Nile Rodgers

• Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove [Mirage, 1983] A-
• B-Movie Matinee [Warner Bros., 1985] A-

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove [Mirage, 1983]
Because the basic bass parts are Nile's and not Bernard's and the basic drum patterns Nile's and not Tony's and the basic vocals Nile's and not Alfa's, this groove is stiffer, sharper, tougher, weirder, and less pleasant than Chic's. It's also good if not better, colored with Rodgers's trenchant, voluble guitar talk and rendered meaningful by his willingness to experience lust as an unsentimental need that can turn into unsentimental love. A-

B-Movie Matinee [Warner Bros., 1985]
Since it's all, or mostly, in the groove, I can only guess at an explanation. New producer Tommy Jymi? New drummer Jimmy Bralower? Nile's hot romance with the Synclavier? Luck? Whatever, Rodgers hasn't made such a jumping record since the underrated Take It Off, or such a substantial one since the underrated Real People. Some may miss that reassuring Bernard Edwards substratum, but I'll take my rhythms rising to the top. A-