Michael Leonhart has an almost absurdly impressive résumé rife with the names of bands he has either performed with or produced. You can check out his website for a more extensive list, but here’s a brief taste: A Tribe Called Quest, Bobby McFerrin, Bonnie Raitt, Brian Eno, Busta Rhymes, David Byrne, Foreigner, James Brown, Lenny Kravitz, Michael McDonald, Mos Def, Natalie Merchant, Raekwon, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Slash, Steven Tyler, Todd Rundgren, and Wynton Marsalis. Wow. His latest release, Seahorse and the Storyteller, recorded with a bevy of soul revivalists from bands such as Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, El Michels Affair, and the Dap-Kings, collectively billed as the Avramina 7, is a nautically themed nu-funk jam. It’s also an almost total disappointment.

I had every reason to totally dig “Dreams of an Aquarian,” the video for which prompted me to sign on to review this album. I was thoroughly excited by the prospect of Leonhart’s contribution to the re-funkification of contemporary music. (“What re-funkification” you say? Check out Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings sometime.) I’ve never understood why funk has all but disappeared from the modern rolodex of musical genres. I might be too young to complain about the lack of soul in modern music, but hey, even old people are right from time to time. No one could argue against this man’s musical merits (did you see that list?), but, great musician though he is, he just doesn’t cut it as a frontman. This album reminds me of one of my favorite musical jokes: What’s the last thing the drummer said to his band? “Hey guys, let’s play some of my stuff.” That’s not to impugn the musical talent of drummers, but rather to say that people should know their limitations. Most of Leonhart’s solo career is significantly less funky than Seahorse and the Storyteller and is, from what I can tell, largely forgettable. Sadly, this seems to be the case for this album as well.

Leonhart’s latest is something of a concept album. Not every song is specifically nautically themed, but most are. Starting off with the title track, I was still excited with my selection. They sound sort of like a funkier Super Furry Animals, replete with Leonhart’s gruff vocals. The wandering bass and horn flares are most enjoyable—not a bad start. But directly following is possibly the most annoying track on the disc, “Have You Met Martina?” I can picture these guys on stage playing this track as a puzzlingly overextended finale. As with most of this album, the performance seems like it would be infinitely more entertaining live.

Musically the album is pretty solid, as you might guess; it’s mostly the lyrics and vocal melodies that run this ship aground. “The Story of Echo Lake” and “Dreams of an Aquarian” are definite highlights, not only as the best tracks but also as the only tracks that break the mold of the rest of the album. “Echo Lake” is less funky and more dreamlike, in accordance with Leonhart’s back catalogue. It also has easily the best chorus and the least forced-sounding aquatic material. “Dreams” stands out as the best vocal effort, but it’s a bit lacking in the funk department.

If they had abandoned the nautical theme the album probably would have benefited. As it stands, by the time we get to “Here Comes the Dragonfish”, I’m so thoroughly sick of it all that I can hardly stand to finish. While I laud the contribution of the Avramina 7 to the funk revival, it’s difficult to find much else here worthy of praising. If you like goofball funk jam bands, this crew might just float your boat. I’d rather just listen to the Spongebob themesong a dozen times and have done with it.

Track List:
1. Seahorse and the Storyteller
2. Have You Met Martina?
3. Scopolamine
4. Gold Fever
5. The Story of Echo Lake
6. Dr. Killjoy
7. Jaipur
8. Madhouse Mumbai
9. Dreams of an Aquarian
10. Avramina Comes Up from the Deep
11. Shh… They’re Sleeping
12. Here Comes the Dragonfish