Posted on 08/27/2008
While the term ‘novelty record’ might have a negative connotation in many hip hop circles, there’s still something to be said about a well-done, concerted effort at injecting a comedic theme into a song. Sure, a tune that relies on something as subjective and fickle as humor runs the risk of having a limited shelf-life, but if the artist possesses the musical goods to back the joke up, it can be a winning formula. The latest release from Seattle-based trio The Saturday Knights makes a valiant attempt at staying power, but it’s not a strategy that is entirely successful for the duration of Mingle.

From the very first listen of Mingle, it’s clear that the Saturday Knights are more concerned with extending their fun, spring-break-gone-wild party vibe than adhering to any of the limitations set forth by the hip hop style police. Indeed, to label this music as strictly hip hop would be a misstep, as the tunes pair drum breaks with clangy rock guitar and a live instrumentation that’s more Smash Mouth than S.A. Smash. And with an eclectic roster of guests that includes The Dap-Kings horn section, long-missing Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil (no joke!), and Bleach-era Nirvana producer Jack Endino on drums, things tend to float all over the place stylistically.

As the narrators of this genre-hopping trip, emcees Barfly and Tilson steer clear from the typical trappings of the average rapper, tending to stick primarily to the motif of each particular song. “Foreign Affair” finds the duo asserting their love for Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen over a club beat punked up by chunky electric guitars. They do their best badass Licensed to Ill impression on “Ass Kicker’s Haircut,” and put a new spin on the phrase ‘off the chain’ on “Dog Park” (get it???).

It’s admirable to choose to mix it up and get creative with songwriting, but these songs can border dangerously close to corny much of the time, a trait that is blatantly evident midway through the album on “Private School Girl,” an LFO-sounding ode to hooking up with the girls with trust funds. With annoying female adlibs running rampant throughout the song and a sound that’s a little too shimmery in its pop-sounding tendencies, one can’t help but wonder if the Saturday Knights make music to amuse the crowd or actually move them.

As a whole, Mingle does a little too much mingling to really come across as genuine; oftentimes, the album feels less like a collection songs and more like a collection of very fleshed-out jokes that may not have been all that funny to begin with. It’s a welcoming vibe, but the tone here may not be everyone’s type of party.

- Sean Kantrowitz