Colonial Cousins

On first glance, one would never expect the Colonial Cousins to make the kind of music they do. But sure enough, the opening track kicks in and a burst of early-'90s New Jack Swing suddenly fills the air. With funky, George Clinton-esque tracks to sing over, the Colonial Cousins flavor it with only a touch of their Indian culture, preferring it to come out in the way they sing. The tracks are big, bright, and packed full of hooks, while the music is beautifully produced and executed marvelously. Keeping with the tradition of '90s funk-pop, the ballads are quite subpar and rely too much of excessive guitar playing. But the album overcomes these songs easily through sheer force of will, a task that few of their American contemporaries would be able to pull off on their own albums. One wouldn't expect a great album of Indian funk in 1998, but The Way We Do It is a confounding yet exuberant album that proves that quality funk can come in any form at any time. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide