SAM SPARRO “BLACK & GOLD” MODUS VIVENDI

On some superficial level, it’s satisfying when the cover art matches the music. The pseudo-futuristic robot head on Sam Sparro’s Black & Gold EP lets you know what to expect: sleek, slinky slabs of polished electro-funk delivered with smart-mouth attitude. Although good times are the objective here, Black & Gold is anything but one-dimensional. There’s also plenty of astute social commentary for the more discerning listener, once you get past the party jams. The weighty issue of Hollywood-centric eating disorders is tackled with both honesty and humor on “Miss Rexi,” where the title character is told, “Girl, I want to fatten you up/Get you back up to a C-cup,” followed by the encouraging advice that “you don’t need to be a bean/to be sexy on the scene.” Hardly the depth and sensitivity you’d expect minutes after the hilarious stoner anthem “Cottonmouth,” where Sam Sparro shamelessly admits to being too parched to sing. For a first release, Black & Gold shows impressive range and refinement. I imagine he’ll be blowing up, oh, let’s say this time next week.

Tags: black and gold, sam sparro