ViceVersa – “The Electric Flame” [Album Review]

Following a well-publicized rift with Vice Media, in which the $2.5 billion media empire issued a Cease and Desist demand against the L.A. trio over alleged similarities in branding (yes, really), the indie funk rock outfit ViceVersa has come out on top with the release of their debut LP, The Electric Flame.

The Electric Flame builds on two previously self-released EPs with improved quality, a higher degree of musical maturity, and the added production genius of John Avila (of ‘80s Oingo Boingo fame).

The album name The Electric Flame is a deliberate nod to two of the group’s most significant musical inspirations: Jimi Hendrix, who irrevocably changed the way we think of the electric guitar; and James Brown, who alongside his Famous Flames pioneered the funk genre.

The album serves listeners with a half-hour musical experience spanning and fusing a bulk of rock sub-genres—from blues to grunge, to funk, to hip-hop, and everything in between. Genre purists, beware! This album crosses and blurs boundaries you wouldn’t have ever thought of combining… but it somehow works—if you’re willing to keep an open mind.

With each track hovering around the three-minute mark, the genre crossovers stay fresh, rather than gimmicky, and maintain the album’s authority as an exciting and cohesive musical adventure.

Stand out tunes are “Love The Way”—a bluesy and funky track that kicks the album off to a buzzing start and showcases the self-taught guitar talent and textured vocals of lead vocalist/guitarist Zeke Zeledon; “Funk Your Face”—a funk-punk crossover tune (think the Runaways combined with James Brown and Wu-Tang Clan) featuring drummer Ariel Fredrickson on vocals; and “Love Buzz”—a wicked cover of the Shocking Blues original that shows off the grungy vocals of bassist Sarah Corza.

If you’re musically adventurous and looking to really push yourself outside of your comfort zone then The Electric Fame is definitely worth checking out. But if you’re someone who prefers their genres boxed, wrapped, and kept separate from one another then this album just isn’t for you. Either way, we should all keep an eye and ear out for whatever ViceVersa decides to get up to next.

The Electric Flame Track Listing:

01. Love The Way
02. Next One
03. So Fine
04. Get Down
05. Funk Your Face
06. Love Buzz
07. Feel Yo Body
08. Core
09. Head

Run Time: 32:51
Release Date: May 12, 2017

Check out select tracks from the album The Electric Flame