Deep Down & Dirty

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Deep Down & Dirty is the Stereo MC's fourth album though it could easily be their tenth given the number of tracks that have hit the cutting-room floor over the intervening years. And yet one listen to it and it feels like the UK's premier crossover hip-hop act have never been away. The album's title track and lead single find rapper Rob Birch back in inspired form, freestyling those positive vibes over filthy, irresistible funk. "We Belong In This World Together" is a huge singalong anthem, "Breeze" is dubbed-up urban soul with swirling atmospherics and vocodored mumblings, "Traffic" is a colossal, up-front groove that culminates with Birch declaring "it ain't easy, it ain't easy". Clearly not, but you'd never know listening to Deep Down & Dirty. --Mike Pattenden

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2004-12-08 rating:
Fantastic Surprise
I was given this album for a birthday present and was not overly impressed until I listened to this album a couple of times in the car.

This has become one of my all time greats - the fantastic crossover of britpop/funk/rap/filth is totally fantastic - one of the greatest!

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review by: date: 2002-02-08 rating:
Worth the wait!
When this, the Stereo MCs third (or fourth album - depending on your whether you count their DJ Kicks album) first appeared the music press gave it a rather spectacular kicking. Well, it was hardly surprising - the band had been mooching about for ages apparently doing very little. The period between this album and Connected only helped to increase the stature of their 1992 release to 'classic' status and increase the chances of their latest offering being treated like an unwelcome stale loaf.

So, was the lukewarm reception justified? I'd say a definite "no" to that one. This record has been a real grower for me, and even after its release several months ago it still appears in my stereo pretty frequently. Strangely I don't think anything on this record really leaps out at you, but taking the album as a whole it does have an excellent vibe and mood to it that really sticks in your head. I particularly admire Rob Birch for not sticking to his particular rapping style all the way through (as he did with Connected), as a result his vocals actually mess with the flow of a couple of songs, but it works really well. I would knock the production though, as the band have a superb line up of backing singers (as witnesses at any of their live gigs) that are really buried into the mix here, and that's a real shame.

Overall - top album, go buy! I'm just hoping it doesn't take another thousand years for the next one to arrive!

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review by: date: 2001-07-05 rating:
C-, Should Do Better
In a word this album is dissapointing. The previous three LPs by the Mcs were mould-breakers with brilliant use of low down bass beats and vocals but this knocks the kings off the throne. There happen to be better bands at the moment who produce the kind of music on this album in thier sleep. I eagerly anticipate the Mcs fifth number to see if they can dig themselves out of the hole that is "fourth album syndrome".


review by: date: 2001-05-20 rating:
The soundtrack of the Summer
now plagued with the recurring fact that this lot have been away for nearly eight years (something that will haunt them for every single interview that they ever do), it is indeed the new album from the stereo mc's. thirtreen tracks of wholesome funky grooves that show no signs of the stereo mc's being affected by any massive shifts in club culture. and we should be all the more grateful for it, for despite the justified criticism that this just sounds like more of their last album 'connected', the exuburant energy on display cannot be faulted.

the opening title track and recent single is an early indication that all the elements that made the stereo mc's great the first time round are still there. snarling bass, locked-on grooves and venomous delivery by rob b add up to an infectiously memorable five minutes. 'breeze' adopts the vocoder to a largely instrumental track that is simply funky. 'graffiti pts. 1 and 2' takes the funk blueprint and twists it to their own unique moulding. ultimately danceable, this is the album's highlight.

'sofisicated' begins with "she's so sophisicated, i'm such a loser, she knows how to use me, but I don't wanna lose her" against jazz trumpeting and piano breaks. later tracks up the ante and keep the beats driving while cath coffey's soaring vocals make more of a presence.

very difficult to criticise the south london posse, while some tracks do sound like fillers, even those that do sound better than anybody else. explosive as a live act as well, their upcoming uk tour is compulsory and must not be missed at any cost. without a doubt, the soundtrack of the summer.

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