Critical Reception
The Revival was well received by contemporary music critics. Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot it three out of four stars and felt that its "lull" adult contemporary ballads are redeemed by songs with "Sly Stone, Ray Charles, doo-wop and Motown influences", writing that, "Add a dash of loopy humor and you have a terrific '60s-meets-the-'90s recipe". Giving the album an A–, Greg Sandow of Entertainment Weekly commended the group for "build momentum by adding new elements as the songs proceed" and wrote of their relevance to R&B, "it's artists such as Tony! Toni! Toné! who are setting the course for whatever future the genre is likely to have". Dennis Hunt of the Los Angeles Times gave the album three out of four stars and felt that, although their "offbeat R&B hybrids" are occasionally "too busy and intentionally oddball", "the Tonys' explorations ... are mostly successful".
Orlando Sentinel writer Parry Gettelman gave the album four out of four stars and complimented its "smooth ballads", while noting that its dance-oriented tracks "have great grooves and a warmth, humor and vocal finesse sadly lacking in the Top 40". Robert Christgau of The Village Voice gave The Revival a two-star honorable mention, indicating " likable effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well enjoy". Christgau cited "Feels Good" and "Oakland Stroke" as highlights and quipped, "who says a love band can't play funk music?". Janine McAdams of Spin commended their songwriting for "transform the simplest ditties into jammin' anthems that assault the ear and move the feet" and wrote of its musical significance:
Revival works as evidence of the wide-ranging continuum of R&B, the ability of sterling soul to remain fresh for the new generation. The Tonyies pull off the feat without obscuring their unique voice. Maybe some will be jolted by their barrage of remember-when musical references on Revival, but to the youthful crowd it's aimed at, much of this is brand-new.Read more about this topic: The Revival
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