mail: daniel_fjall@hotmail.com
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stand!
Stand! Stand! is one fine album. Sly & The Family Stone successfully blends soul, jazz, blues and fine pop melodies into funky James Brown-ish arrangements. Often exciting and rousing with great energy put into every song, which makes it a joy to listen to. Beneath the intensive delivery of the music, the lyrics witness of a political and social awareness that should be taken seriously and not only be regarded as something nice to sing along with the melodies. However, it’s not thanks to the fairly groundbreaking musical ideas or lyrics you will constantly return to Stand!, but because of the good feeling it generates. “I Want To Take You Higher”, “You Can Make It if You Try” and the instant catchy title track are the album’s center pieces, even if they are surrounded by classic worthy material such as the slightly mellower “Everyday People” and “Sing A Simple Song”. Only the overbearingly 13 minutes long, jam instrumental “Sex Machine” is disappointing among these otherwise passionate songs. The groovy bass lines and swinging drums are the main tools in each and every track on Stand! and the horn arrangements are nearly as good, whilst Sly Stone’s lead vocals always are thrilling. Despite the fact that so many genres (if yet closely related to one another) are mixed together, it never sounds messy or shaky. The band is razor sharp, focused and makes something own of whatever source of influence that might dominate a particular song. No matter if it is James Brown, Al Green or Curtis Mayfield you can rely on being blown away. No matter if it is Jimi Hendrix, mature British Invasion or Miles Davis you can be sure to be caught up in the rhythms. More than often, all those artists well known styles are tossed together and you will quickly realize that you’re not listening to any impersonators. You are listening to Sly & The Family Stone.
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