Great Albums by Great Artists (supposedly) past their peak
The Albums
George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars: Dope Dogs (1998) This is the album I was listening to when I thought of this blog topic. This album starts off with the monstrous "Dog Star (Fly On)" which is absolutely the best thing Mr. Clinton has done since the Funkadelic days. Darryl "Blackbyrd" McKnight just wails on the guitar. This is 8:11 of pure brilliance. And while the album can't maintain that level [aside: what the fuck can???? A. Nothing at all rabbit] it is still Clinton's best solo stuff. George sticks to the concept of dogs, drugs and dogs on drugs and it seems to keep the album more focused than most of George's solo stuff...which usually have a combination of brilliance, insanity, dreck and so-so stuff. This album is much more consistent. I love "Pepe (The Pill Popper)" and "U.S Custom Coast Guard Dope Dog" as well.
P.S. I saw George Clinton in concert in 2004 and he was incredible.
Frank Zappa: You Are What You Is (1981) Most people think that Frank's best days were with the Mothers, and after that was a bunch of mediocrity. It's too simplistic to say nothing matched The Mothers, but FZ did release a lot of blah stuff after The Mothers. [aside: Tinseltown Rebellion (1981) and Man From Utopia (1983) both blow some bad shit...and not in a good way] This album, though, is one of my all-time fav FZ releases. Every time I listen to it, I get wrapped up in it. It moves from song to song without any let up. There are concepts tying some of the songs together, and FZ lets his guitar do a lot of the talking, and the lyrics are pretty strong - definitely stronger than usual. I like the production as well. FZ was releasing 10 million albums a year at this time, but none matched the strength of this album...the closest being Joe's Garage Act 1 (1979). If you think FZ went downhill after The Mothers, check this one out.
Gong: Acid Motherhood (2004) Gong were relevant in the 70s, but after that...come on! Well, come on yourself, Daevid Allen started bouncing back with his band University of Errors, and this collaboration with Acid Mothers Temple is mind blowing. Absolutely takes you to the outer world, and let's hope that the Acid Mothers Gong experience will continue. And that cover!! I mean...that ain't selling out!
Allman Brothers Band: Hittin' The Note (2003) Yeh, the Allmans could still rock on stage (I saw them on one of those PBS concert shows, and they were great), but who expected a strong studio album from them? Well, this album rocked!! It starts off fast with the great "Firing Line" and "High Cost of Low Living" and just doesn't let up. Even The Stones cover of "Heart of Stone" is great. Gregg is in strong voice and the guitar playing from Warren Hayes and Derek Trucks is incredible!!! I mean...filling the shoes of the ghost of Duane Allman and Dickey Betts would be impossible...but these guys come close. Do not pass this album by if you're a fan.
Eric Burdon: Soul of a Man (2006) Whenever I've played this, The Guru always asks (jokingly) what Van Morrison album it is...and that's not inaccurate. The quality is very high, and Eric is in great voice on a bunch of rockin' blues songs. Who'd have thought that at 65, Eric would come out with something so strong???
What Others Say
Dope Dogs: Robert Fucking Christgau gave this one **** in Rolling Stone, and he ain't blowin' smoke up your ass. All-Music ***1/2 Rate Your Music 3.42....I'll go with Christgau on this one, just a tad higher, let's give it ****1/2...."Dog Star (Fly On)" would rate ***** on it's own.
You Are What You Is: All-Music **** Rate Your Music 3.79 prog archives 3.88 pretty consistent ratings. I'd give it maybe a ****1/2
Acid Motherhood: All-Music ****1/2 Rate Your Music 3.18 prog archives 4.00 I don't understand the low rating in RYM...puzzling. I'm with all-music on this one. I may even go all the way and give it *****....what the fuck???
Hittin' the Note: All-Music ****1/2 Rate Your Music 3.79 deservedly high ratings. I'd go with ****
Soul of a Man: All-Music ***1/2 Rate Your Music 3.89 close enough...I'd give it ****
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OK...what the fuck is wrong with AllMusic???? I mean, the site is great, but it's slow as molasses lately, and ends up tying up my whole computer. I know they had malware issues, but how long will this go on???
Ranting finished.
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