"The Good, the Bad, and the Funky" is the fifth studio album by Tom Tom Club, an American new wave band. The album was released in 2000.
Formed by husband and wife team Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Tom Tom Club originally emerged as a side project from the influential band Talking Heads. This album blends a variety of genres, including new wave, reggae, and punk, resulting in a melodic mix of dance-friendly sounds.
"The Good, the Bad, and the Funky" notably features a lot of guest artists from a variety of backgrounds, including Jamaican reggae artist U-Roy, Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals, Queen Latifah, and Charles Pettigrew. Its lead single, "Who Feelin' It," blends hip hop and reggae, embodying the band's genre-fusing identity.
Peaking at number 32 on the Billboard Dance Club Chart, the album earned significant airplay on college radio stations, continuing the Tom Tom Club's pattern of success among underground music circles rather than in the mainstream. Despite its danceable beats and collective of expert musicians, it quietly slipped under the radar for many casual music fans, remaining a hidden gem within Tom Tom Club's discography. It strikes a balance between the experimental nature evident in their earlier releases and a more polished, mature sound, courtesy of Frantz and Weymouth's years of experience in the music industry.
The album is beloved among fans for its unique blend of tongue-in-cheek lyricism, complex rhythms, and infectious melodies, solidifying Tom Tom Club's legacy as pioneers of new wave and dance music.
