The Fun Lovin' Criminals seem to have appealed a lot more to people over here on the far side of the pond than they did back Stateside, perhaps because it appeals to the British idea of what Cool America is like, rather than what Cool America is actually like: what sounded to well-educated British ears like really new, cutting edge, gritty authentic American music, I guess back at home probably came over not so much as authentic as bit middle class, a bit clever, a bit too "wiseass" to be the real thing. There's a limit to what you can get away with sampling - the horn riff in The King of New York is ripped off from a Richard Strauss tone poem, for crying out loud. Boys from the hood don't know about that stuff. Or at any rate shouldn't.

Nevertheless, this record stands the test of time - it lays down a tremendously appealing groove from the its very first resonator jangle, and the combination of that and the New York jazz sensibility (this from someone who knows and cares little for jazz, by the way), the smartarse sampling (*I* like it, even if the cognoscenti don't), Huey's laconic and irrepressibly funning rapping and big, BIG guitars does me quite nicely.

Carry on, chaps.

Olly Buxton

The Fun Lovin' Criminals made something that I guarantee you haven't quite heard before. FLC is my favorite band after G. Love & Special Sauce (who have a lighter style of music compared to these hombres. Actually the basic aspect of alternative rap is the same, but you can't compare the two bands, they are so different and original). If you go back to '96 you may recall some hit singles "Scooby Snacks" & "Fun Lovin' Criminal", two hip-hopish songs that crossed into the alternative rock mainstream at the time. Thats when I bought The Fun Lovin' Criminals' album and realized that those songs, although they're great, are just the tip of the iceberg. FLC is made up of 3 New Yorkers and you can tell how the NYC life is injected into their song stlyes of hip-hop beats and lyrics with a touch of dark bluesy rock. The best way I can describe this music when you hear it is... it makes you wanna kick-back and chill. The songs are amazing, try The Criminals out, you won't be dissapointed... you might even be hooked. Ciao, Peace & One Love.

From the earth-shattering scream in the opening seconds of "The Fun Lovin' Criminal," to the end of "Methadonia," this talented NYC based trio delivers a contemporary rock n' roll classic, full of sharp hooks and intricate beats. This record is one of the most eclectic that has been made in a long while. Drawing on the best elements of hard rock, and urban rap, the FLC create a winning combination. Intelligent songwriting is found throughout the record. The songs here deal with a very wide range of topics, from gangsters, to bank robberies, the lyrics are funny, and witty. Hands down one of the best records of the 1990s, a winning combination of rap and hard rock, perforated with melody, and humor.

I recently picked up a copy of come find yourself on an impulse (i'd only ever heard "scooby snacks" before), and if you're reading this review let me tell you now to go buy this. Huey's got the smoothest voice in music today, and the vibe between these guys is incredible. A mix of hip hop, rock, blues, jazz.....man their just incredible. I love they way they swing that wise-guy new yorker vibe in their music. Huey is definitely a great talent with both his guitar skills and his lyrics as well. My recommondation for the perfect listen: Lounge out on the couch with "goodfellas" on mute, dim the lights, light a spliff and enjoy. FIVE STARS and then some!

The only truly progressive example of rock n' roll music i can think of out there today. these guys dont just rehash old song patterns they re-invent and enhance the breed with subtle hip hop and jazz influences and at times humor as well. Nothing is sacred to these guys and everything they touch becomes fresh and new (as in the reference to Deep Purple's famous guitar intro to "Smoke on Water" on FLC's "Bombin' the L.") If you want to be with what's currently the best in rock n' roll these days this is a definite must.