You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish Review

07/13/2005 4:08 AM, AMG


When George Clinton rebounded with Computer Games, an album met with unanimous acclaim, it seemed as if his already long-winded career was about to enter a new era of inspired creativity. You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish surfaced a year later in 1983, though, and whatever momentum Clinton had garnered quickly dissipated. From the Pedro Bell artwork to the ensemble of contributors to the early-'80s synth-drum aesthetic, You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish seemed a fitting follow-up upon initial inspection, though there was one glaring difference between the two albums -- quality. Computer Games had been stacked with great songs; You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish clearly wasn't. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what makes the songs of lesser quality: Clumsy attempts at rapping, a lack of effective hooks, awkward attempts to make primitive drum machines funky, a brief running length, and just plain bad songwriting all figure into the album's failure as an adequate follow-up, with none being any worse than the other. "Nubian Nut" stands as Clinton's first attempt at rapping, a truly jarring moment best forgotten. In fact, only "Quickie" is worth bothering with here, a Walter "Junie" Morrison song carried largely by Andre Williams' great guitar riff. Overall, the songs on this album are just plain bad. It's that simple, leaving one to ask the inevitable question: What happened? Well, the answer may lie in Bell's cryptic artwork, where an enigmatic statement alludes to the fact that this album is comprised of leftovers from the Computer Games sessions. Whether or not this is indeed the case, You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish marked a turning point in Clinton's briefly ignited solo career, a turn toward quick oblivion. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide