 |
| |
|
| |
Album Review
by SashaS
25-5-2001
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Stereo MCs |
|
Stereo MC's: 'Deep Down And Dirty '
(Universal Island)
Stereo MC's attempt to set a record for the longest time between two albums has failed
Guns N'Roses are the only people who've taken longer than this lot to come up with an album; we're still waiting, actually. But the wait for the Stereo MCs' album, after nine years, is over and we get. ..much what you'd expect. 'Deep Down And Dirty' opens with the song of the same name, a declaration from the outset that there's been no dramatic stylistic departures from the band's best selling album 'Connected'.
The title track contains everything that made Stereo MCs popular in the first place although it might not have an easily adoptable tune for interested advertising creatives. It's somehow reassuring they can pull it off so convincingly because so many things have come and gone since then. There is Rob Birch's half-spoken half-sung vocal, the minimal but carefully constructed electronics, the funky beats and the catchiest of hooklines. The formula works perfectly on couple of other songs, especially 'Sofisticated'.
'DD&D' (a partnership of accountants?) is an album that is equally dancey and stoned out. The band members look the part, which is the way it should be. There's something rebellious at work here, anathema to the corporate line, it evokes a sense of deja vu and yet manages to sound contemporary. The story is that Birch and bandmate Nick Hallum went through 400 songs to find a perfect selection.
'Breeze' oozes cinematic atmosphere, 'Graffiti' drives along on funk fuel. The spaced out 'We Belong In This World Together' and 'Running' enlarge the band's musical expression, and yet this is not an album interested in re-defining any genres, or much else, for that matter. It's simply a celebration of good times and having them, repeatedly. Nothing wrong with that, if you're asking.
People - from students to weekend trendies - who liked the previous album will be glad they can stay effortlessly connected.
7/10
SashaS
25-5-2001
'Deep Down And Dirty' by Stereo MC's is released by Universal/Island on 28 May
|
|
|
