The Isley Brothers, Friends & Family | Track Review 🎵

Ron Isley and The Isley Brothers shine on their classy, feel-good, soulful comeback single, “Friends & Family” featuring Snoop Dogg.

When I hear the name 🎙 The Isley Brothers, the first thought that comes to mind is iconic soul collective. 🎙 Ronald Isley and company are certainly most acknowledged for their classics like 🎵 “Shout, Pts. 1 & 2” and 🎵 “That Lady, Pts 1 & 2”, but they’ve also been incredibly versatile, assimilating to whatever the current era of music is.  🎵 “Between the Sheets” represented evolution for the band, as did the likes of the risqué aughts gem, 🎵 “Body Kiss”, where they collaborated with 🎙 Lil Kim.  Perhaps Ron Isley, approaching 80, may not assimilate quite the way he did in the past, but still, the brand-new single, 🎵 “Friends & Family”, is quite enjoyable by all means. Furthermore, he enlists 🎙 Snoop Dogg for the assist.

First and foremost, “Friends & Family” definitely appeals to lovers of old-school R&B. That’s positive and honestly, refreshing in 2021. No, The Isley Brothers don’t take it back to their ‘truly old-school days,’ but the sound still hearkens back to a previous era of contemporary R&B.  The moment I heard “Friends & Family,” it reminded me of the 💿 Chocolate Factory era of 🎙 R. Kelly. Kelly also wrote many songs for the collective during the aughts.  This sound is a sweet spot for Ron Isley, one where he’s able to show off that silky smooth tenor and continue to compel with a ripe falsetto.  The record is incredibly feel-good, groovy, and very clean-cut.  Sure, Snoop Dogg, not the cleanest musician ever, guests, but he keeps things classy and ‘classic.’ Perhaps this isn’t the vibe that’ll excite Gen-Z – that’s not Mr. Biggs’ audience – but for millennials onward who ate up the resurgence of the band, particularly in the aughts, they’ll feast on this!

Final Thoughts 💭

No, “Friends & Family” doesn’t reinvent The Isley Brothers like some of the aforementioned key hits from each era, but it does successfully remind us how potent Ron and company have always been.  Here, we get classy songwriting, awesome vocals – Ron is pushing 80 – and classy production (big bass line, horns, keys).  I’m onboard!

🎙 The Isley Brothers • 🎵 “Friends & Family” • 🏷 R. I. Top Ten LLC • 🗓 4.5.21

[📷: R. I. Top Ten LLC]