AsleepInTheBack
Ben
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Last Active 01-01-70 12:00 am
Joined 01-01-70

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 Lists
04.05.24 sleeplog24(4)03.19.24 Headphones? Headphones!!! ♦
03.03.24 sleeplog24(3)02.01.24 sleeplog24(2)
01.18.24 Rating Art Is Dumb01.14.24 Good Music Books?
01.02.24 sleeplog24(1)12.30.23 a sleepy 2023 ♦
11.26.23 rec me: YOU!!! (December 2023: Final Ch ♦10.31.23 REC ME: pOst-hardcOre (November 2023: C ♦
10.01.23 REC ME: WEED šŸ„¦ (October 2023: Chapte ♦09.09.23 CUM on REC me NOISE (September 2023: Ch ♦
07.30.23 REC ME: experiMENTAL (August 2023: Chap ♦07.02.23 FUNK ME: rec (July 2023: Chapter 7) ♦
06.01.23 REC ME: FOLK (June 2023: Chapter 6) ♦05.01.23 JohnnyoftheWell recs me (May 2023: Chap ♦
03.31.23 REC ME: BLACK METAL ā€  (April 2023: Ch ♦02.28.23 REC ME: [H I P H O P] (March 2023 -:- C ♦
More »

FUNK ME: rec (July 2023: Chapter 7)

Hi. My name is Ben. I know nothing about FUNK. To educate me, pls rec albums. I will listen to 1 album a day in July 2023. I will then describe the album that I have heard in this list. Kind regards, Ben
1Mr. Bungle
California

1st July 2023: DAY OFF
2Mr. Bungle
California

2nd July 2023: DAY OFF
3Mr. Bungle
California

3rd July 2023: DAY OFF
4Mr. Bungle
California

4th July 2023: DAY OFF
5Mr. Bungle
California

5th July 2023: DAY OFF
6Parliament
Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome

6th July 2023 [ARS]

I have identified a problem. Usually with these rec a day lists i jam the album a couple of times on my commute and/or at work. This is somewhat challenging when the album mandates that you boogie along with it. I got some strange looks on the train, and stranger looks at the office, bopping along to this.

The silver lining: this fucking funks. Smile-inducing big fun time music. Seem to be layers to the thematics and melodic flourishes that I have not had time to digest because I have been enamoured by the g r o o v e. Easy [4] ground zero for the genre I feel well equipped and hungry
7Funkadelic
Cosmic Slop

7th July 2023 [a smol spicy pepper]

The second half of the 70s funk powerhouse do be sounding more proggy floyd and the bois vibes on here: moodier, less cheese, more cake (of weed), slow blaze rather than roaring funky fire. Feels like it has a lot more replay value: these aren't just bangers, they have layers, w/ far more overt songwriting decisions as opposed to the near improvisational vibe of 6 (which i like, but in a more visceral wiggle boogie way as opposed to the 'damn i could actually listen to this intently for a very long time' vibes of this. Having said that, it's a much more chaotic listen - some of these songs/passages don't marry up and i kinda fuk with that - free flowing squiggly vibes. Production is just immaculate at displaying all the joyous lil purple and green details in 7D. i apparently 3'd Maggot Brain in 2017 & remember nothing about it & feel like i need to revisit. [4]
8Tower of Power
Tower of Power

8th July 2023 [a man and some tea]

Opener is a 5. Love the brass love the vox love the FUNK very boogie-able I made espresso whilst wiggling away to this. Surprisingly, I prefer the afrofuturism of 6 and 7, lyrically - I found it cheese on some of the jazz and electronic LPs itā€™s come up on, but tbh I much prefer it in a funk context, and even more so over the eek dated literalism on here at points. Songs bop away all the same, and I love the intersection this finds between funk, jazz and ig soul, which I think is where these guys started their sound? The mix is generally good, though some tracks are a lot quieter than others (is that just Spotify?), which is irritating. Mostly love. [3.7]

Update (09.07.23): bumping down because [3.5]
9Herbie Hancock
Thrust

9th July 2023 [Hyp]

Cool funkier follow up to Head Hunters (imagine releasing that and then this in consecutive years jfc what a legend). Great bops, very uh musical, not as good as 73ā€™ release but I still boogied my good sir I boogied (and do love the jazzier sections on this, nice breather from the uncut funk). I would write more words but itā€™s half 11 and I have work tomorrow [3.7].

Update (13.01.24): [4]
10Sly and The Family Stone
Stand!

10th July 2023 [more sloth]

Party music for revolution. Revolution music for parties. Excellent album, varied, love the elongated jam of Sex Machine, the lyrics are obviously *mwah* (the opening 1-2 and Everyday People in particular are yaaaaaas, particularly the pseudo-nursery-rhyme vox on the latter), and the delivery by Sly and co is just as good. Suited to dance floor boogies, background vibes for dinner and headphones-on cosy listen time. Similar vibes to 8, but way less family friendly and far grittier which I love. Big hugs, I like, will check Riot too. [4] probably higher the vocal performances throughout are just so damn charming
11Manu Dibango
Soul Makossa

11th July 2023 [ffs]

Okay this is a bit magical but not quite sure what to do with it uh. Funky purples come as standard, with some afrobeat adjacent things, and am told proto-disco, but also kind presents as minimalist jazz with some psych influences. All of which equals COOL album, but am still searching for the perfect setting for it. A bit unwieldy and subtle for a commute or work listen or gaming jam. Probably good dinner music, probably good sit down and shut up music, but havenā€™t had the time for that yet. [tbc]

Update (30.07.23): On reflection, this is so unique and well put together in a way that deserves a lot more love than it currently receives here. Immaculate funk front to back with superb sax licks throughout. Less is more vibes. [4]
12Louis Cole
Time

12th July 2023 [pot]

Has an aloof sadness to it that I was not expecting fuck. 3am jams, traffic lights flickering off tinted car window with droplets, fractal, moody in a brittle rainbow kinda way, happy and not; and then a Hard Funk freight train careens through the soft pop hug bunnies and am confused. Idiosyncratic. bill wurtz mildly memey vibes. Lyrical nuggets of cold gold on Things and Trying Not to Die and heck Phone is a very pretty song. Immaculate palate cleanser. Dude knows his drums, too. [4]

Update (28.07.23): Bump [4.3]. The low points of this are mostly still great, but the HIGHS holy SHIT trying not to die through to night is absurd, as are weird part of the night and phone and the FUNK of real life and freaky times my GOD itā€™s the sauce.
13Betty Davis
They Say I'm Different

13th July 2023 [DAD]

One of the most charismatic and powerful vocal performances Iā€™ve heard in a hot minute (early RATM influence maybe idk my lord does she screm) but also very much not my tempo gosh is it hot in here I heard we are a fan of the sex, yes? Lives and dies by whether you are interested in that v i b e and Iā€™m not sure that I am (tho obvs accepting that the whole musical spectrum shouldnā€™t cater to my particular brand of sad white boy and that that is more than okay, but that how far removed this is from my autistic af personality that hates all social interaction up to and including the dance with no pants that it necessarily hampers any sense of personal connection - again, not mandatory for enjoyment of music, but something that Iā€™m oddly struggling with here, where the expression is so unsubtle). Feel educated for having heard it - clearly a FUNK milestone and underrepped artist/LP - but also feel like Iā€™m unlikely to voluntarily listen to this again. [3] rip
14William Onyeabor
Atomic Bomb

14th July 2023 [ryus]

It is my birthday and I have had a monster day at work so have not had the time to listen to this rip. I have however heard the opener which is adorable. I have a feeling this will be big hugs. [tbc]

Update (15.07.23): Very and now for something completely different moment rn. Cute, cyclical, proudly DIY, spacey float away on a pillow of recording equipment vibe. Unexpected spin on afrobeat, good lyrics included as standard, for Kuti fans. [3.7]

My 2000th rating.
15Rick James
Street Songs

15th July 2023 [deez]

Fun funky hybrid Motown with the bois yes. Vox on Fire And Desire are something gosh, love the baseline on Super Freak unexpected MC Hammer ref point, not huge on this vocal-forward limb of the genre but clearly a big character w/ influencees that I needed to spend some time with. Various allegations of torture, kindnapping and rape leave sour taste but are worryingly easily pushed to back of mind via soulful bops. [3.5]
16The S.O.S. Band
Just the Way You Like It

16th July 2023 [sona]

Aww. Soft cuddly hugs is this. Romantic rather than randy, which is more my tempo. Calm, airy production - no hard funk here, but R&B curves and jazzy intervals. Family friendly but in a non-cheese-filled way. Needs more ratings that are not 1s. [3.5]
17Funkadelic
One Nation Under a Groove

17th July 2023 [porc]

Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The DooDoo Chasers) is probably the best song name. Of all of the songs. Ever. Album is less subtle and more branching than 7, definitely doubles down on the electro funk rock oriented direction w/ more pop sensibilities, but even then theyā€™re still baking with 12 minute tracks and ridiculous lyrics and solos. Danced all the way through cooking dinner to this. Big ups. [4]
18James Brown
The Payback

18th July 2023 [Sharenge]

Heck loads going on someone hold my beer while I mull. [tbc]

Update (20.07.23): So, Iā€™ve mulled. Still exhausted by this album. Too much funk? Maybe. The hypnotic, relatively minimalist sound does not play well, to my ears, on a 70min plus album. I get lost, and not in the pleasant escapism way, just lost. Plus side: Jamesā€™ voice is obvs ridiculous and iconic and spectacular and The Payback will be joining many a playlist. Second plus side: I actually still love the instrumentation - v pure funk with soul/jazz frills. Itā€™s just a bit m u c h. [3.5]

Update (22.07.23): Grows off me the more I reflect on it. [3]
19Saint Pepsi
Hit Vibes

19th July 2023 [dedex]

Woof lovely breath de la fresh de la air. Vapourware? Not a genre I know, either, but this is nice! Thicc, soupy, lightning in a bottle tunes, big BASS, very pink and glossy and snappy, blissfully so after 18. Depth question mark question mark idk if itā€™s got staying power but rn Iā€™m a fan. [3.5]
20Slave
Slave

20th July 2023 [widow]

Most m/ rec so far good god the solos on this are S E X and the production on the bass is Y E S. Needs way more ratings check this now now now full on beefy funks with a great eye for melody weaved between some huge grooves. One of the best recs so far. [4]
21Black Merda
Black Merda

21st July 2023 [norma]

Another underrated gem. Straight 70s rock, kinda Hendrix-ish but far more clean cut. Some chunky funky-ness, but actually the progressive lyrics and heartfelt delivery of the whole thing are there good vibes are to be found. [4]
22The Funkees
Now I'm A Man

22nd July 2023 [rabid]

Oddly indifferent towards this and idk why. Banging, authentic Nigerian Afrobeat with funkrock edges and a great vibe, but kinda goes in one ear out the other. Feel like I need to jam some grind or death metal or something to reset and recoup from the FUNK. [3] for now will return to with gusto
23Little Richard
The Rill Thing

23rd July 2023 [MoM]

...orrrrrr just listen to some straight 50s rock and roll holy heck lol this aint funk, is it? Bangs tho. Little Richard's voice is everything. Songs are otherwise very nice ! ! !, but rarely more than nice. The 10 min instrumental track = clear example of why you really need a jazz drummer and, uh, TRUMPETS to pull off that kind of thing - think it would actually have worked quite well split into 3 mini jams and slotted as interludes throughout the more usual 12 bar blues tings, but i digress. A fun time. Still need to check his classic first 2 albums, tho will continue to bang tutti frutti in the interim. [3.3]
24Zutomayo
Hisohiso banashi (ę½œę½œč©±)

24th July 2023 [jonathan]

The conduit/cause/cure for ADHD all in one. Very frantic, machine piano keys and machine gun vox and machine gun machine guns everywhere. Shiny contemporary vibes contrary to the old school sweaty swag of most of this list. Initial listen was HATE as was at work and couldnā€™t focus with this neon pastel explosion on in the background but second listen proved much nicer. Funk in the loosest sense Jonathan just because this has BASS doesnā€™t mean you get away without a mild scolding. [3.7]
25Ohio Players
Fire

25th July 2023 [ARS2]

Yo metal as fuck what I love these funky blusey hard rock adjacent solos. Then it goes U-TURN into soft melody-forward soul vibes which am big love on. Lyrics are great, I Want To Be Free in particular has a wonderfully elegant simplicity to it that hits home. Probs a [3.7] but Bonus Points for actually rec-ing a funk record on a funk list. [4]
26Fela Kuti
Zombie

26th July 2023 [dedex2]

Title track is easily one of my favourite songs of the whole list: absurd swing groove with lavish jazz overtones and brilliant lyrics / venomous delivery. Rest of the LP (I.e the second track lol) isnā€™t as good, but still great. Kinda discounting the 2 bonus tracks somewhat, but they were also both enjoyable. My fave of the 2 Kuti records Iā€™ve sampled so far. [4]
27The Meters
The Meters

27th July 2023 [jonathan2]

V much feels like the guitar playerā€™s funk album and, uh, I canā€™t play guitar. I mean, I own two, but to call what I do to them playing would be incorrect. Joyously laid back reserved and an all around chill time, yet also kinda in one ear out the other. Suffers the burden of being a late month LP; suspect would have performed better near the start. [3]
28Shuggie Otis
Inspiration Information

28th July 2023 [rabid2]

Heard this like 5 times in one day and still am having trouble fitting all the pieces together. Loads of great ideas throughout - well conceived funky bluesy rock with some jazz elements and a whole lot of style and insane musicianship. The way itā€™s constructed is bizarre tho, the smattering of 2 min ish instrumental pieces between songs-proper, often multiple in a row. Itā€™s cool! Itā€™s just somewhat detrimental to cohesion and a clear character, particularly when willing to jump between so many flavours. Ima need a sec with this, but currently [3.7]
29Sun Ra
Strange Celestial Road

29th July 2023 [porc2]

PORC my person you sure do be getting me into Sun Ra, slowly but surely. Fresh whiff of jazz back in this list with a sublime opening two tracks - easy listening not oppressive melody work that even a jazz numpty like me can keep up with, with some gritty murky electronic flourishes, and the afrofuturism lands a lot better this time around vs. Liquidity and Discipline 27-II (an entire month of FUNK may have got me accustomed to that vibe lol). The closer ///just/// tips this over the edge for me; too avant-garde for my current inclinations, but I'm getting there. Feels like album comes full circle into disintegration of the ideas it started with, and that's cool, but still aches my smol brain. [3.7] porc ima revisit liquidity i feel like it needs the 4 treatment
30Lee Dorsey
Yes We Can

30th July 2023 [widow2]

Great rock/blues tinged 2-3 min singalong bangers in a similar lane to 23, albeit probably better. Nothing particularly earth shattering in any direction, tho tbf I've largely had this on in the background to general Sunday life admin, so perhaps a somewhat incomplete assessment. [3.3] will continue to boogie to.
31Aurra
Send Your Love

31st July 2023 [Drifter, saved from the gates of heck by Ars]

Befittingly this is exactly what I thought funk was before I started this list: more pop/disco focused and vox forward with titanic grooves. Potentially best bass licks on the entire list, head snapping and THICC and punchy. Everything else is purposely filed down for dancefloor appeal, but mostly still slaps. Apparently this has close ties with Slave, which I can see with hindsight; for fans of them. Worst album art of the list but actually fire LP. [3.5]
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