Search - Tower of Power :: Bump City

One of TOP's RAWEST albums !

Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 06/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of all of TOP's albums, aside from EAST BAY GREASE, this one has to be their RAWEST, and also "fan favorite" hit heavy....

consider the presence of YOU'RE STILL A YOUNG MAN and DOWN TO THE NIGHT CLUB (both BILLBOARD 100 hits and two of the group's best known signature tunes outside of SQUIB CAKES and WHAT IS HIP.)

In addition, it includes YOU STRIKE MY MAIN NERVE and YOU'VE GOT TO FUNKIFIZE (a tune that features one of the most funky and over the top mid-tune horn vamps) two tunes that have been over the top stables of their live show...

and let's not forget some other treats... Consider Garibaldi's imaginatively varied and driving drumming on WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WORLD THAT DAY or the tightly screaming/ultra' bumpin' blues, FLASH IN THE PAN, which is another brilliant example how Garibaldi could take a relatively straight forward backbeat and take it in so many different directions... One can just as easily listen to the tune, and not pay much attention to the drummer, simply appreciating the tune... then years later actually pay attention to the drum track and realize what a frigging' visionary monster was and is... In fact, I challenge you to listen to any TOP ballad and play close attention to Garibaldi, even if you've heard it a million times before, and not be amazed... GONE being another easy to overlook example.



All this said, despite the fact that BUMP CITY is definitely a DEFINITIVE TOP listen, its interesting to note, that CHESTER THOMPSON and Lenny Williams have yet to join the band... and Rocco, while even then a monster bass play had yet to develop some elements of his trademark sound that would manifest themselves once CT joined up.



All in all... if you're a die hard TOP fan or just getting into their sound, this is definitely a must have listen... and it also features one of their best remembered horn section line ups with Mimi, Greg Adams (*check out his solo on GONE!), The Funky Doctor and Mic Gillette.



In conclusion, GET IT !"