In case you haven't heard, Parliament-Funkadelic was the best thing grooving in there day. Originally starting as a doo-woop group in the 50's, there name rose to fame in the 70's cultivating a culture of zany and outlandish members. George Clinton, star child and head funk brother of Parliament orchestrated this album (and many others) along with his colorful band of musicians, singers and swingers. Clinton along with Parliament-Funkadelic before the Mothership Connection landed, utilizes a spectrum of genres synthesizing them into there own P-funk lifestyle. An unexpected blend of funk, psychedelic soul, psychedelic rock, funk rock, and disco come together to produce albums like: Chocolate City, The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein, Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome, and the Motor Booty Affair.
Clinton is no newbie at presenting socially concious lyrics through a playful space tone, as to not be too overly serious and sensitive on some civil justice issues. A cool and frisky yet conciously aware attitude plays as the undertone to the album. Instantly Clinton, sets an eccentric smooth atmosphere utilizing a groovy radio DJ to introduce the Mothership Connection. The album opens up with "Make My Funk the P-Funk" composed of glossy piano chords over a low moving kick drum pattern. The pure uncut funk is delivered in motion, switching from a hard funk groove to easy tempo melodies with the Radio Dj's vibrant and jazzy voiceover adding to the realism of the Mothership Connection having its own world and style to it taking from realism and thought combing it into one.
As the album progresses into Star Child, we see more of the outer space boogie that the album gives off. The ending to the track leads into a "Swing Down Chariot" hymn in the style of slow funk giving off that spacial vibe of the album. The album moves on with more serious yet hell of a lot of comedic lyricism in tracks like "Unfunky UFO", "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication", and "Handcuffs". "Give Up the Funk" is more of raw groovy type of funk. Its sound is almost distinctive from the rest of the tracks conceptually, but the sonic makeup of the song is a strong boost to the like-ability and uniqueness of the album.
Rate: 9
As the album progresses into Star Child, we see more of the outer space boogie that the album gives off. The ending to the track leads into a "Swing Down Chariot" hymn in the style of slow funk giving off that spacial vibe of the album. The album moves on with more serious yet hell of a lot of comedic lyricism in tracks like "Unfunky UFO", "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication", and "Handcuffs". "Give Up the Funk" is more of raw groovy type of funk. Its sound is almost distinctive from the rest of the tracks conceptually, but the sonic makeup of the song is a strong boost to the like-ability and uniqueness of the album.
Rate: 9
The introduction was really strong. Although I have never listened to the album, I think I have a picture of what the album sounds like due to the colorful vocabulary you used to describe the album.
ReplyDeleteThe rating helped give your review the authenticity it needed.
Deletei liked the comparisons in the first paragraph. You should give a further analysis on the instrumentals of the album
ReplyDeleteThe insight on the songs helped your review even more. The last paragraph helps me understand how the album sounds even more
DeleteI love the introduction and the strong vocabulary but the review could've been more detailed.
ReplyDeleteThis article is extremely good because It has the right words and its intriguing to learn about funk.
ReplyDeleteI can completely see the difference and the things that you added are extremely helpful to the theme
DeleteI never heard the music but now after reading your artical I want to hear how it sounds. The way you described it kept me interested from the introduction.
ReplyDeleteThe opening sentence was corny which made it entertaining and made me want to continue reading. It not only persuaded me to check out the album, but research the artist himself as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat Job! Your review was filled with colorful and distinctive adjectives. My favorite part of the album is your lead which was extremely descriptive and playfully introduced the artists. However, be cautious of grammatical errors.
ReplyDelete