America Eats Its Young
Funkadelic · 1972
70 min · 14 tracks · funk
A kaleidoscopic funk odyssey merging social commentary with cosmic grooves and psychedelic experimentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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You Hit the Nail on the Head Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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America Eats Its Young — The title track encapsulates the album's critique of American society through a blend of sharp lyrics and intricate musical arrangements, showcasing the band's signature psychedelic funk.
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If You Don't Like the Effects, Don't Produce the Cause — This track stands out for its bold lyrical assertion on personal responsibility wrapped in infectious grooves, exemplifying Funkadelic's ability to fuse message with danceable rhythm.
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Everybody Is Going to Make It This Time — Offering a sense of hope amidst chaos, this track combines soulful melodies with uplifting lyrics, creating an anthem that resonates with resilience and community spirit.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's experimental structure and thematic depth contribute to its distinctiveness and lasting appeal.
What we noticed
- Several songs incorporate spoken word segments interspersed with musical passages, blending narrative elements with funk instrumentation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- layered, dense sonic textures
- thought-provoking lyrical exploration
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — The album features a deliberate departure with its psychedelic and social commentary themes.
- Themes
- American societal critique· psychedelic funk revolution· personal responsibility in chaos
- Career context
- Released in 1972, America Eats Its Young marked Funkadelic's third studio album, following their breakthrough with Maggot Brain. At this point, the band was solidifying their unique sound and style, pushing the boundaries of funk while addressing sociopolitical themes relevant to the era.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Parliament· Sly and the Family Stone· George Clinton
Tracklist
- 1 You Hit the Nail on the Head Start here 7:13
- 2 If You Don't Like the Effects, Don't Produce the Cause 3:48
- 3 Everybody Is Going to Make It This Time 5:57
- 4 A Joyful Process 6:16
- 5 We Hurt Too 3:51
- 6 Loose Booty 4:53
- 7 Philmore 2:35
- 8 I Call My Baby Pussycat 5:09
- 9 America Eats Its Young 5:54
- 10 Biological Speculation 3:09
- 11 That Was My Girl 3:47
- 12 Balance 5:32
- 13 Miss Lucifer's Love 5:58
- 14 Wake Up 6:29
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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