The Meters – Trick Bag VG+/VG

Trick Bag catches The Meters in a transitional moment, blending their trademark New Orleans funk with a broader, more eclectic palette. You still get that unmistakable rhythmic tightness—lean grooves, rubbery bass, and the band’s telepathic interplay—but the album also wanders into smoother soul, touches of rock, and even a bit of playful experimentation.

There’s a looseness to the record, a sense of the band stretching out and trying on different textures while keeping everything anchored in their deep rhythmic feel. Some tracks lean into a lighter, almost breezy vibe, while others carry the gritty syncopation that made The Meters so influential.

It ends up as an intriguing snapshot: not their most concentrated funk statement, but a lively, varied album that shows how effortlessly they could shift moods without losing their identity.