There's No Place Like America Today

Billy Jack - 4/5 When Seasons Change - 3/5 So in Love - 4/5 Jesus - 3/5 Blue Monday People - 4/5 Hard Times - 4/5 Love to the People - 5/5 Average: 3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this doesn't come close to topping Superfly, but i suppose it's an alright album nonetheless. the last track was well done enough to score up a little more generously than usual

'So in Love' really quite beautiful - I'll be coming back to that one. 'Jesus' also good! - There's a care and slowness about this album that I'm enjoying so far

Jazzy, funky, fun. It isn’t something I would’ve thought I’d like but I was bopping along, and even singing along with one I listened to a couple times

Smooth, funky, kinda painful and sad. Relevant and up to date 50 yrs on. Just a good listen. 4 Star. Why do great listens like this fly by in less than 40 mins, when I have to slog through 2 hr albums of chore and boredom.

made me feel

Yes lawd

Favorites: Billy Jack, So In Love Least favorites: Jesus, Hard Times Rating (out of 10): 8/10

Groovy and fan. 7/10

I really enjoyed the higher pitched voice, made it special to me. As other people said, still crazy relevant

This is a pretty great album by an influential artist. The story of Curtis Mayfield's injuries though is just tragic. Now you know why Van Halen had the “no brown M&Ms” in their concert contracts.

CURTIS MAYFIELD! Wow I can literally hear the influences to modern singer this must be one of Gambinos biggest influences. I heard this one 5 times so in love is a beautiful song and I feel so in love

curtis does it different

Hate his high voice. Great music though!

Not a huge fan of da funk, but man, da bass on this one is massive and worth +1 star at least...

This album its keep up-to-date. America... Great lyrics and a good vibe like a sunday morning.

Curtis Mayfield's style is undeniable. His voice is rich and silky smooth. I had only listened to Superfly prior to this album, and I am at a loss as to how consistently good Mayfield is. I owe his discography a listen. Fantastic album!

8.5/10

Blown away, thought it would be some soft core elvis presley ripoff, no clue it would be funky gold

While I'm familiar with some of Mayfield's work (Superfly, Curtis Live!, Curtis) it's nice to go through another entry to the catalog.

Me encantó, ese jazz, ese blues, esa voz.

I saw Curtis Mayfield and the album name/artwork and knew we were in for a banger.

It took a real listen in the afternoon to realize this beautifully embellished gem is a strong political piece of work. It's thoughtfully crafted to make ears understand a message. The vocals are beautiful, understandable, and accessible. The entire project feels this way, and this is where I appreciate the artistry, because this is Curtis Mayfield in near complete control over an effort, bringing us something technically and emotionally solid. The biggest thing that happened with this listen was my appreciation for the artist. The album itself has such intense stories and messages that regular play won't be my thing. I bring it down a notch because of this, but I raise the same bar for its exquisite use of music to prove a message. At the same time this album is a nod to the soul connoisseurs so they have a trophy album that doesn't need to be flashy. This is not an album I'd previously heard, but I have a strong bond with the trumpets on Love to the People. I took myself an hour trying to figure out where I'd heard it before. In the end, I'd heard it sampled on one of my favorite Brock Berrigan efforts, Daily Routine, the track is called Cruise Control and it takes advantage of the funky trumpets feeling happy and alive. This album deserves to be heard, even if you don't end up liking it. 3.8/5

В целом мне ток вокал не нравится так прикол

I’m not crazy about the song Jesus, but that’s not to say it’s a bad song, I just don’t love Jesus. Every other song here was great!

First listen. First track, loved it. Not as big a fan as when things slowed down, but loves the guitars and bass and the mood. And I didn't realise Hard Times (which John Legend and the Roots covered) was well, a cover. It was great here too.

Very cool

Curtis Mayfield is fantastic, I have loved his Superfly album for years. He's funky and soulful.

Zapravo kul album, mekan je i ležeran, bukv može da se sluša bilo kad i bilo kakvoj prilici 4,5/5

za lagano nedeljno jutro ideal

General thoughts: On first listen, this felt like an easy-to-listen thing, but I couldn't really grasp much of what makes this album great. It was on subsequent listens that the soul got into me. The production values of this album are insane, Abbey Road-level kind of record fidelity. The battery sounds so crisp and clear, with funky basslines, and that guitarist can literally make a guitar weep omfg. The instrumentation and arrangements are insane, everything feels in place but free of movement at the same time. The soul roots + spices of Funk + falsetto singing feels soo modern, the ambiance is really similar, less pop but almost as urban. I've never heard plain soul like this before, and it was overwhelming at first; it's just so much raw emotion through every front. The almost cracking voice wasnt of my liking at first, but I started to get into it in subsequent listens. His lyrics -and maybe even his singing- are like hearing an American pastor talking lol. This may be a thing with Soul as a genre, but songs can feel absent of structure, slow, and with no clear payoff. Which isn't bad per se, and under a bad execution, it could be tiresome, but this is not the case. Actually, the songs I liked less are from the second half (5-7), which feel more like safe bets outside of the canon. I think it was a good decision to make the setlist short, cause there's little to no variation, not much exploration, just a giant soul blast. That, for me, is a requirement for an album to transcend; for a shorter songlist, I can keep a blind eye on this regard. Overall, the album experience is really enjoyable; it's clearly produced with a lot of love at the risk of sounding chessy. Musically, the album is very thigh, conceptually not so much, which is kind of a shame having such a powerful cover. Outstanding song(s): Jesus, So In Love Weakest song(s): Blue Monday people Cover: A genius rendition of the 1937 photograph "At the Time of the Louisville Flood". The message is clear, the contrast between the America projected to the world and the reality of the black community. Amazing usage of artistic resources. Real rating: 4.28

Ooh! Another R&B album. This is honestly a great album for today. Short, with some interesting musical ideas, but nothing too too out there. I also really like the album cover. The first track, Billy Jack, has a cool baseline. I also like this guys voice. It was a very easy song to listen to! I like this album so far as it’s slower paced, but not in a way that makes me check how long is left in the track. I liked when seasons change slightly less, but I can’t really pinpoint a reason why. On the other hand, I absolutely loved So in Love! The horns were spot on. I notoriously hate spoken word tracks, but I honesty loved the beginning of “Jesus”. Unfortunately it didn’t hold that intrigue for me. I’m not religious, so it’s hard for me to get into something with religious subject matter. I appreciate the artistry though. Blue Monday was a good track! I liked how this one picked it up a little bit but still kept the vibe of the album. Hard Times kept with the vibe. The closer, Love to the People brought in the guitar which I thought had a nice groove to it. This really summed the album up for me! Overall, a pretty good album! I’m really learning to appreciate the R&B albums through this list. 7/10, 4/5 ⭐️. I hope I get some more like this in the future. 25/1089

Another conscience laden soul album in the wake of ‘What’s going on’ - consistent, funky and stylish. It was a great period for a defining voice of that era.

Oof. But also yes. Had me at funky bass and horns.

Un solide Mayfield, plus retenu. Je vais ré-écouter certain.

The only flaw this album has is that it's too short! Great funky-ness

Very slow and soulful. This may not turn my ear on first listen, but this is the perfect vibe in this genre. Add on top some smart, insightful lyrics on race and self-worth and I'm bought in. Uses some cool elements to make a slow song groove, and doesn't feel repetitive at all. Teetering between 4 and 5. 4/5

Muy bueno

This is an album I enjoyed. Atmospherically great while still being lyrically interesting and keeps things interesting. I think you could play this in any situation and it would go down well. Something Matt Goss would wax lyrical about.

This was a feel good album for me , so in love & when seasons change are my two favorites of this album.

Perfectly appropriate soundtrack for the current American hellscape.

escutar esse álbum fumando um cigarro usando um casaco de pelo com certeza melhorou a experiência!! muito bom definitivamente vou escutar mais curtis mayfield

Nice album, chilled

It's got a great vibe, though being entirely unfamiliar with Curtis Mayfield outside of Move On Up and Pusherman it was a lot more chill than I expected.

Pretty good album. It took me a minute to get into it because it's not the kind of vibe I'm craving right now. I kinda want to hear loud, somewhat angry and sad stuff rn, and this is kind of the opposite of that. It's good at being that tho. My favorite was probably "So in Love", very vibey, very cute! I'm not sure I'll come back to this too often, but I am glad to have heard it. I'm pretty sure this is one of Hozier's influences, and, wow, I really hear that here. 4/5

One of the musically chillest soul/funk albums I've listened to. Lyrically it's filled with social commentary. It's a great listen, not a mindblowing one, but a great listen nontheless. A strong 4/5

Not as familiar with this album as I am with “Superfly”, which I dig. This album has the 70’s sound of love with a conscience. Gone too soon.

I liked it, felt funky

Bangers front-to-back. Great politically and religiously motivated themes. Billy Jack is such a great intro track

Incredible voice. Loved the originality.

Great for a Friday evening!

Wow, if this weren't true for today in America. What a great title track. Practically anything he does is 4+ stars.

Nice

visste ikke om denne??? bra album

So far I haven’t been disappointed by a good album cover and title. Not quite a 5 for me but there’s good stuff in here.

Conscious funk. I like it.

4.2

I am a fan of Van Hunt's music and I can see where he gets a lot of his sound from. There are times I feel like I could have been listening to Van Hunt's self-titled or some of his later work. I preferred Superfly to this one, because There's No Place Like America Today is sleepier and more downbeat than the Superfly soundtrack. I think I expected more funk than I heard on this one. A good album and worth a listen for those who want to hear another side of Curtis Mayfield. The music was very soulful and while there are only 7 songs, it does not feel like Mayfield has overstayed or understayed his welcome on any of the tracks. Enjoyed it but also tough for me to get too excited about. My favorite songs are: Billy Jack So In Love Jesus Hard Times

When to listen: feeling like funk. Very enjoyable listen

Nice Discovery!

So Groovy

I really enjoyed this. The funk groovy music, Curtis' soulful singing. The parts I loved were great, the parts I didn't care for were whatever.

A classic

super fun and i love the instrumentals!!

Great album. Suitable for reading, working, and drinking wine.

None of the songs I have heard before. Strong album however.

As soon as I heard the first note I melted because of how smooth the guitar and drums were. I fell in love with Blue Monday People, it’s very relatable and honest. This is an album I’ll be adding to my collection.

Undeniable voice/player in soul music.

Favourite Songs: Billy Jack

Excellent soul music!

This shit got a GROOVE, loved it

Super funky

One of the most soulful albums out there, best listened to on repeat

Curtis Mayfield is one of the greatest soul vocalists of his era, no question. The album cover alone sets the tone. Strong use of color and genuinely impressive illustration work. It feels intentional and confident, not decorative. The album itself is very good, though it does not reach the level of Curtis or Super Fly. A few tracks fall short, most notably “When Seasons Change,” which feels undercooked and lacks momentum or character. That said, the record delivers plenty of quality elsewhere. “So In Love,” “Blue Monday People,” “Billy Jack,” and especially “Love to the People” are smooth, relaxed soul cuts that play to Mayfield’s strengths. The more gospel-leaning material, like “Jesus,” will divide listeners. I get why some people bounce off it, but the vocal approach works for me. Gospel phrasing and harmonies always earn extra points in my book, and Mayfield handles that style with conviction. Overall, this is a strong album from an artist with an absurdly high bar. Not his best, but still well above average. 8.5/10.

gooey pond sludge funk first three tracks very very good short but impactful and meaningful art/lyrics very enjoyable

Awesome instrumentals, loved all the percussion in the background- fav tracks were probably When Seasons Change, Billy Jack, and Blue Monday People (also loved the vocals)

A really solid soul/funk album.

Loved the instrumentation, great messages. Mixed feelings of the vocals, sometimes great sometimes not my cup of tea.

Not Mayfields best album but still a great example of his funk-soul.

Funky

Looks like I've found my long-awaited 4-star album. It's been weeks since I had one. "TNPLAT" is an easy listen, with no duds. The bookends of the album are the best tracks. My only complaint is that the songs sound the same. 4 stars for "There's No Place Like America Today".

OOOOOOOOOOOO I LOVE FUNKY ASS ALBUMS THIS IS JUST 35MINS OF JUST VIBES. if i had 1001 albums just like this i wouldn't complain

Great album, will listen again.

not as good as Superfly but it's still Curtis and we love him

What a banger. Reminded me of some Grateful Dead but jazzed up.

like the production of all the songs. I think i am biased against the song "Jesus" Just cause of religious trauma lol of presenting the solution to the world's ills coming back to religion. But other than that i think all the other lyrics resonate with me about the hard times happening at that time, of feeling like some outside circumstance boxing you in to a hard life. Think ill give bonus points to the album cover, it's pretty good statement even despite the lyrics themselves not being particularly politically proufound themselves. Bass consistently good throughout and really funky and groovy throughout without the songs overstaying it's welcome. Think would give 4.5 stars if I can just because of my bias against the song "Jesus" but will round down to a 4. Reserve the 5 stars for like really standout albums i enjoy all the songs from or that my loved songs trounce any songs i am so so on.

A beautiful album

I don’t really understand playing music while having sex, but this feels like the stereotypical album to play during sex. I love Curtis Mayfield but I don’t really know why this album is on the list. It’s good but it’s not essential. I think his self titled album would’ve been a much better pick.

Funky and horny

Great album, really well recorded.

Did not expect the genre based on the album cover but was pleasantly surprised. Great vocals from the artist.

Good 70s funk

Pretty decent, some challenging and expertly portrayed themes throughout. Slow, moody and atmospheric when compared to Super Fly. I like the gentle grooves, the strings and the emotion which is amplified by his falsettos. It's thoughtful, soulful and silently devastating. A good listen.

the bass in this whole album is awesome. I don’t know why but it’s really hard to articulate why I like these songs, but they put me in a good mood 🙂‍↕️ some of the r&b on here was really nice too. Everything just feels so smooth and chill but also technically good which I appreciate. Fav songs: so in love, love to the people

A real treasure of a record, mixing Curtis’ smooth blend of soul and funk with a more introspective look at current events. He takes a new angle with each song, approaching politics, romance, gospel and brotherhood with equal care. This is a real lovely album with a lot to enjoy and only dips slightly at the end.

nice one, like it, very much Curtis Mayfield like.

Great album. Very similar to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” - similar sound and social undertones to the lyrics.

Funkyliscious

Mayfield in this era just could not disappoint! Love to the people was a highlight for me, but the entire thing is just wonderfully soul and funky. Interesting lyrical content too

I really liked this album. Supercool 70s soul. This album defines the difference between generic soul music and music that’s totally hip. The band is impeccable, as are the song arrangements, and the production is completely crisp. The lyrics are rooted in their time as well, which I enjoyed. If I have one minor negative comment it’s that I prefer a soul voice in the mid-range but can occasionally reach falsetto, whereas Curtis’s voice lives in the high tenor/falsetto range the whole time. But that’s just a small thing.

Schön entspannt.

"Superfly" von ihm finde ich richtig stark, in "Curtis" habe ich bisher noch nicht hinein gefunden. Dieses Album feiere ich. Absurd gute Backing Band.

Didn’t have as much fun with it as Superfly, but an awesome laid-back record. (with some strong and sadly still relevant lyrics)

This was such a funky and fun listen. I can see myself revisiting for sure. I recognize the song Hard Times from other artists sampling it. Nice to listen to an older Chicago artist while downtown.

I enjoyed my time with Mr mayfield today. I thought the narrative/lyrical content of this thing was top notch. It was groovy on top of that so what complaints can I have really? For a multitude of reasons This made me reflect on to pimp a butterfly and I think there is some comparisons to be made with era and genre in mind as a the big divides. The only thing holding this back from a 5 is I don’t know that I’m at a place where I feel like I need to buy this.

Classic 1970s funk and soul. Full of strife and hope. You can hear the future of Vandross, D'Angelo, many others through it.

I really liked this album. A mix of soulfulness, sadness, spirituality, love, and much more. Loved the funkiness of the instrumentals and the vocal delivery by Curtis Mayfield. Favorite songs: So In Love, Blue Monday People, Love to the People

Love this. I'm really into the soul/funk right now and this is just the perfect archtype of that. Sound is great and lyrics are deep

Solide

Slower pace than what I usually prefer but once I accepted that I heard a fantastic record. No wonder people sample mayfield so much.

Soul!

Great album from a genre I don't listen to enough. Favorites are So in Love and Hard Times

This guy jams

Was genuinely struggling to like this much on the first listen, but it grew on me second time round, appreciate the political and social commentary, probably a 3.5 to ⭐⭐⭐⭐, the last two songs "Hard Times" and "Love to the People" stood out to me, and the cover art is great👍

Really good. What a wonderful voice Curtis has, the grooves are super laid back too.

Curtis Mayfield is one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time and this album proves it. Soul and funk at its best. Music with a message.

R&B is definitely not my thing but this album impressive.

Lyrics of the time that echo today

Buena musica para singar

Mayfield definitely has better albums, but this is still very cool and super poignant

Groovy as hell

Curtis rules. Not a moment on this I didn't enjoy, but does not hit the same highs as Superfly. Hard Times was originally written by Curtis for Baby Huey and recorded 5 years earlier. That version is good if you want to check it out. While you're there listen to Running by Baby Huey (sick song). Album was produced by Curtis. Titled "The Living Legend" even though Bay Huey died before it was release, will never understand that.

Curtis Mayfield is a sweet discovery for me on this list. Im appreciating his styles more and more Lengthy tunes here, but an album that is worth the time and attention. Billy Jack and Love To The People were my favorites

Good stuff. Soulful and real. It's both full and at times sparse. It's got a certain intimacy that's comforting, the musical elements feel present and close. Very well played throughout, tight and locked-in while still quite emotive. Mayfield's falsetto sits right on top like a silky ribbon wrapping it all up. Second half seems to get gradually more street and gritty from "Blue Monday People" onward. Good stuff for sure.

Always happy with a brass section.

Groovy

Love Curtis in general, though this didn't especially grab me — I think because we've happened to be served a fair lot of 70s soul in our first few records. Will return to it another time.

Mayfield has a knack for luring the listener to his serious message with his funky grooves and soulful falsetto. Only Marvin Gay comes close. 4/5 #212

Surprisingly never heard this one. I love his first three records but this one is much slower, funkier and dark. Sounds great too with a focus on the bass guitar for most of it.

This has some soul!

Pretty funky stuff

Lwk ts album hits differently while doing murder mysteries

Lovely production. Great mixture of funky shit and really soulful love ballads that are equal in hitting the sweet spot. Reverb-y guitar sound does a lot for that. Love you Curtis

Very nice album. Love the jazzy solos, the blues guitar, a great voice. Not the best author in the genre, but definitely in the top. Perfect for a rainy day at home.

Curtis Mayfield is another one of those artists that your favorite band is a fan of. He was known but for some reason never was huge. He has better albums than this but you can not deny his talents on this album. The cover goes so damn hard. Yet some of the songs fell flat for me. Jesus just didn't hit for me. Yet Blue Monday is on my playlist now, as is Hard Times. It's a great album even when it doesn't do it for me. I will be listening to his entire discography again now.

I think you either love Curtis or he does nothing for you. I'm the former. This one is kind of low-key throughout, but still something about it gets under your skin.

The only other record I've had from Curtis Mayfield so far was Superfly and although that was fine, I am really happy to have a non-soundtrack album from him. I think he deserves that for sure. From the first bass notes of this record I can tell I'm going to love it. Funky guitar comes in, vocals begin. This is going to be a good one. I love the grooves, and all the instrumentation is really great. Super laid back vibe that I could listen to all day. Jury's out on the vocals but they aren't off putting and fit well. Then there's a weird song about Jesus for some reason. It loses points for that. Write all the songs about Jesus you want but I feel like there is a different genre for that and it's oddly out of place on a mainstream record like this. The record is a too short, I was sad it ended. And that's the mark of a good album I think. I don't think this is the best early funk/soul record but I do really like it and will probably play it from time to time. 3.75/5

I love Curtis Mayfield’s silky voice. This album is political and impactful but it is a little one note. I enjoyed it thoroughly but I also have come to find through this that I love soul.

bello! l’unica roba sono le canzoni lunghissime che un po’ mi rompono

1970s smooth soul… classic sounds.. falcetto vocals… an album I really enjoyed 4 stars

The smoothest of smooth soul. So good, but hard for me to pay attention to. 4/5

Wow, heard of Curtis Mayfield but had no idea what he was about until listening to this album.

liked it. should’ve been 3,5 but they don’t have the 3,5 option

4/5

Great vibe, need to listen to more Curtis Mayfield

Spoko, nie spodziewałem się że tak przyjemnie się będzie tego słuchać

very smooth

70’s AF

Very good

I really like Curtis Mayfield. Great album. Didn’t love it as much as the song ‘Move on up’ so gave it a 4.

Pre: love funky soul, have listend to other Mayfield and the 1st song but not the rest Post: great album, love the horns and grooves , fav track was so in love

soft but grooovy

90/1001 :: War - The World is a Ghetto Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 8 Listen before you die: Yeah I don’t know if I’ll really ever listen to this again but I should. This is a damn good album. This is real soul.

Enjoyed this! Love his style. Good times.

Altså det er ikke Curtis eller Superfly, men det er Curtis Mayfield, så det er ganske fly. Mye mer laidback soul enn de tidligere nevnte, og selv om jeg foretrekker Mayfield i Curtis-modus, fucker jeg med dette også. Perfekt for en regntung høstdag.

Perfekt å starte dagen med

Dette er en masterclass i tilbakeholdenhet. Nydelig

Such a good ride

A classic, a legend.

Billy Jack is such a vibe.

Fun.

4.2/i didn't take a good look at the album art before listening and i thought this would be mid. i was pleasantly surprised. i guess that was the point, wasn't it

One of the better albums I've heard here. Might become one of 5 star ratings but I am not sure anymore. It requires more relistens for sure.

Y'know, the album my group got right before this one was LCD Soundsystem's 'america dream,' and I had to restrain myself from making any... Topical-as-of-this-writing commentary. "Oh-ho, the American dream? Let me tell you...!" You ain't come here for that. I ain't come here for that. I'll spare both of us. This album hardly has any relevant commentary of its own anyway, far as I can tell. CUT TO: the following night. And what does the Randomizer spit out at us? A lil' record by the name of 'THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE AMERICA TODAY.' If you can't guess what **this** album is about... Like, I'm surprised the Randomizer didn't just flash up a double dog dare for me to get political up in this muhfuh. It's kind of unavoidable if you wanna deal with this album's subject matter — I mean, what, you're gonna try and be apolitical about 'What's Going On' next? Gimme a break. But, y'know, how 'bout this: just for my own sake, I'll avoid any RECENT recent events. Right? Is that fair? Lemme jus' talk about 2025 as a whole if I hafta talk about it all? OK? Good. So anyway, Curtis Mayfield! I presume that this album is to him what HOT BUTTERED SOUL is to Issac Hayes — specifically in that it's the album of theirs on this list that isn't a blackploitation soundtrack. Though unlike Issac Hayes (and I'll admit this up front), I kind of had no idea who Curtis Mayfield was until I saw that he'd also done SUPER FLY? So, it's not a good sign right off the bat, I'd say. But, hey, SUPER FLY is one of the greatest soundtrack albums of all time (and I'm not just parroting the consensus here). So, if he can pull that off, who's to say he can't handle his own 'What's Going On,' huh? I mean, let's be fair and not compare this to 'What's Going On.' Curtis Mayfield is not Marvin Gaye, and this album is sure as heck not 'What's Going On.' That is **not** an album you'd wanna try and compare yourself to. But even if you remove it from your mind all together... I gotta admit, I wish I liked this more than I did? And let me be crystal clear: I liked this album a **lot**. My issue (ultimately a small one) is that... I expected it to be bigger? Like, it's maybe just a bit more relaxed than I thought an album with a title like 'There's No Place Like America Today' would be. Certainly, if anyone in 2025 was gonna make an album with a sarcastic title like that, it'd be big and **pissed**. Like, come on, Curtis — talk to 'em! I know you can use hard language: I've heard you sampled on "Jesus Walks". But maybe I'm spoiled by other 70's soul. Even putting Gaye aside, when I think of 70's soul, I'm bound to think of Issac Hayes and his larger-than-life psychedelic soul, or Stevie Wonder's transcendental funk soul. Certainly, I'm spoiled by Stevie's political tracks. "You Haven't Done Nothin'"? "Village Ghetto Land"? "Living For The City"? What tunes! What commentary! It's still a high as hell standard to hold anyone to. So, lemme more meet Curtis where he is. 'Coz even if the music on this album isn't as big as I'd want it to be, it's still smooth as all get out. Curtis has a great voice, and it pops out over these instrumentals — which are also great, I should say! These instrumentals ain't no Funk Brothers work (maybe they're a bit **too** tight for their own good?), but they do well enough for themselves and then some. Love that chill groove thing they got. The album's a good time all around. In the grand scheme of 70's soul protest album, this one obviously lives in the shadow of the Big One over there. Taken on its own, however, it's far from bad. If you like your protest music silky smooth, this wouldn't be a bad one to stop off at. And either way, you're bound to hear something that's... Sadly still all too relevant today. Boy, you sure do love when nothing fundamentally changes, eh? America: still ain't no place like it. And that's my political commentary for the night, folks! Hope you enjoyed it! I'll be here next week!

вау. There's No Place Like America Today, це правда. мені здається, єдиний цікавий погляд на америку залишився саме у темношкірих митців, бо погляд нейтів амеріканців дуже далекий від того, чим є америка зараз, а всі інші просто дратують або втомлюють. дуже приємний альбом.

Usually, when the album ends, Spotify's algorithm utterly spoils whatever groove was happening within a song or two. But not today-- turns out the AI digs 70s funk. This makes me feel a little less hopeless about the future.

king curtis! popular opinion woulda put his 1970 solo debut here, but i like it when the lesser known albums are included.

Pleasant surprise! Slick as hell

Soul, Funk, sehr schön

I'm not American, I don't believe in Jesus, and some of this was better suited to the bedroom than my morning commute, but I really liked this. The recommendations on Spotify afterwards opened my ears to a whole bunch of new tracks too!

Sounds a bit 70s pornoy All really good though

First impression: "Wow what an image." The lyrics held true to theme. Poignant and still tragically relevant in 2025. Nonetheless Curtis somehow makes this social liberation blues record sound like hot sticky sex? 3.8 outta 5

Great music for Sunday afternoon listening with a lot of positivity and great vibes in songs like "So in Love " "Jesus," and "Love to the People." "Billy Jack" is a great short story song about race relations and a tragic outcome. I had never heard much of Mayfield beyond "Superfly," and I really enjoyed this one.

The album was warm and soulful.

just what i needed

Nice fuck music.

Not the most dynamic album out there but the mood is so great I'll go back to it really soon

Curtis is a master at crafting progressive soul and funk music.

Slow smooth melancholy funky

It lacks a standout banger like Move On Up or Superfly, but it’s Curtis Mayfield so it’s still going to be great.

Brilliant horn arrangements, tasty guitar licks (love those wah-wah pedals), great vocals and insightful social commentary all make for a wonderful album.

Loved the discreet funky vibe, smooth arrangements and emotional songwriting. The instrumentation is great, even if it lacks a bit of punch. Not a big fan of his voice on this album, though - I usually love Curtis Mayfield's semi-falsetto, but this time he's going a bit too high for my taste. The album as a whole is a strange mix of social commentary and sexual tension, with a little bit of Jesus thrown into the mix to make it even more confusing. I’m not entirely sure Sexy Jesus is the answer to social oppression, but whatever sails your boat, man. A pleasant listen overall, even if it doesn't reach the phenomenal power of his debut record (Curtis). It’s often corny, but it's so incredibly smooth that my sex-appeal probably increased by 10 % just by listening to this album. A solid 4*.

Nice funk soul

fantastic cover art omg

It was a good album. Curtis Mayfield always a good choice. Very chill, very funky.

I enjoy it! It’s very catchy and I added many of the songs to my playlists. It feels very british and autumnal back to school gothenburg vibes. Feels kind of like I have heard some of the songs before but I’m not sure.

Overall, I thought this album was good, but not something I would be returning to. The vocals at points are just too high pitched for me. I’m more of a Gil Scott Heron kind of guy. The themes of the album stood at as a social commentary of the times back then, but felt like it was the same stuff a lot of artists were putting out. Gotta respect the legacy of Curtis Mayfield, but it ain’t a 5 from me.

Album was SMOOTH. Beautiful instrumentals. Beautiful vocals. And the social commentary was on point.

Better than Coldplay

4/5

Guay, rollo soul-funk aunque se hace un poco repetitivo, tampoco soy muy fan del género

Funky grooves for 36 minutes. Helluva enjoyable listening experience. Will return to this soon.

Great voice, great band, very good album.

Love it. a bit too slow but definetely a good one

A little slow for the mood I was in, but still very good Probably would have been a 5 without the Jesusy stuff

3.5 - Good

Cool album. Definitely something I wouldn’t have come across on my own

Very pretty, sparkling syrup. Can't deny it is good, but not something I'd listen to often.

Beautifully funky! It's like Marvin Gaye with a little more anger. I wish he didn't sit in the falsetto so much, but it's a stylistic decision. I think the music actually blunts the emotion a bit, because there are times it gets boppy, and he's pretty upset here. My Rating: 4/5

This is cool, I was only familiar with 'Move on Up' so expected something more upbeat, but I enjoyed the chilled out vibes. The vocals are great albeit I had heard enough falsetto by the end. Loved the bass and guitar playing, very groovy and sets a good tone

Chill af grooves. Glad I went back to it before rating it, would’ve regretted dropping a 3 and moving on with my life.

Enjoyable throughout. I think that Curtis Mayfield has some better albums out there, and the Supafly soundtrack is a hell of a listen, but this was still very good.

Good.

Really great very unique soul music that I haven't delved into much before. No absolute stand out tracks but consistently good 4.3/5

Corto pero potente 🔥 Música chill pero del tipo que me gusta

me encantan las vibes

Really enjoyable listen, from the singing to the laid-back but groovy sound.

Another fine crafter of albums and lyrics.

Very chill.

me sorprendió, me gusta lo que escuche, es más seguí escuchando algunas canciones dientes de el Curtis, por eso es que hago este "reto"

Fantastic album. Never heard it before. Too short.

Very groovy, not that long of an album, puts you in a good mood.

Falsetto blues, solid, classic, background music - not as good as ROOTS or CURTIS

Uh ohhhh, funkyyyyy

Lots of fun on her, I could listen to this stuff all day.

Direct precursor to some of the alt-soul artists we have today like D’Angelo. Very interesting to have these slow grooves and tasteful, but not flashy, instrumentals. Even his singing is restrained; I mean he’s not exactly wailing. It’s good, it’s like chill rainy day funk. Pensive soul. Must-listen #185.

I have heard other Mayfield albums, of course, this is a bit more laid back album, less pulsating bombastic. Solid funk. So in Love is a standout. Seems good but maybe not essential Mayfield. 3.5 - rounded up Heard before? No Owned: No. 1/1001, 1/6 (16%) Will I get? No Recommend: Sure

A really fun listen. No tracks shined brighter than the others, but as a whole, it’s a great album. So In Love seems to be the most popular song from this record and it’s a jam for sure. The horns!

Theres No Place Like America Today - Curtis Mayfield Really enjoyed this one. Short and a breeze to get through, easy to listen, great vocals, sounds great 4/5

Lovely and smooth once again from your man. A grower. First track is excellent.

Vibes

What a great surprise! This is a really good album, I love the groove and the energy even with the falsetos. Definitely will be listening to more Curtis' music! 4 out of 5 stars!

nice grooves -still have problems with too much falsetto

Love his voice

Really like this album, great discovery, funky, interesting, political, but doesn't stick as well as some other R&B albums for me.

Oh man. Really, really good. This is a rare one for me -- I usually don't give much mind to lyrics, and my enjoyment of an album is mostly due to the music itself. Not here. Powerful, powerful words. THIS is poetry in music, and everything helps serve the message Mayfield is trying to get across. The vibe is a little repetitive, but I think the album is the right length to make it work. "So in Love" almost seems out of place, but I don't think it is. There's this constant push and pull in the album of trying desperately to find hope and joy and love in a broken nation that seems dead-set on making sure you never will. So, it works: it's a momentary triumph. And this album as a whole is a complete one. Fave songs: Everything. Edit: upon a second listen, I’m dropping this a bit. Can’t quite get over Mr. Mayfield’s voice. Love him though.

This was a great new surprise.

Heavy religious influence in this album but in how it influenced the everyday worker

Rating (1-5): ✩✩✩✩ Higlighted songs: So in love Good chill vibes

There's No Place Like America Today is pure, soulful funk at its finest. The clear highlights are "Billy Jack" and "So in Love," both incredible. An enjoyable listen from start to finish—this one hits just right.

Still funky and atmospheric, even though the album is more subdued than much of Curtis Mayfield’s other work. The melancholic tone and socially critical lyrics give the album depth, yet it never loses its groove along the way. A strong and atmospheric record that works both as a political statement and a musical experience. 4/5

Standouts Billy Jack Hard Times Love to the People

I struggled to enjoy it as I'm not a massive fan of funk and soul, so my attention was easily distracted, but it was good music. Just not my cup of tea.

It’s so funky you forget to pay attention to the lyrics. An album of songs that make me think of movies

I was listening to this and my dad overheard and talked to me about how he heard this album in the Marines, when one of the black dudes in his Recon platoon introduced him to Soul music. This music goes steady enough to let you ponder the lyrics while enjoying the rhythm.

Pure Funk Curtis' voice is smooth as silk

Not Curt's best but I like it. Hard Times especially. Can't believe the brother Christgau disliked it so much. He's a confusing man.

The more I listen to it, the better it gets. What a smooth, sexy, but intelligent album.

Not my favorite Curtis album but still so great.

America's on the ropes, but this is a nice album (but it's no Super Fly).

Something totally new but so relaxing to listen to

Hadn't heard this album before, but I'm a fan. Funky (without being TOO funky) with some great singing from Mr. Mayfield. I will definitely work this into the rotation.

Soulful sexy time with some spirituality thrown in.

This feels a lil caricature-esque. Like the first couple beatles are like well ofc they sound like that. Thats exactly what youd expect. And this is like a meme in a way, but it sounds really good?

Very chill, feel good. Amazing as background music for setting a good, chill mood.

nice voices

Isss gooood 4/5

Bora já dizer o que todo mundo pensa. Sim, este disco é o “What’s Goin’ On” do Curtis. Pronto, podemos continuar agora. Um disco introspectivo e mais pra baixo que os maiores hits do Curtis Mayfield. Mas não tem erro, a voz dele, os temas mais conscientes, A VOZ DELE, a instrumentalização magistral de Soul, A..VOZ…DELE! Uma combinação fantástica. Um álbum curto, que te surpreende e te move e logo acaba, te deixando com uma vontade absurda de ouvi-lo novamente, sem perder tempo. Só a canção introdutória, Billy Jack, já entrega 4 estrelas para o disco. O resto só adiciona. 4/5

Good political and conscious soul, curtis stays consistent as he usually does. Gets kind of uninteresting around the end but still good. 7/10 Favourite: Billy Jack Least Favourite: Jesus

Surprisingly enjoyed it! Missing the one piece that pulls it all together, but great album.

Have never heard his work before. Donald Glover certainly took inspiration from him on some of his Childish Gambino work! Very cool album

Smooth, nice to listen to. Sometimes his falsetto scrapes my ears, but on the whole, this was a very enjoyable album.

Well. I really liked it. Yeah. Must relisten, though.

7.4

man, i really really dig some Curtis Mayfield. this album was such a joy to listen to. i was out walking in the sunshine last week catching up on this album, and man it just makes me want to jam.

Such good vibes. I really liked it. Love the style, love the singing. But a bit glad that it was pretty short because I could see myself getting bored with it if I carried on for too long.

Corto y mayoría fue sonido extraño

What a great sound! Compelling vocal performance

Funk, soul, and all the good feels. I can certainly see where newer artists were influenced by Curtis Mayfield.

Love the funkyness and grooviness of this record and the bass lines are beyond superb: 8/10

Soulful no superfly but I enjoyed it

First off, what an album cover. Wow. It really caught my attention. It’s sad that 50 years later this is still relevant. Now to the music, I know some Curtis Mayfield material but I’d never heard There’s No Place Like America Today. This album starts off really strong and continues a wonderful soulful journey over the next six songs. I really love the musical arrangements on these songs. And combined with Mayfield’s vocals, they allude a profound and heartfelt sentiment. I found myself appreciating There’s No Place Like America Today more and more as I listened to it. I would add this to my library. A very good album. I’m going with a 4 rating. 4/5

god this is so good. so in love is one of the best tracks ever recorded

I love a short king (re: album length)

Great album. Some of the vocals were a little annoying though.

This was very nice. Turns out I’m kinda into politically charged soul. Simpsons: Yes

Soooo chilled

More commentary on American society. Really nice relaxed soul album. Curtis’ falsetto is smooth and invigorating.

Wow! I’ve never listened to a full Curtis Mayfield album before. Really really great. “So In Love” is maybe one of my new favorite songs of all time. I see SO many reasons why Mayfield was influential. I immediately think of D’Angelo’s Voodoo and Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterly. “Blue Monday People” also an awesome stand out! 10 tracks no fluff.

Great and funky

just some solid, patient funk. never gonna complain about albums like this on the list

Based on album art alone this is going to be powerful. Great music, wonderful voice, painful lyrics.

Maybe it is because I listened to this on the first sunny day we've had in weeks, but I feel like a better person for having listened to it.

Excellent album, and it does hang together as a whole cohesive album and not just a collection of banging tunes. OK, there is nothing as iconic as "Move On Up", but considering the subject of the album, it's not a surprise. Well worth listening to.

Short, sweet and soulful.

Пока лихорадка диско захватывала один танцпол за другим, Кёртис Мейфилд даже не пытался уловить пульс новых ритмов. Он окинул округу взглядом бывалого репортёра и разразился почти что проповедью, далёкой как от бликов зеркального шара, так и от упругого фанка своих предыдущих альбомов. Американская мечта оказалась фальшивкой. От неё осталась лишь облупившаяся краска на щитах с приторно-идеальными семьями белозубого среднего класса. Вот кусочки той самой краски - в трауре новостных программ и передовиц, в плошке бобов на столе малоимущих, в пыли тротуаров под ногами очередей безработных и в пороховых газах оружия сброда подворотен. Не надейтесь на время - оно не лечит, а лишь добавляет шрамы. В этом весь "There's No Place Like America Today" - печальный, эмпатичный и на редкость задумчивый альбом. Аранжировки подстать содержимому - чуть монотонные, неспешные и полные воздуха, они призывают замедлить шаг или остановиться вовсе, вздохнуть и прислушаться. Не к лоску импозантного баса, вкрадчивым партиям органа или неброским фразам духовой секции, а прислушаться к себе и ко всему миру. Надрывные высокие ноты Мейфилда обескураживают, но в его палитре есть место не только десяткам оттенков чёрного и серого - он говорит о тяжести и боли, не забывая о важности надежды, сколь бы призрачной она ни была. Да, времена не из лучших, но у нас есть любовь, чувство братства, вера, национальная гордость в конце концов! Наивно? До крайности, но если эта отдушина позволяет хоть ненадолго забыться, если эти эфемерные понятия обращаются твёрдой клюкой, то не всё ли равно? Кого-то смутит сильная религиозная нота и избитые посылы, да и в перспективе дискографии артиста "America Today" явно не сильнейшая из его работ, но к его чувственной созерцательности стоит прикоснуться, даже если вы далеки от расовых и социальных раздоров

Wonderful soul record from front to back, with powerful themes of injustices to marginalized populations in America. Curtis Mayfield has such an amazing voice, which compliments the production perfectly. Some tracks went on for a bit too long (notably Jesus), but that's the only complaint from me.

This is an album that deserves to stand alongside What's Going On by Marvin Gaye as an inditement of the state of America. Mayfield sings of poverty, violence and oppression counterbalanced by love and faith. A great soul album, in the truest sense of the word.

I enjoyed this. Mayfield's voice is pleasant to listen to, the tracks were funky, and it didn't overstay its welcome.

hooked with the first song

I feel like this rewards deep and background listening. Really well written, played, and recorded music, that is also great just for vibes.

Show, but good

Have to be in the right mood for this but it hits

Enjoyable soul. 4/5

Love me some horns and funky guitars

Very nice

Beautiful, funky, sonically adventurous. Especially the instrumental work. The constant falsetto vocal became a bit overbearing eventually.

Genuinely amazing. Other than the Jesus song, every tune on here was pretty bangin! I only know his work from the superfly soundtrack and some other key tunes, but I've never given a full album of his a listen. Great stuff.

A solid, short, funky album.

Funk is one of those genres that can be almost inaccessible, but this album is very good. It's influences (soul, jazz, R&B, rock) are obvious, but it is in no way merely derivative.

love the vibe, but songs sound quite the same

Familiar with mayfield’s music but never given this one a listen. Love the politically conscious lyrics. Musically it is sublime; the bass lines really shined for me. Needs a few more listens to really get a hold of what’s going on here 3.5 / 5

Good music. I had heard the name before today, but knew nothing else about him. I can see how music today is still influenced by him.

What a smooth as hell record.

Like a funky companion piece to MG’s What’s Going On? Positive vibes against the worst of the world. Photo that the cover is based on (by Margaret Bourke-White) is brilliant.

Pleasantly surprised! Feels very modern for a 40 year old album. Nice, relaxed and good produced

I have never listened to this album all the way through. Some of the song titles look familiar. I know and love So In Love. Blue Monday People is hard. The drums and percussion fucking snap. Some really great songs and awesome production.

One of Curtis Mayfield's best albums.

I don’t know enough about the genera here to really know if this is any good or not. It seemed entirely fine to me, although nothing set the world on fire as such. Pretty solid and I’d listen again.

This dude is a hip cat!!! Not sure how you couldn’t enjoy Curtis Mayfields vibe.

I love Curtis Mayfield, but not super familiar with this album, so this is a great listen. It's certainly not up to the epic level of Superfly, but that's maybe the greatest funk/soul album of all time--it's incomparible. First two tracks are solid, and So in Love is a decent love track. The gospel track 4 is pretty iffy, but it's not bad musically, I guess. Just a little much for me. Hard Times is the standout track here--deep funky groove. Also the sample for a Ghostface or Raekwon track--I can't remember which "There's no love to be found..." Love to the People is a great finisher. All around short but sweet album. 4/5