| 90 |
Hot Press
On the new B52s album, the group famous for ‘Love Shack’ party like it’s 1992.
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| 83 |
Entertainment Weekly
The B-52s are still gloriously single-minded party animals more interested in giddily rocking love shacks than stoking intellects. [28 Mar 2008, p.65]
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| 83 |
The Onion (A.V. Club)
That material is sometimes far too automatic for its own good--see 'Deviant Ingredient,' which is as trite as its title portends. But on 'Eyes Wide Open' and the lustrous 'Juliet Of The Spirits,' a Pierson/Wilson song as strong as any they've done in mystic mode, the songs are up to the legend, and should sound as good at the B-52s' joyous shows.
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| 80 |
Amazon.com
Out of the blue and virtually as fun as a party out of bounds, Funplex is a dee-lightful reunion record.
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| 80 |
musicOMH.com
There may be nothing on here Funplex that will challenge the likes of Rock Lobster or Love Shack, but Funplex is a consistently brilliant party album from a band that knows the value in simply having a good time.
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| 70 |
Dot Music
Listen to the B-52s first studio album in 16 years and within ten seconds it's like the 21st century never happened. They sound just the same. [...] And it's a delight.
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| 70 |
Under The Radar
It's not a genre shift for the Athens, Georgia merrymakers by any means, but a welcome revision. [Winter 2008, p.80]
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| 70 |
Spin
They refresh all their tricks, with stripped-down, energetic guitar plus little electronics. [Apr 2008, p.92]
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| 70 |
Hartford Courant
The band reassembles its signature elements and evaporates concerns about age by showing some fresh spring-loaded party pop.
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| 70 |
Paste Magazine
Their first album in 16 years aims to achieve a similar blend of the edgy, catchy and commercial. And it does just that with 'Eyes Wide Open,' which features a synth loop that sounds like the Magical Musical Thing toy of the ’70s, then blossoms with the bright harmonies of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson.
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| 70 |
PopMatters
Funplex is a very good album, and a solid pleasure from end to end.
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| 70 |
Billboard
Funplex works best when the voices blend into the ass-moving momentum.
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| 66 |
Pitchfork
While Funplex's super-sized dance pop can't quite compare with the band's best moments, there's plenty of residual B-52's-ness to satiate longtime fans.
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| 60 |
Slant Magazine
Funplex neither redefines nor sullies the band's sterling legacy, which is probably close to a best case scenario.
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| 60 |
The Guardian
They may not sound as weird and novel as they did on 'Rock Lobster,' but they can still sing 'Keep This Party Going' with some credibility.
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| 60 |
All Music Guide
Nothing here is as gripping or as perfect as "Rock Lobster," "Private Idaho," or "Love Shack," and the songs that are borderline filler get pushed into one big forgettable lump towards the end of the album.
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| 60 |
Blender
Best enjoyed in the privacy of home. [Apr 2008, p.76]
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| 60 |
Drowned In Sound
Funplex then: a bit like that school re-union. Good for a few hours’ reminiscing every once in a while but over-familiarity will only breed contempt.
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| 60 |
NOW Magazine
So instead of rehashing Cosmic Thing for an ill-fated comeback banking on nostalgia, guitarist Keith Strickland learned Pro Tools, bought some electro records and voila: the B-52’s have a contemporary dance-rock record. Startlingly, this works.
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| 60 |
Observer Music Monthly
The first album by the B-52's in 16 years sees the Georgia trash-pop veterans keep dull maturity at bay with 11 paeans to partying, space, deviant sex and sly protest politics .
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| 60 |
Q Magazine
It's good to have them back. [Apr 2008, p.102]
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| 20 |
Mojo
Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson's endless calls for us to party hearty sound like nothing less than Shampoo's sozzled grans on a hen night, Fred Schneider's ironic lounge lizard is just creepy, and the same old tuned guitars spar against the same old Barbarella beats. [Apr 2008, p.102]
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| 20 |
Uncut
Funplex consists largely of a series of witless retreads of school disco hit 'Love Shack,' with Fred Schneider's deadpan "woo!" recalling an increasinglt weary holiday rep. [Apr 2008, p.83]
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| 20 |
Paste Magazine
Funplex never swings, shimmies or threatens a disco whistle. Instead it feels like a studio-centric attempt to approximate current dance music, which is strange, because nothing here feels particularly current.
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