Search - The Bomb Squad :: SophistaFunk

Fat, funky, danceable, great hooks and chops

p wood d | 10/07/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"No wonder the Bomb Squad won the American Music Award this year. There aren't many bands out there that can appeal to both the average listener and the discriminating musician/audiophile, hence the title of their debut release, Sophistafunk. They begin by laying down great dance grooves, superb vocals, and memorable hooks and then carefully tuck in a generous amount of tasty jazzy inflections, syncopated rhythmns, and challenging progressions. Think James Brown meets the Brecker Brothers or Chaka Kahn meets George Clinton/Parliament. There's no point in singling any one player out as being the best. The all have chops to envy yet each one plays in the pocket. Suberb horn arrangements, tight and punchy bass and percussion, awesome vocal presence and phrasing, clean and driving guitar, tasteful and retro keyboard, excellent recording and production. I give this recording 4 stars only because I've heard most of the new songs that they're in the process of recording and I think that if these songs get released as their next CD, it will get 5 stars.The new songs have a little more variety of style which shows that the Bomb Squad can effortlessy play just about anything and still rock the house. Long live the Bomb Squad!"