George Clinton - R&B Skeletons In The Closet (1986)

A definite improvement over the uneven Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends, the considerably more focused and confident R&B Skeletons in the Closet is one of George Clinton's strongest solo efforts. The P-Funkster continues using technology extensively, but this time, his blend of technology and "real instruments" sounds much more natural. Though not quite in a class with Parliament classics like Mothership Connection or Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome or Funkadelic treasures ranging from Cosmic Slop to Uncle Jam Wants You, Skeletons is a superb collection that's well worth acquiring. The CD kicks into high gear with the wildly infectious "Hey Good Lookin'" and maintains that high level of excitement on such driving, sweaty funk treasures as "Do Fries Go With That Shake?" and the appropriately titled "Intense" and the title song. Clinton's eccentricity and outrageous sense of humor serve him well on "Electric Pygmies" and "Mix-Master Suite," an unorthodox, quirky, and cinematic ode to hip-hop drawing on everything from jazz to classical music to Western movies. Many of Clinton's longtime associates are on hand to help make this album the artistic success it is, including saxman Maceo Parker, trombonist Fred Wesley, and the ever-amusing Bootsy Collins. © Alex Henderson