There's A Riot Goin' On

I still don‘t like funk

It's pretty chill. What I expected to hear. Obviously very funky. Funkalicious. Funkadelic. Funktastic. At times it just feels like they're jamming. It's like a funk jam. Liked "Africa talks to you", but it didn't really grab me, but watching the lyrics is fun "Timber Whoah, Timber" etc. I can only assume they were very high when the idea for spaced cowboy was conceived. Did enjoy runnin' away. Wouldn't add it to my collection, but wouldn't object if someone else played it. Don't think I'm funky enough.

just couldn’t get into this and I don’t know why. It’s not bad but it all kinda blended together. best tracks: luv n haight, spaced cowboy, runnin away

Was expecting to like this one but it really fell flat for me.

Unfortunately not a great funk/soul album in my eyes (ears). This another album where I can appreciate that it was kind of a ground breaking new sound and way of producing, however, I just couldn't get into it at all. Best: Family Affair Worst: Time

This is exceptionally boring to me.

Not bad but slow songs and funk don't really go together for me.

This wasn't for me. Apparently hugely influential but I didn't feel it in the slightest.

Quite a dull riot, really. Started out quite funky, but got very repetitive very quickly and really feels like it's lacking in energy. It's soul without the really good vocals, funk without the oomph, and it goes on too long (both overall and at least half of the individual tracks). 2/5.

a lot of meandering breaks and very few actual songs

This reminded me of my issues with the last S&TFS album we had: basically, the rambling funk instrumentals just bored me. At least on 'Stand!' these were mostly offset with some great songs; the songs on here are a step down, for me. I've read the wiki entry to try and discover what it is the critics heard in this album that I don't, and concluded that either the societal context at the time was *very* important to appreciating it, or they all gave a rather generous interpretation of drugged-up, meandering songwriting.

Not really my thing but I can see why it appeals to some people

Apparently I streamed "Everyday People" twice in 2016. Random fact of the day. Not my thing.

I feel like I should be watching porn. Talk about a genre of music that hasn't aged well.

An overreliance on studio effects and production techniques drowns out the actual music and vocals, making the sound muddied and unclear. The slower, more experimental tracks drag on too long and make the album feel tedious, which ultimately detracts from the overall impact of the lyrical content.

Not a funk fan

couple of good ones

Funky... 2/5

Okay, I’ve always liked “Family Affair.” And I appreciate the base on “Africa Talks to You.” But the vocals on “Spaced Cowboy” are just yodeling. And “Runnin’ Away” sounds like a bad 70s sitcom theme (I dare you to disagree with me). The best track to me is “Just Like a Baby” and I would listen to that again. But overall this is just way too funky for me.

2 A weird record, but not that bad Why the hell they just start yodeling out of a sudden

I wanted to like this one more, but just felt it was very flat and boring.

I thought I would like this better but it just didn't grab me.

2.5 Luke here - My dad somehow put his rating under my account, so putting mine under his. Anyway, I only knew the songs Everyday People and Thank You (Faletetinaegiaoenagabmicefaeslfkaes) going into this, but being a fan of both, I was excited to see what this album had to offer. And it was a fine funk album. Nothing objectionable, but also nothing reaching the highs of the aforementioned songs... even when they did a reprise of the latter on the closer. Supposedly this is a very politically charged album, but I'm not sure that came through for me on my listens. Really dug Family Affair, but not much else stood out. While I think I need to listen to more before I make this determination, I’m getting the vibe Sly and the fam might be a "Greatest Hits" kind of listening.

It's a funk album. It is not noteworthy.

Empieza muy bien pero después pierde coherencia. Para el final perdió mi interés y lo que prometía terminó decepcionando. Y no me quedan muchas ganas de escuchar de nuevo este disco ni conocer más de la banda.

Pos un poquito decepcionante el Funk. Cada rola empieza sintiéndose que puede ser excelente, pero luego se vuelve laaaaaaarga y repetitiva y tediosa y me pierde. Obviamente tiene grandes cosas en la instrumentación y detalles aquí y allá, pero no es un disco que se vuelva memorable.

Meh

Pretty forgettable.

I just don't really care about funk

This has a really high average score for an album that pretty much sucks. What's THE DEAL with that? haha dw, I know. 2/5.

Meh.

Some strong moments, but overall not amazing.

Nothing memorable on this album.

Decent funk.

Man I really like so much of Sly and the Family Stone. This really didn’t grab me.

Meh

I found the Audio quality lacking, specifically the layers of static in the first few tracks of the album. I liked family affair, time, smilin’, and the instrumental tracks at the end. I was surprised listening to “thank you Africa” to learn they sampled their own song for another.

I forgot to take notes on this one and don't remember any specific thoughts through the weekend, but I know I didn't really like it.

Ne pro mě

Can’t really say anything special about this album. Could be good to use for sampling though

On voit qu’ils essaient de marquer un tournant. C’est moins dans le mood « on va danser » et plus « réfléchis sur ce groove ». Ça donne beaucoup de pièces où on sent qu’ils se retiennent pou ne pas y aller à fond, mais plutôt garder ça vaporeux. C’est bien pour l’exploration. Ça l’est moins pour le party.

Pas tout à fait le genre d’album auquel je m’attendais. Ce n’est pas mauvais, mais c’est un peu lourd à écouter. Tout le contexte entourant l’album semble bien important pour l’apprécier comme il faut. Je vais devoir y revenir. Est-ce que l’album a sa place dans la liste? Tout à fait.

I was expecting more. The funk feels subdued!

Meh

Bon les familles de funkers la

Well i’am don’t really like this sort of music nothing personal… The album starts off with the song luv n haight its alright it has a good intro but it’s too repetitive anyone who praises the albums lyrics… I don’t see it yet. Just like a baby actually has some very good instrumental parts the few lyrics feel quite weirdly pasted on and still no real passionate lyrics. Poet doesn’t say too much but the lyrics are at least a little passionate, the instrumentals alright just got some annoying funk bits but what are you to expect. Okay, family affair is probably the best written song so far but the instrumental is a bit annoying. I will have to say although I don’t like the funk bits pasted on them the keyboard work is solid especially in Africa talks to you ( the asphalt jungle) I think I just don’t like funk vocals to be fair, but wow these lyrics are good, at 8 mins though I did get bored. Theres a riot going on is just useless… why? The first bit of brave and strong has great lyrics, the saxophone work is a bit unnecessary but the songs okay. You caught me smillin’ is dull annoying and repetitive with some nice keyboard work to cover for it. Time on the other hand is quite good a much slower track nothing too overdone like the rest of the album and songs like this with passionate lyrics kinda makes up for the mess that feels like the majority of the album. Strong cowboy is has good lyrics but I hate everything else about it. Running away is surprising good, I can really see the appeal of this song it’s still a bit bloated but it’s fine. Thank you for talkin’ to me Africa serves as a good closer but that intro is unnecessarily long the lyrics are great and while it’s not really my kinda thing. Good closer. It’s half enjoyable but it’s really not for me!

Rythm and blues. No muy de mi gusto

Because I listen and am a fan of this genre, I was expecting something more but I was let down. It wasn’t anything special, for me.

Funky.

Decent but I didn’t really connect

2/5 - Err not really my thing, didn’t resonate with me

Couple of fun moments

Funk just isn’t my thing

Not my cup of tea.

Funk

They say "There's A Riot Goin' On," but I'm not sure where it is? This came out in 1971, after several very tumultuous years. So I figured "Riot" would be filled with anger, turmoil, intensity, at least passion? But that was missing throughout. "Brave & Strong" gave me a little bit of a feeling of the times, but most of the rest felt dull and low-energy, with much of it feeling like unfinished experiments in songwriting. This time I waited until I was mostly finished listening to look up the history of the album. And now it makes more sense. I knew Sly and the Family Stone were well-regarded and influential. But it's not for this album, which had too little family and too much Sly and too many drugs involved in the production.

This album is a sequence of backing tracks. Something one finds on YouTube to practice lead guitar over. That’s a bit harsh as there is a little more than that here, but it’s not far off. I was expecting a funktastic adventure. Instead I got a great album to put on at bed time.

“At first I hated it for its weakness and its lack of energy and I still dislike these qualities. But then I began to respect the album's honesty.”

SHAFT! War ok.

found it boring, but not awful

6/10

I'm conflicted on this one. On the positive side - I like a lot of Sly & The Family material, and in general love a lot of early 70s funk/rock. So there's an immediate connection here. But... I've never been able to get into this specific album. There's very little of the band cohesion and unpredictability of their best work and there were reasons ... drum machines dominate this, which give a cold/sterile feel to most of the songs, and Sly's vocals overall tend to reflect who/where he was at the time: often in bed and on drugs :P - literally recording some vocals from bed. Even the hit single "Family Affair" should have been so much better; to me it comes across more like a great demo. e.g. "Africa Talks To You" goes on and on and never goes anywhere - but so many times it's so close. You hear constant echoes of Sly vocal melodies and some keyboard riffs here and there but ... that's the song. Like a collection of musical phrases patched onto a repetitive chord/beat. Definitely focusing on the negative which isn't entirely fair - there are some great grooves on this record which to me is sort of the bare minimum for a Sly record. I respect the wide (eventual) acceptance and praising of the album due to it being an accurate portrayal of the seeming betrayal of the 60s and entering the grime and fading dreams of the 70s. But honestly who cares. Am I or am I not drawn into the music... or at least entertained? I am not. It's a frustrating and hollow 2 stars because I've always wanted to like this album but there's just a solid disconnect that I'll never get by. p.s. Graham Central Station were better. 5/10 2 stars

I don't like this. Too different from Stand! in my opinion.

Really disappointing compared to Stand... Meanders along without much purpose or direction, and crappy production. Shame

Nothing too interesting to me in here, maybe it was more impactful at the time it came out. I also think the production got in the way, it was way to quiet and flat sounding.

well, this wasn't a riot at all. it wasn't funny OR violent...it was just super 70s funky. only...i still didn't like it. i don't know what else to say, besides that i don't seem to like them very much in general.

This is shite. Yeah, I'm bored. Robert Plant's favourite from this is Just Like a Baby. He eats placentas.

I've tried hard with this album over the years, it feels like it should be something I really like but I just don't really get it. It wanders into aimless, hookless meandering nothingness far too often for an album with such a massive reputation.

Not good. Doesn't need to be this long and it isn't very interesting.

thought i'd love it - didn't.

Funky

Didn't do much for me. Had a Parliament album the day before and loved it. Hadn't heard of either before listening. This lacked that Parliament BDE.

Slow Uninteresting Not a fan of the voices or the instruments or the pace Did not enjoy

I was really looking forward to this album, and it turned out to be a weak fart. The yodeling attempt did not work. Best track: Family Affair

Was a little disappointed if I'm honest.

Not my kind of bag

It's just ok. Maybe it'll be better if I'm just sitting at home doing nothing.

Fine enough

Weer leuk voor op de achtergrond; lekker relaxed. Voelde alleen wel weer wat te lang..

2.5 ik voel het gewoon niet man, als het op de achtergrond opstaat wil je toch meer aandacht aan besteden om dan uiteindelijk teleurgestelt te zijn. its a no for me

Mastering is still a little rough. All vocals sound extremely faded, almost distanced from the microphone

Repetitive and forgettable

I started out liking it and thinking "well, this is interesting". But after the first two songs the quality and my interest dropped off. It has its moments, but on the whole I didn't enjoy it.

Zooo fkin smooth, gwn lekker achtergrond

hirveää määkimistä pääosin...

Too funky for me bro

Vaikea arvioida genreä, jota ei juuri yhtään kuuntele. Ihan letkeetä, mutta ei näin tammikuussa räntäsateen keskellä kuunneltuna lähtenyt.

poop

Smooth, Jazzy, solid background music - don't know if I'd play it on its own though. 7/10 you are nitpicking and biased. I win. Bye bye! the album is very influential and i hear a lot of it in the contemporary funk/jazz that i listen to today, but it doesn't have any of the initial appeal that i get from modern funk or jazz. the production is very dated and hurts my ears so i have to listen to it at a low volume. 4/10

It was a funky, fun album. Hard to tell what they're singing about though. 1RS

Funky, but slower than previous SFS album.

Eipä jäänyt hirveästi käteen tästä levystä. Mikähän tässä on ollut erityistä, että on noussut listalle? Spotifyssakin on Family Affair -biisiä kuunneltu päälle 38 miljoonaa kertaa.

Not my thing, wishy washy

Czarny soulowy funk z lat 70, sadzilem ze moze bede kojarzyl, jakies sample, najwieksze hiciory, ale nie nic, czarna dziura w pamieci i nie moge zalapac zadnego skojarzenia zarowno z albumikiem jak i banda, jak sama nazwa wskazuje banda rodzinna, bo doliczylem sie 4 stonow, problemem jest to ze po przesluchaniu mam nadal czarna dziure w glowe, bo ciezko o cos co naprawde zapada w pamiec, mocno psychodeliczne brzmienie i mruczenie na wokalu wcale w tym nie pomaga, ale najwiekszym problmem dla mnie byl mix tej plyty wszystko na maxa w glosnosci musialem podbic zeby przesluchac niektore traki, bo jesli polowa liryki sa pochrunkiwania i mruczenie to glownym punktem uwagi staja sie instrumentale, ktore sie nieraz traca przez dziwny balans glosnosci miedzy nimi, nie wspominam juz nawet o bolaczkach produkcji jak zaszumienie, ktore pojawia sie do bolu, kolejna dziwnoscia plyty jest to, ze trak tytulowy ktory zazwyczaj jest mocnym punktem kazdego materialu i jego twarza tak tutaj ma 4 sekuny i ma byc niemym skitem, jesli dobrze go zrozumialem, chyba ze to odniesienie do tego ze revolucja nie bedzie ztelewiryzowana, ale to pewnie nadinterpretacja, kolejnym punktem do ktorego mozna miec wonty w spotifajowym wypadu jest pierdolnik ktory panuje na trak liscie, edycja z 71 zawiera w sobie traki z reedycji z 2007, 4 nowe traki w tym running away ktory jest najbardziej zapadajacym w ucho songiem jaki tu uslyszalem, glownie za sprawa zenskiego wokalu, oraz 3 instrumentalne traki, ktorych historii powstania nie znam, ale wyraznie slychac lepszy mastering, bo sa o wiele wyrazniejsze w odsluchu, na plejke dodam running away i luv and haight

Si te va el funky lo cierto es que debe ser un super álbum pero no es mi estilo

Ich habe keine Meinung.

Not my favourite. Bit samey

Did they realise the mics were on?

The more funky songs were pretty good, some others not so much.

Found it quite samey. Songs started to drag towards the end. Not my cup of tea but would shut this off if given the choice. Better towards the end with single versions and instrumentals

Just nothing interesting, drags on way too long

det var lite för spretigt på nåt sätt. oskönt skrikade emellanåt.

Paikoitellen vekkulia menoa, mutta kokonaisuus ei kantanut

Not very interesting

As hipsters rediscover Sly and The Family stone and declare that this is now hip again, I would say, meh? This is the product of heavy drug use resulting in a sound only drug addicts comprehend - a sludgy mess of slurred words uttered by a thoroughly fucked up cynical mind. Sure it’s honest but it also is a murky lifeless piece of shit. The dubious dubbing experience would be a better title for Riot. The outright copping of Marvin Gaye-isms and use of a drum machine with a live drummer (really when you have a drummer let them just play - machines sound like shit) compound the misery this album elevates. Perhaps Elevated misery is a better title. Kids - don’t do drugs. Your records will sound like shit. I get this influenced a number of individuals years in the future. But as first experiments go, this is a shit show. There are flashes of good amidst the musical carnage but not enough to make this sad affair enjoyable. 2/10

Ya me ha tocado otro disco de este grupo y con esto confirmo que el grupo no es de mi agrado

It started off really strong, but all the songs felt really drawn out for me. Not for me

It’s unfathomable that a list this short, given the grand scheme of music, feels the need to not only include multiple funk albums but multiple from the same artist? Please let this have been the last one

Not for me. 1/5

not my thing, probably really significant for its time tho. kinda music you would hear in a store. i do like "thank you for talkin' to me, Africa"

The yodelling song made me want to kms

What on Earth even is this? Don’t even know what genre it is. Let’s give it a go, I’m here to learn. I’m sorry man but this is so boring. I really did not enjoy listening to this at all. What the hell is the yodelling? I have to give it a 1/5, I hear basically no redeeming parts or standout tracks or any highlights at all.

This album is too funked up for me. 8 mins 45 Africa talks to me, 8 mins 44 too long. Couple of reasonable songs, rest is meandering noodling.

Nicht meins!

Not a vibe

This album just didnt click with me at all. I was bored almost the entire time. I love 70s funk but this just wasn't it for me.

취향ㅇ아냐

Sonntagsblues

Whenever I hear STFS, I always wonder where the elevated reputation comes from. Dull and poor production.

1. luv - 1 2. baby - 0 3. poet - 1 4. family - 1.5 5. africa -0 6. riot - 0 7. Brave - 1 8. Smiling -1 9. Time -1 10. Cowboy - 0 11. Away - 1 12. Thank you - 1

Not quite what I had expected Not hearing anything that I want to play again

Rubbish!

I just can't.

Bizarre album that is so unapologetically boring. Amounts to some okayish bassy muzak that is entirely uninteresting. I kept waiting for something engaging to happen, but nothing ever does

Only good song: The title track.

babcia powiedziala ze fajne. nie wlaczyla aparatu sluchowego (zazdroszcze)

I guess you had to be there.

Nah

The soundtrack to 70s porn

Please give me something that’s not from the ‘70s. I beg of you. This was not for me. Again. We will keep trying.

Ok

One great track.

Not my kind of funk

This was oddly not good. It doesn't feel like an album. Just a bunch of jams and goofing around. Not for me.

Sounds really dated and much better music from this period around. Washes over you

Sicken skit.

got really bored of it

Ekki fyrir mig.... á að vera í ætt við "what's going on" með Marvin Gaye but mér finnst sú plata mun mun betri

Never liked them and still don’t get it.

Solo escuché 1 y no me hizo gracia, pido perdón

Nicht meine Musik

Boring.

Yikes

Nah

Very confused sound

Funky. Not really my cup.

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Not really Favourite song: didn’t have one

not my thing

Not for me too much funk

Er, no

Funky but flat I’ve listened to 3 funk albums on this list so far and none of them have worked for me Fully prepared to accept this is an issue with me rather than the entire genre! I’m sure this is good but it didn’t move me at all

Really did not like. To repetitive and not very lyrical

No track escapes D Tier, which almost hurts my feelings. “(You Caught Me) Smilin’” comes closest, but still not a song I’m going to ever go out of my way to queue up, unless I’m specifically introducing someone to Sly. And as much as I like funk, this sound is just so dated. From the poor production quality to the choice of synth, it sounds like background music for a blaxploitation flick. The sound does not transcend the era, in my opinion.

Don’t remember much. Rating: 2/10

The most obvious of cocaine albums. It's bold and confident, but busy like a big mess. It does not sound good. 1.5/5

fck usa

Yo adddriaaaaaaaaan

I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to this. Not for me.

Not my bag baby

I respect what the group was trying to do here, but this is way too long and droning for my tastes. I'm sure the lyrics were great - if I could hear them. And I understand the instrumentation was unheard of for the time, but the only thing - in my opinion - that makes this album stand up so much today is that it feels like a collection of tailor-made beat samples for songs that would probably better benefit from them. STANDOUTS: -Family Affair -(You Caught Me) Smilin'

1 gar nix für mich

That was boring and quite. Not like poorly recorded they just sang softly, but not enjoyably.

Boring songs by a drug addled group. Their earlier album Stand! Was better

meh

what the fuck