Anomie & Bonhomie
Amonie & Bonhomie | ||||
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Studio album by Scritti Politti | ||||
Released | July 1999 | |||
Recorded | 1997–1998 | |||
Genre | Synthpop, hip hop, hard rock, grunge, ambient | |||
Length | 49:27 | |||
Label |
Virgin (UK) Warner Bros. (US) | |||
Producer | David Gamson | |||
Scritti Politti chronology | ||||
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Anomie & Bonhomie is the fourth album by the British group Scritti Politti, release in 1999.[1] The album marks a sharp departure from their previous synthpop era and features contributions from rappers Mos Def and Me'Shell Ndegeocello.
Critical reception
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
NME | [3] |
Anomie & Bonhomie was generally well received by critics, however, opinions regarding the reinvention of Scritti Politti's sound through its mixture with contemporary genres and vocal styles such as grunge and hip-hop, respectively, were both praised and denounced by critics.
Allmusic said that of the contemporary "updates" that "rapper cameos, vague house beats, grunge guitars -- sound as if they're pasted over backing tracks from 1986. Not necessarily a bad thing, but disconcerting, since the heart of this album is squarely in Cupid & Psyche 85 territory." Ultimately they conclude: "Anomie & Bonhomie [...] remains faithful to the sophsti-pop aesthetic the band pioneered in the mid-'80s." [4]
NME stated that Gartside successfully takes influences from contemporary genres such as grunge and hip-hop and "hammers" them into the Scritti aesthetic, concluding, "Gartside has returned with an album as glossy, eccentric and beguiling as he's ever made" [5]
The Independent were more critical, claiming that Anomie & Bonhomie has an "uneasy alliance between hard rock, hip-hop and ambient", that the album "comes waving a big sign announcing its sophistication, but, for all the care and polish taken in its execution, it lacks the easy, relaxed air that sustains the truly sophisticated." [6]
Track listing
All tracks composed by Green Gartside and David Gamson
- "Umm"
- "Tinseltown to the Boogiedown"
- "First Goodbye"
- "Die Alone"
- "Mystic Handyman"
- "Smith 'n' Slappy"
- "Born To Be"
- "The World You Understand (Is Over + Over + Over)"
- "Here Come July"
- "Prince Among Men"
- "Brushed With Oil, Dusted With Powder"
Personnel
- Green Gartside - vocals, guitar, arrangements, artwork
- Allen Cato, Wendy Melvoin - guitar
- Me'Shell NdegéOcello - bass, vocals
- David Gamson, David Dyson, Vere Isaacs - bass
- Abe Laboriel, Jr. - drums
- Jimahl, Lee Majors, Mos Def, Red Cloud - vocals
- Paul Riser, Steve Pigott - string arrangements
References
- ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Anomie & Bonhomie: Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Scritti Politti – Anomie & Bonhomie > Review at AllMusic
- ↑ http://www.nme.com/reviews/1211
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/anomie-bonhomie-mw0000251992 Anomie Bonhomie - Allmusic
- ↑ http://www.nme.com/reviews/1211#YUzzsd851BVEiV8d.99 Anomie Bonhomie - NME
- ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/pop-this-weeks-album-releases-1108120.html This Week's album releases - The Independent