Revenge is sweet on Joi's latest, a fierce, funky, groove-laden opus that should finally earn the Atlanta-based singer the recognition she so rightfully deserves. Her critically acclaimed (and now out-of-print) 1993 debut,... more » Pendulum Vibe, and her never-released 1997 funk-rock masterpiece, Amoeba Cleansing Syndrome (widely circulated as a bootleg), fell victim to poor marketing and record label shutdowns, and despite her stint as lead vocalist in Lucy Pearl (replacing Dawn Robinson), mainstream success has eluded Joi thus far. But like any righteous diva would, she comes out swinging on Star Kitty's Revenge, packing the disc's 19 tracks and interludes with pure, unadulterated artistry. Mixing raunchy flair (à la Millie Jackson); cosmic, Parliament-style grooves; and her own brand of Dirty South élan, originals like the X-rated "Lick," "Techno Pimp," and "You're a W***e" should send listeners into blissful, funk-induced hazes, while the old-school R&B of "Missing You" and a cover of Chaka Khan and Rufus's "I'm a Woman" are sure to get booties shaking in all the right ways. --Sylvia W. Chan« less
Revenge is sweet on Joi's latest, a fierce, funky, groove-laden opus that should finally earn the Atlanta-based singer the recognition she so rightfully deserves. Her critically acclaimed (and now out-of-print) 1993 debut, Pendulum Vibe, and her never-released 1997 funk-rock masterpiece, Amoeba Cleansing Syndrome (widely circulated as a bootleg), fell victim to poor marketing and record label shutdowns, and despite her stint as lead vocalist in Lucy Pearl (replacing Dawn Robinson), mainstream success has eluded Joi thus far. But like any righteous diva would, she comes out swinging on Star Kitty's Revenge, packing the disc's 19 tracks and interludes with pure, unadulterated artistry. Mixing raunchy flair (à la Millie Jackson); cosmic, Parliament-style grooves; and her own brand of Dirty South élan, originals like the X-rated "Lick," "Techno Pimp," and "You're a W***e" should send listeners into blissful, funk-induced hazes, while the old-school R&B of "Missing You" and a cover of Chaka Khan and Rufus's "I'm a Woman" are sure to get booties shaking in all the right ways. --Sylvia W. Chan
"sista joi is proly what p-funk woulda sounded like had they collaborated with some millie jackson or barbara mason...this is some of that funky ish...you can tell that miss joi been hangin out in the dungeon with her husband gipp and them other dungeon family cats...even raphael saadiq comes thru supportin his lucy pearl partner with his creative skills...maaaan, yall dont know how i needed this...this is some of that love fareal, especially if yall be diggin on sista badu and maybe even some res...forgive me while i go indulge in this some more...(check out that one girl, rebekah...she got a disc called 'remember to breathe' - it aint funky like this but she on some completely different ish...)take it easy now...
bruh ron."
Good, yet somewhat ordinary.
medjay | Chicago, IL United States | 03/21/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First let me say that I've been a fan of Joi ever since I saw her perform with Fishbone and open for De La Soul way back in the day. Her voice and stage presence grabbed me. I bought the Pendulum Vibe and even managed to get my hands on a copy of her never-released sophomore album The Amoeba Cleansing Syndrome (if you're a fan I strongly suggest you track this album down). So of course I waited with baited breath for the new album, anticipating even more wild innovation and genre bending experimentation and what I got was. . . well. . . a pretty good R&B album.Is it a step back? Compared to Amoeba Cleansing Syndrome, yes. Gone are the ridiculously funky grooves and hard rocking tracks. In their place are more traditional vocal and musical arrangements seemingly designed for some sort of mass appeal. That's a shame because what originally made Joi stand out was her willingness to go agaist the grain and create something totally new and fresh. While her first album was slept on and the second never released, other artists (Kina comes immediately to mind) kicked similar yet inferior styles but managed to get some rotation.Erykah Badu's excellent "Mama's Gun" was a step in the right direction and proved that there was an audience for a more experimental sound in soul music. Joi has the talent to push the envelope but just as it seemed the industry was ready to handle someone of her caliber, Joi scrapped the cutting-edge attitude in favor of a more mainstream sound. I can't clown her for that, though. It's hard to try and make a living as an unrecognized artist. I just hope her new direction is a genuine reflection of what she wants to do as an artist and not a last ditch attempt to get her music hear outside of her small cult of fans.So, in essence, I'm not dissing the new album; it is a good listen and still stands head and shoulders over the competition but anyone who has heard her previous work knows what I'm talking about."
The Return
Marc200 | Los Angeles, CA | 03/24/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Joi is back as fly and funky as ever. It's been almost eight years since "The Pendulum Vibe" and about 5 years since "Amoeba Cleansing Syndrome" was shelved by the diabolical EMI Corporation. But thankfully Joi has found her way back to us. The music is a Sly Stone/Betty Davis/P-Funk/Prince/Nona Hendryx-blues-funk-rock amalgam, the woman is a once-in-a-lifetime original. She can sing as sweetly as Minnie Riperton on the verse and then wail as ferociously as Chaka Khan on the chorus. Of course, greatness breeds great expectations and "Star Kitty's Revenge" is a mixed bag that doesn't necessarily meet those expectations. There are definite flashes of brilliance - "Missing You" is a breathless, mid-tempo funk jam with some tripped-out lyrics and is the best song you will never hear on the radio this year. "Jefferson St. Joe" is Joi's ode to her father that is never sappy or sentimental but will make you weep nonetheless. "What If I Kissed You" is a slinky come-on, and "It's Your Life" is Joi's typically idiosyncratic anthem of self-affirmation. But then there are some seemingly superfluous oddities ("Techno Pimp" chief among them) that could have been cut to give the CD more cohesion. Joi is a progressive, uncompromising artist, and has little in common with her derivative, overly-hyped contemporaries even though she will very likely be shoved into the banal "neo-soul" sub-genre. Of course, that insult to her artistry would be worth it if urban radio would actually give Joi a spin. The parental advisory sticker on this CD is no joke, Joi can be raunchy at times but it is never gratuitous, it is a true expression of who she is -- Joi may shock you but she ain't trying to, she's just being her freaky ole self."
Joi is by far an artist than a beauty queen... ;)
Christopher Pineda | Kissimmee, FL. 34741 | 05/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hello there!... so you want some funk in yo life? Need a lil energy boost, or just want to get buck wild, but than you want to chill... cool down??? Well SKR is the right thang for yah!!! LMAO But for real though, Joi Gilliam is one of the greatest female artists of this generation, she mixes up funk into r&b and adds a lil bit of rock into the mix, creating music that can soothe the savage beast, make you feel like your dazed and floating on a soft cloud, or turn you into a beast... funky and sweaty. But don't be fooled by Joi's beauty and amazing voice, she is as much an artist as she is a singer, Her voice is huge, imagine Chaka Khan but with a younger sounding tone, and than add a lil feline in the mix... although that would be a great reason to love Joi, no way! I'm a fan of Joi because she is an awesome Artist, she goes everywhere with this album, taking giant leaps over barriers and traveling to distant lands inviting you to join with her tantalizing voice, making you feel as if your there with her all the way. The writing is soo soo thoughtfully developed and interestingly curiously amazingly hmm hmm good lol, and the instrumentation is just too vibratious, too yummy, hypnoticly stimulating, and it takes over your body... so it's clear... you need SKR in your life!!! Right??? Well, when it finally comes in the mail, and you are able to sit down and get caught up into it... listen to it the whole way through, that's the best way to travel, nice and easy, unless your the hulk and can jump great distances??? Well, I guess that's about it, so I'll go ahead and tell you my favorite tracks... which are "ALL OF THEM," I have a favorite track for each of my different moods, which I'm sure you will too... also, I don't want to make any predictions but... this is an album that you will not want to put down, so be sure that you also get Joi's "Pendulum Vibe" album to even out the playing field lol. Ok, well take my word for it. YOU NEED SKR, it's for the true funkateer. Peace & blessings.
-chris"
Can't wait until Kitty "Strikes Back"
Christopher B. Sanders | Cybertron | 03/21/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"So funky she stank. So honest it hurts. While she may get comparisions to Macy Gray or Kelis, don't expect her to sound like Jill or Amel or Res or anybody else. She doesn't attack social issues directly, but rather shares stories and expierences that force you to think through her infectious funk. If your a fan of the dungeon fam (Outkast, Goodie, etc.) then you'll most likely enjoy joi. But don't buy her expecting to be able to place her right on the shelf with you L Boogie album. Her inovation avoids definition, and like Lauryn, Larrieux, Scott, and Res, she deserves an open mind with a heart for music. Her lyrics are honest and her delivery is effortless and natural. If your looking for the latest fad, then stay away, but if your looking for thoughtful lyrics engulfed by funk, you've found the right album."