| Punk funk | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Late 1970s |
| Derivative forms | |
| Regional scenes | |
| Other topics | |
Punk funk (also hyphenated aspunk-funk) is amusic fusion genre that typically combinepunk rock andfunk influences. It gave way to and is closely associated withdance-punk,avant-funk, andfunk metal, all of which are also alternatively described as punk funk.[1][2][3] The term punk funk has been used to describeCansei de Ser Sexy byCSS,[4]Minutemen, whose nimble punk funk was compared toGang of Four by music criticSimon Reynolds,[5] and "Precious" bythe Jam, described by Uncut as "hypnotically, itchy, punk funk".[6]
Punk funk emerged in the late 1970s, however, it was eclipsed in the 1980s bydance-punk,avant-funk, andfunk metal later in the 1980s, all of which are also alternatively described as punk funk. Despite this, punk funk has been occasionally used in more recent years to describebands such asCSS and their 2005 albumCansei de Ser Sexy.
Ian Dury and the Blockheads, formed in 1977, have been described as punk funk. The earliest punk funk band is probablyTalking Heads,[7] having formed in 1975. Their track "Psycho Killer" opens with afunky bassline,[8] and following this, they brought inBernie Worrell fromFunkadelic into their live band.[9]
Beginning in the 1980s, punk funk itself metamorphosised into dance-punk, avant-funk, and funk metal. Almost all punk funk bands were swept up into these new genres; Gang of Four has been described as dance-punk.[10] The Jam split up in 1982, and its memberPaul Weller formedthe Style Council a year later, which saw Weller take his music in a moresoulful direction,[11] which was only hinted at on later Jam releases. Following Minutemen's 1985 breakup,George Hurley andMike Watt would take their music into a moreexperimental vein withFirehose, although hints of Minutemen's blend of punk, funk, andfree jazz could be heard.[12]
In the 1980s,Rick James would break through with his biggest commercial success in "Super Freak". He has, over the years, branded himself as the "King of punk funk", andThe New York Times andBay State Banner have noted his punk funk sound.[13][14]uDiscover Music argues that the punk context was in his street attitude, and not in amusical one.[15]
In 2005,CSS releasedCansei de Ser Sexy, which has been described as punk funk by Australian newspaperThe Age.[16]
Earth byEOB has been described as punk funk byPitchfork.[17]