When ATLiens [Atlanta, Georgia natives] Rico Wade, Ray Murray and Patrick “Sleepy” Brown linked up in the early 1990s to write and record music out of a red clay basement (Rico’s mother’s house - affectionately called ‘the Dungeon’), the musicians christened themselves Organized Noize Productions (ONP).
The name was very fitting as the trio snatched sounds from all over the Peach State to create the lush grooves that would define Southern Soul for over a decade. Making full use of smooth guitar licks, Wurlitzer organs and crisp drums, ONP set the bar high straight out of the gate in 1993 …with Christmas songs!? Yes, Organized Noize’s first foray on the national scene were festival jingles for TLC and two teenage dope boyz in a Cadillac calling themselves OutKast.
Fast forward twenty-five years and a bevy of hits and awards later (credits include also working with Beyonce, Jay-Z, Goodie Mob, En Vogue, Ludacris, Curtis Mayfield, Queen Latifah, Killer Mike, Slick Rick, Janelle Monae, Nappy Roots, U.G.K. and scores more), and Wade, Murray and Brown have finally released their own debut album* off the heels of an acclaimed 2016 Netflix documentary.
A seven track, self-titled and self-released EP, ‘Organized Noize’ walks a narrow tightrope seemingly torn between embracing the succulent funk that makes them all-time greats and falling into the trap (pun always intended) of cold and hollow minimalistic beats. Instrumental closer, “The Art of Organized Noize”, is definitely an example of the latter. But the good far outweighs the bad with the vintage, “Funky Ride”-esque “Awesome Lovin’”. It slow jams so late into Saturday you could head directly to Church from the club with a pack of holy sinners bumping this.
As its great downfall, ‘Organized Noize’ suffers from lack of cohesion (somewhat like this article?). With subject matter often flipping a 180 from song to song, it might be most appropriate to review the release via breaking down individual tracks.
So here we go...
"We the Ones" is a chunky, but subdued protest song with the determined subject matter that sadly fits in 2017 as well as it would in 1997. The familiar baritone of poet Big Rube sets the tone for the charging vocals of Cee-Lo and Sleepy Brown to rise above the rich piano and wah-wah riffs. Big Boi takes some of the wind out of the sails with a lackluster verse, but not enough to sink the song.
Simplifying roles, Rico provides the business acumen and serves as charismatic spokesman while Ray leads crafting the musical arrangements. But Sleepy’s silky vocals have typically been the group’s calling card. It’s no different here.
“Chemtrails” is an airy Jazz-Fusion piece that features Sleepy’s father Jimmy Brown on saxophone accompanying his son. Too hip for elevator muzak, “Chemtrails” flies high at a funky cruising altitude.
The syrupy and acoustically-uplifting "Why Can't We" with Whild Peach is a perfect poolside background soundtrack but is missing something to command full attention.
It wouldn’t be an Organized Noize production without a smoky groove, but “Kush” might be under a new influence. 2 Chainz is a passable and interesting guest rapper (nice line alert: "Flow clean - no broom”), but one of the Dungeon’s first ladies – Joi – adds no ambience. The track namechecks Funkadelic, but this song sounds like Bootsy and George under severe time restraints in a momentary creative lapse. The loose, in-the-pocket precision is present, but the dank and moody “Kush” is devoid of any bounce.
Still, ‘Organized Noize’ is a long overdue EP that should satisfied first generation Dungeon Family fanatics (personal note: shout out to any of the crew from Stankonia.com!) and new listeners alike.
You can steam or download the album HERE.
* Technically true, but ONP made up 3/5 of Society of Society, who released the astro-funky album ‘Brain Child’ in 1995. Plus Sleepy Brown dropped a solo and group album of his own.
Fast forward twenty-five years and a bevy of hits and awards later (credits include also working with Beyonce, Jay-Z, Goodie Mob, En Vogue, Ludacris, Curtis Mayfield, Queen Latifah, Killer Mike, Slick Rick, Janelle Monae, Nappy Roots, U.G.K. and scores more), and Wade, Murray and Brown have finally released their own debut album* off the heels of an acclaimed 2016 Netflix documentary.
A seven track, self-titled and self-released EP, ‘Organized Noize’ walks a narrow tightrope seemingly torn between embracing the succulent funk that makes them all-time greats and falling into the trap (pun always intended) of cold and hollow minimalistic beats. Instrumental closer, “The Art of Organized Noize”, is definitely an example of the latter. But the good far outweighs the bad with the vintage, “Funky Ride”-esque “Awesome Lovin’”. It slow jams so late into Saturday you could head directly to Church from the club with a pack of holy sinners bumping this.
As its great downfall, ‘Organized Noize’ suffers from lack of cohesion (somewhat like this article?). With subject matter often flipping a 180 from song to song, it might be most appropriate to review the release via breaking down individual tracks.
So here we go...
"We the Ones" is a chunky, but subdued protest song with the determined subject matter that sadly fits in 2017 as well as it would in 1997. The familiar baritone of poet Big Rube sets the tone for the charging vocals of Cee-Lo and Sleepy Brown to rise above the rich piano and wah-wah riffs. Big Boi takes some of the wind out of the sails with a lackluster verse, but not enough to sink the song.
Simplifying roles, Rico provides the business acumen and serves as charismatic spokesman while Ray leads crafting the musical arrangements. But Sleepy’s silky vocals have typically been the group’s calling card. It’s no different here.
“Chemtrails” is an airy Jazz-Fusion piece that features Sleepy’s father Jimmy Brown on saxophone accompanying his son. Too hip for elevator muzak, “Chemtrails” flies high at a funky cruising altitude.
The syrupy and acoustically-uplifting "Why Can't We" with Whild Peach is a perfect poolside background soundtrack but is missing something to command full attention.
It wouldn’t be an Organized Noize production without a smoky groove, but “Kush” might be under a new influence. 2 Chainz is a passable and interesting guest rapper (nice line alert: "Flow clean - no broom”), but one of the Dungeon’s first ladies – Joi – adds no ambience. The track namechecks Funkadelic, but this song sounds like Bootsy and George under severe time restraints in a momentary creative lapse. The loose, in-the-pocket precision is present, but the dank and moody “Kush” is devoid of any bounce.
Still, ‘Organized Noize’ is a long overdue EP that should satisfied first generation Dungeon Family fanatics (personal note: shout out to any of the crew from Stankonia.com!) and new listeners alike.
You can steam or download the album HERE.
* Technically true, but ONP made up 3/5 of Society of Society, who released the astro-funky album ‘Brain Child’ in 1995. Plus Sleepy Brown dropped a solo and group album of his own.
