Album artwork isn’t always an accurate gauge of how a record will sound, but based on the cover of funk rock band Honeychile’s album So Damn Good, listeners will know exactly what to expect. The cover is plastered with a honey-colored sheen. Centered is a Barbie placed in a bathtub filled with even more honey. The band’s literal interpretation of its name comes off as unimaginative, and unfortunately, this lack of creativity bleeds into the music itself.
What plagues So Damn Good is that it simply isn’t very memorable. By no means is it a poor album, but none of the tracks stick after they’re finished. Many of the songs seem calculated and feature nearly identical timbres. Lead guitarist Johnny Phoenix might be talented, but many of his riffs on tracks like “Dynamite,” “Evil Eye,” and “Bad Decisions” blend together.
Singer Skinny Vinny is best when he explores his falsetto. Disappointingly, he rarely experiments with his higher-pitched delivery. When he does use his falsetto — on songs “Left to Lose” and “So Damn Good” — the album is at its best.
Many of the songs on So Damn Good that fall in the two-and-a-half- to three-and-a-half-minute range fail to truly evolve or develop. Additionally, there isn’t much continuity between each song; while that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the seemingly arbitrary track placement inhibits the album from ever gaining a full momentum.
Honeychile is a band that certainly has all the tools necessary to create an impressive funk rock record. Unfortunately, its unwillingness to take chances makes __So Damn Goo_d_ come off as formulaic, devoid of emotion and ultimately underwhelming.
Dive Verdict: ??1/2
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
