Tom Tom Club

Tina Weymouth is no 50 Cent, but that doesn't mean that the Tom Tom Club's debut can't rock the dancefloor just as well now as it did back in 1981. You can listen to "Genius of Love" until your eyes bleed, but there are other songs worth your time -- the syncopated tribal-funk of "Wordy Rappinghood" being the prime example.

Spinoff albums are one of tock's necessary evils. Usually the product of overweening
hubris and indulgent pop star wealth i.e., member of a big name band desires to "express"
himself and spares no expense to do so–they're rarely much more than massive ego
massages. But all that glitters isn't gall. The best solo LPs by members of working groups
reveal: (a) what the artist brings to the band in terms of influences and ideas: (b)... More >

Vaguely annoyed by "Wordy Rappinghood"'s arch, prolix postverbalism, I resisted this record until the "Genius of Love" signature, already the basis of two rap covers, caught up with me in a club in Queens. Now I enjoy every cut, even the one with the radio transmission, a device I ordinarily regard as the worst permutation of the worst fad of the year. Between Tina Weymouth's childish vocals and the consistently playful pulse, the best kiddie funk since Motor-Booty Affair. (Grade - A-)