European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 18, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday March 182007 scene stars and stripes Pace 13 suggestive sampling today hits feature racy lyrics set to older itunes frolicking in Chippendale uniforms pretty Ricky is the latest face of Urban teen pop the Florida based brother act responsible for the smash ode to phone amour on the hotline typifies hiphop soul at its most libidinous by Boyish on the hotline is a love song for the Hookup generation pushing innuendo toward soft Ore porn when baby Blue one of the groups three rappers murmurs take them Granny panties off put a thong on Hes celebrating the journey of sexual explicitness from pops margins to its Center where pretty Ricky role Model r Kelly still commands attention but wait whats that tune pretty Ricky Singer pleasure picks up in the chorus lets talk about sex baby lets talk about you and me listed from a 1991 classic by pioneering female rap Trio Salt Pepa those lines hark Back to an Era when Many hiphop artists approached sexuality differently not less enthusiastically but with a less mercenary consciousness the hotline int the Only new song to recall the Era when Safe sex was a cultural hot Button and Mouthy Fly girls had a Chance against the strip per Madonnas who Rule today you Sung by the Lis some Atlanta crooner Lloyd with a Clever Cameo by rapper lil is a seduction song with an old fashioned twist Young Lloyd uses the Promise of Fidelity to lure his lady in even More Retro is the Melody anchoring the song its the Hook from True the 1980s Chestnut by from left Diamond Slick pleasure and spectacular Are the members of pretty Ricky their latest hit on the hotline samples from the 90s Salt Pepa tune lets talk about sex Spandau Ballet re imagined As a psychedelic reverie in pm dawns 1991 hit set adrift on memory Bliss pm Dawn was the gnarly Berkley of its Day a duo that featured an oddball frontman and a sonically adventurous do Brothers Prince be and minute mix never fit anyone categories in you Lloyds and lit Waynes verses Are still earthbound compared with Prince bes dreamy contemplations of love and time but the connection adds a velvet Luster to what might have been just another takeout session even newer than you is buddy the hot first single from music soul Childs upcoming release Luvan music the Neo soul Singer is making a bid for the mainstream with his fourth album due March 13 and the rapid ascent of buddy indicates that his Odds Are Good the song is anchored by a bump ing Bass line sampled from Tana Gard ners 1981 disco fantasia heartbeat and strongly invokes another song with the same Sample and also titled buddy released by de la soul in 1989 that track appeared on de la souls debut three feet High and rising which gleefully pioneered so called alternative hiphop an Allstar Jam guests include Jungle Brothers a tribe called quest and representing for the ladies Monie buddy opens with a Mission statement by producer Prince Paul buddy simply Means body bodies of All kinds and explores the language of sex from Many playful angles its like a game of spin the bottle with rhymes instead of kisses music reworks buddy with a More functional focus Hes chatting up a girl in Hopes that Shell become his Friend with benefits to quote alanis Moris Sette if Shes that one Down to have fun music purrs hell make their arrangement equal beneficial romantic not quite but theres a clearheaded Ness about this affair that cleans the air of the testosterone stench of much of today Boot Call hiphop the min fad for referencing Turnof the90s hiphop May just be an Acci Dent the samples pretty Ricky Lloyd and music Sou child employ have been mined by other artists including Nelly and Ini Amoze but by vocalizing these Hooks instead of just interpolating them the younger artists claim a legacy Lloyd and the members of pretty Ricky were barely in Grade school when Salt Pepa and pm Dawn were at their Peak music Proba Bly admired de la soul As a teen this music echoes Forth like a favorite Chil Drens Story a hint of a More innocent if not simpler time perhaps the pumped up Lothario of today want a break from All the bump and grind and dream of eroticism As a realm that celebrates not just performance but As Prince Paul said bodies of All kinds i cd s a Alpha seven dust Bros records seven dust has been reborn on Alpha the groups sixth studio release and first for its own 7 Bros Label after seizing creative control of their career battling Perso Nal difficulties and overcoming near bankruptcy in Label disputes this Atlanta quintet has emerged with renewed focus Ana Energy the groups previous three efforts had their moments but seven dust Hast been this consistently hard hitting since its self titled 1997 debut or 1999 followup Home the guitar attack of John Connelly and Sonny Mayo is punishing and melodic Vince Hornsby holds a tight Bass Groove and Morgan roses relentless drumming and backing vocals Are As focused and angry As his tortured lyrics breathing life into roses confessionals Are the versatile Lead vocals of Lajon Witherspoon who growls and spits fire in Defiance before soaring to incredibly soulful highs driven confessions of hatred aggression and the title track hold up with the bands finest work and death Star beg to differ and Story of your life Are a Welcome return to form As Well without question Loyal fans have always hoped seven dust had a few records like mis left to give John greatest hits luscious Jackson a decade later and its still difficult to find meaning in the debris left behind by the alternative music Hurricane and its associated mini maelstrom of Chick Rock luscious Jacksons new greatest hits Doest say any thing about larger music trends of the 1990s but it does reflect one thing about the Al woman band these gals were supreme even some fans of Jill Cunniff Gabby Glaser Kate Schellenbach and Vivien Trimble May wonder How More than a few luscious Jackson songs could be worthy of a Best of new on cd compilation but one listen to greatest hits shows that perhaps the band was taken for granted almost every track is tied to a Stellar Melody and anchored to a provocative rhythm cuts like the flute filled strongman the Here the mantra based let yourself get Down and the shuffling Cit song May have seemed like Little More than filler songs Back in the Day but now they resonate with surprising pulsating Funk same goes for a couple of luscious Jackson cuts lifted from various artist collections love is Here from the soundtrack to a life less Ordinary and 69 Annee Eronique from the aint nut Hin but a she thing Benefit album still although those songs All demonstrate solid craftwork none of them have substantial Hooks and it was when Lus Cious Jackson discovered that missing ingredient that the band created the perfect storm of mature Groove based pop the mesmerizing chorus of naked Eye for example punctuates its heavy machinery grind and vocal switch offs the Sweet refrain of and pounding Hook of nervous breakthrough likewise elevate those songs and under the skin blazes with infection with its chorus of lie Down in the fire with Burn everything it dont feel Good when you first get till it gets under your skin those tracks sound More vibrant now than Ever though the rare remixes tagged on at the end of greatest hits dont add anything worthwhile luscious Jackson went belly up in 2000 but Cunniff is now embarking on a Solo career and the band is also reportedly reassembling to make kids music even if the women never recreate the magic of their past always have the 90s Chuck City Beach Jill Cunniff militia group since the 2000 dissolution of her band luscious Jackson Jill Cunniff has had a couple of children and kept her music career Active with collaborations and other commercial projects her new Solo release City Beach is what might be expected of a woman returning to her More artistic Side without her cronies and after such a Long break City Beach is sonically similar to previous work by her group but there Are also Clear differences most notable luscious Jackson made Lidback music that simmered with sexual Ity on her own Cunniff makes Lidback music that sounds like Nap time that not knocking Nap time what adult kill for a Good Nap plus theres something reassuring about the Brooklyn based sing ers geared Down opener Lazy girls which saunters by and drops Hokey lines about eating Orange Popsicle and the subsequent warm sound that alludes to a Sweet Breezy easy kind of Day Cunniffe vibe is often subtly alluring with cuts such As the humming apartment 3 and percolating calling me pass ing by like quietly bewitching spells City Beach is also More than the experimental minded luscious Jackson in fact Cunniffe love is a luxury could be her own mad about you the Belinda Carlisle Solo breakout hit that distanced her from the Gogos like mad about you love is a luxury is Teth ered to Girlie harmonies and an irresistible sugary Hook Overall Cunniffe release is too Cowkey for its own Good often floating by like a watered Down luscious Jackson not withstanding a boisterous future but City Beach also has an attractive essence of soul billowing around in its airy arrangements Chuck
