Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Every so often, I’ll walk into a record store to browse, and walk out with something I’ve never heard of. I examine the cover art, read the description, ask the stoner behind the counter his opinion, and decide to shell out the thirteen bucks. An impulse buy, as they say. Thankfully, music-reviewer.com sends me the albums I choose to review for free. If I’d bought Gemini Soul’s Liquid Soul Tour on impulse, I’d have gone directly back to the store and inquired about their refund policy.

Described as “Jazz/Funk Fusion”, Liquid Soul Tour includes recordings from several concerts in early 2007, allowing us to hear Gemini Soul doing what, apparently, they do best – performing live. I guess you had to be there.

Gemini Soul’s blend of jazz and funk results in a sound that any pimple-faced teenager with spare time and an IMac could replicate on GarageBand. Listening to Jon O-bergh’s keyboard stylings reminds me of wandering into my High School’s intermediate band class. The only redeeming aspect of Liquid Soul Tour is Ajamu Akinyele's Vic Wooten-like bass playing. Of course, in order to compare Akinyele to Wooten, Wooten would have to be piss-drunk with two broken thumbs.

If you’re in the market for lackluster instrumental versions of other artists’ songs, Liquid Soul Tour does include Peggy Lee’ Fever and Sade’s Hang On To Your Love. Otherwise, this collection of “jazz/funk fusion”, sounds more like the soundtrack to Cinemax After Dark. Check out number three, Lili. I’m quite certain this song came on during last Friday’s episode of Bedtime Stories.

Next time you’re standing in the “G” section of your local record store and feel like making an impulse buy, do yourself a favor. Leave Gemini Soul on the shelf and take one step to the right. There’s probably a Genesis album on sale.