eMusic Review 0
They're huge in their homeland of New Zealand, and from the start, Fat Freddy's Drop have been deliciously difficult to categorize, flitting easily between soul, reggae and beyond. This third album, they claim, evolved from "live jams, fantastic voyages and many hours of beat reduction and sonic fine tuning," and there's definitely a "jam" feel here — albeit one heavily peppered with surprises. "The Nod" morphs from a soul vamp, via ’80s synths and horn solos, into a New Orleans-style brass face-off. "The Camel" has a riff that seems inspired by the classic "Ball of Confusion" before turning bluesy — but never boring.
Since the group began by playing a lot of reggae, it's only right that they give a nod to their roots on "The Raft." In truth, the song is more Third World than Bob Marley, with plenty of pop in the skanking. "Wild Wind" underlays dub behind R&B vocals to startling effect. That R&B tinge colours several cuts, most obviously the silky, slinky opener, "Big BW," but also "Boondigga," where high horn lines pay proud homage to Curtis Mayfield.
At its heart, Dr. Boondigga builds on the foundation the band laid on 2005's Based on a True Story,… read more »
