussion, "Harmonorbital", Kelnabor, Crontex, Strohgen
  • Oteil Burbridge – 5- and 6-string bass
  • Kofi Burbridge – flute, keyboards, acoustic piano
  • Paul Henson – lead vocals
  • Jimmy Herring – guitar, guitar synthesizer
  • Count M'Butu – percussion
  • Beth Harris – backing vocals on "Overload"
  • Lincoln Metcalf – Chazoid

Notes

  1. ^ a b Griffith, JT. "In a Perfect World: Aquarium Rescue Unit". AllMusic. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Swenson, John, ed. (1999). The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. pp. 24–25.
  3. ^ Budnick, Dean (1998). Jam Bands: North America's Hottest Live Groups, Plus How to Tape and Trade Their Shows. ECW Press. p. 23.
  4. ^ Madora, Ryan (September 5, 2014). "Bass Players to Know: Oteil Burbridge". No Treble. Retrieved July 7, 2022.