Chris DeLine

Popular early 90s funk revivalists The Brand New Heavies new album Get Used To It jumps straight into a sound that precedes the group wherever it goes; acid jazz, lounge funk or even soulful grooves, if you will. Or at least history would lead you to believe this to be the case, as it would be expected from the band that rose to critical acclaim in the late 80s as dramatic, yet soothing, acid jazz forerunners.

The track “Right On” begins by chanting “bring back the funk in music, put back the funk in music,” an odd request considering much of the album’s content. Though the trumpet solo within is smooth and shows signs of a strong, ripened band underneath, the first question that comes to mind is, where exactly is the funk in most of the album? Without trying to sound as though there is some vendetta behind this statement, it’s a fair concern as much of Get Used To Itrevolves around dance and pop-R&B while teasing funk on but a few tracks.

“We Wont Stop” sounds more like such a mid 90s R&B group, En Vogue-ish circa Funky Divas era. While it’s a fine song it and many songs like it don’t possess enough energy and unique style to create a fundamental musical environment that enlightens its listener with a positive energy. Further detouring into dance comes “Let’s Do It Again” which blares with its straight-outta-disco overtones, which silences any cheers stemming from the genres demise.

The Brand New Heavies took a leave of absence to correct whatever it was that wasn’t working within the make-up of the group. In doing so the band now blends an excellent level of diversity into typically bland lyrics; the result is an album that shows tremendous vibrancy but finds itselt generally based on dated melodies which never seem to fully peak. When discovering Get Used To It, a memory sparked and the band’s name was immediately remembered. The memory has an overwhelmingly positive association, possibly with a piece of music from some point early in the band’s deep catalogue, a piece of music that stands out above others for its sheer impressiveness. Unfortunately this revived group of heavies falls short due to either elusive standards or the band simply producing a flat album; either way Get Used To It falls short.

[This post was first published by Culture Bully.]