Search - Chic :: Chic-Ism

One of the greatest bands of my generation

Olukayode Balogun | Leeds, England | 07/27/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a die-hard Chic fan but let's be honest: the wheels were starting to come off the machine by the time this 'reunion' album was released in 1992, a whole fifteen years after they first burst onto the scene with hits like "Everybody Dance" and "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)". Drummer and original member Tony Thompson isn't on this and neither are vocalists Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin. Keyboardists Robert Sabino and Andy Shwartz had also long since gone, taking with them some fundamental aspects of the Chic sound I'd grown to know and love. With new vocalists Sylver Logan Sharp and Jenn Thomas, and even a rapper(Princesa, who raps on "Something You Can Feel" and "Chicism") on board, Bernard Edwards and Nile Rogers did their damndest to keep up with the changing times but it was essentially a losing battle. At least it was as far as I was concerned.



There are still flashes of the old brilliance though. Tunes like "Your Love", "One And Only One" and "Doin' That Thing To Me" are modern and show progression while still maintaining the essentials of the Chic sound (including the wonderful Chic strings) and the opener, "Chic Mystique" is quite a nice little foot tapper, as is "Jusagroove". All the same though, unless you're either keenly interested in nostalgia or a die-hard Chic fan like me, I'd say give this one a miss. Or to put it another way: it's not that this is a bad album per se; in fact it's pretty good. It's just not essentially Chic and as such, is slightly dated. Unfortunately, while these cats were able to set trends in the late 70s and early 80s, by the early 90s, they simply seemed to be following them.



Their first four albums are simply unmissable in my opinion but after that it's like that old saying: you pays your money and you takes your chances. I had this album on vinyl for ages, still enjoy playing it and just had to get it on CD but like I said, I'm a die-hard Chic fan. Quite frankly, I think they were one of the greatest bands of my generation. Given my love for the band and their sound, and the moments of brilliance I referred to earlier, I have no problem giving this album four stars."

It's Groovilicious!

The Groove | Boston, MA | 07/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Chic-ism" was released in 1992 before it ultimately went out of print in the United States. That's a doggone shame because we finally have, after all these years, the reunion of Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards (rest in peace, brother) in one of the most legendary dance acts ever! Next to other then-happening trends, "Chic-ism" may sound old school, but it's certainly not old fashioned. These guys can come up with a groove that's air-tight using REAL INSTRUMENTS and soulful vocals. "Chic Mystique" shines while we're treated to another uptempo number, the flawless "In It To Win It" replete with a slammin' bassline and Nile's trademark guitar. "Doin' that Thing to Me," is also another welcome throwback to the 1970s, and, in a good display of range, they offer the sensual ballad "One and Only Love." But my jam of choice is the infectious "MMFTCF" with its repetive chorus and, again, a good bassline and impressive guitar work. This is hip and happening stuff; it's so hip, P. Diddy is known to often sample Chic's work for his own jams. And it's easy to see why. While Bernard is no longer with us, the legacy of Chic lives on. Quite simply, they were one of the baddest groups around."