(Psychedelic, Funk, Soul) [LP] [24/192] Sly & The Family Stone - There's a Riot Goin' On - 1971, FLAC (tracks)

Lineage:
Degritter RCM > Rega P10 Turntable with Rega P10 PSU > Rega Apheta 3 Cartridge > PS Audio NuWave Phono Converter ADC > AudioQuest Carbon USB Cable > USB-IN > Audition CC 2019 @ 24bit float, 192kHz capture.
Processing:
24bit wav > Run through Click Repair 3.9.9 at 10/0 on DeClick > Volume Boost +5/4.3 DB > Remove DC Bias > Saved as 24bit,192kHz WAV > FLAC > Tagged with Discogs tagger through Foobar.
Scans:
Epson Expression 11000XL -> 16bit 600 DPI with Unsharp Mask -> Color Correction in Photoshop CC 2021 x64 -> 8bit 600DPI PNG.

foobar2000 1.6.13 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2022-11-07 01:41:47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Sly & The Family Stone / There's a Riot Goin' On
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12 -0.61 dB -15.43 dB 4:04 01-Luv n' Haight
DR16 -1.44 dB -18.96 dB 5:13 02-Just Like a Baby
DR14 -2.70 dB -19.41 dB 3:02 03-Poet
DR15 -1.08 dB -18.18 dB 3:08 04-Family Affair
DR15 -0.73 dB -19.02 dB 8:46 05-Africa Talks to You 'The Asphalt Jungle'/There's a Riot Goin' On
DR13 -1.66 dB -17.46 dB 3:32 06-Brave & Strong
DR14 -1.48 dB -17.92 dB 2:57 07-(You Caught Me) Smilin'
DR13 -2.92 dB -20.83 dB 3:05 08-Time
DR14 -1.08 dB -15.81 dB 3:59 09-Spaced Cowboy
DR12 -2.48 dB -16.83 dB 2:57 10-Runnin' Away
DR14 -1.04 dB -17.61 dB 7:14 11-Thank You for Talkin' to Me Africa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of tracks: 11
Official DR value: DR14
Samplerate: 192000 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 4842 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

It's easy to write off There's a Riot Goin' On as one of two things -- Sly Stone's disgusted social commentary or the beginning of his slow descent into addiction. It's both of these things, of course, but pigeonholing it as either winds up dismissing the album as a whole, since it is so bloody hard to categorize. What's certain is that Riot is unlike any of Sly & the Family Stone's other albums, stripped of the effervescence that flowed through even such politically aware records as Stand! This is idealism soured, as hope is slowly replaced by cynicism, joy by skepticism, enthusiasm by weariness, sex by pornography, thrills by narcotics. Joy isn't entirely gone -- it creeps through the cracks every once and awhile and, more disturbing, Sly revels in his stoned decadence. What makes Riot so remarkable is that it's hard not to get drawn in with him, as you're seduced by the narcotic grooves, seductive vocals slurs, leering electric pianos, and crawling guitars. As the themes surface, it's hard not to nod in agreement, but it's a junkie nod, induced by the comforting coma of the music. And damn if this music isn't funk at its deepest and most impenetrable -- this is dense music, nearly impenetrable, but not from its deep grooves, but its utter weariness. Sly's songwriting remains remarkably sharp, but only when he wants to write -- the foreboding opener "Luv N' Haight," the scarily resigned "Family Affair," the cracked cynical blues "Time," and "(You Caught Me) Smilin'." Ultimately, the music is the message, and while it's dark music, it's not alienating -- it's seductive despair, and that's the scariest thing about it.