Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin' On (1971/2013) [Official Digital Download 24/176]

"There's a Riot Goin' On" has been declared by critics as one of the greatest and most influential albums ever recorded, predating sounds found in future groundbreaking albums such as "Exile on Main St." and "Velvet Underground and Nico". It was a complete change in directino from the high-energy pop-funk singles that were found on earlier records like "Stand!". It has been considered to be one of the first instances of the type of funk music later popularized by George Clinton/Funkadelic and the Ohio Players.

There's a Riot Goin' On is Sly & The Family Stone's fifth studio album, released on November 20, 1971. It was recorded primarily in 1970 and 1971 at Record Plant Studios in Sausalito, California. Unlike their previous albums, There's a Riot Goin' On is more funk oriented and had a darker mood. The title was given to the record as a response to Marvin Gaye's album What's Going On, which was released five months previous. The records that followed There's a Riot Goin' On are considered to be some of the first and best examples of mature funk music, and the album has inspired musicians from a multitude of backgrounds since its initial release. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Pop Albums and Soul Albums charts immediately upon its release, and the album's single "Family Affair" shot to the top of the Pop Singles chart. There's a Riot Goin' On was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1972, and went on to ship 1 million copies.

It's easy to write off There's a Riot Goin' On as one of two things – Sly Stone's disgusted social commentary or the beginning of his slow descent into addiction. It's both of these things, of course, but pigeonholing it as either winds up dismissing the album as a whole, since it is so bloody hard to categorize. What's certain is that Riot is unlike any of Sly & the Family Stone's other albums, stripped of the effervescence that flowed through even such politically aware records as Stand! This is idealism soured, as hope is slowly replaced by cynicism, joy by skepticism, enthusiasm by weariness, sex by pornography, thrills by narcotics. Joy isn't entirely gone – it creeps through the cracks every once and awhile and, more disturbing, Sly revels in his stoned decadence. What makes Riot so remarkable is that it's hard not to get drawn in with him, as you're seduced by the narcotic grooves, seductive vocals slurs, leering electric pianos, and crawling guitars. As the themes surface, it's hard not to nod in agreement, but it's a junkie nod, induced by the comforting coma of the music. And damn if this music isn't funk at its deepest and most impenetrable – this is dense music, nearly impenetrable, but not from its deep grooves, but its utter weariness. Sly's songwriting remains remarkably sharp, but only when he wants to write – the foreboding opener "Luv N' Haight," the scarily resigned "Family Affair," the cracked cynical blues "Time," and "(You Caught Me) Smilin'." Ultimately, the music is the message, and while it's dark music, it's not alienating – it's seductive despair, and that's the scariest thing about it.

Tracklist:

01 - Luv N' Haight
02 - Just Like a Baby
03 - Poet
04 - Family Affair
05 - Africa Talks to You ("The Asphalt Jungle")
06 - There's a Riot Goin' On **
07 - Brave & Strong
08 - (You Caught Me) Smilin'
09 - Time
10 - Spaced Cowboy
11 - Runnin' Away
12 - Thank You for Talkin' to Me, Africa

** Consists of only "intentional" silence.
All songs written by Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart.


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