Album: Maggot Brain
Artist: Funkadelic
Release Date: July 12, 1971
Genre: Funk Rock
Length: 0:36:56
Label: Westbound Records
Producer: George Clinton
Rolling Stone Top 500 (2012): #479
Rolling Stone Top 500 (2020): #136
1,001 Album Book: Yes
Organized chaos never sounded so funky...
Funk group, Funkadelic, led and produced by George Clinton with their third studio record. Releasing with both positive and negative criticism, Maggot Brain eventually went on to top the Billboard Top R&B albums at #14.
The title track, "Maggot Brain" opens with a monologue by George Clinton and is followed by a lengthy, yet emotional guitar solo performed by Eddie Hazel. George Clinton apparently told Hazel, while they were both tripping on LSD, to imagine that his mother passed away and then found out that it wasn't the truth, and to now perform with those emotions. The combination of the drug and the imagined situation created this song and thus birthing this legendary, one-take, guitar solo.
Following the introductory face-melting solo of "Maggot Brain", the second track on the album "Can You Get to That" gives the listener a completely different sound. Incorporating a bluegrass-like feel with the guitar, the powerful shots of the snare drum and the choir make the song one of the most popular on the album. The seemingly infinite voices in this song keep each second of the nearly three minute jam, exciting. From the highest of highs, to the deepest drop downs, this song has one of the most interesting vocal performances of the entire album.
Contrary to the more "funky" group, Parliament, also led by George Clinton, Funkadelic incorporates a more rock groove to the funk undertones. This is heavily shown during "Hit It and Quit It". More intense drum patterns, a more distorted guitar performance, and an angrier lead vocal part, all while keeping the funky bass, organ and background vocalists is extremely impressive to flawlessly combine two different genres so smoothly.
The B-Side of Maggot Brain definitely takes a dip in quality based on the greatness of the A-Side but is still far from being mediocre. Keeping up with the experimental features of the first half, songs like "Back in Our Minds" feature a flexatone, and "Wars of Armageddon" include muted brass instruments and many other uncommon sounds. The rhythmic patterns performed throughout the album are complex while still keeping up with a feel that moves the song forward and magically strays away from sounding messy.
Nearly fifteen artists contributed to this record, the majority of them being vocalists. With such a large group, the production for Maggot Brain is flawless. Every single different vocalist and every instrument part, no matter how large or small, are all crystal clear and will bless your eardrums. George Clinton is easily one of the most talented musicians the world has seen and Maggot Brain showcases his talent as not only a musician but as a producer as well.
An amazing psychedelic funk-rock record, Maggot Brain is easily one of the coolest records I've been fortunate to listen to. From the multitude of sounds, each as deliberate as it is chaotic, the endless number of vocal styles and tones, and the infinite surprises throughout make each song notoriously George Clinton in every way possible. From the opening ballad feel of "Maggot Brain" to the disorder of "Wars of Armageddon", each song is amazing in its own right and deserves to be listened to again, and again, and again, and again, and aga...
Favorite Songs: "Can You Get to That", "Hit It and Quit It", "Super Stupid", "Maggot Brain"
Least Favorite Song: "Wars of Armageddon" (Far from bad, but very chaotic to listen to often)
Production Quality:
Mix = 10/10
Innovation = 10/10
Songwriting Quality:
Arrangement = 10/10
Lyricism = 5/10 (not many meaningful lyrics, most of the focus was definitely on the instruments)
Instrumentation Quality:
Vocal Timbre = 10/10
Instrumental Timbre = 10/10
Group Chemistry = 10/10
Overall Likability:
My Personal Rating = 9/10
Overall Rating: 9.3/10
Any confusion on how the rating is weighted/calculated, please look at my "About" page.
Remember this is all my opinion! Let me know if you agree, disagree or have any comments!