Customer Reviews

Funk Overload

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Funk Overload is a heavier departure from Maceo's previous '90s albums. The band is not only tight but the grooves "breathe" more heavily than when he recorded albums with Bill Stewart, Larry Goldings, etc. The choice of material is excellent - although some songs were written over 20 years ago, the band manages to sound contemporary. And Maceo's son, Corey Parker, does an excellent job of rapping in the first track. This is a highly recommended album from one of the finest saxophone players in modern music.

Maceo is a god. It's too bad he's not received the recognition that he deserves. Songs like "Elephant's Foot" and "Youth of the World" will get your feet moving. If not, you're dead. This is a great antidote to the rainy weather we get here.

Where would James Brown be without Maceo Parker, and the rest of the Horny Horns?

The answer is that he'd probably still be James Brown. Unfortunately, Maceo's solo albums just don't have the sharp-tuned edge that highlights the best of his work with the Soulbrother #1, as evidenced here.

Don't get me wrong - Funk Overload has its share of funky tunes, and it grew on me after a few listenings. Half the songs are right up there - the remake of Rufus's classic Tell Me Something Good is nice and tight, Children of the World has a great highlight chorus that'll set your bootie groovin', and Do You Love Me goes right along with the slick cover of Sly Stone's Sing a Simple Song.

And then, the flip side. The rapped lyrics on a couple traks are so groaningly weak they're all but unlistenable, especially on the lame Let's Get it On. Elephant's Foot is a cute tune, but sounds like it belongs on another album altogether (A kid's disc? Maybe Maceo was trying to pull in that coveted 5 to 10 year old crowd, tossing it in with the above-mentioned Children of the World).

Anyway, this is a mixed bag, with one or two clunky stinkers mixed in with the funky gems. So instead of buying the album new and spending fifteen or sixteen bucks, save some cash and listen to the song samples, then buy a cheap used copy from Amazon Marketplace, or if you're really picky, download the songs you like from iTunes or wherever.

I am a big fan of funk and have pretty much listerned to most of the stuff out there. This is really one of the best recordings I have come across in some time! It is modern funk with old school edge. The band is incredibly tight, and the tunes really drive hard! Fine musicianship, good songwriting, and funky as hell! If that appeals to you, get this immediately! I also saw the band live in T.O and they burned the house down!

This is good Maceo Parker, but not quite the quality of his vintage stuff. But definetly a good album. I wasn't quite sure about his son Corey rapping on various tracks at first, but it grows on you. If you like Maceo and funk you'll like this.

If this doesn't get you smiling, your feet tapping, and your ass shaking, you shouldn't be listening to music. - Go see a doctor, because you are deaf or missing your rythym bone!!

Simply put - Maceo IS Funk, and this is his best ever.
Buy this NOW!!!

I'd also advise getting extra copies for your friends.
I guarantee they will thank you!

What can I say? Maceo is James Brown on the sax and the way he sounds live is exactly what you hear on this cd: raw and exciting.

Maceo can play just 4 or 5 notes over and over again in so many different ways and inflections and not sound boring at all. Want to know where great sax players like Candy Dulfer, David Sanborn etc and maybe even trombonists like Brian Culbertson (ok, so maybe he got it from Fred Wesley) probably got some of their influences? type M-A-C-E-O

This is probably the most groovy album I have heard in almost ten years. Every single track is absolutely seamless, and extremely funkly. My friends and I have cut the rug to this album so hard and so many times that we had to refinish the floors underneath it due to repeated wear and tear! No, I am not kidding; dancing to this album is the cause of our having to spend lots of money to fix our living room floor! This album is all about having fun, and if you buy it, I personally guarantee that you will be satisfied to the fullest extent.

I recently saw Maceo live in Cleveland on tour with Ani DiFranco. I, and most of the audience, had never heard his music before. But by the end of his opening act, we are all groovin' right along with him and his band. He got the audience really excited, especially one man who insisted on dancing, even though he obviously had no rythm, and that made the experience all the more enjoyable. He is one of the best live preformers that I have seen, and he has great recordings. I definitely reccomend this album for anyone who loves good music.

While James Brown continues pooring out extremely poor quality albums lacking soul and spirit, Maceo Parker comes up with probably his best solo album to date. The former member of the JB's has come up with a groovy peice of material which includes originals and covers of some classics by Sly and the Family Stone and Marvin Gaye, adding his own little funky touch to each one of them. It's sweet, it's funky and it's sexy. If James Brown is out there reading this reveiw, "Get this guy back in your band man, and start making some decent funky music again!!"