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Album Details

• Artist: Bar-Kays
• Album: House Party
• Label: Koch
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2008-05-30

 

The Bar-Kays were one of those smooth but funky 70s-80s bands, equally at home with deep soul ballads and gut-bucket funk. Though the dropped off the radar in the 90s, they were just wood-shedding. Original bassist James Alexander and vocalist Larry Dodson regrouped and have kept the banner going. "House Party," with its mix of hip-hop and classic soul, ought to have them grabbing more attention. It is well deserved; there are few bands from their initial era who can keep it going with fresh material. The Bar-Kays serve notice that they are far from a nostalgia act.

From the opener, they serve that notice. With help from Alexander's son Jazze Pha on vocals, "Sho Nuff" is soulful rap that powerfully mixes in old school beats and rhythm guitar. Likewise "What Goes-N-Da Club Stays N-Da-Club" is sure to be a dancefloor kicker for younger and slightly less-young.

More traditional funk is also present on "Hey Y'all" and "Let's Get Bizzy." As expected, with slow sexy jams a requirement on any Bar-Kays record, "We Can't Stay Together" and "My Everything" provide the soulful, earthy intimacy that has always been at the heart of funk.

The Bar-Kays remain relevant. "House Party" mixes the heavy bottom and signature E9 chord of soul and funk with the grooves and swagger of hip-hop. This is indeed the ideal summer house party mix

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