Speak No Evil by Strictly Taboo: A Funky Little Time Capsule from '93
Alright, so let’s talk about Speak No Evil, the 1993 album by Strictly Taboo. If you’re into jazz with a side of pop/rock and some serious funk/soul vibes, this one might just hit the spot. Released under Thunder Digital (not exactly a household name, but hey, they got the job done), it's got that unmistakable early '90s flavor—smooth grooves, bold basslines, and enough swagger to fill up your boombox for days.
The producers, Phil Appelbaum and Strictly Taboo themselves, clearly knew what they were doing. They crafted an album that feels like a late-night drive through New Orleans or maybe a smoky club where everyone’s dancing even if they swore they wouldn’t. And honestly? It works.
Now, I gotta shout out two tracks here because these are the ones that stuck in my head long after the needle lifted off the record—or, ya know, after Spotify shuffled to something else.
First up is "Gimme Your Funk." Man, this track is straight fire. Like, how do you not move when this comes on? The bassline hits hard right outta the gate, and the horns? Oh man, those horns sound like they're daring you to sit still. It’s funky as hell, but there’s also this jazzy undertone that keeps things classy. You can tell Strictly Taboo wasn’t messing around—they wanted to make sure you felt every beat deep in your soul. This song reminds me why people used to actually dance at parties instead of standing awkwardly near the snack table scrolling through Instagram.
Then there’s "She’s Fine." Yeah, yeah, I know—it sounds like your typical “ooh-la-la” kinda tune, but trust me, it’s more than that. There’s this playful energy to it, like the band’s having way too much fun recording it. The guitar riffs have this laid-back cool vibe, while the vocals drip with charm. It’s the kind of track that makes you wanna grab someone’s hand and spin ‘em around the room—even if you’ve got two left feet. Plus, who doesn’t love a good anthem celebrating confidence and style? Totally timeless.
Other standouts include "Big Easy Boogie," which has this swampy, bluesy thing going on, and "Right Place, Wrong Time/Come to Mama," which blends two totally different moods into something kinda genius. But honestly, the whole album flows real nice. It’s like hanging out with old friends—you don’t need anything fancy, just good vibes and solid company.
Looking back, Speak No Evil feels like this hidden gem from the '90s that never quite blew up the way it should’ve. Maybe it was overshadowed by grunge or whatever else was trending at the time. Or maybe it was just ahead of its game, blending genres before we all started calling it “genre-fluid.” Either way, it’s aged pretty damn well.
Here’s the kicker though—listening to this album today feels almost rebellious. In a world full of overproduced beats and auto-tuned vocals, hearing something so raw and unapologetically human is refreshing. Like finding a handwritten letter in a sea of emails. So go ahead, give Speak No Evil a spin. Just don’t blame me if you end up dancing alone in your kitchen.
