What makes Empire Central by Snarky Puppy notable?

Empire Central debuted at number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart, marking Snarky Puppy’s continued commercial success. The album was praised for its adventurous spirit and musicianship, highlighting the band's influence in contemporary jazz. Critics noted its ability to bring together diverse influences while maintaining a cohesive sound. Empire Central is Snarky Puppy's first studio album since their Grammy-winning 2019 release, Immigrance. By 2022, the band had solidified their reputation in the jazz fusion scene, engaging a wider audience while continuing to innovate their sound. This album reflects their growth as musicians and collaborators, showcasing a blend of intricate arrangements and spontaneous performances.

Who is Empire Central for?

Empire Central works well if you're into dynamic journey with rhythmic peaks, headphone detail hunting experience and for late-night exploration.

How many songs are on Empire Central?

Empire Central has 16 tracks, running approximately 94 minutes.

Empire Central

Snarky Puppy · 2022

94 min · 16 tracks · jazz

A vibrant tapestry of jazz fusion, weaving complex rhythms and rich harmonies into a dynamic listening experience.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Keep It on Your Mind — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its infectious groove and layered instrumentation, displaying the band's tight interplay and improvisational skills.
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Cliroy — Featuring complex time signatures and melodic shifts, this track exemplifies Snarky Puppy’s signature style while pushing musical boundaries through dynamic solos.
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Fuel City — With its driving rhythm and energetic motifs, 'Fuel City' captures the essence of urban life, reflecting both vibrancy and chaos within its structure.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

73 /100

Alpine

Higher than 96% of albums we've rated

The album's complex rhythms and rich harmonies showcase strong musicianship, though it may not have widespread cultural reach yet.

What we noticed

Each track showcases a different instrumental focus, with solos that highlight various members of the ensemble, allowing for dynamic shifts in texture.
The use of extended harmonies and modal interchange is prevalent, giving the music a rich harmonic depth that evolves over the course of the album.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 9/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

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 journey with rhythmic peaks
headphone detail hunting experience
for late-night exploration
improvisational vibes for attentive listeners

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
seek straightforward, predictable listening

Where this album fits

Career context: Empire Central is Snarky Puppy's first studio album since their Grammy-winning 2019 release, Immigrance. By 2022, the band had solidified their reputation in the jazz fusion scene, engaging a wider audience while continuing to innovate their sound. This album reflects their growth as musicians and collaborators, showcasing a blend of intricate arrangements and spontaneous performances.
Stylistic neighbors: GoGo Penguin· Hiatus Kaiyote· The Bad Plus