It's the first Parliament album in four years, and although not much is different from their debut LP, Up For The Down Stroke makes songwriting improvements that saw the group on an upward trajectory. The longer songs are still really solid, but it's the improvement heard in the shorter numbers that bring things up a notch here. The material is much catchier and more vibrant than before, and it's clear they'd been talking cues from their brethren at Funkadelic in this regard. In terms of memorable moments, the opener/title-track is a clear highlight, and the sprawling "The Goose" is quite lovely as well. The best song comes in the form of "I Just Got Back", with a beautiful bass line setting up a contemplative and introspective song that doesn't shirk its responsibility in the catchiness department. It's an album important to the group's development, and although they'd surely top it a few times over, it is definitely worth a spin.
Bump |
