14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
They call me Casper..., Mar 15 2003
By Teddy - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Stretchin' Out (Audio CD)
Let me take you back just a little bit...to a time of 6-inch afros, platform shoes, strawberry and coconut scented afro hairspray, dashikis, Mad Dog 20/20, Wild Irish Rose and Yago Sangria wine. (I never thought some of these things would make a comeback in the late `90s and 21st century...but...oh well.) It's the mid `70s, the funk decade, and I'm a freshman at Salem State College in Salem, MA. My roommate burst into the room late one Saturday night, and he was ecstatic as he described a song ("Stretchin' Out...") he had just heard played at the campus radio station. We were, and still are, loyal funkateers, as he explained that Funkadelic/Parliament's bass player, Bootsy Collins, had gone solo. Other than seeing his name on P-Funk album credits, I had no idea who Bootsy was or what he looked like, but I knew if he was associated with the funk mob he had to be badder than a 3-year-old in church early Sunday morning. When I finally purchased and had the opportunity to listen to the entire album, I was blown away. With the volume knob turned to 10, I must've pumped those grooves into my cerebral cortex at least three dozen times that day before I finally gave the album a much needed rest.
From start to finish, this album quenches your thirst for the sweet nectar of old-school funk. The opening track "Stretchin Out..." is so nasty and funky you'll swear you can smell and see the vapors comin' off the disc/album, and you're personally introduced to the sub-sonic twangs and bangs of Bootsy's intergalactic, custom-made "Space Bass"; you'll never be the same again. Just as you're ready to give your booty a rest, "Psychoticbumpschool" snatches you by bootyus maximus and forces you, although pleasantly, to shake what your mamma gave ya. "Another Point of View", the sleeper jam on the album, is just as funky but with a smoother groove guided by either a cowbell or woodblock tempo, with an ethereal synthesizer outro. "I'd Rather Be With You" is one of those songs you listen to when you're on the phone late at night, candles glowing, incense burning, trying to convince that special someone to drop by for a late night snack...if you know what I mean. The aptly named "Vanish in Our Sleep", the final track, will tuck you in for the evening after your ear holes have been thoroughly satisfied. Bottom line: If you are accumulating research material for your PhD in funkology, this CD is an absolutely essential.
Warning: Make sure all research references are listed on your footnote page. Plagiarism will not be tolerated!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Casper's Ghost, Jan 25 2000
By Aaron M Koski - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Stretchin' Out (Audio CD)
Speaking as a serious funkateer, a devout follower of the p-funk crew, I was hesitant to embrace the various side projects of the pfunk members. A friend told me to check this album out and I'm glad he did. Usually it takes about 2 or 3 times to listen to an album for me to start getting into the funk, but from I was bobbin and weavin from the gate on this one. You could really call this a parliament or funkadelic album since all the essential members are here, but Bootsy puts it over the top. I mean he grabs the groove by the throat and doesn't let go. All tracks are solid, but the first 2 tracks are killer. My recommendation is to fall asleep listening to the final track, you'll be guaranteed to be visited by Bootsy and Bernie in your dreams. Funky dreams!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
hallelulah, Oct 11 2001
By Sherance M. Brothers - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Stretchin' Out (Audio CD)
man you must buy this cd if you love p-funk, or is a bootsy fan, this cd has punishing basslicks all to the last song, the first jam stretchin out has bootsy introducing casper to the world the jam is infectuious man, then the next cut psychoticbumpskool has casper coming back to haunt us for a second round while the rubber band gives us their names then bootsy gives us a punishing wicked bassline you'll be like man does this stop, funk no-then another point of view has casper for a third round this time the rubber band goes maggot brain, damn-catfish is underrated, i'd rather be with you is one of the best p-funk songs of all time and one of the most sampled mudbone gets his props, i love boot's vocals he made ballads cool, the next cut love vibes features leslyn bailey who only stuck around for this album, not a bad jam at all highly overlooked, the cut physical love is the bomb for these reasons, 1 bootsy gives us a wicked bassline, 2 mudbone, and les sound good together, then finally this song features guitar work from eddie hazel himself can this not be even more funky, the last cut vanish in our sleep is the swan song the vocals are dreamy like i said the bomb props to bootsy the greatest bassist of all time, mudbone, p-nut, leslyn bailey, bernie worrell, fred wesley, maceo, kush, catfish, frank waddy, rick gardner the rubber band was one of p-funk's best side projects thank you james brown and george clinton for recognizing bootsy's talent.