1978 : Revenge Of The Dragon (2025)

"José James returns to his birth year for inspiration, crafting a follow-up to "1978" that further celebrates the multicultural pluralism of the era. At a glance, "1978: Revenge Of The Dragon" seems destined to suffer the same fate as most sequels. The basic concept is the same, and where "1978" was all-original, this is half-interpretive (four of the eight songs were either first recorded or released in '78) indicating a shortage of ideas. However, it's far from a rehash. A bit of new wave pluck and rock swagger are added to the gumbo of soul, jazz-funk, and disco. The feeling is all about romance, seduction, and joy, with nonstop feel-good energy no doubt fostered by an accompanying kung fu flick. The opening and closing songs (the breezy "Tokyo Daydream" and sweetly driving "Last Call At The Mudd Club") are also uptempo winners. All in all, this is every bit the equal of the preceding LP in terms of fresh creativity and appeal." (AllMusic; 4 uit 5 sterren)