George Clinton and Parliament are back with their first studio album in thirty-eight years titled, Medicaid Fraud Dogg. Boasting a hefty track list of twenty-three new tunes and clocking in at almost-two-hours of funk! Some of the original band’s horn players are on the release: Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Greg Thomas, and Benny Cowan. The music has all the elements one would expect, driving synth bass, funky grooves, great singing, full vocal harmonies and hip horn arrangements. One thing that is surprising is the amount of sound and lyrics that are influenced by todays music (pop and hip-hop) and current events. There are even some quotes from jazz tunes with the vocal and horn lines. There is enough funk and groove on Medicaid Fraud Dogg to keep the money maker shakin’ for years, definitely worth the wait. That’s the short of it!
Positives:
Deep funk grooves and outstanding horn playing and arrangements. The singing and harmonies are spot on.
Bottom Line:
George Clinton states that this will be his final year of touring. Medicaid Fraud Dogg is certainly letting him leave the stage on a high note, but let’s all hope that the studio albums will keep flowing. Medicaid Fraud Dogg brings a current sound to the Parliament library, with strong influences from pop and hip-hop, but also jazz. This stuff is funky throughout the mix of classic and modern influences just makes the funk that much deeper. Let the Funk reign. Great stuff!