Customer Reviews

To Put It Bluntly

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fishbone's Dirty Walt Kibby keeps it real on his solo debut ... no gimmicks, no "catches", no "angles" to get this music sold or on the radio, just real funk music like they used to make it back in the day. Think Funkadelic, for starters. If you don't like dirty funk, don't buy this record. But if you do .....

One of the things that has always made Fishbone great is how they meld so many styles of music together ... different members have different interests, and that has been reflected in their music. But in Dirty Walt's case, it all starts and ends with the funk, and that's what he delivers here, no more and no less.

Most if not all of the tracks have one or more Fishbone members playing behind Walt (Norwood Fisher on bass is particularly prominent, and typically excellent), and it seems that this album is made up of tunes that were recorded at different times over the years, and have been collected here. In other words, I don't THINK that this album was recorded at any specific time, but rather over a long period of time.

It's not incredibly deep or substantial, like some of Fishbone's best work is, but Walt does make a few attempts to address the reality of his surroundings: "Who Do You Believe" is a swipe at George H.W. Bush and his son George W., the title of "Do You Have a Mind of Your Own" describes the song content, and "Don't Call That Man A Pussy" is, I think, a unique Dirty Walt take on responsibility and real manhood. Everything else relates to booze, blunts and bonin', which I guess is the true reality of Walt's surroundings, after all.

Best song (in this reviewers opinion): "Rolling in Many Blunt Ways". Other song notes: "I Need a Swig" is an earlier version (I think it's earlier, at least) of "Just Call Me Scrooge" from Fishbone's 1987 Christmas EP. Same music, similar lyrics. "Understand Me" was recorded by Fishbone and released as the b-side to the "Sunless Saturday" single in 1991. This is a different version.

And finally, if somehow you're checking out this record and don't know Fishbone, do YOURSELF a favor and buy Truth and Soul and/or The Reality of My Surroundings IMMEDIATELY! Try it and you WILL catch on!

Why is there so little reviews about this cd? Dirty Walt PUT IT DOWN! Do you hear me! For those of you who REALLY like funk, you need to add this one to your cd player. OK. brotha' talks about weed and sex to the max but the music is ORIGINAL! Can I get an AMEN! I have a long daily commute from home to work and when you have great music (Fishbone, Living Colour, 24/7 SPYZ, Weapon of Choice, Cee-Lo Green, WAR), the ride is easy. Buy this cd and enjoy!

Mind you "DIRTY WALT" brings that GEORGE CLINTON feel to FISHBONE without even trying,which is amazing. I couldn't wait to get this album,to hear FISHBONE members on solo tips. ANGELO MOORE is on some spoken word stuff with his two solo joints. No other member (former,present) has released a solo album than "DIRTY", (although CHRIS DOWD did a solo tune for the soundtrack "Floundering" called "(What's So Funny About) Peace,Love & Understanding".

But back to "DIRTY WALT",he actually plays no trumpet at all on this funked-out thang,unlike his signature FISHBONE gems. He sings,he raps,he chants,he swears (cusses my goodness),he gets his points across,only the way "DIRTY WALT" can do it. Directly in your face! Since "DIRTY" does less than 1/4 of lead vocals on any 'bone fish' album,he needed to release a solo badly,but when he re-does his self-written "Understand Me" which FISHBONE has already recorded,it cuts the originally of the album from 10 to 9. But tunes like "Do Ya Have A Mind Of Your Own" is like the only some-what positive tune on the album,if you can catch it ('you'll never be the #@%&ing king if you don't use you mind and do your own thing'),but he'll never write like the 1st Fishbone ship jumpers Kendall Jones or Chris Dowd did.

"TO PUT IT BLUNTLY" is on some old P-Funk,blunt-smoking vibe. For those who like to funk,this is for you. I like to funk,but I'll funk with FISHBONE way before this album. Anytime. Musically:P-FUNKED OUT,lyrically...he's just cussin' cousin!

As of 2006, "Dirty" Walt has left Fishbone and gone M.I.A. The 4th (out of 6) founding member to leave the band.