[Nicky91]

If you’re a casual follower of Kool & the Gang you probably know them for “Jungle Boogie” and, especially if you attend Oakland A’s games, “Celebration.” You think of the heyday of ’70s funk music; blaring horns, frenetic energy, the whole band shouting the chorus or even the whole song.

Their new album, Perfect Union, their first in a decade, is not that. It’s not a mistake that the first single appeared on adult R&B charts. The album is assuredly chill-out music rather than party music. On some songs the band’s signature horns don’t appear at all. The album comes just a couple of weeks following the death of band cofounder Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, who played alto saxophone and flute.

But if you put what they did 40 to 45 years ago out of your mind and focus on the album for what it is, it’s a delicious chilly breeze.What they’ve lost in raucous funkiness they’ve gained in maturity, which shows in the sophistication and musicality of the album.

The sophistication of Perfect Union is a testament to the late Ronald Bell, brother to the titular Robert “Kool” Bell, who produced the album before his death in 2020. Ronald also wrote “Pursuit of Happiness,” the album’s second single that inspired its name.

Youtube video

Well, technically the single is “Pursuit of Happiness (Rap Version),” the last track on the album. “Pursuit of Happiness” with no qualifier is the first track. The two versions aren’t really all that different. Both have a rap break, both have sung verses and choruses, but the latter has a longer rap break earlier in the song. It probably would have been a better idea to pick one or the other to roll with.

The song was originally written during Barack Obama’s second campaign for President and reflects the optimism of that era, but it still applies now, though now it evokes hope that the future will be better rather than optimism that good times will continue.

The first single, “Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours)” is closer to the funk vibe you might expect with some horns in the chorus and an unmistakably funky beat and subject matter. But it’s a controlled, subdued funk with a more modern sensibility. Whether that’s a pro or a con depends on what you thought of “Jungle Boogie.”

Those two were absolutely the right choices to be the first two singles. Not only are they the best two songs on the album, but they represent the full range of what to expect, with “Sexy” on the funk side and “Pursuit of Happiness” on the soul side.

Also among the funky is “The Weekend,” a somewhat corny but accurate and effective ode to the end of a long week. What it lacks in depth it makes up for in joy. “Leave It On the Dance Floor” is closest to Kool & The Gang’s ’70s output and certainly the most danceable. “R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y.” is squarely in the realm of funk with one of the catchier hooks on the album.

Youtube video

Representing soul are “High” and “All To Myself,” two songs that open up sounding like old-school funk before transitioning to a more adult contemporary soul feel when the lyrics start. “Hold On,” while not a bad song by any means, is a lull if only because it doesn’t feel notable surrounded by nine songs with unique character.

Finally, “Good Time” has the feel of a toned-down version of “Celebration,” like if the A’s won the game but it was a 3-1 final score with all the runs coming before the 6th inning and you’re just tired and want to get to bed.

Perfect Union is a solid album in all, showing a level of depth and complexity that Kool & the Gang didn’t have at the peak of their popularity. It doesn’t have the energy, but it does have decades of skill. And if you’re just not in the mood for an excess of horns it scratches that itch.

https://riffmagazine.com/album-revie...perfect-union/