Search - Fatback Band :: 14 Karat

Fatback's Finest!

Andre' S Grindle | Bangor,ME. | 07/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Granted I haven't heard every single one of Fatback's huge

lot of recorded media (I'll bet they recorded more then twenty in their 15 year career) but so far this one stands out as being one of they're most consistant.The previous album 'Hot Box' was an obvious bid for mass-market pop acceptance (with the

Cameo-like "Backstrockin'" but it,like all of their other albums,never came anywhere near the Pop 100.So Fatback dusted

themselfs off and layed down '14 Karat',one of the firiest,

funkiest albums of the 1980's."Let's Do It Again" (NOT the title

track of their first album) and "Lady Groove" are long,highly energetic synth-funk grooves plowing down everything in their

path!Meanwhile the political "Concrete Jungle",whitch focuses on

the urban decay theme that Fatback would later return to and

the sinewy "Your Love Is Strange" both veer into a less manic,if

no less compulsive disco-funk atmosphere.And for once Fatback

pull two great ballads out of their hat-first the soulfully

heartfelt "Angel",with a pleasant vocal harmony and the Raydio-

like '(To Be) Without Your Love".But wait-not done!The album ends with the softly funky jazz fusion instrumental "Chillin'

Out",my personal favorite cut off the album that coulda' been

off a George Duke album or something.'17 Karat' is a pure dry run for the bands next offering 'Tasty Jam',another album by

Fatback I highly reccomend (see my review).Get 'em together but

get THIS album's grooves into your head!It'll be none the worse for it!"