Well alot of us thought this day would never come. My favorite band of All "Time" finally dropped another album after 21 long years. They may not have Jamie Starr or their old name, but they prove with this record that the Original 7ven doesn't need either to put out a great collection of songs.

O7ven intro-The album begins with an opening similar to the one on Pandemonium. Morris states that he's never had as much fun as he did with the Original 7ven( I always thought the most fun he ever had was riding in Jason's Bronco to Ruby Tuesdays, but maybe that was just us) The familiar clock bonging from the live shows follows.

Strawberry Lake-The band is introduced by Jimmy Jam similar to the 08 Vegas shows. Everyday People meets Ice Cream Castles, but I like it better than either one of those songs. I keep waiting for Morris to say Lets do something, Lets do something soon

O7ven press conference- Another bit started in Vegas in 08 and continuing into the present live shows is how Morris is too C O O L to sweat, he condensates which leads into that song

Condensate-This shit is Funky!!! James Brown meets Musicology(which is a JB rip to start with) with a little bit of Night of the Thumpasaurous People thrown in the chorus.

#Trendin- OK I hated this when heard the sample, but after I heard the full song I started digging it. I love the Music(especially Monte's Keyboard solo) It's so old school. I don't know shit about twitter so I can't relate to the lyrics aside from the ad libs thrown in.

If I was yo Man-This is in my top two from the album. I keep flip flopping between this song and Sick. Lovin the drums. Has a 1999 feel at the beginning. This song is very catchy and would have been a hit back in the 80's no doubt. Morris sounds smooth and Jesse has a nice restrained solo. Hell the whole band sounds great on this. Definitely a highlight. I bet this would be killer Live

Role play- Too me this was a momentum killer. Not because its a bad song, but compared to the previous songs it just doesn't quite measure up. Sounds a little too "New" for my tastes. Morris in full player mode.

Sick- If one word describes this song that's it. Sick!!! If Blondie and Skillet had a baby this is what their kid would be. This was the first song I played on the album and I played it like 8 times in a row before I even played anything else. I love the lyrics and the chorus rules. Jesse is just insane on this track. Skillet 2.0. Probably my favorite song on the album

Lifestyle-Gigolos meets Don't wait for me with a mid to late 80's vibe. It feels like it needs a Jesse solo in it kinda like the live version of Girl or Gigolos. I like how Morris says side two at the end of this.

Faithful-The song has a newer musical vibe to it, but Morris is in full pimp style.

Cadillac- This is a classic car/Woman/sex double entendre that goes back to the beginning of Rock n' Roll. I love that they threw The Stick lyric in there and Jesse has some nice chicken scratch guitar going on.

AYDKMN- I really like this song. Jesse has a cool Vibe sounding thing going on for the first solo and then a Love struck/ Bare my Naked soul thing going on for the second one.

One Step- This is my least favorite song on the album. It really annoys me except for Jesse's solo.

Toast to the party girl-This is another catchy song. Jesse again has some nice guitar work. Has a real Baby I'm a star close out the album feel to it.

Hey you- I really wanted to hate this one. It sounds like something you would hear on the radio now with Morris singing, but he actually pulls it off. Not my favorite, but its Ok. I do like the Lucky Charms thing thrown in at the end.

GoHometoYoman-If toast to the party girl is the end of the party, than this is the morning after. It has a Gigolos meets Sometimes I get Lonely feel to it. Nice end to the album

So in Conclusion. If you are a fan of the Time, you have to get this album. They stick to the things they do best while updating their sound, but with out going too modern. I'd rank it above Ice Cream castle, In the same neighborhood as Pandemonium and the debut, but below What time is i? It has 2 songs I love, several that I really like, a bunch of good songs and only a couple that I don't really like. My only complaint is that See Thru didn't make the album considering it would have been in the top 5 songs on the record(though a lyrical snippet did make it into Sick) Buy this album, you won't regret it!!!

[Edited 11/25/11 18:36pm]

I agree with most of whay Rhastus said, but.......(**puts on Kanye West style sunglasses**)

One Step is the greatest song of all time!! One Step is Bus Boys meet Sam and Dave. The Blues Brothers would have loved this track. It is the glue that takes this album up a couple of notches from great record into work of art category. In time I think more and more people will come to love it. It's the type of song that you would never imagine The Time doing, but then again it makes sense on them if you remember the early 80's/ late 70's tracks that were inspired by the soul-stirring artists of the 60's. That's the era in which The Time made it's debut. I am impressed that they went THIS DEEP with a track on an album released in 2011. To me this is the track that solidifies this band as something more than party-vibe entertainers, but also musical geniuses. Get wit' it Rhastus!

funksterr said:

I agree with most of whay Rhastus said, but.......(**puts on Kanye West style sunglasses**)

One Step is the greatest song of all time!! One Step is Bus Boys meet Sam and Dave. The Blues Brothers would have loved this track. It is the glue that takes this album up a couple of notches from great record into work of art category. In time I think more and more people will come to love it. It's the type of song that you would never imagine The Time doing, but then again it makes sense on them if you remember the early 80's/ late 70's tracks that were inspired by the soul-stirring artists of the 60's. That's the era in which The Time made it's debut. I am impressed that they went THIS DEEP with a track on an album released in 2011. To me this is the track that solidifies this band as something more than party-vibe entertainers, but also musical geniuses. Get wit' it Rhastus!

Oh Lawd

I'm just glad that most people on here like it. I lean more toward their rock tracks and I'm not feeling One step at all(except for the mentioned Jesse riff) but to each his own

Nice review. I have to agree with you that Jesse Johnson's playing was one of the highlights for me throughout the entire CD(even on the tracks I didn't care for). Another was Jellybean's drumming!

Rhastus said:

Well alot of us thought this day would never come. My favorite band of All "Time" finally dropped another album after 21 long years. They may not have Jamie Starr or their old name, but they prove with this record that the Original 7ven doesn't need either to put out a great collection of songs.

O7ven intro-The album begins with an opening similar to the one on Pandemonium. Morris states that he's never had as much fun as he did with the Original 7ven( I always thought the most fun he ever had was riding in Jason's Bronco to Ruby Tuesdays, but maybe that was just us) The familiar clock bonging from the live shows follows.

Strawberry Lake-The band is introduced by Jimmy Jam similar to the 08 Vegas shows. Everyday People meets Ice Cream Castles, but I like it better than either one of those songs. I keep waiting for Morris to say Lets do something, Lets do something soon

O7ven press conference- Another bit started in Vegas in 08 and continuing into the present live shows is how Morris is too C O O L to sweat, he condensates which leads into that song

Condensate-This shit is Funky!!! James Brown meets Musicology(which is a JB rip to start with) with a little bit of Night of the Thumpasaurous People thrown in the chorus.

#Trendin- OK I hated this when heard the sample, but after I heard the full song I started digging it. I love the Music(especially Monte's Keyboard solo) It's so old school. I don't know shit about twitter so I can't relate to the lyrics aside from the ad libs thrown in.

If I was yo Man-This is in my top two from the album. I keep flip flopping between this song and Sick. Lovin the drums. Has a 1999 feel at the beginning. This song is very catchy and would have been a hit back in the 80's no doubt. Morris sounds smooth and Jesse has a nice restrained solo. Hell the whole band sounds great on this. Definitely a highlight. I bet this would be killer Live

Role play- Too me this was a momentum killer. Not because its a bad song, but compared to the previous songs it just doesn't quite measure up. Sounds a little too "New" for my tastes. Morris in full player mode.

Sick- If one word describes this song that's it. Sick!!! If Blondie and Skillet had a baby this is what their kid would be. This was the first song I played on the album and I played it like 8 times in a row before I even played anything else. I love the lyrics and the chorus rules. Jesse is just insane on this track. Skillet 2.0. Probably my favorite song on the album

Lifestyle-Gigolos meets Don't wait for me with a mid to late 80's vibe. It feels like it needs a Jesse solo in it kinda like the live version of Girl or Gigolos. I like how Morris says side two at the end of this.

Faithful-The song has a newer musical vibe to it, but Morris is in full pimp style.

Cadillac- This is a classic car/Woman/sex double entendre that goes back to the beginning of Rock n' Roll. I love that they threw The Stick lyric in there and Jesse has some nice chicken scratch guitar going on.

AYDKMN- I really like this song. Jesse has a cool Vibe sounding thing going on for the first solo and then a Love struck/ Bare my Naked soul thing going on for the second one.

One Step- This is my least favorite song on the album. It really annoys me except for Jesse's solo.

Toast to the party girl-This is another catchy song. Jesse again has some nice guitar work. Has a real Baby I'm a star close out the album feel to it.

Hey you- I really wanted to hate this one. It sounds like something you would hear on the radio now with Morris singing, but he actually pulls it off. Not my favorite, but its Ok. I do like the Lucky Charms thing thrown in at the end.

GoHometoYoman-If toast to the party girl is the end of the party, than this is the morning after. It has a Gigolos meets Sometimes I get Lonely feel to it. Nice end to the album

So in Conclusion. If you are a fan of the Time, you have to get this album. They stick to the things they do best while updating their sound, but with out going too modern. I'd rank it above Ice Cream castle, In the same neighborhood as Pandemonium and the debut, but below What time is i? It has 2 songs I love, several that I really like, a bunch of good songs and only a couple that I don't really like. My only complaint is that See Thru didn't make the album considering it would have been in the top 5 songs on the record(though a lyrical snippet did make it into Sick) Buy this album, you won't regret it!!!

[Edited 11/25/11 18:36pm]

Excellent Review Brotha Rhastus!!!!!!

At first listen my TWO LEAST favorites were ALSO "One Step" & "Hey Yo"!!!!

But like the NFL Refs say, "After further review"..............

"One Step" IS a rocker in the vein of the Bus Boys & Jesse "slices & dices" like nobody's biz-ness!!

"Hey Yo" sounded WAY too modern 4 me. But THAT'S precisely the point!!!!!

Mo-is Day is STILL cool!!!! And He can flow over some "New School" production!!!

It COULD & SHOULD be played on radio right now!!!!!

My man Rhastus FINALLY gave his review!! Been waitin' for it, my brotha!

I agree with most of what you said, though you didn't seem to be too up on a couple of my favorites like Faithful and Toast To The Party Girl. Of course, you did say you tend to lean more towards to "rockier" tracks, which are hella cool too! Just like you, I'm just glad to hear the majority of people (those with ears and common sense) really diggin' the project and excited about these cats again!

Cool review!

alexnvrmnd777 said:

My man Rhastus FINALLY gave his review!! Been waitin' for it, my brotha!

I agree with most of what you said, though you didn't seem to be too up on a couple of my favorites like Faithful and Toast To The Party Girl. Of course, you did say you tend to lean more towards to "rockier" tracks, which are hella cool too! Just like you, I'm just glad to hear the majority of people (those with ears and common sense) really diggin' the project and excited about these cats again!

Cool review!

Well Toast to the party girl is in my top five from the album. Faithful is in the middle. One thing I like is that different people are digging different tracks. If you look at the ranking thread most people have Sick in the middle which is my #1

I was waiting for your review!

We have very similar opinions of this record and you picked up on all of the same things I did.

My favorite is AYDKMN with Sick a VERY close second.

I had no problems with "One Step" but I really didn't care fo "Hey Yo".

As I have been saying, they DELIVERED!

This is the kind of new album a lot of people want to hear from them. Its a progression of their old sound without sounding old.

Great review! and I agree with your opinion of "One Step".I just can't get into that one.

I agree,and that's what so satisfying about this album.They don't abandon their 'classic sound' at all.They just update it slightly but they don't go 'overboard' with it,like many other Old School artists do when they make 'new' albums.There are no rappers or hip-hop elements on these songs.

I think this album is stronger and more consistent than Ice Cream Castles and Pandemonium.

SoulAlive said:

I'd rank it above Ice Cream castle, In the same neighborhood as Pandemonium and the debut, but below What time is i?

I think this album is stronger and more consistent than Ice Cream Castles and Pandemonium.

Ice cream castles is my least favorite. I love My Drawers and Jungle Love. The Bird is Cool, but i'm burned out on it. Ice Cream Castles is my least favorite Time song and the other 2 are ok for ocassional listens but not something I wanna hear all the Time.

I really like Pandemonium. Blondie and of course my favorite Skillet. A couple other songs I really like and nothing I really dislike.

I like Condensate more every time I play it so it may move up

Rhastus said:

SoulAlive said:

I think this album is stronger and more consistent than Ice Cream Castles and Pandemonium.

Ice cream castles is my least favorite. I love My Drawers and Jungle Love. The Bird is Cool, but i'm burned out on it. Ice Cream Castles is my least favorite Time song and the other 2 are ok for ocassional listens but not something I wanna hear all the Time.

I really like Pandemonium. Blondie and of course my favorite Skillet. A couple other songs I really like and nothing I really dislike.

I like Condensate more every time I play it so it may move up

rhastus - to the man who knows what time it is - now that condensate has been released - care to give us all an insight into any previously unreleased THE TIME material by the OG7 or Morris Day & The Time? Old Dogs, New Tricks for starters and any others you may know about?

1st place - What Time Is It?

2nd place - The The Time

3rd place - Pandemonium

4th place - Condensate

5th place - Ice Cream Castles

safetypin said:

Rhastus said:

Ice cream castles is my least favorite. I love My Drawers and Jungle Love. The Bird is Cool, but i'm burned out on it. Ice Cream Castles is my least favorite Time song and the other 2 are ok for ocassional listens but not something I wanna hear all the Time.

I really like Pandemonium. Blondie and of course my favorite Skillet. A couple other songs I really like and nothing I really dislike.

I like Condensate more every time I play it so it may move up

rhastus - to the man who knows what time it is - now that condensate has been released - care to give us all an insight into any previously unreleased THE TIME material by the OG7 or Morris Day & The Time? Old Dogs, New Tricks for starters and any others you may know about?

1st place - What Time Is It?

2nd place - The The Time

3rd place - Pandemonium

4th place - Condensate

5th place - Ice Cream Castles

Well that's kind of a tricky thing. As much as I would like to share that kind of info, alot of what I see and hear has to be kept hush hush. There is material in the can by both versions of the band though and hopefully it will see the light of day eventually

great review and since I have the CD it's musically and return to form. Most bands make the mistake of updating their sound (RFTW, EWF, El De Barge The Deele) and intoduce rappers or duets with lame stream acts to appeal to a modern auidence and it doesn't work. The Original Seven actually decided to sound like a Minneapolis Sound Band. Hopefully those groups will learn he same lesson when making a comeback update your sound a bit but no Hip- Hop or lamstream R&B bring the New Wave Funk- Rock R&B.

Rhastus said:

SoulAlive said:

I think this album is stronger and more consistent than Ice Cream Castles and Pandemonium.

Ice cream castles is my least favorite. I love My Drawers and Jungle Love. The Bird is Cool, but i'm burned out on it. Ice Cream Castles is my least favorite Time song and the other 2 are ok for ocassional listens but not something I wanna hear all the Time.

I really like Pandemonium. Blondie and of course my favorite Skillet. A couple other songs I really like and nothing I really dislike.

I like Condensate more every time I play it so it may move up

Yeah,Ice Cream Castles is my least favorite too.It's a huge disappointment after the 'What Time Is It?' album."My Drawers" is the only great thing on it.

newsoul08 said:

great review and since I have the CD it's musically and return to form. Most bands make the mistake of updating their sound (RFTW, EWF, El De Barge The Deele) and intoduce rappers or duets with lame stream acts to appeal to a modern auidence and it doesn't work. The Original Seven actually decided to sound like a Minneapolis Sound Band. Hopefully those groups will learn he same lesson when making a comeback update your sound a bit but no Hip- Hop or lamstream R&B bring the New Wave Funk- Rock R&B.

I agree.They could have easily called up some rappers to appear on these songs (I could imagine Snoop Dogg on "Cadillac") but they chose not to go that route.It's refreshing to hear a modern-day R&B/funk album that doesn't have alot of guest artists on it.

SoulAlive said:

newsoul08 said:

great review and since I have the CD it's musically and return to form. Most bands make the mistake of updating their sound (RFTW, EWF, El De Barge The Deele) and intoduce rappers or duets with lame stream acts to appeal to a modern auidence and it doesn't work. The Original Seven actually decided to sound like a Minneapolis Sound Band. Hopefully those groups will learn he same lesson when making a comeback update your sound a bit but no Hip- Hop or lamstream R&B bring the New Wave Funk- Rock R&B.

I agree.They could have easily called up some rappers to appear on these songs (I could imagine Snoop Dogg on "Cadillac") but they chose not to go that route.It's refreshing to hear a modern-day R&B/funk album that doesn't have alot of guest artists on it.

Yep. I'm glad there were no rappers on there. I love Bootsy, but now he puts somebody on every single track

SoulAlive said:

Rhastus said:

Ice cream castles is my least favorite. I love My Drawers and Jungle Love. The Bird is Cool, but i'm burned out on it. Ice Cream Castles is my least favorite Time song and the other 2 are ok for ocassional listens but not something I wanna hear all the Time.

I really like Pandemonium. Blondie and of course my favorite Skillet. A couple other songs I really like and nothing I really dislike.

I like Condensate more every time I play it so it may move up

Yeah,Ice Cream Castles is my least favorite too.It's a huge disappointment after the 'What Time Is It?' album."My Drawers" is the only great thing on it.

My favourite was Ice Cream Castles, it's so catchy...hell it's got Jungle Love on it - probably their best EVER song.

Rhastus said:

SoulAlive said:

I agree.They could have easily called up some rappers to appear on these songs (I could imagine Snoop Dogg on "Cadillac") but they chose not to go that route.It's refreshing to hear a modern-day R&B/funk album that doesn't have alot of guest artists on it.

Yep. I'm glad there were no rappers on there. I love Bootsy, but now he puts somebody on every single track

We are ALL in agreement on that one!

I get tired of how rap gets forced into R&B.