There’s No Place Like America Today

Consistently good throughout with solid grooves. Favorite songs are Billy Jack, Jesus, and Love to the People.

Pretty hit or miss. Not big on his voice but the instruments kind of make up for it. Idk, I really like the sound but no one song really seems to work.

It was ok. Not even my favorite Mayfield album though.

That wikipedia is bare bones. Never heard of this artist before. Nice wah wah funky sounds in Billy Jack.
Overall enjoyable sound, but not breaking into favorite album territory, 3*. Need to dive more into funk and soul though.
This led to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, which was a great discovery.

Yeah, There's No Place Like America Today is not a good album at all even though it was dealt some decent cards. The instruments used were okay but the composition was so poor that it made the songs feel incredibly disorganized. Curtis's voice would be okay if it were used with better compositions but it was not. Some of the songs also went on for too long so that didn't help the matter either. This is a bad album no doubt but look on the bright side, there is nowhere to go but up from here (unless i get another bad album)
Best Song: Love to the People
Worst Song: Jesus

Very funky, but also very slow.

Today's album takes a hard look at the state of America for the African American population in the 70's (rampant racism, poverty, crime) and puts it on display. Sadly, many of the issues brought up on this record still ring true today. Even the album cover tells a story. African Americans standing in a poverty line, being overshadowed by a large billboard which depicts a happy white family.

This album is much more stripped down than the Curtis Mayfield that I'm used to. It isn't the fast paced, danceable music that was featured on albums such as Superfly. This is much more reserved, and dark. It is very similar to Marvin Gaye's album What's Going On.

This album starts with the song Billy Jack, which has some amazing bass grooves throughout.

Overall, a very different, but very culturally important album today. It is super heavy, and hard to digest, so I don't see myself listening to it much in the future, however the message is super important, and I'm glad I listened to it today.

Favourite songs: Billy Jack, Jesus, Love to the People

Least favourite songs: So In Love

3/5

Funky. It's alright

Nice solid listen. Enjoyed my time with this smooth pretty album

HL: “When Seasons Change”, “So In Love”, “Jesus”

A serious but (I think) somewhat optimistic album which leans into gospel. I’m in a grey area where I don’t have much tolerance for evangelism but I love gospel music, so ultimately the spiritualism in Mayfield’s lyrics added to, rather than detracted from, the album’s calls for action.

November 20, 2022

This is nowhere near as good as Superfly for me. It's alright, and I do like the funky basslines. But mostly non-offputting, but forgettable.

En ehkä ihan valtavasti innostunut, olisin kaivannu vähän enemmän joko jatsailua tai menoa. 3/5

First track was nice but then it was all downhill.

In my experience listening to this album, it wasn't really anything all that notable. I wouldn't say the songs really sounded the same, but I wouldn't be able to tell you what any sounded like moments after the song ended. Nothing here was bad, but even the song I liked the most, "Jesus", wasn't anything too special. I can see why others may say differently, though.

Billy Jack immediately has my attention with a bass tone that is just a hook machine. This is such a groovable record, So In Love is a laid back R&B track with a pocket so deep you could fall in it. How do these R&B singers get this damn high?! Great minor colors on Blue Monday People. Fabulous album.

I feel like Curtis Mayfield had THE definitive soul sound of the 70s. His aesthetic was infectious and caught on like wildfire. Listening to this, you can tell Marvin and Curtis were listening to/influencing each other. This one just got better and better with repeated listens.

Even when it got slow, was still very pleasant listening. Soul music, indeed.

I've only heard of Curtis Mayfield's Move On Up before, never listened to any of his albums. Enjoyed the slow steady funky beats and bass.