One of the most exciting albums released during a decade of artifice and extravagance, in a mere ten songs and 35 minutes the
Fine Young Cannibals
created a masterpiece. Admittedly the trio had some help -- backing singers, guest musicians (including former
Squeeze
piano man
Jools Holland
and
Talking Head
's
Jerry Harrison
) -- but that doesn't take away the band's own accomplishment. Remaining true to the
FYC
's vision of tying past and present musical styles together into artful new
pop
packages,
The Raw & the Cooked
features a shopping list of genres.
Mod
,
funk
Motown
, British beat,
R&B
punk
rock
, and even
disco
are embedded within the songs, while the rhythms, many synthetically created, are equally diverse. In less delicate hands this would be nothing more than an everything including the kitchen sink motley mess, but
manage this mix with subtly and elan. Two-thirds of the record were released as U.K. singles, all were hits, and each one proudly boasted a distinctly different blend of styles.
"Good Thing,"
for example, was the trio's tribute to the legendary all-night
Northern soul
parties of the '60s, but is much more than a mere meld of
mod
and Motown. It's actually built round a slinky
riff, fueled by a
boogie-woogie
piano, and slammed home with a cracking beat.
"I'm Not the Man I Used to Be"
is a torrid torch song, but fired by a futuristic
jungle
beat and an almost
housey
production. Then, of course, there's
"She Drives Me Crazy,"
which features the most unique, and instantly identifiable, beat/riff combination of the decade. Even the four tracks that didn't make the singles cut could have, if
MCA
had the audacity to keep releasing them.
"Tell Me What"
perfectly re-creates the
Tamla
sound, with only the synth giving it a modern touch, but on the rest,
delve deeper into
soul
, and lovingly coax them into the modern era. Every one of
Raw
's tracks simmers with creativity, as the hooks, sharp melodies, and irrepressible beats are caressed by nuanced arrangements and sparkling production. Never has music's past, present, and future been more exceptionally combined. ~ Jo-Ann Greene