WBlasters of the Universe serves as a sonic witness to the spazzmodifunkalecticnazzbombalicious resurrection of Bootsy. In short this album sees the low-end jokester returning to the swingin', loose-and-fulluv-
juice party grooves that made him famous in the first place.
But one cannot have a truly great party without inviting along a few friends. So, for this particular outing Bootsy snapped together a brand new Rubber Band (a nod to his seminal funk outfit from the late '70s). Furthermore, he rejoined forces with fellow funk disciples George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Buddy Miles, Maceo Parker and The Horny Horns. The result? Two CDs bursting with over two 2 hours of tasty, swaying, and above all else, viral funk.
This double disc package is stuffed to the brim with no less than 28 tracks (Disc 1 drops 14 bombs of pure funk madness while Disc 2 flips extended remixes & instrumental versions of all the cuts featured on Disc 1). Bootsy and company kick out the full width of the funkalectic spectrum, injecting their raving brand of booty shaking rumpus with a touch of the blues, jazz, gospel, soul and acid rock.
Just listen to "Funk Express Card," which is vintage Bootzillafied Bootsy. That is to say it's earth shaking, booty quaking, sticky, gooey fuzznunk. "J.R. [Just Right]" comes complete with sultry female voices and that patented, twiggly Bernie Worrell keyboard signature. And "Bad Girls" hi-lites Bootsy's legendary "space bass" sound, kickin' the low-end into interstellar overdrive something fierce. "Where 'R' The Children" is an infectious funk opera, with captivating female divas belting out the chorus amidst loping bass and wispy keyboard. "Blaster's of The Universe 2 [The Sequel]" manifests itself as a sweltering, posthumous tribute to one time Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel. And "A Sacred Place" is a mutant gospel infected jam complete with revivalist handclaps and blaring B3 organ riffs.
There's no doubt that the sum of Disc 1 is enough to satisfy the appetite of any hardcore funk lover. But remember, this is a Bootsy album, which in effect means that it's more of an affair than just another CD to place on the rack. The remixes on Disc 2 stand on their own, expanding the basic funk formula, turning it on its proverbial head and thus transforming the original versions into out-of-hand funkstrapolations just right for boot stompin' and backside wigglin'.
In the end Blasters of The Universe will take you on the Mothership ride of your life. So grab your funk express card, strap yourself in, and get on down with the second coming, baby! Why? "Cause it's all about the funk. That, my friends, should be reason enough.
