Search - George Clinton :: Computer Games

Far from perfect, but a great addition to the P-Funk canon

finulanu | Here, there, and everywhere | 07/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Clinton's most famous solo project, and there's a good reason for that. It's exactly the kind of bizarre, goofy funk record George is known for, and while it's not as good as peak P-Funk - there's a bit too much drum machine here for my taste, especially considering this guy used to work with the legendary drummer Jerome Brailey - it's still great, packed to the gills with memorable dance songs. The unforgettably loopy, oft-sampled hit "Atomic Dog" is here, and it rivals the best of the whole Parliafunkabootsydelicmant Thang, with its bizarre lyrics, gigantic chanted hook, crazed voiceovers, and highly danceable rhythms, it's an inarguable funk classic. I've heard all of the lyrics were improvised, and I'd believe that. The extended groove "Man's Best Friend/Loopzilla" is here too, and it's impossible not to dance to it - like the best of Clinton's extendo dance tracks, the thirteen minutes just fly by, and its references to old Motown, Funkadelic, and other soul hits of the '60s and '70s are genius. And, despite a few truly annoying moments like the cloying "Pot Sharing Tots," most of the other songs are quite good too: the frenetically-paced title track, with goofy voices and bizarre sci-fi keyboards; "Get Dressed" is an entertaining but ordinary dance tunnel; "Free Alterations" is a fine example of Clinton's odd way with a slow jam. I suppose one could complain that it's in the typical P-Funk mold, but the typical P-Funk mold is fantastic, so there you have it. I'm not gonna complain at all. To me, the only real disappointment is the lack of truly awesome songs. "Man's Best Friend" and "Atomic Dog" are certainly up there, but there's not enough honestly classic material to put it at the same level as the Motor-Booty Affair, let alone Mothership Connection, Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome, Maggot Brain, One Nation Under a Groove, or a few of my choice Bootsy discs. Still, if you've got all the key Parliament, Funkadelic, and Bootsy discs, this makes a great companion piece. This is the only solo Clinton album I've heard so far, but my sources tell me that this is the best, and that most the rest are disappointing. If that's true, it's a shame, because this is a really promising start. Most of Clinton's other solo discs are supposed to be out-of-print, but I'm practically surrounded by used record stores, so hopefully I can explore more."

Last Of The Mohicans

Steven Majors | Washington Dc | 12/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This entire CD is on the one. Of course "Atomic Dog" is the main cut, however "Man's Best Friend" is also a funky type of "Knee Deep" groove. "Loopzilla" is also a good song to dance to. The title cut "Computer Games" is as crazy as the artist. LOL. However, this album has a Funkadelic overtone. With musicians like Bootsy, Bernie, Mike, Junie, Eddie Hazel, Garry Shider and ect ect. it's worth buying. I think this is the best George Clinton album of all time. It's a R&B Clssid and for the life of me I don't understand why it did not make the national top 40. Even the title cut went to 80 something on the charts. Go figure. George did get a award for the best video of that year.



Go for ur funk"

Not quite the comeback it's touted to be

aarong | Maryland | 06/01/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Computer Games is commonly thought of as a glorious comeback after several mediocre P-Funk releases (particularly Parliament's Gloryhallastoopid and Trombipulation). However, to be honest it has a lot of the same flaws as Trombipulation. At this point, electronics had largely replaced the exciting musicianship of past albums, and despite relatively few downright bad songs, P-Funk's songwriting had become undistinguished. After the opening track, the only discernable instruments on this ablum are horns in one song and a couple random guitar solos. The key difference is that unlike Trombipulation (but very much like Gloryhallastoopid), this album had a couple diamonds in the rough.



Computer Games starts promisingly with "Get Dressed," a very standard Parliament-style song featuring Horns and Bootsy on bass. While it's nothing new, Clinton's vocals are among his funniest ever. "Man's Best Friend" is somewhat banal, but segues perfectly into the album's first essential song - "Loopzilla." "Loopzilla" is a long collage of electronic sounds and references to past songs, and unique among Clinton's catalogue to this point. "Pot Sharing Tots" is a very good retro throwaway, in a spirit similar to Parliament's "Wizard of Finance."



However, the second half is where it really becomes clear this isn't one of Clinton's great albums. "Atomic Dog" is of course the second essential song here. However, after a passable start, "Computer Games" begins sounding like filler when Clinton goes on about how he can "out ___ a ___" for 5 minutes straight. Meanwhile, "Free Alterations" and "One Fun at a Time" are okay, but so forgetable the album might as well have ended early.



I'd give the album 3.5 stars, on account of "Loopzilla," "Atomic Dog," and a relatively consistent first half."