Funk takes a variety of forms. A lot of it is pure party music. Some funk however, is much more socially-conscious and outspoken. Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band is a 12-piece band from Washington DC that belongs to the latter category. On the new album Bone Reader, the band shows that it can get you moving even while delivering a serious message.

"Edward Snowden" is one of the songs that delivers a serious message although that message is delivered in quotes by Snowden. It begins with a clip in which you hear "Isn't this unconstitutional? Isn't this a violation of rights?" The beat will definitely get your head moving while the melody features some avant-garde saxophone that could just as easily be from a Charlie Parker tune.

"DC Vote" just might be the grooviest song about politics that you'll ever hear. It's not about choosing one side over the other. In fact, some of the lyrics are "It shouldn't matter which side you're on. You just gotta know right from wrong." Specifically, this song is about how the people of Washington DC have the right to vote even though they don't have a representative in Senate or Congress. The vocals are spoken rather than sung, which gives the song a bit of a hip-hop feel. Meanwhile, there is a Parliament-style call-and-response at a couple points in the song. On top of all of that, the beat throughout the song will have some part of you moving.

"Cop Show" might be the most politically-charged song on the album. The intro of this song is more than a minute and a half long, and it will get you grooving. Then come the hard-hitting lyrics do their job with big guns drawn and how "another black boy just made the news." You have to give credit to Chopteeth on this song. Not many bands can deliver such a heavy message to such a groovy melody. The percussion in this song is hard to resist and so is the bass line. Meanwhile, the guitar and horns sound like part of the soundtrack to a blaxploitation film. No matter where you stand on the issue of excessive force by the police, this song will get you thinking - especially with lyrics like "Unchecked power leaves people in danger."

Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band is a rare band not just because it is an Afrofunk band based in the U.S. It is also rare in that it can make you groove and think simultaneously. This isn't a party-funk album, but that's OK. This band has a lot of important things to say, and they put all those statements to catchy melodies and beats. Bone Reader will be available everywhere on Sept. 15.