This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“I’m gonna show you a new side,” promises Muffin Spencer on Gettin Wise. And true to her word, this second album from the spunky singer-guitarist and her hip-hoppy electro-punk outfit is much more than just a reheated version of 2000’s impressive Got it Made.
Granted, most of these cuts — notably the opener Hit ’Em Hard — follow the old playbook, with the band supplying propulsive, bottom-dwelling grooves and little Ms. Muffin supplying the scratchy guitars and bravado of an OG Brooklyn rapper. The rest of the time, though, Muffin (who just happens to be blues-punk evangelist Jon Spencer’s spunky little sister) and her mates kick back and get down on the old-school funk tip. Unhooking the distortion pedals, slowing down the rhythms to a hip-swivelling groove and emphasizing looped keyboard melodies over thwacking drums, Brassy make like Luscious Jackson, embracing their inner breakdancer on booty-shakers like 1-0-0, the title cut and the George Clinton homage Where Did You Get That Funk? If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to get wise to these guys.
