Search - Down to the Bone :: Supercharged

No longer their early sound; starting to sound a bit tired

J. Smith | Virginia | 04/20/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"In their 7th studio release in 10 years, Down to the Bone's sound has evolved (devolved?) from their funky urban sound of the late `90s and is quite frankly starting to sound a little tired and worn out. There isn't really anything "supercharged" about this album, and coming on the heels of the decent but ultimately lackluster album Spread Love Like Wildfire in 2005, one has to honestly wonder whether Down to the Bone has much left in the tank. This isn't a bad album, and there are some great tracks (see list below), but the album just doesn't stand out much, particularly when compared to some of the group's earlier works. Perhaps they've been pumping out the albums a little too quickly.



Highlights include the title/lead track Supercharged, Parkside Shuffle, and Electric Vibes (featuring Roy Ayers on, you guessed it, vibes). Funkin' Around and Cosmic Fuzz are also worth a listen. The double-bass on Make it Funky is an absolute breath of fresh air - it single-handedly makes the track and is something that the group should consider utilizing more extensively in future albums. Shake It Up, featuring Corrina Greyson, sounds half a step slow, and does not cut it in my book. Hip City could've had some potential, but it sounds a half a step slow as well.



If you're a hardcore fan of Down to the Bone, you'll appreciate a couple of tracks on this album, but if you're a casual fan looking for a good place to start your collection, leave this one and pick up one of the group's first two albums instead.



This Review Copyrighted 2010 by J. Smith."