New releases today: Funk

Review: Funk and soul album don't come much better than this. Chocolate Milk's Action Speaks Louder Than Words is a 1975 classic and an essential piece of New Orleans music history. Discovered and produced by the legendary Allen Toussaint, the band's debut blends tight grooves, sharp horn lines and socially conscious lyrics with the rich musical heritage of their hometown. The standout title track is a rare groove classic still sampled and revered decades later. With polished arrangements and undeniable rhythm, this album firmly established Chocolate Milk as a force in 70s funk and remains a superb boogie-infused release that is as vital and infectious today as ever.

Review: There's more to US funk god Rick James than just 'Super Freak' and this sprawling retrospective proves it. Across four sides, the Buffalo-born musician's full-spectrum funk is on glorious display i from the righteous bounce of 'You & I' and weed-soaked romance of 'Mary Jane', to the hard-grinding grooves of 'Ghetto Life' and 'Give It To Me Baby'. The hits are all here, but so are deeper cuts like 'She Blew My Mind (69 Times)', 'Cold Blooded' and 'Can't Stop', showing off James's twisted humour, whip-smart arrangements and genre-bending instincts. Highlights like 'Glow', 'Dance Wit Me - Part 1' and the Temptations-featuring 'Standing On The Top' cement his reputation as a psychedelic soul innovator who consistently defied convention. Even the closing Busta Rhymes flip of 'In The Ghetto' feels earned i a nod to his lasting influence on rap and r&b. This isn't just a greatest hits i it's a flex, a time capsule and a reminder that Rick James could outplay, outsing and outfreak almost anyone.