551. The Meters

(February 2024) Episode 551 is THE METERS. This funked me up. This New Orleans set didn’t have the flash or flame of funkmasters like Brown or Clinton. Instead it was just pure unadorned funk, a foursome of guitar, drums, bass and keyboard that delivered a simple yet delicious groove. Instrumentals only on the first two albums. By the third album they got more sophisticated, adding horns and vocals. The opening song from their first album, “Cissy Strut,” was featured in Jackie Brown and other movies. The band’s leader was Art Neville, who later joined his brothers to form one of New Orleans’ iconic musical groups. This is fun listening.

Favorite album: Rejuvenation

Favorite song: Funky Miracle

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: Try the first two albums of bare-bones instrumental funk, and next the middle four of a fuller sounds, and pick your style. No need to bother with the last two that tend toward smooth soul and disco. They do get an award for honesty-in-admitting-you’re-following-trends by naming the first song off their 1976 album “Disco Is the Thing Today.”