(November 5, 2021) Over the past few months, the combination of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak known as Silk Sonic has been pleasing both modern and traditional R&B fans with a series of throwback styled singles that capture the aura of 1970s soul.
As Silk Sonic issues its album An Evening with Silk Sonic -- a sonically dead on tribute to 70s R&B and funk -- today comes the third single and video, a jilted lover ballad, "Smokin Out The Window." For it, Silk Sonic members dress in 1970s-styled performance suits and capture the uniform dance moves of Philly acts like The Stylistics and Blue Magic. But, as with all Mars projects, the lyrics owe more to Millennial hip-hop sensibilities (with all the associated baggage, particularly about women) than to classic soul:
(November 5, 2021) Over the past few months, the combination of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak known as Silk Sonic has been pleasing both modern and traditional R&B fans with a series of throwback styled singles that capture the aura of 1970s soul.
As Silk Sonic issues its album An Evening with Silk Sonic -- a sonically dead on tribute to 70s R&B and funk -- today comes the third single and video, a jilted lover ballad, "Smokin Out The Window." For it, Silk Sonic members dress in 1970s-styled performance suits and capture the uniform dance moves of Philly acts like The Stylistics and Blue Magic. But, as with all Mars projects, the lyrics owe more to Millennial hip-hop sensibilities (with all the associated baggage, particularly about women) than to classic soul:
This b**ch got me payin' her rent, payin' for trips
Diamonds on her neck, diamonds on her wrist
And here I am all alone (All alone)
I'm so cold, I'm so cold
You got me out here
Mars has talked about how hard the group researched and worked to recreate authentic 70s soul, down to the drum skins and guitar strings used. And while they have caught the musical vibe, the words the talented group sings - whether unknowingly or with a wink - belie the authenticity of the attempt, giving it more of a novelty feel, like simply donning a hula hoop to capture what the early 1960s were like. Consequently, the final result of "Smoking out The Window" is a song that is oddly both superficially enjoyable and lyrically fairly disposable.
By Chris Rizik