Fun Lovin' Criminals Album: “100% Colombian”

I must admit I was a bit disappointedat first by this album, as it did not have the same accessibility as 'Come Find Yourself'. Where are the 'Scooby Snacks' and 'King of New York's? However after a few listens it grew on me to the point where it hardly ever leaves the CD player. The slower, more soulful songs particularly 'We are All Very Worried About You' and 'Back On The Block', give this album greater depth than the first album, whilst there are still the upbeat, rockier songs 'Big Night Out', and 'Korean Bodega'. Is there a hipper outfit around at the moment? I don't think so. P.S See them live if you can, they are fantastic.

It's been about ten years since I bought this album, having been a fan of their first album. Though the allure of their first album was much more of a middle-america gravitation towards style over substance. Not that the first album is bad, but how is a 6th grader supposed to realize how musically sophisticated the Fun Lovin' Criminals were when their videos were on MTV.

However, this album is something else completely. Upon listening, I realized that this is truly an anomalous band. On the one hand, they do tend to put forth a certain image of the cool, hip, new yorker who digs on the street life and says "screw the man", perfect for that middle america crowd. On the other hand, these men are incredibly talented musicians. It took me a while to accept that they had written, arranged, and recorded everything on the album themselves (save for the psuedo-sampling of Tom Petty and Marshall Tucker Band on "Big Night Out", and the collaboration with B.B. King on Mini Bar Blues"). The arrangements on this album are the most striking. The are incredibly atmospheric, shifting from barroom sound to arena to street sound seamlessly within particular songs.

In short, ten years have gone by and I have listened to A LOT of music of all different styles and eras, but I have yet to grow tired of this album, find it contrived or derivative, or think of it as dated. Do yourself a favor and pick this album up. You will be thoroughly taken by the sound and sophistication of these musicians.

Why is it that, in America, FLC isn't on MTV 24-7? I bought "Come Find Yourself" because I entered one of those record deals and got hooked. "100% Colombian" does sacrifice the alterna-pop hooks of its predessessor, but what these NYC guys gain is something much deeper--credibility. The smooth jazz and funk hooks here are way ahead of the mainstream. "Love Unlimited," the band's ode to Barry White; "Sugar," "Southside" and "All For Self" are all completely different-sounding tracks that manage to evoke the same cool FLC made their name with. And the name of the game here is escapism. FLC does it through Mafioso imagery in the same way Scorsese portrayed it in "Goodfellas" and "Casino." Get wise, or stay stupid, stupid.

this is one of the finest albums available it lacks the raw pasion of the first album but makes up for this because it has been excellently produced. all of the tracks are suberb especially 'Korean bodega' and 'big night out' the only thing better than this album is seeing the band live which i highly recomend. no cd collection is complete without this cd.

I'm so glad these guys are still around. Former employees at the Limelight Danceclub, this R&B / HipHop / Garage Rock trio has won the hearts and minds of critcs and the growing number of people listenting to them. One of the best American rock / R&B albums of 1999. Outstanding tracks include "Back on the Block," "Love Unlimited," and the dark, poetic, "We are all Very Worried about You."