Posted on 09/08/2009
Dudley Perkins has always polarised listeners, either for his ‘relaxed’ delivery or stream of consciousness lyrics, and as the refrain from “Understatement” suggests, Holy Smokes is no different. “We won’t move from where we stand. If you can’t understand this, this ain’t for you.” You’re either with “the world’s first black cosmonaut” on his “new g-funk” and socially aware tip, or, um, you’re not. Unfortunately over the course of its 76 minutes he regularly drifts off too far out for us to follow.

“Holy Smokes” has its heart very much in the right place, asking “like the late great Marvin What’s Going On?”, tackling war and the environment just as his hero did. But while his message is on point, Dudley too often forgets to marry it with music that’s equally as worthy of attention. Sometimes it is too much, like Dudley is being deliberately challenging (or alienating) for its own sake. “Boogie” throws down the gauntlet with its chorus, “I can make you boogie if you want me to” – a harmless and familiar enough sentiment, but one that within the context of Holy Smokes sounds almost like a threat. In other places, like “Fonky Soul,” it sounds like he’s simply too wrapped up in his own wonderful persona as the purveyor of “the greatest funk show of them all.” And to be honest, even with Georgia Anne Muldrow on production, Holy Smokes doesn’t come close to justifying that claim.

Just as with the message, Dudley draws on prime p-funk and g-funk influences for the basis of Holy Smokes, embellished with all the flourishes you’d expect from a Georgia Anne Muldrow record. However, although his flow might have switched up in intensity, the beats have regressed (if that’s possible after Madlib) to match the horizontal nature of Dudley’s earlier work. Tracks like “Still Standing” feel more like sketches drawn out for three minutes, while “Eyeloveu,” a public show of devotion for Dudley and Georgia’s relationship, is particularly uncomfortable to listen to.

It’s disappointing, because with more focus Holy Smokes could have been a great record. “Summer Daze” combines a hypnotic beat with a treatise on global warming to create the thinking person’s summer jam, while “To Declaime” and “Run It Down” really are “that new g-funk.” But to ask for more focus from Dudley would be as futile as it is pointless. He’s sticking to his guns, or to go with a more fitting metaphor for the pacifist vibe, he’s made his bed, and he’s going to lie in it.

If you’ve got the patience to sift through Holy Smokes you’ll find some gems amongst the rough. But be warned, it will take patience. Perhaps it’s best just to simply follow Dudley’s first words on the album: “Alright troops, light up!” To paraphrase the first truly original black cosmonaut, first you need to free your mind so your ass can follow. It’s just a shame that to fully enjoy Dudley’s work you might need a little chemical assistance.

- Will Georgi