Illya Kuriaki and the Valderramas complete discography review + plus solo stuff

Illya Kuriaki and the Valderramas

Fabrico Cuero (1991)

Genre: Rap, Hip Hop, Rap Rock

This is probably the first Rap album ever put here in Argentina, and sadly it's pretty bad, the rapping and songwriting have a long way to go. The thing is that Dante Spinetta and Emmanuel Horvilleur, were really young when this album was made around 15 or 16 years old, so they are in their very basic formative stages as rapper and musicians. Another thing was that there was no rap culture in the country, so they learned how to do every from scratch because even coming across with a rap album in this country at the time was almost impossible. And even though these kids have a long way to becoming a creative driving force in Argentine music, this album has a couple of good moments. 

Overall: 40 

Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas

Horno Para Calentar Los Mares

Genre: Alternative Rock, Rap Rock, Funk Rock

There is a quantum leap in the quality of songwriting for this duo, there are still rough edges, but these kids land some memorable tracks, "No Way Jose" kick ass. Dante has taken up the guitar just like his father the legendary guitarist Luis Alberto Spinetta, changing up the sound and style becoming much more a rap rock and funk rock effort instead of straight up rap album. The Kuryaki also incorporate more melody into the vocals showing off an impressive evolution as artists, "Virgen de Riña" is an incredible song written by to kids. Also instead of using drum machines and keyboards, there is an awesome band behind the Kuryaki with the highlight of Argentine bass god Javier Malosetti landing a couple of good basslines, Fito Paez on the keys on a few tracks.

The only bad thing about this album is that the quality does not maintain itself in the whole production there are a couple of filler tracks, but this album is a classic anyways.   


Overall: 59.3 


Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas

Chaco

Genre: Hip Hop, Alternative Rock, Rap Rock

I remember when this album came out back in the late 90's, my parents wouldn't let me by it. Because the lyrics were pretty sketchy for a 15-year-old kid,  they were pretty provocative, sexually explicitly and vulgar for the time, it funny now these songs are almost the norm now, but lacking the wit and artistic value the Kuryaki would have. 

Now these guys have created Argentina's answer to the Beastie Boys's Check your head the Kuriaki's, they many of the cues from the New York band fusing rap, hip hop, 70's style funk rock and alternative rock, but the Kuryaki show off being more artsy, much better musicians and have a much better use of melody just killing it with a couple of ballads.

Overall: 60

Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas

Ninja Mental (1996)

Genre: Rap, Hip-Hop, Funk, Soul  

This album is the band official MTV unplugged live recording, and even though they cut a couple of corners using some electric guitars and some trippy effects hidden in the mix, these guys just thieved in an acoustic set. They rework their song in such a way that they work totally well unplugged, even hip hop tracks like the "Abarajame" or "No Way Jose". They take advantage of the format adding strings and keys anytime they can. The instrumentation is top notch,  it's a really treat, and this album is a true gem for music lovers.

Overall: 58.5 


Vs (1997)
Genre: Rap, Hip-Hop, Funk, Soul 

This album really let me down they went in a super mellow direction on this album, just overindulging with the ballads and pretty much axing the alt-rock out of their sound, having a significant presence of synthesizers. I went to see them when they presented this album and the funny thing that happened at that show was that Molotov, the opening act, blew everyone away with a high-octane set.  The place bursting with energy after their set and when the Kuriaki's came out with their mellow hippy set, and the crowd just started to throw everything they had at them.
Now the good things about this album is that it has some of the Hip Hop tracks are pretty experimental like "Expedicion al Klama Hama" and Jugo is a fantastic funk track, a direction the band will mostly take after this production.

Overall: 58

Illya Kuriaki and the Valderramas

Leche (1999)

Genre: Funk, Funk Rock, Hip Hop

The band always flirted with funk, being a significant influence in their style, but with this album, they just indulge in this genre. They take funk into some really interesting directions, from some straight up Dance/pop stuff in "Latin Geisha" or "Coolo" to an insane punk funk track called "Robot" and there are some pretty heavy funk rock tracks like "Apocalypses Wow" and "Wacho". Funk patron saint  Bootsy Coolins actually appears on the track DJ Droga with just killing it with one of his signature bass lines and  solos. 

The production sounds super clean, energetic and fresh, overcoming the dark feel of VS. The bass guitars have some super cool old school funk effects, and some of the keys  have an old school Bernie Worrell vibe. There is somewhat of a marriage between classic funk production with a modern electronic dance sound, something that artist like Jamiroquai ushered in to funk in the early 2000's. 

Overall: 60.1

 

Parliament, Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins Discography Review ( Work in progress)

 

Parliament

Osmium  (1970)

Genre: Rock, Funk, Psychedelic Rock, Psychedelic Soul

Today I was going to work on the  album review of the Red Hot Chili Peppers called the  Uplifting Mofo Party Plan but instead   I stumble on this classic 70's album helmed by the funk master George Clinton. This album started the Funkadelic-Parliament legend, that inspired all of my favorite funk rock bands from the Red Hot Chili Pepper, Fishbone, Primus too the Chilean Los Tetas. Now Osmium  is probably the most rock oriented and experimental Parliament albums, dabbling with many genres and this aspect really surprised me because I was more familiar with their later work that is more party oriented, and this album rocks hard at moments and we get our first version of Red Hot Mama out of this production. The band has tons of energy and feeling,  Tiki Fulwood's drums are just fantastic and makes the song just explode.  The album is also pretty guitar driven so Eddie Hazel shines on this production and  to my surprise BernieWorrel isn't the main musician on the keys but another guy called Mickey Atkins.

Now vocally like all Parliament and Funkadelic albums there is a different singer on almost every track the album credits up seven people for their vocal work including George Clinton and Fuzzy Haskins.

Overall: 54





Funkadelic

Free Your Mind and Your Ass will Follow (1970)

Genre: Funk, Psychedelic Soul

Parliaments sister band, in its early stages sound very  much like Parliament , maybe more experimental with using trippy effects and it seems that they jam more on this album compared to Osmium. The band is composed by Eddie Hazel and Tawl Ross are on the guitar, Bernie Worrell on the keys, Tiki Fulwood and Billy Nelson on the Bass.  And the vocal section as usual has bunch of people with George Clinton at the helm and Fuzzy Haskins. 

Overall: 53.5

 

Funkadelic

One Nation Under a Groove (1978)

Genre: Funk, Funk Rock, Black Rock

Today I bring you guys a mega funk classic, from the legendary P-Funkers, Funkadelic, which  features  the funky mastermind George Clinton, Bernie Worrell on the keys, Micheal Hampton on guitar, Eddie Hazel on guitar  ( Maggot Brains live) and Bootsy Collins on Bass, just to name a few collaborators on this project. Lyrically it a pretty politically charge album without losing its joyous feeling. The band explicitly questions genre y musical categories on the track "Who Says the a Funk Band Can't Play Rock and Roll", its like funky declaration of war that the some of the alternative bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers would use a decade later. Another super charged and implicitly heavy song is Lunchmeataphobia ( Think it Ain't Illegal Yet !), I always wondered why no alternative metal bands never covered this song, its sick , imagine  Korn or Limp Bizkit rocking this one, the mosh pit would just explode.   Instrumentally there are some beautiful demonstrations of musicianship and solos both on guitar and bass. The sound and production holds up pretty well after all these years and I super recommend this album for people that want to start to explore the universe of 70's funk. 

Overall: 56    

Bootsy Collins

Ahh…The Name is Bootsy, Baby! (1979)

Genre: Funk, Deep Funk

So here we go with this super funk masterpiece, it’s a great album to really get into hardcore old school funk. 

Vocals and Lyrics: Some of Bootsy’s lyrics are pretty surreal and funny, and the vocals (including backup singers) in general are just fantastic. 8

Instrumentation:        

Guitar: It’s the only let down of the album, the guitar isn’t relevant in this production.

Bass: Bootsy is at the top of his game, his funky bass lines kick butt, good solos and crazy use of bass effects.

Drums: Some real impressive drumming for an old School funk album.

Extended band: There is tons of interesting stuff to hear from the horn section and on the keys. 8.5

Melody and/or Structure: Structure wise most of the songs are extended Funk jams, but melody does play an import role in each song. 7

Sound, Production and Feeling: You can hear all kinds of trippy effects on the Bass and on the Keys, it’s a sonic trip to the 70`s but the cool thing is nothing sounds dated. 8

Songs: They are all classics 7

The Bad:

                                                                                                     

Originality: This album is bursting at the seams with fresh funky ideas.  10

Overall: 48.5

Bootsy Collins

Tha Funk Capital of the World (2011)

Genre:  P-Funk, Funk Metal, Hip Hop

This album is an obscene display of funk, Bootsy jammes as many of his pales together in this definitive funk album for the new century and it’s a real tribute to the history of funk music.

                       

Vocals and Lyrics: Surprisingly the lyrics of this album are really good; even though the best stuff is spoken word like the song Reverend Al Sharpton’s is on, that is a moving tribute to James Brown and Samuel L. Jackson exposition of his life story was a stunning surprise how  much I liked this track. The rappers on the album as usual do a great job, but Chuck D stands out showing how things should be done. And last but not least George Clintons blues infected track shows us that he’s a funk genius. 10

Instrumentation:                    

Guitar: Bucket Head’s track is the high point on this album his shredding is well received in the context of this album.      

Bass: Bootsy actual plays more than usual compared to what he had been doing, he had gotten lazy lately; he comes out swing with his super funky bass lines.

Drums: The Drums on this album are what really take this album to another level, Bootsy doesn’t use that many drum machines, wisely choosing to use some impressive drummers giving a more organic feel.

Others: Bernie Worrel’s trippy keys are sprinkled all over the album, giving the album the P-Funk seal of approval. 9.3

Melody and/or Structure: Bootsy tries to raise the bar in his composition level, he had gotten a little lazy on previous albums, and this production has some really interesting musical arrangements and surprises. 8

Sound, Production and Feeling: The album produces a tsunami of funky feeling, and it sound impeccable. 10 

Songs: No fillers. 15

The Bad: Sometimes it gets a little too chaotic, too much going on at the same time.  -1

                                                                                                                         

Originality: Bootsy sound reinvigorated and the two funk metal tracks sound super fresh, he should try to make a full on funk metal album. And we find Boosty taking some interesting risks like sampling a Jimi Hendrix interview for a track and write a song around it, it's super cool. 10

 

 

MC5 Album Review Kick Out the Jams (1969) Genre: Detroit Rock, Proto-Punk, Hard Rock

MC5

Kick Out the Jams (1969)

Genre: Detroit Rock, Proto-Punk, Hard Rock

Observing the dismal contemporary landscape of rock, alternative rock and punk, one can make the affirmation that many new bands just sound just too commercial, too safe, with zero energy and too much pro-tools, the indie adolescent rock and electronic music seems to be killing real creativity, we should start revolution stop listing to that crap, that F%&$  you attitude should come back into music and MC5 should be our prophets. Rants and Joking aside this band really brought the F%&$ you to music literally, they had major issue the distribution of their albums because of this, so here we go with my brief review of this milestone album.     

Vocals and Lyrics: Rob Tyner is a freaking charismatic dude and he has some political messages that he wants to get across, he keeps stuff interesting during the whole album and another interesting aspect of the band is that most of its members add backing vocals, sounding oddly like another very influential Detroit band Funkadelic. 10

Instrumentation:  

Guitar: Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith really know how to rock out, or better said to “Kick out the Jams”, their playing isn’t perfect but this actually adds to the songs.

Bass: Michael Davis’s bass is really present in the mix it like a gigantic Godzilla lumbering in the back.

Drums:  Dennis Thomson is the motor to the onslaught. 7.3

Melody and/or Structure: The songs are pretty straight forward, very punky, but on “Rocket Reducer Nº 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa)” they land a colossal guitar arrangement that caught me by surprise. 9

Sound, Production and Feeling: The energy that this album has is insane, so many bands should listen to this album before making a live album, some level of chaos is good for a live set, and another good thing is even though it’s recorded in 1969 it sounds great. 10 

Songs: The album is short but sweet, chucked fool with powerful rockers and one very well played blues 8

The Bad: 

Originality: These guys are one of the principal bands to influence punk rock and other high energy genres, so go out and listen to this album.  12

Overall: 56.3