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Childish Gambino released his third studio album, Awaken, My Love! on December 2nd. His last album, Because the Internet was released in 2011. The artists/musicians/songwriters credited on the album are George Clinton, Gary Clark Jr., Ludwig Göransson, Brent Jones and the Best Life Singers. Also, recognition of the session musicians credited as well. (Lynette Williams, Julia Burkert, Thomas Drayton, and many others.)
This album is straight new space-aged funk, with revisits to the greats like Sly Stone with”Have Some Love”, and George Clinton/Funkadelics “Boogieman”, “Zombies”, and “Riot”. Also, Bootsy Collins/Bootsy’s Rubber Band with “RedBone”. The theme of the album seemed like a good mix of R&B melodies, and lyrics impressively giving abstract messages of love, hate, police brutality, and blended families. Distorted falsettos, vintage synths, and late 60’s/70’s psychedelic styled funk/rock instrumentation are playful, energetic, and filled with personality. To say this album is unexpectedly great would be an understatement. Questlove calls it being sucker punched musically. Those sentiments can be concurred because Jesus Tyrone Christ. This is a straight mind blowing album.
Awaken, My Love! is in stores now; also available on all digital outlets.
