Reviews "The Good the Bad and the Funky"

Please submit reviews of Tom Tom Club's latest album to Francey.

Read the reviews by:

• Rolling Stone magazine
• Frank U.
• Renie Plonski
• Wally Badarou
• Independent (uk)

"Tom Tom Club's strength has always been its limitation: This is a band led by its rhythm section. With their nu-funk classics "Wordy Rappinghood" and "Genius of Love," Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth - formerly of Talking Heads - laid down grooves sampled by everyone from Grandmaster Flash to Mariah Carey. But otherwise, the worthy tunes have been few and far between, and the duo's breathy vocals have often been monotonous. Happily, that's not the case on their first album in eight years: Frantz and Weymouth have teamed up with a melting pot of songwriting, vocal and instumental talent, who have supplied offbeat but on-point, ever-changing flavors. Charles Pettigrew, of Charles and Eddie's "Would I Lie to You?" fame, spins his sweet soul falsetto across the serene reggae of "Let There be Love" and two other slinky jams, while Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals brings some authentic Jamaican spice to "She's Dangerous." These funky Heads are fresher than ever."

Frank U.

I scored an advanced copy of GB&F at eBay.com. LUCKY ME!!!!! All I can say is WOW! The new material is fabulous! I think the thing I like the most is the deep, soulful, groovy, flavor these tracks possess. I find it very refreshing - I guess I thought (obviously wrong) that the tracks would be more light and popish - like Who Feeling it follows in the vein of Genius, Wordy Rap, Sunshine & Xtc, Mw/4WH. But then it takes this left turn into Groovesville, breaks the 'funk-o-meter' and just never turns/looks back. It's an exciting ride!

To describe it in a nutshell, it's nice to know that TTC can make a 'non-TTC record' - you've (finally-IMO) injected your material with a massive dose of all the funky elements and soulful styles that you've loved all your life. Sure, it 'exists' in your older material - don't get me wrong. But instead of just 'existing,' it's now very much more alive and well and just having a hell of a good time!! (The way life should be!!) I knew all along that you had it in you - it's nice to hear that you finally let it out in full force.

Wishing you all much success in this venture! And all the best to Charles - I've only read recently (on your new web site - which looks great) that he's been ill. My prayers are with him for a speedy recovery.

Renie Plonski

I've got the copy, and it is marvellously refreshing to hear Tom-Tom's sound again. The voices, Tina's voice, wow... The ridims and the ideas, simply irresistible. Long life to the baby, and I cannot thank you enough for such an elegant gesture.

Wally Badarou

Like the Stereo MC's, The Tom Tom Club were last heard from back in 1992. Most, surely, considered them long defunct, but The Good, the Bad and the Funky marks Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth's return in surprisingly sprightly style, brimful of bubbling beats and bolstered by a shifting line-up whose number includes multi-talented guitarist Robbie Aceto, turntablist Kid Ginseng, percussionist/kora player Abdou M'Boup and vocalist Charles Pettigrew (formerly of soul duo Charles & Eddie).

With the ragga toaster Mystic Bowie ­ top name of the week, I think ­ adding the requisite dancehall swagger to several tracks, Toots Hibbert fronting the fast ska shuffle "She's Dangerous", and P-Funk elder Bernie Worrell's clavinet lending its funky gurgle to "Holy Water", the overall impression is akin to Was (Not Was) straying into Caribbean climes, a conceptual funk outfit seduced by island fun and frisky rhythms. That's most clearly evident on the strutting "Time To Bounce", whose electro-matic dancehall style recalls Philip "Fattis" Burrell and Steely & Clevie, while a sterling cover of Lee Perry's classic "Soul Fire" provides Mystic Bowie with his most expansive platform.

With Pettigrew contributing his best Marvin Gaye impression to "Surrender", and Tina Weymouth bringing a more relaxed, sensual approach to "Love To Love You Baby", the result is, surprisingly, one of the feel-good albums of the summer.

Andy Gill, May 24, 2001 (Independent.co.uk)