If there's one album where Bootsy's output suddenly went from brilliant songwriting to tired retreads, it's This Boot Is Made for Fonk-n. His three preceding albums were near-perfect, each employing a healthy balance of manic dancefloor funk and laid-back bedroom funk, as well as a plethora of... [+] Expand

If there's one album where Bootsy's output suddenly went from brilliant songwriting to tired retreads, it's This Boot Is Made for Fonk-n. His three preceding albums were near-perfect, each employing a healthy balance of manic dancefloor funk and laid-back bedroom funk, as well as a plethora of catchy hooks and timeless melodies. With This Boot Is Made for Fonk-n, though, something went wrong for Bootsy. The funk remained, but the songwriting simply lacked both imagination and inspiration. None of the six songs are incredibly unique; the album's three standout songs -- "Under the Influence of a Groove," "Bootsy Get Live," and "Jam Fan (Hot)" -- essentially co-opt the kooky funk of "Bootzilla" from a year before, with long meandering jams anchored by some vocal hooks and over-filled with Bootsy's crazed charisma. In fact, Bootsy's persona crosses the line from comedic to self-parody many times on this album. Up until now he's been content letting Gary "Mudd-Bone" Cooper handle most of the vocals, but here he just can't keep himself away from the microphone. Besides the lack of fresh ideas, songs, originality, and tact on Bootsy's part, the album sorely lacks down-tempo moments. The ballad "Oh Boy Gorl" just isn't enough, and since the other songs rate as some of the most relentlessly dancefloor-oriented epic funk jams released by this group, some relaxing moments are definitely in need. So, in sum, Bootsy's output isn't quite up to par here. Unfortunately, it would only sink lower on successive releases. Yet as easy as it is to criticize this album for not measuring up to its predecessors, it's still filled with great funk jams -- sprawling rather than focused, manic rather than mannered. It's definitely far from a poor album, but undeniably not as well-crafted as Bootsy's first three. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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