Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
1971
Album Summary
Maggot Brain is the third studio album by the American funk rock band Funkadelic, released by Westbound Records in July 1971. It was produced by band leader George Clinton and recorded at United Sound Systems in Detroit during late 1970 and early 1971. It was the final album recorded by the original Funkadelic lineup; after its release, original members Tawl Ross (guitar), Billy Nelson (bass), and Tiki Fulwood (drums) left the band for various reasons.The album charted in the R&B Top 20. Today, it is perhaps best known for its 10-minute title track, performed by guitarist Eddie Hazel. Pitchfork named it the 17th best album of the 1970s. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked Maggot Brain the 136th greatest album of all time in its updated list.
WikipediaOh, Funkadelic. This is exactly what I wanted to listen to on a Monday morning. This album is absolutely genre-defining. It's almost like George Clinton and his boys were looking at their contemporaries and saying, "Sure you can rock. Sure you got soul. Sure, you're funky? But how far are you willing to go?" And the answer was: not as far as Funkadelic. This albums pushes the boundaries of what was rock/funk/soul/psychadelic music at the time. The opening guitar riff of the album on the title track "Maggot Brain" is a face-melting. 9-minute shred worthy of Hendrix. The guitar tones on this whole album are phenominal. They range from sharply atmosheric to heart-poundinly organic. The tracks are a bit all over the place and thee album lacks cohesion but, even so, manages to work as a whole unit of expression. Much of that is due to George Clinton's peculiar lyrical contribution which, in keeping with the psycadelic/funk ethos, are sparse but pointed most of the time, highlighting culture, race, drug-addled nihilism, and sheer, pleasure-seeking, self-serving abandon.
This is my second PFunk album in less than a week and man-oh-man. The title track alone merits its five stars, I mean, who sends a guitarist into a session and tells them to play like their mother just died? Very deep funk album that doesn't show the funky side that they will become, but this is my style.
When it comes to the two-sided coin that is Parliament-Funkadelic, it appears that my preference falls heavily on the Parliament side. This was a 7 track rock album (don't let the band name fool you) clocking in at around 37 minutes of runtime. The album is bookended by two 10-minute songs, the first being one long guitar solo with minimal instrumental backing, and the last being mostly an instrumental, frenetic jam filled with tons of off-putting sound effects, including cows mooing and loud, juicy farts. Seriously. That leaves 5 tracks spanning a mere 17 minutes as the meat of the album. One of those songs has a strange metallic instrument warbling the entire song, which kind of ruins it. The remaining 4 songs were good and groovy, but this is easily the most bipolar album I've listened to so far. How do you rate an album made of only 1 star and 4 star songs? My personal enjoyment: 3/5 Did it belong on this list: 5/5
Wow! I'm blown away. This album was released a month before I was, and it kicks some serious ass. It's unmistakenly a funk album but it rocks out way more than most rock and metal albums ever did. I knew nothing of this album, had heard none of it, and now I'm a bit in love. Fantastic stuff, and that title track... oh my.
Honestly kind of a let down. It was ok, but not great and based on the name I expected it to groove more. The lower rating reflects my failed expectations for this album
Now we're talking! MOTHER EARTH IS PREGNANT FOR THE THIRD TIME AND YALL DONE KNOCKED HER UP! I call this Progressive Funk and it kicks ass. This is a 9/10 album and it is so close to a full 10. Maggot Brain (the song) is a masterpiece that never gets old and the next few songs are super radio friendly. I love the bass singer in "can you get to that" - he just makes it. Where the album falls flat is back in our minds (short, forgettable filler) and Wars of Armageddon. I love wierd shit, but this song is just grating. Fart sounds, yelling, cuckoo clocks... would it have been so hard to reprise maggot brain as a closer? That would have kept it classy. So close to greatness - I end this album at Super Stupid. The bonus tracks are great, though i don't count them in this review.
The magic that is the year 1971. I wonder if it's a self-fulfilling prophecy at this point--I just expect 1971 albums to be amazing so I make them so in my mind? Nope. Can't be that. I was slain from the opening track, with that psychedelic, apocalyptic guitar. I've rarely heard anything so soothing and hypnotic. Eddie Hazel, where did you learn to play like that? The rest of the album is pretty great, the other high point being "Super Stupid", but nothing compares to the epic opening track. It's like it opened a door to another realm. Dude's playing his guitar as if his mother had just died, just as instructed.
I love this album. Perfect funk. Wars of Armageddon was a weird one. Experimental but I appreciate it. Fart noises haha power to the pussy
Assume this is gonna be funk & soul? Hopefully, could be good. Wow ok not wheat I was expecting. First track is mad electric guitar skillzzzz a la Clapton, second track is a like a mad country-ish soul vibe. Overall is very electric guitar heavy, kinda Hendrix-esque. It's all good, prob a 2.5, never massively been my kinda genre. Maybe 2 cos just not that arsed about it.
Sabbath followed by this album is by far the best back-to-back yet. Another absolute classic. "Maggot Brain" is probably my favorite guitar solo of all time. So damn good.
Yo! this was a great fucking album! I've never heard of this band, but while this is a late review, thoroughly enjoyed this album! I mean, man, just the first track alone, though long, was fucking insanely amazing with it's guitar, that it set a high bar, but the album delivered. I snap bought this album, and will suggest this to anyone that needs something to listen to.
Loved it. Thought the long jams were fun to get lost in and the shorter tunes equally great! Officially converted to not being happy with the rating system as it's way to restrictive. Another album I wish I could give 4.5 to...but I can't. Seeing as I went up last time, I'll do the same here.
The guitarist is so clearly inspired by Hendrix, Super Stupid is essentially him doing an impression of Jimi. Not as accomplished as Jimi on the guitar, but who is? I really liked this album. It was way more interesting and varied than I'd anticipated, so much so I feel I need a second listen to get my head around it properly. The self indulgent moments go both ways for me (guess that'll be the drugs). Sometimes it meanders into weirdness eg Wars of Armageddon, but some of the improv is great eg title track. No doubt these guys are legendary and influential and have been sampled by almost everyone in hip hop. But it's also a sick album. 9/10
Holy Schneikies, that is some truly mind-melting guitar work!! I had been introduced to the guitar solo on the title track by a brilliant guitar teacher, and it still sends me on a journey every time I hear it. The whole album is a beautiful, jarring, dark journey into the abyss and somehow lets us escape. Barely. What a masterpiece.
This album is dripping with vibe. They slap, the bang. There’s funk, there’s hendrix, there’s jamming, theirs weird trancelike whiny guitar. Every song moves me on a particular way which is what a 5 needs to do. I worry the mysterious heroin addict Jesus like guitar player has taken over the story of this album. I get what the Armageddon song is doing with all the sound effects, but it’s a little annoying, just okay the jam, the farts brought be back. Here’s to farts and heroin Jesus. 5.
A year after Hendrix's death, this album brims with his influence. A combination of funk, acid rock, experimental music, and psychedelia, Maggot Brain is both accessible and transgressive in a way that only George Clinton can be. The musicianship on this album is unimpeachable.
Awesome, and really surprised me how awesome. Hints of influence on or by an eclectic range of artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Radiohead, Lenny Kravitz, Slash, Avalanches, Royal Blood, Jamie T, and many more. I absolutely loved it, with my favourites being ... actually, all 7 tracks on the original album! An extra star for being so unexpectedly wonderful makes it my first 6 🌟 album!
This'd be a five star album for the title track alone, but the rest of the album slaps for sure. "Can You Get To That" is so strong Sleigh Bells can slap a vocal track over the top of a sample from it and produce a banger. "Hit It and Quit It" is just funk brilliance. And "Wars of Armageddon" is a brain melter of a closing track. I can definitely see that the album as a whole might be too weird for some people, but I've long thought the title track is a veritable Voight-Kampff test. If you can listen to the track "Maggot Brain" and not get the feels, then someone in a trench coat needs to come retire you. And I felt like that before finding out the backstory to the track, which only heightens its emotional impact! Fave track - "Maggot Brain", for sure, but "Hit It and Quit It" gets an honourable earwormy mention!
Why I don't have a copy of this on vinyl is a mystery. I compare this album to a short acid trip, you definitely get taken on a journey and it is a delightful, sprawling cacophony of funk and psychedelia. Maggot Brain is another of those albums that I had never heard completely until relatively recently. It was always played at friends houses, winding down after a long night out or tracks from it made it onto mix tapes and compilations. Essential listening if only for that fact that it is pretty genre defying and doesn't easily fit into a neat category. It feels way longer than it's 36 minutes because George Clinton, Eddie Hazel and the gang fit so much music in there. I got to the end, surprised only a short amount of time had passed so I gave it a few more listens just to be sure I hadn't floated into another dimension.
Everybody is rightfully enamored over the guitar solo on the title track (the best ever post Hendrix), but it must be mentioned how Eddie Hazel absolutely rips it again on Hit It and Quit It and then again on Super Stupid. Just an incredibly talented group of musicians, amazing production and a timeless sound all packaged together perfectly by Dr. Fukenstein, the only physician who could pull off such a creation. More power to the pussy! More pussy to the people!
I have to be honest - funk isn't my thing; I don't know why, it just isn't. That said, Maggot Brain's gritty blues production quality and experimentalism won me over from the start. Listening to it makes me feel the same way that watching Evil Dead 2 makes me feel - just a dirty good time. With Eddie Hazel tearing off lead guitar riffs, it's almost like The Mothers with a message, and I'm actually now wondering if Zappa didn't try to replicate the Funkadelic sound with Napoleon Murphy Brock as Clinton and himself as Hazel. Really great album - a wonderful surprise.
Absolutely fantastic. A perfectly made album, great tracks and rhythms and just ya 10/10. Epitome of funkadelic
Forgot about this gem - should set a reminder to listen to it with the winter solstice or some other oft-forgotten day of import.
This is a masterclass in every possible aspect. Individual songs take masters of their craft and push them to their best. You and your folks, me and my folks features a stunning bass, and wars of armageddon’s drum leaves you gasping for breath. It feels modern and up to date even now. Benchmark for a perfect album. Discounting additional bonus tracks as just that, bonuses (read: still very good tracks).
Crazy guitar solo followed by some funky classics. Some songs don't quite stick the landing, but otherwise it's great. 9
Yes please. I can get down with this funk. Loved that guitar intro, made me feel like I was tripping in the desert
That FUNK. And those FART sounda. But no joke that shit was good as fuck. I dunno how many times I played it front to back.
My understanding is that this is an essential psychedelic funk album - I concur.
That mind melting opening track is really something magnificent... The whole thing is just awesome. Some real heavy bluesy guitar riffs, mixed in with pure mad cap funk.
Weird and wild and funky as hell. The title track has some of the coolest guitar work I’ve ever heard, and really the guitar shines throughout the whole album. Catchy, funny, funky lyrics add layers to the stellar music.
Holy hell this was a great album. Amazing opener with a 9 minute blues/funk guitar solo. Whole album has a strong groove through it, Super Stupid is a highlight. Back in our Minds has some interesting percussion leading it. I think it was up and down, loved some songs, others were just ok. None were bad though. Added a few songs to the playlist, definitely would go back to his album.
If this album had nothing but the title track it would be legendary. Speaking of which Funkadrlic would seem to be the most unlikely of sources for one of rocks great guitar epics, but there you have it. And the rest of the album while nothing like the title track is still worthy of many many listens. Easily 5 🌟
I listened to this in two sittings. On the first sitting I hated the maggot brain solo, but enjoyed the other stuff. But on the second sitting, I loved the alternate mix of maggot brain. Perhaps I just needed some warm up before the solo 😂
Great album by a great band. Funky, groovy, and psychedelic. The opener and title track is an incredible piece of music, setting the tone for the rest of the album. Beforehand, I worried that this and maybe one or two other songs would dominate the record, the rest being mediocre fillers, but I have to say all songs were of top quality. If I would have to point out any issue, I'd say they could have left out some of the silliness; better leave that sort of thing to Zappa.
Iconic funk album which slays exactly the way it intends to slay. The incredible raw feeling and emotion in the title track alone does it for me, with some nice grooves afterward to come down to.
What a delightfully mad bastard George Clinton is. I love this album mainly because I don't understand any of it. And it's actually listenable which can't be said of a lot of Parliament/Funkadelic's output.
love a bit of maggot brain. its got everything, john squire-esque solos, hendrix like tracks, soul train style soul, sleaze, keyboard led prog style tracks and super low barry white bass singing. this is the funk album that all the others should be compared to.
Extremely good, very funky. First time I've ever thought random fart noises were funny. Laugh-out loud bits and hypnotic jams. Great start!
I had never heard of this previously, but damn this is cool. Easy 5, no question.
Wow! That was fun! Most of it seemed more like rock than funk, though, which surprised me. A great piece of work regardless.
Loved this. Not listened to it all the way through before but knew a few of the tunes. Found it hard going at first but it takes you on a real journey. A proper album that needs to be experienced from start to finish to make sense.
Had Super Stupid on a couple of my playlists but not heard the full album before now. Sounds great for 1971 and holds up today. Definitely a rock album with funk influences rather than a full on blend.
Unique amazing energy. A ton of fun and great vibes. Go read about the intro guitar solo.
Harder than some of the “hard” artists of the day. And huge inspiration for albums even today.
oh hell yeah, I was wondering when I would get this album fuckin love Maggot Brain - 10/10 one of my favorite intros to an album, “Or drown in my own shieet” followed by like the coolest 10 minute guitar solo
Holy balls this was good. I’ve heard bits and pieces of it before but never got around to the whole album. What can I say other than DAMN. Funky as hell. When I’m not dancing like it’s my last day, I’m swaying from side to side with my arms extended like waving flags. I will 100% be going back, especially to play drums along with. The drums. Oh my god…
Big fan of funkadelic. Solid bass grooves, easy to listen from front to back
The absolute Bible of funk. I think I've listened to this album 4 times this year before it came up in this list. I smack my fingertips like a chef. Mwah!
Yes yes yes. Funkadelics grown up album. Takes you on a sonic journey through time and space. O lay criticism is that they could've had one song where they just said funk.
Possibly the best funk album of all time by the best funk band of all time. Blow you mind. Best Tracks: Maggot Brain; Can You Get To That; Hit It and Quit It
fucking unreal album. i cannot believe i never had taken the time to listen to this what a dummy i am.