Ruckus

Since their inception in 1994, New Orleans funk-jazz conglomerate Galactic have grappled with transferring the sweaty, frenetic energy of their live shows to their records. On their fourth studio effort, they’ve given up trying and it’s the smartest thing they could’ve done. Outside-the-box producer Dan “The Automator” Nakamura (Gorillaz, Dr. Octagon) zeroes in on interesting sounds and the band builds entire songs around them. On “Bittersweet,” it’s a deep, thick baritone sax; on the hypnotic “Snuff,” it’s a ghostly slide guitar; the reggae-flavored “Bongo Joe” turns on a seductive melodica. Fat-bottomed grooves are still central to the band’s M.O., but they’re no longer so orthodox. “The Beast” is constructed as if it were hip-hop, with a harmonica wailing the hook and the rhythm section locking into a reliable groove. Who knows what it’ll all sound like live, but then again, that was never Galactic’s problem.