591. Sign O' the Times

Sign O' the Times
Prince
1987

Tracks
1. Sign 'O' the Times
2. Play in the Sunshine
3. Housequake
4. Ballad of Dorothy Parker
5. It
6. Starfish and Coffee
7. Slow Love
8. Hot Thing
9. Forever in My Life
10. U Got the Look
11. If I Was Your Girlfriend
12. Strange Relationship
13. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
14. Cross
15. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
16. Adore

I have been unappreciative of Prince in the past, because I hate his Wilhelm scream and atrocious grammar. But then I saw that there was a song on this album called "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker" and was thrilled. Unfortunately, Prince actually had no idea who she was, and just liked the sound of the name. His Dorothy Parker is a waitress with a sharp wit. Man, he was really in tantalizingly close reach of the point.

So can I still like this album, despite what a letdown that was? Of course, but I will grumpy about it. I loved the instrumentals of this album, but Prince still had a tendency to have "episodes" of nonsensically vocal runs that get on my nerves. And I really don't think this had to be a whopping 80 minutes long. 

There will some good tracks on this album, but I'm still not a fan and will not be attending any of his hologram's shows, thank you very much. 

RATING: 3/5

538. Purple Rain

Purple Rain
Prince
1984

Tracks
1. Let's Go Crazy 
2. Take Me With U 
3. Beautiful Ones 
4. Computer Blue 
5. Darling Nikki 
6. When Doves Cry 
7. I Would Die 4 U 
8. Baby I'm A Star 
9. Purple Rain

I have never seen Purple Rain and after listening to "Darling Nikki" I'm not sure I want to. But this album on its own is quite good, even if I still don't fully grasp the allure of Prince.

It's a bit amusing that Justin Timberlake performed "I Would Die 4 U" as a tribute to Prince during the Super Bowl when Prince had pretty much said the notion of forcing yourself on dead musicians disgusted him.  Poor misunderstood Prince.

Anyway, a smart, catchy album, but I will happily avoid seeing this man's acting chops. 

RATING: 4/5

450. Off the Wall

Off the Wall
Michael Jackson
1979

Tracks
1. Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
2. Rock With You
3. Working Day And Night
4. Get On The Floor
5. Off The Wall
6. Girlfriend
7. She's Out Of My Life
8. I Can't Help It
9. It's The Falling In Love
10. Burn This Disco Out

Michael Jackson always creeped me out, but this feeling has been amplified ever since I saw footage of the 1996 Brit Awards.  I still think it is a bit weird that our society continues to worship a child molester, but I suppose Off The Wall wasn't too bad.  It was also wasn't spectacular, so it is quite confusing why people refuse to let this guy go.

I was most familiar with the song "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" which is annoyingly catchy; I haven't been able to get it out of my head since I listened to this.  His vocals never impressed me either.  I always wished he was more authentic instead of relying on the strange noises he can make with his mouth.  I have been trying to come up with an onomatopoeia for them.  Would "tsch" be accurate?

I suppose this is fun music to dance to, but I don't think it is worth the feeling of ickiness that comes with anything Michael Jackson.

RATING: 3/5

410. One Nation Under a Groove

One Nation Under a Groove
Funkadelic
1978

Tracks
1. One Nation Under a Groove
2. Groovallegiance
3. Who Says A Funk Band Can't Play Rock
4. Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)
5. Into You
6. Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll)

Oh Funkadelic.  I was almost going to give this album a good review.  I was going to write about how scared I was about funk music and how their music made me see the light blah blah blah.  Then "Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad" came on, bumping this album from a 4 star to a 2 star rating.  And I am being generous.

I wish one song didn't ruin an entire album for me so much.  After all, the other songs were  quite enjoyable.  "One Nation Under a Groove" actually wasn't as corny as I thought it would be and "Into You" was surprisingly sweet.  So why did they have to ruin it for that song?  For those of you can't infer anything to save your lives, "Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad" is gratuitous scatological song that sounds like it was taken off the "Gargantua and Pantagruel: The Musical" soundtrack.

Surprisingly enough, I played this album while my sister and I were working and she enjoyed it.  She never enjoys any of these albums.  I don't think she was really listening to the lyrics and I didn't have the heart to enlighten her on their meaning.  It was a decent album; it's a pity that one song shit all over it.

RATING: 2/5

361. Mothership Connection

Mothership Connection
Parliament
1976

Tracks
1. P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) 
2. Mothership Connection (Starchild) 
3. Unfunky UFO 
4. Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication 
5. Handcuffs 
6. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) 
7. Night Of The Thumpasorus People

I apologize for not posting in awhile.  It was partly due to personal stuff that I don't want to whine about here, but mostly due to the fact that listening to an album with a song called "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication" on it didn't make it high on my to do list.  

This album really has nothing to offer but quintessential funk.  There is absolutely original in this album, which is perfectly fine if you are a funk fan.  I, however, am not and after five minutes of "Give Up The Funk" which essentially repeats the same verse over and over again, I was ready toss my laptop out of the conveniently open window next to me.

I simply don't like funk that much, so I was set against this album from the beginning.  However, I will not entirely excuse this album since I think great music transcends genres.  And believe me, there was nothing great about this album.

RATING: 2/5

358. Africa/Brasil

Africa/Brasil
Jorge Ben
1976

Tracks
1. Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma)
2. Hermes Trimegisto Escreveu
3. O Filósofo
4. Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro
5. O Plebeu
6. Taj Mahal
7. Xica da Silva
8. História de Jorge
9. Camisa 10 da Gávea
10. Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado
11. África Brasil (Zumbi)

I really trying hard to stick to my resolution of posting at least once a week, so I managed to squeeze this one in amidst the sea of paper work that I am attempting to wade through.  This will probably change come summer time, since I getting surgery that will bind me to my bed for a couple months.  I will try to post daily during that happy time.  Until then, we must content ourselves with rather sparse postings.

I really expected to not like this album.  I think my favorite part of listening to music is analyzing lyrics (which incidentally is why I can't stand the symphony).  However, since I don't speak Portuguese and can't seem to find a decent translation of these songs, I did not have high expectations for Jorge Ben (through no fault of his own I should add).

As often happens, though, I was pleasantly surprised.  Jorge Ben's songs are really catchy (The Book says insanely catchy; I think they need to take it easy a bit), particularly "O Plebeu".  It is just a reminder of how internationally appealing music is (wow, that sounds cheesy; also, how many times can I use parentheses in one post?).

Still, I haven't changed completely and would really appreciate it if someone left a link to a translation of the lyrics that I could obsess over.  Thanks!

RATING: 3/5

348. There's No Place Like America Today

There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
1975

Tracks
1. Billy Jack
2. When Seasons Change
3. So In Love
4. Jesus
5. Blue Monday People
6. Hard Times
7. Love To The People

Continuing with the funk trend we have had lately, here we have a Curtis Mayfield album.  For those of you that don't know who Curtis is, he did the Superfly soundtrack.  Anyone remember that movie?  Or are we all just trying to forget that genre in general?  I would be fine with either answer.

Funk isn't my favorite genre to begin with, but there was something about Mayfield's album that I just didn't like.  I felt like he was trying to be Marvin Gaye but falling seriously short, both lyrically and musically.

I am probably being too harsh with Curtis Mayfield but I think I am getting sick of the never ending funk especially when there seems to be no variation.

RATING: 2/5

347. That's The Way Of The World

That's The Way of The World
Earth, Wind, and Fire
1975

Tracks
1. Shining Star
2. That's The Way Of The World
3. Happy Feelin'
4. All About Love
5. Yearnin' Learnin'
6. Reasons
7. Africano
8. See The Light

I really hoped to do a bunch of albums during the holidays but I had so much work to do that it just did not happen.  Also, I was around my family a lot and I didn't want to subject them to potentially terrible music (it really is a dice roll every time I try a new one).  Oh well. We will try again with the Christmas holidays.

I had heard of this band before but couldn't tell you anything about it except maybe "didn't they mention it in the movie Hitch?".  However, I did recognize a few of the songs (I think everyone has heard "Shining Star") and was really pleased with the ones I didn't know.

This is simply a fun funk album, which I can see dancing to (or flailing around to in my case).  Of course, there is not much lyrical depth but I wasn't really looking for any.  We get some great saxophone solos, as well.

So it gets kind of old fast but it was still a fun pick.

RATING: 3/5

You, my reader, are a shining star!  Ugh, don't hate me too much for that one:

304. Inspiration Information

Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
1974

Tracks
1. Inspiration Information
2. Island Letter
3. Sparkle City
4. Aht Uh Mi Hed
5. Happy House
6. Rainy Day
7. XL-30
8. Pling!
9. Not Available

All right, first of all: who the hell has heard of Shuggie Otis?  This is one of those picks from the list that will no doubt fuel my dad's opinion that this list is incredibly pretentious since I guess this guy was never popular to the masses.  At least we have avoided disco so far, that is all I have to say.

Anyway, I think the reason this album is so obscure is just because it is so…meh.  There is some mildly interesting psychedelic funk in this album but, come on Shuggie, get with the program.  This is no longer 1967.

Not astonishing, not awful.  Will most likely forget about it in two to three weeks.

RATING: 3/5

268. The World Is A Ghetto

The World Is A Ghetto
War
1972

Tracks

1. Cisco Kid
2. Where Was You At
3. City, Country, City 
4. Four Cornered Room
5. World Is a Ghetto 
6. Beetles in the Bog 

I really had no idea what to expect with this album, mostly because I have never heard of the album or the band.  And honestly, I am pretty sure I will forget about this album rather quickly.  Another funk album that is against things that generally everyone is against (or at least will say they are against): war, poverty, and urban decay.

I felt the same way when I had to listen to album after album about how the Vietnam War was bad.  I am not saying that their opinions don't have merit; it just gets boring after awhile.  I suppose it would have been exciting if I was living in that era, but as a nineties baby, it is just redundant.

In any case, this album as a few catchy songs like "Cisco Kid" but overall it is just...meh.

RATING: 2/5

266. All Directions

All Directions
The Temptations
1972

Tracks
1. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On
2. Run Charlie Run
3. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
4. Love Woke Me Up This Morning
5. I Ain't Got Nothn'
6. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
7. Mother Nature
8. Do Your Thing

All right, so I was anticipating some nice harmonies in the same vein as "My Girl" with this album.  I certainly was not expecting this.  The Temptations get funky!  Just look out how funky the purple pantsuit is on the cover!

You can tell you are going to get some serious funk with the first track.  However, the album progresses into something more.  "Run Charlie Run", for instance, is a song about how white people ran to the suburbs when African Americans started populating the cities.  I never thought that the Temptations would be political.  I mean, does this look political to you?

Even though there is a definite shift in the tone of this album, The Temptations keep their old harmonic charm.  A pleasant surprise.

RATING: 4/5

231. Maggot Brain

Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
1971

Tracks
1. Maggot Brain
2. Can You Get to That
3. Hit It and Quit It
4. You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks
5. Super Stupid
6. Back in Our Minds
7. Wars of Armageddon


I tried not to judge this album too harshly before listening to it.  I mean, if you are not supposed to judge a book from its cover I figure the same thing applies to albums.  I also tried to not think too hard about the name of the album and how disgusting it truly is.  I really did not succeed in either area.

However, I read so much about how absolutely amazing the title track was that I was indeed intrigued.  Apparently George Clinton (who sounds like an absolute lunatic) told the guitarist to play like his mother just died and then as if you found out she was alive.


First off, I have to say I found this album jarring.  There were such sweet songwriters and singers before this on the list that I was lulled into an innocent serenity.  And then we just had to get funky.  Damn kids with their noise.


Anyway, I am not a huge guitar solo fan.  I have a guitar that I think my sister gave me when she got sick of it.  I never got rid of it because I figured if I started to play it I would look like this:

No luck so far.  The point is I was not able to appreciate the first track like everyone seems to think you should.  This whole album was way too funky for my taste.  Simply not my genre of choice.

RATING: 2/5

207. There's A Riot Goin' On

There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly and the Family Stone
1971

Tracks
1. Luv 'n' Haight
2. Just Like A Baby
3. Poet
4. Family Affair
5. Africa Talks To You 'The Asphalt Jungle'
6. There's A Riot Goin' On
7. Brave And Strong
8. You Caught Me Smilin'
9. Time
10. Spaced Cowboy
11. Running Away
12. Thank You For Talkin' To Me Africa


Now that was super funky.  I actually think it exceeded my funk limit.  As a huge nerd, I don't really have a huge capacity for this level of coolness.


This album differs from Sly's earlier work because it is a lot more political.  The book says that album was made as an outlet for Sly's frustration on how the civil rights movement was going.  You can tell just from the track titles that he is really trying to get a pro equality message across.


This album was particularly bad (except for the slightly annoying repetitive guitar notes) but it definitely wasn't as good as the first one.  I just feel like it lost some of its punch which is ironic, since this is a much more politically driven than the previous one.

RATING: 3/5

165. Hot Buttered Soul

Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
1969

Tracks
1. Walk On By
2. Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
3. One Woman
4. By The Time I Get To Phoenix


Amanda: I have been really bad about doing these albums lately.  I always notice that blogs that haven't been updated since like 2010 usually have their later posts say things like "I haven't been good about writing lately" and then you never hear from them again.  I promise you, though, I am going to see this through to the end.


All right, elephant in the room; we all thinking about it.  SHAFT!

Good, we got that out of the way.  This is one sexy album.  I mean, look at the title.  I actually enjoyed it, though I may just be prejudice because I like Shaft so much.  Listen to it if you want to be really coooooolllll (said in slow dj voice).

RATING: 4/5

160. Stand!

Stand!
Sly and the Family Stone
1969

Tracks
1. Stand!
2. Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey
3. I Want To Take You Higher
4. Somebody's Watching You
5. Sing A Simple Song
6. Everyday People
7. Sex Machine
8. You Can Make It If You Try


Amanda: So I am running around doing work like a maniac to try to get things together because I am going out of town tomorrow.  Excuse me if this post is a little rushed.


This album is probably the funkiest one we have had so far.  Some of the songs sounded vaguely familiar, especially "Everyday People" but I couldn't place where I had heard them.  Other songs just got on my nerves.  "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey" didn't annoy me for its message but for its stuck-in-headable tune.  Not something you want to be singing to yourself as you walk around.  Interesting, but nothing something that I would return to.

RATING: 3/5

159. Cloud Nine

Cloud Nine
The Temptations
1969

Tracks
1. Cloud 9
2. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
3. Runaway Child Running Wild
4. Love Is A Hurtin' Thing
5. Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)
6. Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go)
7. I Need Your Lovin'
8. Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me
9. I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back)
10. Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love


Amanda: I think I said this earlier but I am going to reiterate.  Although I like learning about new bands, it is nice to see some familiar faces.  I grew up with The Temptations; the song "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" in particular.  This album was actually a lot funkier that what I was used to; at least, the first two tracks were.  I loved "Cloud Nine" and loved the band for doing something different.  I think it was interesting that they were transitioning into more funk, since we are going into the 70s which, as everyone knows, is clearly the funkiest decade.  I am getting excited!

RATING: 4/5