Stand!

So funky my crotch hurts.

Man, that’s a really good album. For 1969, I think it completely hits on all of its goals; talk about the social issues of the time, show off some fantastic musical skills, and just make an album you can vibe out to regardless of who you are.

I’m really more impressed by the guitar work on this album than anything else – I’m not one to focus too heavily on individual instruments, since I think a full soundscape should usually be driven by everything working in harmony, but this album manages to achieve a great harmony between its vocals, the basslines, the drums, and all the other instruments that they throw in throughout, while letting the guitar just absolutely shine throughout.

I ripped heavily into Third for not being able to keep its listener engaged, but I think it’s because it was just experimenting too hard for my tastes. On this album, I think Sex Machine is 14 minutes of just an incredibly satisfying jam session (save for that kinda grating guitar about 9 minutes in) that does exactly what I wish Third had done: keep it simple while just finding a fun way to integrate these rock instruments with a jazzy feel.

That instrumental philosophy rings true throughout every aspect of this album, and I think my only complaint here is hoping for a little more lyrical density, but that’s kind of a nitpick. It’s a really fun album, and I think it’s a high 4 that could easily round up to a 5 on any subsequent listens.

Probably didn't need Track 2, though.

Funky and fun for the most part. 3/5

This record is better than a double shot of espresso in making you feel alive and energized. I dug every second of this.

Funk pop that sounds way better on headphones than speakers. At it's best this is a hard rocking wah-guitar workout. The standout track is Take Me Higher, all driving fuzzy bass and energetic horns. Simple Song and You Can Make It have a great NOLA funk sound with organ/guitar riffs establishing the dominant hook, back and forth interplay between singers, and horns for big hits. Sex Machine is a psych-funk wah excursion - fun but a bit repetitive. Everyday People and its B-Side You Can Make it are really awful though - EP is forever tainted from being played to death in a cloying Toyota ad - boring arrangements, slow dragging composition, and a meaningless quasi-political message.

Funky as hell, set the template for a whole genre (or two). A band where I only knew the radio hits, and the sampled tracks, but I loved every second of this.
Track 2 probably wouldn't get much radio play nowadays though, if it ever did!

Thank goodness for Live From Here. Chris Thile introduced me to Everday People and goodness do I love it now. Amazing.

It's alright, but it's not really for me. I thought there'd be more standout tracks, but a lot of it feels quite repetitive. Some of the longer jamming moments feel pretty tedious.

Love sly. The arrangement and production on this album are so dope

Pues en general suena muy bien y al principio prometía, pero ha ido de más a menos. Con salvedades como "You can make it you try". Me he aburrido, lo siento.

Love Sly. Great funk. This one is a bit more pop-oriented than There's a Riot Goin' On but still really solid.

When I first started this album I really wasn't feeling it, and as such some of the early songs felt weird to listen to, but I gave it another shot with some proper earbuds rather than just my car speakers and man does this jam far better in that style! I'm also glad the version of the album I listened to had some songs twice for the singles version, because it gave me a second chance at some songs just in case I was on the fence, and this was just all around a solid album.

Decent songs. A few seemed to go way to long. Nothing that really moved me though. 2.5/5

couple great songs, that's about it

Another brilliant funk/soul album from sly & the family stone.

Great album, enjoyed it!

"Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks." This is where it all started. There's just so much affirmation and positivity all over this album, and even the female vocals chanting on the all-too-short "Everyday People" sound like something they'd sing while skipping rope on the pavement. The dark side of this is that this album stands in the shadow of Sly's massive cocaine addiction. One thing this album does well is evoke the feeling of the emotions it's trying to communicate, like how the raunchy electric guitar is the exact sound a sex machine might make, complete with the increased rhythm of the pounding percussion that leads to inevitable orgasm. In the end, this album is bookended with songs meant to uplift the listener. Stand up and try! You can make it.

Full of anthems. Practically a greatest hits, except "Sex Machine" does seem a bit like filler (though it might be a fun jam when live). Wish they would've swapped it out for "Soul Clappin II" and "My Brain" which ended up as bonus tracks on the reissue.

Has Everyday People on it so cannot give it less than a 4.
Also better than There's A Riot Going On.

We need more funk in the world!