Complete with flair, class, and more guests than you can imagine, Mark Ronson has created an album to pay to tribute to the great era of early funk and soul music. Uptown Special turns pop, indie rock, and rap into a charming homage this period. Taking a mellow, lounge-singer vibe at times and a high-energy, big band style at others, the album’s opposing attitudes towards the genre blend together well. Just as he bridges different styles of funk, Ronson also uses Uptown Special to musically tie together the popular genres of the past and the present. He only falters when the album loses sight of its main goal: an entertaining, funk revival.
To compensate for the fact that Ronson does not sing, he features a different artist on each track. These guests are important—their own influences substantially affect the attitude of the tracks.
Stevie Wonder’s mellow tones open the album in “Uptown’s First Finale,” gradually easing listeners into Ronson’s project. The song blends rising 60s-style with horns and modern synth work to add a more provocative, dancey beat.
While the featured artists on Uptown Special generally compliment Ronson’s production, problems arise when their own styles overpower the central themes of the album.
“Leaving Los Feliz (ft. Kevin Parker)” falls victim to this issue. The track slips off of the fine line between indie synth-rock and funk in the direction of the former. Ronson’s departure from his musical thesis in this instances creates a mottled image.
Fortunately, this issue arises only a few times in the album. It is surrounded by his best, most high-energy works yet. “Feel Right” uses rapper Mystikal to bring back the ebullient presence of James Brown. The aggressive rap lyrics tie the song to the present, yet Ronson and Mystikal seem to reach perfect accord through this reminiscent lens.
Ronson leaves his listeners with a unique album. The broad spectrum of influence he uses ushers in a great appreciation for styles of the past. Uptown Special marks a potentially powerful musical shift towards the roots of all modern rap and pop.
Voice’s Choices: “Feel Right,” “Uptown Funk”
