Thursday, August 9, 2012

#552 Sly and the Family Stone - Life

Working back through the catalog, this was Stand!'s precursor and in a similar vein, with similar cmon vcals and skittery beats. The main difference is that this is more overtly psychedelic, more straightforward rock in terms of its guitar sound, with less of the funk jangle that would come up later and less of the extravagant, adventurous spirit (though Jane's a Groupie hints at some of the darker sides to come).

Things are a bit more frivolous, as the band finds the groove they would ride for a remarkably solid 4-album run. Many of the more upbeat songs have a sameyness not normally associated with the band: Chicken and I'm an Animal in particular tread to much of the same (mostly annoying) territory.

Still, its a bizarre, rollicking hybrid of an album and a worthy entry into the Sly and the Family Stone legacy 4/5

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