G. Love and Special Sauce: Philadelphonic : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The "Love" in G. Love takes on a new meaning on Philadelphonic. This isn't just the funky-groovy love of his past three albums -- the love of old-school rhymes and blues riffs and rock shout-outs that this Philly kid has been touting since 1994. No, this is a special love -- a joyful love -- a Christian love. "Praise God," G. Love mumbles at the start of "Numbers," a slow-jamming ode to the book in the Bible. "Amazing" isn't a cover of the Aerosmith song -- it's how G. Love feels when he says grace. The spirit seems to have moved Special Sauce, too: Philadelphonic is the lightest, breeziest album the band has recorded. G. Love's newfound spirituality would be easier to take if it were a little more consistent. In "Gimme Some Lovin'," he is demanding satisfaction first thing in the morning; in "Friday Night (Hundred Dollar Bill)" and "Do It for Free," he's lambasting the evil groupies who try to trick him into cheap sex. A self-described "rock & roll star" who berates women for throwing themselves at him? How Christian is that? (RS 818)

KAREN SCHOEMER