Earth, Wind & Fire

Witness powerful funk that descends from the sky and envelops the world in burning white light and joy. This is a versatile album that has been co-opted by televised football ("Rock That!"), lovelorn mix tapes ("After The Love Has Gone"), and coke-filled basement discos ("Boogie Wonderland").

Maurice White, Earth, Wind and Fire's presiding genius, ranges across popular music like a
robber baron, selecting only the tastiest artifacts for his collection. He adapts be-bop horn
charts and soul-group harmonies in ways that make the clichés revelatory. He takes simple
dance formulas like "Boogie Wonderland" and finds fresh possibilities within them. White
even uses big-band allusions that ought to sound fey, but by the time he strips th... More >

Sexy, dancey pop music of undeniable craft, and it doesn't let up. But as we all know, they could be doing a lot better. (Grade - B)