No. 218: Look-Ka Py Py

Band: The Meters
Album: Look-Ka Py Py
Why Rolling Stone gets it right: The house band for Allain Toussaint's New Orleans recording shop, the Meters made funky instrumentals that take as much from Sly and The Family Stone as they did from jazz greats.
Why Rolling Stone gets it wrong: The Meters are largely forgotten in the public consciousness. Hip hop producers haven't forgotten them, but they're not held in the same place as other funk bands of that era.
Best song: The title track is amazing as is "Funky Miracle."
Worst song: They're all pretty great.
Is it awesome?: It's pretty good.

The Meters make their second and final appearance on the list with the band's second record. In comparison to "Rejuvenation," "Look-Ka Py Py" is more laid back. "Rejuvenation" is more based around the emerging Parliament-style funk that was popular, while the organ/drums-based sound on "Look-Ka Py Py" reflects a huge influence from bands like Booker T. And the MGs.

Specifically, the guitar on the record is clearly influenced by Steve Cropper's guitar work from the MGs. The easy rhythmic chords of "This Is My Last Affair" falls into the one or two-line riffing of "Funky Miracle." It's the sweet transition from James Brown's funk to George Clinton's.

Also notable is the start/stop of Ziggy Modeliste's drumwork. Like the great band of Freddie Hubbard, the Meters are able to keep a beat because of Modeliste's devotion to the beat. A lack of overt soloing is striking, but the use of hi-hat augmentation ("Funky Miracle" specifically shows this) is the type of thing you only see in jazz drummers.

Every time I listen to this record, I enjoy it more. It's really the type of thing that works equally as background -- the Meters backed up Dr. John, Paul McCartney and Robert Palmer at different points -- or in the forefront. Complex and funky, "Look-Ka Py Py" is amazing.

No. 138: Rejuvenation

Band: The Meters
Album: Rejuvenation
Why Rolling Stone gets it right: The Meters were one of the premier funk groups of the '70s, taking the mantle from Sly & The Family Stone...
Why Rolling Stone gets it wrong: ... But to rank them above the fully genre-changing Parliament/Funkadelic is a little strange. "Rejuvenation" is a good record, but it's no Parliament.
Best song: The opener, "People Say," is pretty great. The epic "It Ain't No Use" is pretty great.
Worst song: "Loving You Is on My Mind" isn't awesome.
Is it awesome?: It's close. I don't know if it's fully great in the same way the record before it is, but it's still very good.

Let me say, in the interest of full disclosure, that I was not familiar with the Meters before I started this project. The band has two records on the list, so clearly someone at RS finds them to be important.

I know this: There are two Nevilles in The Meters. That's pretty cool, though it's not any of the Nevilles I've heard of (aka Aaron Neville). Coming from New Orleans, the band keeps with the funk rock template of heavy bass, pletny of horns and halting percussion.

I'd be lying if I didn't say that I find it a tiny bit repetitive. About half the record sounds like the other half and there are a lot of chant-type songs ("Jungle Man" and "What'cha Say" come to mind). It's entirely pleasant and the players are all amazing; Leo Nocentelli's guitar solo on "Loving You Is on My Mind" is pretty awesome.

Overall, though, this isn't a great album. It's close, but it's a little too cookie cutter for me to be totally impress. Spoiled by P-Funk, I'm not in love with The Meters.