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Review of Don't Get Smart

CMJ New Music Report

Tuesday, September 1, 1998

by Glen Sansone

Review of Dont Get Smart
Boston's Jim's Big Ego is the brainchild of wry, quirky songwriter Jim Infantino who wields his razor-sharp poetic flair like a weapon on Don't Get Smart, offering thought-provoking commentary (especially on "Ahead of the Curve"), that can sound both humorous and poignant at the same time. The album features complex, Dave Matthews Band-like rhythmic arrangements that vaccilate between deep, grooving funk and rootsy rock without sounding committed to either. On "Feelin' Groovy," the band's updated take on the Simon & Garfunkel tune, Infantino mixes a down-town Lou Reed-style hipness with rapped lyrics (which borrow a few classic Slick Rick rhymes) for an innovative cover that best illustrates the band's smart, imaginative approach.