Search - Grand Funk Railroad :: E Pluribus Funk

SURELY ONE OF THE BEST OF ALL TIME

Brian Seiber | Texas | 04/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know how many rocords, cassettes I have worn out listening to. CD's do last longer. If you're not a big Funk fan, I invite you to listen to this one. I think you will become one. I got the unique oportunity to meet and visit with the band a few years ago, and they are just as real and genuine as their music. I saw them in concert last year and they haven't lost anything, if anything, they have meshed their spirit, soul and talents even more. I believe this is one of their best recordings, and hope you will too."

Their downfall begins here

Ilya Malafeyev | Russia | 11/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Let's have it straight right from the beginning, this is a pretty good album. It may be not the best introduction to the band's music, but it stands quite strong in GFR discography. And it was selling pretty well, too. #5 in Billboard's chart, plus 2 singles from a 7-songs-long LP. Nice, eh?



However, to me this CD marks the beginning of Grand Funk Railroad's fall into mainstream and generic arena-rock realm. "E Pluribus Funk" shows the band that doesn't want to develop songwriting, but instead chooses to implement very simple melodic hooks, primitive groove and very plain singing. Even attempts to spice the things up with some funky guitar riffing and studio jamming doesn't help much. The band still shows inspiration for the most part of this album, but, as I said, the mainstream trend already shows itself too obviously here.



"E Pluribus Funk" is good to listen to, but once it's over, you don't have much to recall, with about the only exception being the fastest song here and the best single, "Foot-stompin' Music". GFR only went downhill from here, and their unsurpassed masterpieces are "Closer to Home" and "Survival". To the newcomers I'd recommend to start with them."