Activate Infinity
The Bad Plus · 2019
37 min · 8 tracks · jazz
A vibrant fusion of jazz rhythms and avant-garde experimentation, blending intricate melodies with a dynamic, contemporary edge.
Top tracks — play these first
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Thrift Store Jewelry — This track exemplifies the band's playful yet sophisticated approach, featuring intricate interplay between piano and drums that showcases their improvisational skills.
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Love Is the Answer — The extended length allows for an expansive exploration of themes through rich harmonies and dynamic shifts, making it a centerpiece of the album's narrative arc.
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Slow Reactors — With its complex time signatures and engaging melodic lines, this track highlights the group's technical prowess while maintaining a sense of accessibility.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album showcases intricate compositions and skilled performances, though it may not have widespread recognition.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a rapid tempo in 'Avail', establishing an energetic pace that is maintained through the first half.
- The final track, 'Love Is the Answer', serves as a reflective conclusion, contrasting the earlier intensity with a slower, more melodic approach.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic rhythms for active listening
- short bursts of engaging experimentation
- playful melodies that invite exploration
- thought-provoking tracks with contrasting moods
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward, predictable songs
- want long, uninterrupted soundscapes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2019, Activate Infinity marks The Bad Plus's return as a trio after the departure of longtime bassist Reid Anderson. This album continues their tradition of pushing jazz boundaries while incorporating new elements, showcasing their artistic evolution in a post-genre landscape.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Brad Mehldau· Hiatus Kaiyote· Tigran Hamasyan
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Avail 3:15
- 2 Slow Reactors 5:51
- 3 Thrift Store Jewelry 4:47
- 4 The Red Door 4:02
- 5 Looking in Your Eyes 3:58
- 6 Dovetail Nicely 5:07
- 7 Undersea Reflection 3:00
- 8 Love Is the Answer 7:34
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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