csberry | 177 - Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove

One Nation Under a Groove is a vague concept album...in a way. When originally released, One Nation... was a six-track album that included a bonus EP with three other songs. If you just focus on the six songs on the main album, there is certainly a theme.

The album focuses much of its attention on this idea of unity under music. This is expressed in the lyrics plainly in the title track as well as “Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock!” as well as the blending of musical genres throughout the album - funk blended with disco, reggae, rock, and some soul. I certainly heard a lot of melting pot ideas and demonstrations during these listens. Even though “Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (Doo Doo Chasers)” is just plain out there, the core six songs of the album do gel as a singular statement...kinda.

When the music segued from those six tracks to the three bonus ones, the hard rock guitars of “Lunchmeataphobia” jumped out to me. This song isn't quite a collection of various genres as the previous tracks, but it isn't so different as to feel it belongs on another album completely. Next is a short, instrumental version of the “P.E. Squad” that was so over the top in its final form. If anything, this track does improve my opinion on what that song could have been without all of the spoken word tracks. Finally, is a live version of “Maggot Brain.” These songs fit the sound of the rest of the album but are also weaker than the other tracks. So, in the end, the EP songs should be considered apart from the rest of the album if you are going to think of One Nation... as a work of art as opposed to a collection of songs released together.

Songs I Knew I Liked: “One Nation Under a Groove”

Songs I Now Like: “Lunchmeataphobia”

Songs I Don't Want to Ever Hear Again: “Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)” is just a bit too busy and messy for me.