Raise Up

Larry Graham and Graham Central Station – Raise Up
Reviewed by Sadie O., 12/29/12
Funky Funk. Graham, if for some reason you don’t know, was the bassist with Sly and the Family Stone, and invented the rubbery poppy fun bass sound. All these years later, and he’s still funky as mess. Some tracks veer a bit towards the commercial in places, but that bass work saves everything except track 10 – and most of the tracks are just awesome. Prince odds an extra dollop of weird to several tracks. No FCCs!
1. 1:25 ***whistles, and drumline, with a funky second line shuffle. Leads into next track.
2. 6:45 ****uptempo and very upbeat, super-funky, horn section and CRAZY bass action.
3. 3:35 ***midtempo hip-wiggler, Family Stone feel.
4. 5:35 *****downtempo, ultra-funky bass grunts, bass vocals. Prince guests on processed vocals and guitar – pretty amusing.
5. 4:48 ***slow electric guitar blues. Some pretty amazing vocals.
6. 1:02 ***mostly a cappela churchical singing – very nice.
7. 6:10 ****midtempo funky strut, very upbeat. Some crazy-ass vocals.
8. 4:55 *****absolutely amazing vocal funk beatboxing a la Family Stone. Whew! Then funky bass-heave march. So good! Cover of the huge Stevie Wonder hit. It takes a lot to one-up Stevie at his own game, but I think they’ve done it.
9. 7:05 **slow lounge soul – should have Barry White singing – saved by slinky bass.
10. 5:08 slow and icky love song. Can’t all be hits…
11. 4:58 **uptempo, chugging. Vocals take turns a la Family Stone.
12. 5:35 ***slow, funky, Prince-style keyboards, great low end sound. Goes all orchestral and dramatic in the middle. Not actually very danceable, but cool.
13. 6:44 **downtempo, subdued – hopeful lyrics, but not overly exciting music.