Funky Was the State of Affairs

A weirdly convoluted tale of UFOs, mind control, sexual frustration, and the Roman Empire forms the backstory of Fergus & Geronimo’s sophomore album, Funky Was the State of Affairs. The details of this sci-fi scenario aren’t spelled out so much as alluded to in a series of demented soundclips and short, snappy tunes that blend Frank Zappa–esque absurdity with the jittery abandon of early punk. Fergus (A. Savage) and Geronimo (Jason Kelly) approach this sometimes-cryptic, often-hilarious song cycle with a subversive spirit that undermines the hip sounds of the past 45 years even as it celebrates them. “No Parties” and “Earthling Men” steep in the robotic vibes of ‘80s techno-pop before veering into more unhinged territory. Curveballs abound, like the maniacal saxophone squawks puncturing the slinky beat of “Earthling Women” and the rampant paranoia coursing through the shout-along garage rock of “Off the Map.” The album lives up to its title on its final two tracks, as Fergus & Geronimo slip into righteous grooves with a minimum of snarkiness. Flipped-out, freewheeling, and—yes—genuinely funky.