LFO initially achieved notoriety with their 1999 No. 1 chart-topping hit "Summer Girls." LFO is an anomaly amongst boy bands as they write and produce their own music. Originally signed with Lou Pearlman, the management mogul behind super groups NSync and The Backstreet Boys, they separated in order to have more creative control over their work. This, their sophomore effort, will certainly give the girls something to scream about. These boys are as full of funk as they are fashion and Life is Good shows off the musical sensibilities of streetwise musicians that collect their inspiration from a variety of soul, funk, rap, hip-hop and blues.
While the group hardly breaks new musical ground, they tread familiar waters with skill, churning up fun beats and hip sounds. They certainly have truckloads of charm and commercial appeal, and during this period where audiences seem to have an inexhaustible appetite for singing and dancing boys in bandanas, their polish and flawless presentation will surely continue to garner them more success. The debut single, "Every Other Time" is a rollicking romp, detailing the endless ups and downs of young love.
Reminding us that they just make the ideal duet partners, De La Soul makes an appearance on the CD's sure-fire winner, "Alayna." A bumping and bouncing track, it's certainly funky and fun enough to earn a place on the dance charts as well. Wisely chosen, the boys from De La Soul give the CD some well-deserved "street cred."
"Dandelion" is full of angst and heartache, a song that shows their softer and more sensitive side. (This song is also reproduced as a hidden track, ironically numbered 69, and features R&B smash singer Kellis.) Most of the tracks lean towards being more upbeat and danceable. "Life is Good" featuring MOP is less a song and more a celebration. Slick and cool, the song also shows their penchant for sophisticated tunes and collaboration. While there remains a glut of similar acts sitting on the record shelves, LFO is certainly a cut above, as they are truly following the beats of their own drummer. They have almost mastered pop music and bear more similarity to Smokey Robinson than 98 Degrees. Clearly, it is their music, and not their image alone, that makes them "larger than life."
By Rachel Parker
WARNING: 