Customer Reviews

Anomie & Bonhomie

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

"Anomie & Bonhomie" is a honey of a disc, a sly fusion of Brooklyn hip-hop, perky lo-fi guitar rock and the earthy R&B at which Scritti Politti's frontman, the angel-voiced Green, has always excelled. Bassist/vocalist Me'shell Ndegeocello, rappers Mos Def and Lee Majors and producer David Gamson help Green realize his best work: a record that bobs, rocks, thumps and swings like nothing else out there. Not for everyone, but those that manage to grasp it will likely hang on for life.

Finally, a pop CD that makes you think about the music! Green can't do too much wrong in my opinion (he did stumble a little with Provision but that's another review). The 80's slickness is there with a lot of NYC grit and the combination works. Everything about A&B works! Green's lyrics and impossibly glossy vocals are in great form. But the instrumentation, especially the guitar, is teriffic! A&B reminds me of an updated version of Songs To Remember (SP's first album). The same collage of influences and styles is there and there's the "live band" feel. You gotta get this! NB: A&B may prove to be an initial challenge to the obstinate C&P SP fan but A&B marks Green's growth as artist.

Even if it's a little too precious and sweet (and those are truly mild criticisms), A and B is a genuinely well-crafted album; the sublime (that is, both gorgeous and un-nerving) mix of creamy pop and hip hop sounds like nothing else you'll hear this year. By the way, these are a-list guests (from Mos Def to MeShell), which only shows that if nothing else, GG has great taste. I'm not a huge Scritti Fan, but I find this album hard to resist. It's confounding both old SP fans and hip-hop fans--could there be a better recommendation?

Ok,ok I've seen the other reviews and I'm inclined to disagree with too much rap in here.I think Green has a substantial amount of singing in this cd which is a fair amount equal to the rap.Actually I thought it was going to be rap all the way through.My favorites are "Umm","First Goodbye","Mystic Handyman" and "Born to Be".With all of these songs you will find that Green Gartside can really get to the core of things just listen to the lyrics.I thought it was fantastic hearing from him and it's been way to long.Even though this was an import and the American fans had to wait so long to get it,it was well worth my money.I recommend it.Anyway he shows he doesn't and isn't a thing of the past anymore he's among us going into the new millenium.

Scritti Politti have always made great summer records, the kind best listened to on sunny days with windows wide open. Anomie & Bonhomie, the first new Scritti Politti album since 1988's Provision, is no exception. Though elements of the sound have changed, that summer vibe is still there, strong as ever.

A happy surprise is how smoothly Green Gartside has integrated the sounds of nineties pop into Scritti Politti's music. Basically, three new ingredients have been added this time around: rap (courtesy of Mos' Def, Lee Majors, and Me'Shell Ndegeocello), rock guitar (ex-Revolution member Wendy Melvoin is among the guitarists), and the live feel that came back in favor with the emergence of "alternative" bands in the early nineties. That these new ingredients blend so well with the vocal sound that Scritti Politti is known for shows that Green has not lost his sense of perspective.

Typically, what happens when an artist is absent from the music scene for an extended period, one of two things happens - either the artist's "comeback" album sounds just like the last one, or the artist makes a clumsy attempt to incorporate current musical trends, and the new album comes across as over-calculated, pathetic, or (even worse) just plain dull. That isn't the case here. Rather, Anomie & Bonhomie comes across as a logical progression in Scritti Politti's musical development.

Standout tracks: "Umm", "Tinseltown to the boogiedown", "First goodbye", "Die alone", and "The world you understand (is over & over & over)".

The Japanese edition adds the bonus track "Dead certainty", which can otherwise be found on the first of the two "Tinseltown to the boogiedown" singles.

This album is a masterpiece! After reading several reviews about A & B, many of them negative, I just had to find out for myself once it was released here in the States (why'd it take so damn long?). If your knowledge of Scritti Politti only dates back to Cupid & Psyche'85 then this album will come as a shock. But anyone worth their Scritti owns Songs to Remember, and those are the ones who'll immediately see A & B as its logical extension. Mystic Handyman, probably one of Green's best ever songs, echoes Asylums in Jerusalem, a confection set to a reggae beat. Born to Be is reminiscent of Faithless, with electric guitars replacing the soulful backup singers of the latter. And in a strange way, The World You Understand resembles an updated Sex. The other two ballads, First Goodbye and Brushed with Oil rate right up there with A Little Knowledge, Overnite and Oh Patti from C & P '85 and Provision. The hip-hop touches on A & B only reflect the changing times; back in 1982 it was r& b and gospel (the reggae influence was always present in one form or another). The percolating keyboards of David Gamson are missing, but not particularly missed on this album. I hope Green and Co. won't make us wait another 11 years-they were sorely missed. And I hope Virgin (or whoever handles the old Rough Trade) gets off their duff and release Songs to Remember domestically!

I got the CD yesterday. My impression of the CD is that there's a couple different types of songs. First, you have the songs which follow in the tradition of C&P 85 and Provision ("First Goodbye", "Mystic Handyman", "Brushed With Oil, Dusted With Powder", "Born To Be"). Next, you have the songs with hip-hop all over it ("Umm, "Tinseltown To The Boogiedown", "Die Alone", "Smith 'N' Slappy", "The World You Understand", "Prince Among Men"). And then you have heavy guitar-driven songs ("Umm" again, "Here Come July"). The mix of these types of songs indicates Green's diverse songwriting, which makes all the more enjoyable. Sure, it ain't C&P 85 or Provision. Then again, "Tinseltown To The Boogiedown" works really well especially with rappers Lee Majors and Mos Def. Best track overall by the way!

Many reviewers here have complained that this CD doesn't sound like Scritti Politti. But when has Scritti Politti ever stuck to one style? Before the synth-heavy new wave of "Cupid and Psyche" and "Provision", there was the experimental punk-pop now collected on "Early" and the acoustic alternasoul of "Songs to Remember". Why would anyone expect a new album from Scritti to sound anything like what had come before? This is filled with incredibly catchy, funky songs that constantly take unexpected musical turns. "Umm", "Die Alone", "The World You Understand..." and "Here Come July" are particular standouts. If you don't like hip-hop, you may get tired of the guest rappers (who are hardly as ubiquitous as some reviewers have complained) -- but I'm not such a hip-hop fan either, and I really enjoy the rap numbers on this CD. Given how cheap it is to acquire a used copy of this album, you really have no excuse not to buy it.

After reading the reviews of Anomie & Bonhomie I was reluctant to try it out. I am no fan of rap music and longed for Scritti's pure pop sensibilities. If you're a fan of Cupid & Psyche and Provision then BUY THIS CD. Green hasn't forgotten how to write and David Gamson is still a great producer. The 1st two songs should convince you.Then treat yourself to 'Here Comes July'-worth the price of the CD itself. The rappers actually enhance the songs and without them the album would not be as strong.

I've just heard the new Scritti Politti CD and have to say it is just perfect. Mind you, this is not the Green Gartside of "Cupid & Psyche '85" but everything that I've liked about the group is intact: Green's crystal clear vocals and intelligent lyrics and David Gamson's production and arrangements. Too many people want this to be the follow-up to "Cupid", but that was a different time: Y2K Scritti Politti is still fresh and funky (collabos with Mos Def and Lee Majors are on point) and still catches me with dreamy, subtle and very carnal explorations of love(First Goodbye), lust(Mystic Handyman) and just plain cool pop/dance music(Tinseltown to the Boogiedown). Drop all your expectations and let your mind take a cruise with this one. True fans already are rocking this disc, everyone else, take a listen and get over wanting the band to be like its 1985.