Funkadelic

Even without the great Eddie Hazel in the fold, Hardcore Jollies features scads of Jimi-like, wah-wah-dripping guitars throughout. An alternate version of "Cosmic Slop" will be of interest to fans, while the album as a whole is standard Funkadelic -- meaning it sounds great if you turn it up super-loud; has some pretty goofy moments; and will never, ever get old.

A good sample of their surrealistic black vaudeville, this offers none of the great climaxes of their Westbound albums--no come shots, you might say--but an abundance of good old-fashioned raunch. As consistent as any album they've made, it's dense with ensemble funk and catchy riffsongs, post-heavy Mike Hampton guitar and post-backlash soul voicings. And it rescues from the public domain not only middle-period Jimmy Page but "Comin' 'Round the Mountain" and "They Don't Wear Pants on the Sunny Side of France." (Grade - A-)