Vulfpeck’s album shines

Vulfpeck (like, wolf pack with a German accent) first came to my attention in 2014, when they released the album “Sleepify.” Ten tracks, at roughly 30 seconds apiece, of absolute silence. The idea was to play this album on repeat while you slept, hopefully garnering enough money to fund a tour that would not charge money for tickets. Historically, it’s been this kind of rule-breaking, paradigm-destroying mindset that has set Vulfpeck apart.

That, and their kick-ass music. Rooted in thick, tasty funk, Vulfpeck merges zeal, articulation, elegance and beauty into a seamless musical integration of the past 40 years. Simply put, these guys have it figured out.

So. The album. Let’s get to it. It’s called “The Beautiful Game.” It’s. So. Funky.

Steeped in the golden, sun-drenched sounds of the ’70s, the album is a winner, start to finish. Starting with a winsome, melancholy clarinet introduction, it grooves right into “Animal Spirits,” one of my favorite cuts. If you’ve ever listened to The Jackson 5 and said to yourself “Hey, these guys are alright,” odds are pretty good you’re gonna love it.

The album keeps the energy high in the next song, “Dean Town”, a driving, house-influenced song that marks a stark departure from the group’s usual style. In fact, this whole album feels different from their usual stuff. For one, it’s got a ton of vocals. Their past EPs tend to be almost completely instrumental, with maybe one song with a vocal part. Not so “The Beautiful Game,” with six of the 10 tracks featuring singers.

Two of these highlight Antwaun Stanley, an R&B singer who’s done some work with Vulfpeck in the past (check out “Wait For the Moment,” one of my favorite tracks). “Aunt Leslie,” the penultimate cut, stands out as one of my favorites. Channeling Lionel Richie, Stanley is arguably at his most soulful and heartfelt. This song also features Cory Wong, a jazz guitarist from Minneapolis who provides the namesake for the final track, titled (you guessed it) “Cory Wong,” a barn-burning, slaphappy, goddamn party of a closer.

Have I laid it on too thick?  I can’t say enough good things about these guys. 5 stars.

Listen to Vulfpeck. Buy this album on their Bandcamp. Listen to their other music on Spotify. Your life will be better.