Thinking big,
Bootsy Collins’ 2011 effort is a conceptual trip, a funky history lesson brought to life by the
P-Funk veteran, his rock-solid band, and a slew of guest stars, ranging from rapper
Ice Cube to professor
Cornel West. In between, there’s funk-rock shredding from freaky and frequent collaborator
Buckethead, some psychedelic storytelling by way of an old
Jimi Hendrix interview, plus better-than-expected prose from both Rev. Al Sharpton (on the cultural magnificence of
James Brown) and
Samuel L. Jackson (on how the funk era was a Renaissance for the hood). Underneath it all, the
P-Funk jams pop and stroll with that same old swagger, while
Bootsy himself beams down his wild bits of Mothership wisdom, including “It’s recess time, so put a smile on your mind” (“Don't Take My Funk”) and “If you wanna lead the orchestra, you’re gonna have to turn your back to the crowd” (“Siento Bombo”). The album is a bit too fat to be considered classic, but there’s a casual charm to this free-flowing, reminiscence party which could have just as easily been an elaborate mess. A tribute to the late
P-Funk guitarist
Garry Shider and an appearance from
Bootsy’s older brother Catfish Collins -- who died before the album saw release -- add poignancy to this rich and funky success. ~ David Jeffries