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Amazon Customer Reviews
My Favorite Album of Theirs, September 2, 2002
Reviewer: cooljam from Seattle, WA United States
This is by far my favorite complete album. You can try to compare it to other eras of the Family Stone, but doing so only points out that it's completely different from all the other albums. It's clear that there was a lot of time spent in the studio here. The grooves are understated, but each track features a symphony of vocals. The songs are each so rich, this is not the party music or political anthem album that you're used to from Sly. Here's a track by track breakdown:

1) Small Talk: A lot of the talk around this album cites Sly's own family stone (wife and kid) as the reason for this mellow, humble selection of songs. The album starts with a very quiet track with a nice bass line where his new baby whimpers along. Very cute, very good background music.

2) Say You Will: This is one of the better songs on the record. Definitely the best instrumental performance, and the vocals are like fudge.

3) Mother Beautiful: One of the most intense songs ever recorded. The background vocals ride in and out like a giant snail, leaving their silvery slimy trails throughout the track.

4) Time for Livin': An anthem of sorts, but a good natured one. This is a great song, I think it went top 10 when the album was released. The Beastie Boys made a hard core cover of this on their Check Your Head album.

5) Can't Strain My Brain: Quiet, but dense in meaning. Sort of a personal theme for Sly, but the song speaks volumes. This is another example of a track that's scantly appointed by the band but indulgently iced by the vocals.

6) Loose Booty: Straight Party. Shadrach, Meschach, Abednego.

7) Holdin' On: Sly asks the band to 'yo punch in' at the beginning. This is a great melt of the band and the vocalists. You'll sing to yourself all day long.

8) Wishful Thinkin': This is an inspirational number. Great lyrics and intense feeling in the vocals.

9) Better Thee Then Me: Pretty good, but not great. It has a questionable theme that makes me not love the song, but I don't turn it off if it comes up on shuffle play.

10) Livin' While I'm Livin': The most apostrophes of any song title on the album. This is another fast and busy Sly song. It's a good time.

11) This is Love: This is boring. I don't like this song. It's a better doo-wop song, but definitely the least ear-catching song on the LP.

I got two copies of this on vinyl from a bearded woman that I worked with in the cafeteria of a mental institution when I was 19 years old. She was emptying closets, her husband was ending his career as an amateur party DJ, and I just acquired a turntable from a friend who doesn't pay back debts in cash (I found out too late). I was initially amazed by the "Mother Beautiful" track, and by the number of rap samples I recognized from the album. This really ushered me out of the east coast suburban metal/rap/punk scene I was into, and if I ever find that bearded woman I'm going to give her a kiss on the mouth.
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A new bass player and drummer signaled a toned-down Family Stone sound. Partially in keeping with changes in much of popular music in the early '70s, and maybe the result of marriage and a child, Sly became more introspective, quieter, and calmer, even employing a string section on various cuts. A less exhilarating album than earlier efforts, there is still much of merit here, including the Top Ten R&B hit "Time for Livin'." Rob Bowman. AllMusic