There's nothing like a good a cappella CD in your Discman to spice up a walk around campus. A cappella arrangements, with all of their "bops" and "doos," have a way of making previously bland songs refreshingly enjoyable. Listening to Company B's new CD, Almost Legal, I found myself singing along and tapping my feet to songs I didn't even realize I liked before. Company B released the album last month to celebrate their 20th anniversary, making them the oldest a cappella group on campus. A good a cappella group requires not only strong, melodic voices, but also energy to invigorate their songs. Company B is known for this energy. If you watch them on stage, you get a sense of how much fun they're having, and if you listen to their CD, you can imagine them bouncing and jamming at the recording session. Company B's shtick is that they only perform songs released before 1980, so the bulk of their songs are those loopy 70s disco-tinged songs, which lend the album a kitschy feel. Also, this gives them the chance to try out jazz songs and standards, a genre ignored by many a cappella groups on campus. In all the songs, Company B's 13 voices blend nicely; the background parts are strong and inventive, but never so zealous that they overpower the soloist.

The album opens strongly with "All I Want," the Jackson 5 hit, which is, like most songs on the album, flawlessly executed. Soloist Julia Barnathan's '05 soprano voice is eerily reminiscent of an adolescent Michael Jackson, down to the wailing of "all I waaaaant! All I neeeed!" Nearly all the arrangements are intricate and varied, giving everyone a chance to showcase their voices. The most unique song on the album is Ella Fitzgerald's "Smooth Sailing," on which different members take turns scatting. This is an interesting piece to listen to; it's also nice change from the dominant 70s theme.

Company B's high-energy songs, such as "All I Want," "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," or "Heard it Through the Grapevine" achieve the greatest success on this album. Company B is also not afraid to try their hand at a slower song like the Etta James classic, "At Last." This is sung noticeably faster than James sings it, but with the extra speed it still sounds polished and focused. The group did not achieve this same focus with "Killing Me Softly," however, which was the only disappointing song. This was also performed faster than original artist, Roberta Flack, had performed it, to the point of sounding rushed. Somehow, the arrangement seemed bland and distracting at the same time, and it lacked both the soul of Flack and the funky upswing of the Fugees' 1996 remake.

A standout soloist on the album is Karen Lutsky '04, singing "So Happy Together." Her deep, soulful voice balances just the right amount of rasp and vibrato, and her phrasing was impeccable. A highlight of the arranging talent of Company B is evident in Staci Guthri's '02 and Olinde Mandell's '04 arrangement of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Carry On," which featured no soloist; instead it was a group effort, as some members of the group sang the melody line in harmony while the rest provided background vocals. The arrangement is faithful to the original song and features a remarkable impression of an electric guitar. In fact, Company B has a knack for getting all kinds of instrumental sounds completely right-on, illustrating the difference between a mere cover band and an established a cappella group.

If you have not had the opportunity to see Company B in concert yet, well, then what are you waiting for? Or, at the very least, buy their CD. You won't be disappointed.