Review SONIC UNIVERSE “It Is What It Is”

Time for some funky music – here comes Sonic Universe. This moniker stands for a collaboration between Corey Glover (Living Colour) and Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob). The two guys, along with bassist Booker King and drummer Tyakwuan Jackson, have recorded an album that can best be described as crossover.

It’s nothing new to mix the harder sounds of rock with some infectious funk. The difference with “It Is What It Is” is the authentic passion for this sound that bursts from every note played.

It’s the strong groove that has this captivating effect, while the combination with the more progressive approach of Adrenaline Mob adds a great element of variety to each of these ten thunderous tracks. In a way, the best of both worlds come together on this highly entertaining album.

“Whisper to a Scream” is a song you should check out to understand the width of the album. Blues driven and fueled by emotions the song isn’t heavy at all and is more rock than hard rock. Still, it’s the intensity of songs and the emotion-laden vocal by Corey Glover that make this tune to a captivating moment on the album.

The heavier yet funky roots come to the fore in the great opener ‘I Am’, which leads into the title track. “It Is What It Is” is an excellent crossover track with Mike Orlando’s guitar playing a major role. At the same time, the song takes an exciting turn after the first minute, revealing its full crossover charms.

The bottom part of the track list also offers great music. There is a frantic ‘Higher’ followed by the funky ‘Life’. Although a common thread runs through the album, ‘It Is What It Is’ has a lot of twists and unexpected turns that provide a special thrill. The ‘stop’ or ‘skip’ button is far away as you want to experience these songs in their entirety.

“It Is What It Is” is a lively and very dynamic album. Two guys with two different musical backgrounds have found a common ground to make music together and the result is an album that can best be described as essential crossover. This longpalyer is an energetic release with songs that showcase the full joy of music. Creativity is key and that is what this longplayer reflects from beginning to end