STYLE: R&B RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 6254-6109 LABEL: Benson 8441840662 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £4.99
Reviewed by Mike Rimmer
Produced by Bill Baumgart and Dan Cleary, you can guess that Straight Company have the musical muscle to make an impression and you'd be right! Mainman Jesse Murrah has a good line in catchy songs and the music here is part acappella, part soul. The five-piece vocals are very strong, at times veering into classic Take Six territory with wall of sound backing vocals and mouth percussion! My favourite is "Didn't It Rain" which tells the story of Noah, in jungle style - not jungle as in dance music, I mean jungle as in animal noises! Plenty of atmosphere and room for fun! Only one thing spoils things. '90s bands should be legally prevented from attempting covers of classic, quasi-gospel soul songs. Straight Company are the latest to attempt "Respect Yourself (memorably butchered last year by both Big Tent Revival AND Robert Palmer). It's impossible to come close the the Staple Singers original so why embarrass yourself guys? Other than that, this is soulful vocal heaven. If you're into Bobby McFerrin, Take Six, etc, this slab of soulful rhythms and vocal extravaganzas will put a broad grin on your face.
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