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The Revival Review
07/13/2005 4:01 AM, AMG
One of the more distinctive R&B groups of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Tony! Toni! Tone! has managed to appeal to urban contemporary audiences while expressing its love of 1970s soul and funk. As high-tech as things get on its sophomore effort The Revival, the Oakland trio never fails to sound organic and soulful. Funk smokers like "The Blues," "Oakland Stroke," "Let's Have a Good Time" and "Feels Good" (a major hit) may use technology extensively, but the soulsters always sound like they're in control of the technology (as opposed to it controlling them). Drawing on influences ranging from Sly & the Family Stone, Parliament/Funkadelic and Prince to Digital Underground, Tony! clearly likes its funk down and dirty. And yet, the group sounds equally inspired on such laidback, mellow slow jams as "I Care" and the hit "It Never Rains (In Southern California)." Many of the urban contemporary releases of 1990 were gutless and homogenized, but The Revival is an album that had commercial appeal, as well as artistic integrity. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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