★★★★★
Known as Zoom in the UK, the Commodores' eponymous fifth LP was the start of the group's love affair with the British public. It is very much a transitional work, highlighting the greasy southern funk that the group so ably practiced before pianist and saxophonist firmly took centre stage. The 'old' Commodores is represented by the lascivious opener Squeeze the Fruit and Walter Orange's funk masterpiece, the they-don't-make-'em-like-that-anymore tribute to the fuller figure, Brick House...
- www.bbc.co.uk
2013-04-23
★★★★★
With Lionel readying his farewells, they'd better take care of tunecraft, but only on "Lady (You Bring Me Up)," where William King shares the credit with someone I presume is his wife and someone else I presume is a song doctor, do they give off the signals. Lionel antes up two slow ones, both of which cut the funky competition.
- www.robertchristgau.com
2009-07-10
★★★★★
March 1977 saw the release of The Commodores' self-titled album on Motown Records. This, their fifth studio album showcased more of the energetic funk the band had become famed for during extensive touring earlier in their career. However, Commodores as an album additionally hinted at the potential of Lionel Richie as both a songwriter and solo artist in his own right...
- www.bbc.co.uk
2009-06-12
★★★★★
In a sense, the Commodores are the ultimate bar band funk group. And, like any good bar band, the Commodores have thrived on a patchwork of influences and sources. But unlike Earth, Wind and Fire, Parliament-Funkadelic or Bootsy's Rubber Band, the Commodores haven't been able to offer an alternative to the same old thing; they just do it more imaginatively than anybody else...
- www.rollingstone.com
2009-06-08
★★★★★
Title tune's pretty slick as rock and roll heaven songs go, but ever since Lionel--who they could have used on "The Woman in My Life"--they've been too tame for their own good. A new singer from Heatwave obviously isn't going to change that. When they thank Dennis Lambert "for being so good at what you do," you should remember that what he does is schlock.
- www.robertchristgau.com
2009-03-21
★★★★★
With Lionel Richie turning his attentions to inspirational numbers varying the theme "Got to Be Together," with "Jesus" joining William King's "Mighty Spirit" for the finale, this is an improvement. For one thing, most of the brotherhood anthems--which avoid the gender-specific, actually, with lots of "people," "folks," and "y'all"--have a somewhat more rousing beat than "Three Times a Lady...
- www.robertchristgau.com
2009-03-21
★★★★★
As this summation makes clear, they never quite connected as a pioneering funk band because their secret weapon was Lionel Richie, who does not number funk among his natural gifts. Beyond him they're a cut above the Johnson Brothers. Richie will be better off without them. And they'll be worse off yet without him.
- www.robertchristgau.com
2009-02-27
Loading...
