''Focus Level'' is the debut studio album by American
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band
Endless Boogie
''Endless Boogie'' is a studio album by American blues musician John Lee Hooker, released in 1971 through ABC Records. Produced by Bill Szymczyk and Ed Michel, the double album was recorded at Wally Heider Recording with session musicians suc ...
. It was released on June 17, 2008 through
No Quarter Records
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* ''Yes'' and ''no'' (responses)
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.
Critical reception
''Focus Level'' generally received positive reviews from music critics.
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
critic Tim Forget noted the influences of "the heavy Texas rumble of
ZZ Top, the
Woodstock
Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held during August 15β18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, United States, southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York, Woodstock. ...
noodling of
Canned Heat, and the brown acid haze of
Blue Cheer," stating that the album's pleasures rest in "the bandβs ability to crawl inside these sounds and explore them."
Noel Gardner of
Drowned in Sound
''Drowned in Sound'', sometimes abbreviated to ''DiS'', is a UK-based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway. Founded by editor Sean Adams, the site features reviews, news, interviews, and discussion forums.
History
''D ...
commented:"Endless Boogieβs industrial strength record shelves are raided hungrily and consistently throughout ''Focus Level''."
critic Aaron Leitko described the album as "rock minimalism at its most casual-- austere repetition and art noise that's good for both the bong-water soaked psych-cognoscenti and the chili cook-off." Leitko further wrote: "The four-sided record is the hallmark of classic-rock over-indulgence, and the extension of that indulgence is Endless Boogie's whole show. But it can be a hard show to sit through."
John Mulvey of ''
Uncut'' wrote: "Thereβs a real sense that Endless Boogie have exploited the affinities between fiercely disciplined, linear
southern jams and
motorik
Motorik is the 4/4 beat often used by, and heavily associated with, krautrock bands. Coined by music journalists, the term is German for "motor skill". The motorik beat was pioneered by Jaki Liebezeit, drummer with German experimental rock band ...
."
Track listing
# "Smoking Figs In The Yard" β 7:23
# "The Manly Vibe" β 9:39
# "Bad River" β 3:02
# "Executive Focus" β 11:34
# "Gimme The Awesome" β 5:21
# "Steak Rock" β 7:28
# "Coming Down The Stairs" β 5:17
# "Jammin' With Top Dollar" β 10:21
# "Low-Lifes" β 16:19
# "Move Back!" β 2:38
Personnel
;Endless Boogie
*Paul "Top Dollar" Major β vocals, guitar
*Jesper "The Governor" Eklow β guitar
*Marc Razo β bass
*Chris Gray β drums
;Technical personnel
*Nicolas Vernhes β recording, production
*Mike Fellows β additional recording
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
2008 debut albums
Blues rock albums by American artists