The key to the funk is in the rhythm -- in the bass and in the drums -- and in its ability to magically get the juices in your booty flowing. Without that rhythm -- not necessarily slow, not necessarily quick -- the funk drops dead on arrival and the crowd wanders to the nearest dance club. Sky Bop Fly are masters of the rhythm, managing to stretch the sound without resorting to the dangerous and increasingly tired funk/punk amalgam. In fact, the top three in this category all stay away from the loud-guitar end of the evolved genre, preferring instead to concentrate on the groove.