Anomie & Bonhomie
Studio album by
Scritti Politti
Released26 July 1999
Recorded1997–1998
StudioThe Townhouse (London, UK); Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California); Baby Monster Studios (New York City, New York).
GenreAlternative rock
Length49:27
LabelVirgin
ProducerDavid Gamson
Scritti Politti chronology
Provision
(1988)		 Anomie & Bonhomie
(1999)		 Early
(2005)

Anomie & Bonhomie is the fourth album by the British group Scritti Politti, released in 1999.[1] The album marks a sharp departure from their previous synthpop era and features contributions from rappers Mos Def and Me'Shell Ndegeocello.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
NME[3]

Anomie & Bonhomie was generally well received by critics; however, opinions regarding the reinvention of Scritti Politti's sound through its mixture with contemporary genres and vocal styles such as grunge and hip-hop, respectively, were both praised and denounced by critics.

Allmusic said that of the contemporary "updates" that "rapper cameos, vague house beats, grunge guitars -- sound as if they're pasted over backing tracks from 1986. Not necessarily a bad thing, but disconcerting, since the heart of this album is squarely in Cupid & Psyche 85 territory." Ultimately they conclude: "Anomie & Bonhomie [...] remains faithful to the sophisti-pop aesthetic the band pioneered in the mid-'80s."[4]

NME stated that Gartside successfully takes influences from contemporary genres such as grunge and hip-hop and "hammers" them into the Scritti aesthetic, concluding, "Gartside has returned with an album as glossy, eccentric and beguiling as he's ever made" [5]

The Independent was more critical, claiming that Anomie & Bonhomie has an "uneasy alliance between hard rock, hip-hop and ambient", that the album "comes waving a big sign announcing its sophistication, but, for all the care and polish taken in its execution, it lacks the easy, relaxed air that sustains the truly sophisticated."[6]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Green Gartside, except where noted.

  1. "Umm" (Gartside, Lee Majors) - 4:14
  2. "Tinseltown to the Boogiedown" (Gartside, Majors, Mos Def) - 4:55
  3. "First Goodbye" - 5:13
  4. "Die Alone" - 4:23
  5. "Mystic Handyman" - 3:46
  6. "Smith 'n' Slappy" (Gartside, Mos Def) - 4:53
  7. "Born To Be" - 3:53
  8. "The World You Understand (Is Over + Over + Over)" - 3:13
  9. "Here Come July" - 4:00
  10. "Prince Among Men" (Gartside, Majors) - 4:07
  11. "Brushed With Oil, Dusted With Powder" - 6:05

Personnel

  • Green Gartside – vocals, guitars, Ebow, vinylism (scratches), noises, music arrangements, vocal arrangements
  • Allen Cato – guitars
  • Wendy Melvoin – guitars
  • David Dyson – bass
  • David Gamson – bass, vocal arrangements
  • Vere Isaacs – bass
  • Me'Shell NdegéOcello – bass, backing vocals (4, 8), rap (4, 8)
  • Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums
  • William "Juju" House – drums
  • Steve Pigott – string arrangements
  • Paul Riser – string arrangements
  • Brent Fischer – string contractor
  • Patrick "Red Cloud" Mah – backing vocals
  • Lee Major[7] – backing vocals (1, 2, 10), rap (1, 2, 10)
  • Mos Def – rap (2, 6)
  • Jimahl – backing vocals (4), rap (4)

Production

  • David Gamson – producer, mixing (2, 4, 6, 9, 10)
  • John Hopkins – recording
  • Rail Jon Rogut – recording
  • Tim Burrell – compiling engineer
  • Bob Power – mixing (1, 5, 8)
  • Bob Brockman – mixing (3, 7, 11)
  • Michael J. Ade – pre-production recording
  • Andy Houston – pre-production recording
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Lon Cohen – guitar technician
  • Bobby Schneck – guitar technician
  • Ian Alexander – A&R coordinator
  • Mary Hogan – project coordinator
  • Green Gartside – art direction, design
  • Paula Benson – art direction, design
  • Paul West – art direction, design
  • Mark Mattock – photography
  • Simon Hicks – management

Studios

  • Recorded at The Townhouse (London, UK); Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California); Baby Monster Studios (New York City, New York).
  • Mixed at The Enterprise (Burbank, California); Room With A View, Sony Music Studios and Battery Studios (New York City, New York).
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Anomie & Bonhomie: Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  2. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Scritti Politti – Anomie & Bonhomie > Review at AllMusic
  3. ↑ "Anomie & Bonhomie". NME. 12 September 2005.
  4. ↑ Scritti Politti - Anomie & Bonhomie Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 23 June 2023
  5. ↑ NME (12 September 2005). "Anomie & Bonhomie". NME. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Pop: This Week's Album Releases". The Independent. 22 July 1999. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Scritti Politti — Cupid and Psyche 85/Anomie and Bonhomie (Rough Trade)". Tumblr. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
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