Reviewed by Sadie O., 11/17/10
Unusual funk/soul with falsetto vocals. I feel like the vocals are influenced by Curtis Mayfield, the guitar intros by Jimi’s acoustic stuff/Red Hot Chili Peppers, but there are very early funk elements – but some rather commercial “modern R&B” elements to the production that put me off a bit. Still, it’s a pretty unique sound taken all together, and I’m always down for old-school sounding funk…
Me, I like 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, and esp. 10 best, but that’s just me.
1. 3:24 **OG scratch ‘n’ beatbox intro, then syncopated uptempo disco/funk, very 70’s sound.
2. 3:11 **gut-bucket guitar & spoken word intro, midtempo 4/4 disco beat.
3. 4:11 **rather downbeat, kinda Blaxploitation feel.
4. 3:30 ***downtempo proper Funk – kinda Parliament sounding. Nice.
5. 4:25 *promising intro, but turns into slow elevator music…
6. 3:16 ***strong funky dance groove, which suits the title. Bit of 60’s hand-clap frug.
7. 2:52 ***takes half a minute to come together, but winds up being cool midtempo funk with syncopation, nice bass.
8. 4:09 *nice guitar intro, but goes all slow – somewhere between “modern R&B” and bluesiness. Nice, if you like slow, rather commercial sounding love songs. Big guitar solo in second half.
9. 3:13 **spoken word intro, slinky and slightly Caribbean-jazz uptempo groove. Spoken word seems to be intellectualizing drunkenness, maybe?
10. 3:01 ****strong downtempo funk with a bit of rap, political lyrics, electric guitars, bits of the lyrics based on “Johnny Was a Good Man” – fine track.
11. 3:21 ***cool, blatty funky midtempo groove. Lots of elements, interesting sound.
12. 3:33 ***bar sounds with organ boops and talking… Then strong early-funk sound. Cool.
13. 4:06 *unplugged and sad, but the guitar is cool and vocals impassioned.