Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz

by Martin WoodsideNappy Roots' major-label debut is a fast-moving affair, stock-full of sweet pop hooks and loaded down with an easy, good-time feeling. Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz is a party album of a different sort, splitting the difference between the fat beats of the West Coast and the Dirty South's gritty funk to carve out their own distinctive, high-octane jams. The group's six members met at Western Kentucky University -- four are Kentucky natives -- and make little secret of their Southern roots. With all six members taking turns on the mic, Nappy Roots keeps a rapid pace up, swerving through the 17 tracks here with effortless energy. Southern twang and drawl stand out on tracks like "Kentucky Mud" and the hit single "Awnaw," giving Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz a pleasant, down-home feeling. While the sound here is refreshing, the lyrics rarely stand out and after awhile some of the tracks tend to blur together. Still is this fun -- perfect for rolling down the road on a sunny day and guaranteed to get the party started.