Music

Average customer rating:

311 at its finest...
Album made for live performances
311 is not trying to be the Red Hot Chili Peppers
A successful try at evolving
311 Evolving

Evolver
311
Manufacturer: Volcano
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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From Chaos
Soundsystem
311
Grassroots
Don't Tread On Me

ASIN: B00009YFP9
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Tracks:

Creatures (For A While)
Reconsider Everything
Crack the Code
Same Mistake Twice
Beyond the Gray Sky
Seems Uncertain
Still Dreaming
Give Me a Call
Don't Dwell
Other Side of Things
Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm

Amazon.com

It takes some nerve nicking an album title from the Beatles, even in a slightly modified state. But since this Omaha, Nebraska band went through so many significant changes leading up to the release of its seventh studio album, at least it's a logical move. The aggressive Woody Woodpecker-style lyrical play and needling funk core of career lows, 1997's Transistor and 1999's Soundsystem, are toned down, replaced by a more sophisticated sound that stretches the group's well-trounced reggae-rap-rock template to include wisps of electronica and soul. The members of 311 still aspire to be half-as-clever as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but finally seem satisfied in their on skin on tracks such as "Creatures (For a While)" and the emotional "Beyond the Gray Sky." The psychedelic experiment "Seem Uncertain," meanwhile, merely lives up to its title. Producer Ron Saint Germain (Creed, Living Colour) has obviously taken significant strides in shaking the band up. This album points the way forward. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

311 at its finest..........2006-09-24

I am a big 311 fan and i have a copy of basically every studio album they have ever released. Believe me when I say that if you like 311 you will not be disapointed with this cd. 'Evolver' expands and matures on the distinct sound found on the 'Soundsystem' album and marks 311's highest point yet. Although this album only produced 2 major singles, "Creatures(for a while)" and "Beyond The Gray Sky", almost every song is worthy of airplay. If you are looking for a studio album with more songs you've heard before try 'From Chaos', but if you want to be able to pop a 311 cd into your car and not want to skip any songs, 'Evolver' is the cd for you.

Album made for live performances.......2006-08-12

Being a 311 fan for over 11 years now, I have heard just about every recording they have ever made. With that said, I would like to note that on first listening to this cd, I was not completeley amazed or blown away by it. The whole album was worth listening to and enjoyable, but not any better than the rest of the catalog. But I have to make a point that all of the songs on this cd are AMAZING concert material. They simply sound perfect live and in person. "Beyond the gray sky" was a live performance that was not easily forgettable.

311 is not trying to be the Red Hot Chili Peppers.......2005-12-23

Evolver is a solid 311 effort. The jabbing rap-rock has definitely given way to some milder, more lyrical tunes, but 311 can still hit hard. On this album, they seem to pull out the stops at just the right time in each cut. This album is indeed an evolution of their musical style, and we 311 fans are sitting back with Don't Tread on Me -- their latest pop-infested release -- waiting for another more experimental album that will expand on Evolver in 2007. All in all, it looks like 311 have contented themselves to release some really innovative stuff every other album, and just have fun in between.

Having said that, I am tired of writers comparing bands saying that one is trying to be just like another. 311 has gotten a lot of bad publicity in reviews when writers can't see past the bandwagon music business favorites like the Chili Peppers, and make such ridiculous remarks about 311 trying to be as innovative as those "gods" the Peppers.

Now, in a head to head comparison, I have to give a lot of credit to the Peppers, especially in raw musical talent. But, 311 is a band I have listened to for years, and not just occasionally.

When I feel like good music, I put in 311. I don't listen to the Peppers more than once in a while. After all, 311 use their powers for good instead of evil, as it were; their message is always positive and their music shows it. 311 just makes me feel better as a soundtrack to my day in - day out activity than bands like No Doubt, the Peppers, and a handful of others.

As for this effort, and 311's oeuvre in general, I quote countless musicians and music critics when I say: nothing ventured, nothing gained. 311 is not worried about critics, or it would have tried to make a couple of duplicates of their Grassroots and Blue Albums and garner the same kind of commercial success. Instead, we have a body of work and a powerful touring band that has developed a loyal fan base and continues to experiment, inspire, and have a lot of fun.

Too many listeners, and not a few critics hear 311 radio hits, give one or two tracks a go on any one album, and then make sweeping judgements about how 311 are repeating themselves. My response is: I own the entire 311 catalog, and when I listen to any one of their albums, I always find a new and surprising twist or bit of musical invention or uplifting lyric that I overlooked before.

And that, in my opinion, makes 311 a great band.

One last word of advice to any readers that are scoping out bands - don't listen to critics. They have to listen to way too many albums to enjoy any of them.

A successful try at evolving.......2005-11-02

The problem with 311 is that on the surface it seems like they make the same stuff album after album. At a closer look, one would see that a lot has changed since the band's earlier tunes.

The production is smoother, a little more sonic and a little less rock/rap. Evolver is a huge step from the two previous albums Soundsystem and From Chaos.

These two albums are great but Soundsystem has several duds, mainly in the last half of the record and From Chaos is not very cohesive and almost sloppily put together.

Evolver, which does have its weaker songs (Same Mistake Twice, Give me a Call), contains some great music and classic 311 tunes.

Creatures is a song that you would put on if someone asked "What's 311 like?"

Songs like Other Side of Things, Gray Sky, Don't Dwell and Still Dreaming are awesome. They are great live and great on record.

This is my 2nd, maybe 3rd favorite 311 record. It is a little short, but it's a great listen and really shows 311's pure evolution.

(SEE: Don't Tread On Me for 311's deevolution) ;-)

311 Evolving.......2005-08-27

This cd is jammin! From "Creatures" through "Jacks Rule", this cd just rocks. 311 keeps evolving and getting better. Its a definite step up from "From Chaos". I love that album, but I don't think it can be compared to "Evolver". Favorite tracks include "Creatures", "Other Side of Things", "Beyond the Gray Sky", and "Jacks Rule". My wife and I listen to this cd probably more than any other cd. "Crack the Code" is her track. "Evolver" has really gotten her into 311.

Average customer rating:

BOMPIN' GROOVES THAT SOOTHE
Great Grooves From the Mother Continent
Good grooves
It;'s great
Fela's legacy lives on

Afro-Rock, Vol. 1
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Evolver
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000641BQ
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

Fever - Jingo
Heavy Heavy Heavy - Geraldo Pino
Africa - Steele Beautttah
Envy No Good - Mercury Dance Band
Yuda - Dackin Dackino
Kyenkyen Bi Adi M'awu - K. Frimpong And His Cubano Fiestas
Okuzua - Orchestra Lissanga
Sweeper Soul - Super Mambo 69
Mabala - Yahoos
Onukpa Shawarpo - Bokoor Band
Pem Dwe - Nkansah And Yaanom

Customer Reviews:

BOMPIN' GROOVES THAT SOOTHE.......2007-02-13

my gosh!!!!! i forgot that i had this in my collection and i put it on a couple of days ago. i was thinking about THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND. man, everything on here made my neck hurt. when it does that, it is branded ESSENTIAL by me!!!!

Great Grooves From the Mother Continent.......2006-05-14

African music has evolved from rhythm and blues to hip-hop; from blues to classic rock and hardcore metal; and from jazz to funk. This starter CD is a collection of music that had yet to be out in mainstream music culture. Using musical techniques from legendary greats such as Otis Redding and Fela Kuti, Afro-Rock churned out some hits that were entertaining and politically conscious. This is a great way to start a collection of African music for enthusiasts of African culture not only in Africa, but in the Diaspora. I look forward to the second volume.

Good grooves.......2003-05-17

I'm pretty picky, but this album is good. If you like those smooth African translations of U.S. funk, soul- you'll enjoy this.

It;'s great.......2003-01-23

Gritty, authentic, powerful, soulful afro-rock. These were people that sung and played to often make an editorial on their living conditions and political situations. The songs all have feeling. I think track number 5 is the best on the CD. If you like this CD, check out the best of Fela Kuti. Enjoy.

Fela's legacy lives on.......2002-07-25

One of the best, and most consistent of the current crop of afrobeat collections, rare old stuff mostly from the 1970s. The companion disc to the "HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY - AFRICAN STOMP" compilation, this features several songs with wild, unusual melodic hooks, and long, loping grooves. Some of the tunes are just plain kooky, like Geraldo Pino's "Heavy Heavy Heavy," and Steele Beautttah's "Africa," while others, such as K. Frimpong's "Kyenkyen Bi Adi M'Awu," have killer grooves a mile and half deep. A couple of tunes were never released on vinyl, and all the tracks on here are pretty cool. A lot of "new," different-sounding music -- highly recommended!

Average customer rating:

Kiki died and came back to life for all of us
The revolution WILL be sung LIVE with makeup, a drink, and a pink boa!
uhhhh...
to die for
Ideal roadtrip listening

Will Die for You
Kiki & Herb
Manufacturer: Evolver
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000765I5O
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Tracks:

Close To It All
Note To Self: Don't Die/Flamingo/When Doves Cry
'Opening Remarks'
Why
'Hoochie Coochie'
Sex Bomb
'Yasaweh'
Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You
'The Saddest Day Of My Life'
A Lover Spurned
'Bored, Bored, Bored'
The Windmills Of My Mind
I Was Meant For The Stage
No Children
Rainbow Connection

Tracks:

Pina Colada Song
Institutionalized
'Jazz'
The Paris Match
'I've Got To Go To Vietnam'
The Revolution Medley: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised/Lose Yourself/Once In A Lifetime
Dominique
'Show Business Martyrs'
The Thin Ice
Love Will Tear Us Apart
Temptation
Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Those Were The Days
Tonight's The Kind Of Night
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Running Up That Hill

Customer Reviews:

Kiki died and came back to life for all of us.......2007-02-19

Kiki and Herb died for our sins--of course hoping we'd commit as many of them as possible in this lifetime. Stay alive Kiki. We love you.

The revolution WILL be sung LIVE with makeup, a drink, and a pink boa!.......2006-11-08

I want to understand why I like this album so much... then I listen to it again and remember why and understand Justin Bond and pianist Kenny Mellman's vision when they created KikiDuRane and long suffering friend and pianist Herb.

This is just my opinion, of course...

By the time Justin came along, drag had gotten kind of 'mainstream' and dull. There was nothing left, nothing further to explore. You can go to any drag review in almost any city and watch the drag queens lipsync to the same tired songs over and over. It was like McDonald's - the same kind of entertainment everywhere.

Then, in the early in the 90's, Kiki and Herb was born, and all drag queens bowed before her.

LIVE singing? A cabaret act? Unheard of...

I am a huge fan, and this album represents their zenith. It is a living breathing example of that final show that has been on the road "since 1934." Kiki talks and talks between the pauses, Herb waits for the pauses to start playing music, and Kiki is drunk, and schmaltzy, and sings music you would NEVER expect anyone EVER to put together in a song list, but it WORKS.

I mean, how do you go from Bonnie Tyler and Eminem to the Talking Heads and Joy Division?

Here is a bit of trivia, quoted from 'a reliable source': "In 2004, Kiki and Herb gave a "farewell" performance at New York City's Carnegie Hall. The one-night-only show was titled "Kiki and Herb Will Die for You" and featured a number of celebrities, including Sandra Bernhard, Isaac Mizrahi, Jake Shears, Michal Cavadias, and Rufus Wainwright."

This is that show, all 2 hours and 57 minutes of it, just Kiki, Herb, and a piano, and over 200 screaming adoring fans.

A bit of techie stuff for the audiophiles: The 2CDs play well, and the sound is crisp. It is mastered from the original elements, and is Dolby playable. There have been complaints online of skipping on the last two tracks, but not my copy. The CD inserts provide wonderful information about the show and gives a brief history.

Actually, there are about 5 encores (Total Eclipse of the Heart, Those Were the Days, Tonight's the Kind of Night, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, Running Up That Hill), which only goes to show you the crowd did not want the night to end.

About the music: From the opening note, which has Herb right off the bat singing by himself (!) "Close To It All," to the last very notes of Kiki as she sings THE MOST MOVING EVER VERSION of Kate Bush's "Running Up that Hill," you will laugh at the cheesy humor, you might cry, and if your heart is big enough, you will enjoy every moment it's on. Period.

Now, as a final thought, I'm going to make a comparison here that might get me in trouble with a LOT of 'certain people', but here goes:

Judy Garland sang at Carnegie Hall back in 1961. It has been widely hailed and quoted as one of the greatest live musical recordings ever made. She had a full orchestra, she was at her peak (no matter what anyone says), and when she sang she poured her soul into that performance.

43 years later, a skinny boy named Justin Bond sang in drag and in pearls and almost took her crown away - or at least held it, admired it, and wished he could have it, if only for almost 3 wonderful live hours.

Do yourself a MASSIVE favor - pick up this album.

I listen to it at least once a week when I'm home and the day flies by.

Thanks!

uhhhh..........2006-02-09

kinda strange but if you listen to the songs, you'll see that they're are very good singers

to die for.......2005-11-27

This one is realy too good for any words. At the end of a recent trip we did not want to get out of the car until we finished hearing the last cut. To say it is funny and irreverent is an understatement if anything
This would be great holiday or anytime CD. Herb's piano work is out of this world. Kiki may be my step-mom, but I haven't figured it out yet.
The messages of peace, freedom and love don't get lost.

Ideal roadtrip listening.......2005-06-01

Kiki & Herb have a following in London (UK), where I'm based -- and I was delighted to find on this CD some of the songs and routines that they performed on board the PRESIDENT there a year or so back. The CD experience matches the sensory battering K&H give and, by golly, it's intense (just like Kiki!). So take it all at once (again, just like Kiki!) -- don't walk away from the CD player; don't dip in and sample; drink this cup to the bitter dregs (they're just like Kiki, too!). I was lucky enough to listen to K&HWDFY during a four-hour backroads drive across Ohio and Indiana, locked in my sensory-deprivation box, i.e., air-conditioned rental Ford F150 cab, and believe me, that CD did a lot to counter ambient wholesomeness. Very enthusiastically recommended!

Average customer rating:

You Want More? Here it is!
Gods And Monsters
By The Standards Of Grace, This Is Awful
This album is definitely worth your money.
Fantastic launch pad

Songs to No One 1991-1992
Jeff Buckley , and Gary Lucas
Manufacturer: Evolver
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk)
Live at L'Olympia
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ASIN: B00006LI4R
Release Date: 2002-10-15

Tracks:

Hymne A L'Amour
How Long Will It Take
Mojo Pin
Song To No One
Grace (Studio Demo)
Satisfied Mind
Cruel
She Is Free
Harem Man
Malign Fiesta (No Soul)
Grace (Live)

Album Description

A chronicle of Jeff Buckley's pre-Columbia work with guitarist Gary Lucas (Captain Beefheart). Produced by Hal Wilner. Features previously unheard tracks including early versions of 'Mojo Pin' & 'Grace'. Knitting Factory. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

You Want More? Here it is!.......2006-01-01

Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas met at the Greetings From Tim Buckley tribute concert at St. Ann's Church. The two wanted to play Sefronia, and so they were paired together for the event. A friendship and a musical partnership grew. The following are the recordings done during the union.

This CD is a curiosity, a must for those with the desire to fill their Jeff Buckley collection and a raw, strange musical experiment for others who might be unfamiliar with Buckley's other work.

Fans, do not be discouraged from buying the CD. Jeff's vocals are as amazing as always. Lucas's style is obviously different than Buckley's, but it is also interesting to see how the two worked together and shaped each other's music. However, the vocals and the guitar don't mesh nearly as well as they did when Buckley created his own band with Michael Tighe, Mick Grondahl, and Matt Johnson. Still, we get to hear the beginning stages of several songs Buckley recorded later in his career including Mojo Pin, a really nice variation of Grace both recorded in a studio and performed live, and Satisfied Mind. There are also several new songs. The live Cruel has the feel of a classic rock song mixed with a few modern elements. She is Free stands out too; you'll probably find yourself bobbing your head along to its mellow rhythm.

The CD was not meant to be released to the public; the recordings were used for personal use. We get to hear Buckley playing with his voice, using different and primitive methods to create something that works. All of the imperfections are included here like wrong notes, false starts, feedback from the microphone, and moody humming. However, this is something special to hear, something we only hear in Buckley's live recordings and something cherished by most fans for being spontaneous and real. The CD ends with a very funny but short bit with Buckley acting as if he were a preacher, yet another reminded that he was a truly gifted performer.

Gods And Monsters.......2005-06-13

In 1991 the chief draw to these tapes would have been the acclaimed former Magic Band guitarist Gary Lucas. Now, of course, the presence of a 25-year old Jeff Buckley who was yet to make his recording debut is of overriding interest and the reason for these shelved demos, radio broadcasts, club performances and studio sessions recorded between August 1991 and April 1992 seeing the light of day. One of the major voices of his generation, he was sadly only to live another five years and to produce only one finished album in his lifetime.
No shoddy cash-in, this collection was commissioned and assembled under the watchful eyes of Mary Guibert, Jeff Buckley's mother, and Michael Dorf, from the Knitting Factory, where some of these live recordings originated. Its eleven tracks, beginning with a shattering performance of Edith Piaf's Hymne A L'Amour, document a critical moment in the formative period of Buckley's career, and include early versions of Mojo Pin and Grace, pivotal songs that Jeff Buckley wrote in collaboration with Gary Lucas while they were in the band Gods And Monsters, and which appeared on the album Grace with Gary Lucas guesting on guitar. The pair had met in April 1991 at the time of a tribute concert held at St Ann's Church in Brooklyn for Tim Buckley, Jeff's father, when both had wanted to perform the song Sefronia.
The twelve months that followed were transforming for Jeff Buckley's singing and musical direction and some of the key moments are documented here, including moments from the night at the Knitting Factory on 22 March 1992, broadcast live on the Music Faucet Show on WFMU, ten days after he had announced his decision to leave the band for a solo career, where, at the end of a tension-filled performance, he stayed on stage to perform an unaccompanied and poignant rendition of A Satisfied Mind.
This track has been embellished for this release for some reason, with additional guitar performed by Bill Frisell. This is a questionable practice but the end result does not sound unnatural or overstated. One other track has been doctored; She Is Free, which was a duet rehearsal recording made at Gary Lucas's home in January 1992, now more extravagantly features the band Sex Mob simulating the sort of direction Jeff Buckley was to develop within his music in the following year. Both Mary Guibert and the producer Hal Willner assure us that these overdubs improve the original recordings and that Jeff Buckley would have approved, though I feel slightly uneasy listening to something by him that he never heard.
Listening to the raw talent on show in these recordings, the subsequent success of Jeff Buckley, live and on record, was clearly inevitable

By The Standards Of Grace, This Is Awful.......2004-09-15

If I was told that, for the rest of my life, I could only listen to one artist or band, I'd go with Jeff Buckley. I'm not obsessed with the guy and his music, but I just see so much to appreciate and respect.

That's why Songs To No One is so hard to stomach. It's not great.

To compare this to his other work is pointless; even Sketches, as uneven and unfinished as it was, it's lows would be considered highs for most other artists. Here, the bar for greatness is lowered a few feet.

"She Is Free" & "Song To No One" sound rough and raw, but the demo sounds suits them. Both songs, particularly the former, are solid additions to the Buckley catalogue. They don't sound like anything he went on to record, but, as a testament to Jeff's versatility, they're still great.

The rest of the CD, not so much. I'd say there's a reason that Mojo Pin and Grace are the only songs from this collection that he wanted to release. You'd think that listening to two takes of Grace would be a treat, but suprisingly, it's not. Why listen to crappy versions of an excellent song when you could just listen to it on Grace?

Aside from the songs I mentioned, there's no reason to own this CD besides compulsion.

If you really, really love Jeff Buckley's music, then be warned. Otherwise, skip it.

This album is definitely worth your money........2003-07-17

I didn't even know about this album until I was browsing around at the store, and then I saw it there. I noticed that it had a few songs from Sketches and Grace, but I bought it anyways. Little did I know how incredible it would turn out. The songs on the album showcase beautifully Jeff's voice. Nevermind trying to equalize him with the band. Also, some of the other songs are different than what I was used to hearing. "Harem Man" and "Malign Fiesta" were heavier with the rock and roll, but Jeff's voice still beats it all. I love this album.

Fantastic launch pad.......2003-03-09

It's probably a good bet that the majority of people who buy this CD are doing it because of the name Jeff Buckley. I did. Of course there's no denying the incredible talent that Jeff gave us. But what this album did for me is to spark the fuse into learning more about the music of the extraordinarily versatile, Grammy-nominated Gary Lucas. What few may realize is that without Gary, there is no "Grace" or "Mojo Pin," as he is the creator of those hauntingly sweet musical notes (Jeff wrote the words). Although the song "Grace" from Jeff's solo LP is a beautifully polished studio version, this CD contains not one, but two earlier variants which exude a nascent energy not so evident on Jeff's solo album.

Although the song "Grace" is one of my favorite songs in the world, I actually prefer the two versions on "Songs to No One" because the raw tones of Gary's guitar and Jeff's voice sound much more vulnerable and passionate without such a full, heavy back-up orchestration. On the club Roulette live performance of Grace, Jeff starts out with an innocent little harmonica tune which seems to swiftly end in a minor chord which gently, but firmly captures the ear and immerses the soul into a musical orgy with those infamous first rifts of the song. I'm not particularly fond of the harmonica spotlights later found in the song, but for true lovers of "Grace," it's interesting to hear early launches of the song.

This version of "Mojo Pin," is refreshing because of its simplicity. I never realized how much the heavy bass and drums really weighed down this song on the album, "Grace." Jeff's voice is beautifully showcased, being impelled and kept lightly afloat by Gary's fluid whisperings of guitar. The end of the song is a bit raucous, but it feels like a welcome release of energy.

This album is not for those looking for neatly packaged, polished, bubblegum pop music, which is probably why some of the reviews here are not glowing. This music requires a sophisticated ear with depth to absorb the true musical genius of both musicians, which is sometimes baked underneath a slightly rough exterior caused by these demo and live performances, which, to my understanding, were never intended to be released in album form. Personally, I hope this CD helps propel word of the grotesquely underrated luminary who obviously had a great impact on Jeff's development: Gary Lucas. I've recently discovered his diverse repertoire of rich troves and have unearthed some of the most incredible harmonies I've ever heard in my life. If you're a fan of Jeff Buckley, I'd highly recommend Gary's albums, "Skeleton at the Feast," and "Level the Playing Field," both highly-praised albums by well-respected critics. They're both utterly spectacular.

Average customer rating:

Fela's Rhythmic Backbone

Jealousy/Progress
Tony Allen & Africa 70
Manufacturer: Evolver
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music

Nigeria | Africa | International | Styles | Music

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HomeCooking
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Liberation Afro Beat, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000068CX2
Release Date: 2002-06-18

Tracks:

Jealousy
Hustler
Progress
Afro Disco Beat

Amazon.com

Drummer Tony Allen was the rhythmic force behind Fela Kuti's influential Afro-beat ensemble of the 1970s. Though Allen's own recordings expanded and elaborated on the formula they co-created, his early LPs remained out of print for years. Now the long-lost treasures are back as double-CD releases, and they still move and groove with the same force as three decades ago. Imagine a Nigerian version of James Brown's band with Art Blakey's finesse and Max Roach's jazzy complexity and you'll understand the groove signature of the extended tracks. With Allen's drumming driving the gut-level bass lines, down-home horns, spacy keyboards, and spicy vocals, cuts like the nearly 12-minute "Jealousy" and "Afro Disco Beat" will drive today's kids into Afro-diasporic dervishes that only a groove master like Tony Allen can conjure. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Fela's Rhythmic Backbone.......2005-05-07

Tony Allen is without question of the world's greatest drummers. As the rhythmic backbone of Fela Kuti's legendary Afrika 70 group, Allen's contribution to Afrobeat, and music in general, was essential. He was to Fela what Elvin Jones was to John Coltrane! His pivotal drumming style combined elements of traditional African, R&B/funk, and jazz polyrhythms to forge a truly revolutionary and distinctive sound. As a long time member of Fela's group, he was also high profile enough to make his own albums as a leader with Afrika 70, two of which are included here. "Jealousy," with its B-side "Hustler," and "Progress," with its B-side "Afro Disco Beat," have all the trademarks of classic Afrobeat -- pulsating march-like grooves, layered percussion, and great, catchy horn riffs. The only thing missing is Fela's booming baritone vocals. With facsimiles of the original cover art and an essay by esteemed Fela biographer Michael Veal, this is a most necessary purchase for Fela devotees. If you picked up all the Fela MCA reissues as I have (if you haven't, hurry up they are starting to go OOP), and you can't get enough Afrika 70, then this disc is for you.

Average customer rating:

going back for earlier stuff
CRAZY but COOL
An Energetic Cd from an Energetic band
highly evolved
how do

Evolver
Mammals
Manufacturer: Humble Abode Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000075A0Y
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Tracks:

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House Carpenter/Pipeline
69 Pleasant Street
John Brown's Dream
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Lady Margaret
Stairway To The Stars
Wandering Boy
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Infinity Medley
Profit
City Never Sleeps
Haircut Money
Industrial Park

Customer Reviews:

going back for earlier stuff.......2007-02-12

I bought this disc after already owning their latest 2 releases, because I was curious about their earlier stuff. It is less polished, but not any less exciting. they are a great band...refreshing and unique...check them out!

CRAZY but COOL.......2006-01-01

I caught these guys in Marshfield, WI and bought this album from them in person. I felt so sorry for them! They had all of twenty people sit and watch at our GHOST-TOWN mall! But as soon as I walked in that day, I heard them and I thought, "What kind of music is that?!" (because the nearly empty mall here usually plays pretty easy-listening-old-and-mouldy). I didn't even know they were going to perform that day, but I REALLY REALLY enjoyed their show and bought this album from them. Been loving it ever since! And my supervisor caught me listening to it at work one day and has stolen it to listen since!

An Energetic Cd from an Energetic band.......2004-04-28

When you listen to their first CD, you can hear the difference from Evolver. Both are amazing though! I am friends with this band and they are as full of energy off stage as on! This CD has great upbeat fiddle tunes as well as slow songs. The medly is long (about 10 minutes) But worth it! The members are amazing within themselves, Ruth Ungar (daughter of Jay Ungar) Mike Merenda (Ruths boyfriend ;)) and Tao R. Seeger (Pete Seegers grandson). Listen to the fisrt track Plank Road and you will fall in love! I sure did!!

highly evolved.......2003-06-22

This is a great CD, which I'd describe as a folk/bluegrass fusion. My favorite tracks are "Way Down the Old Plank Road," "Lady Margaret," "City Never Sleeps," "Infinite Medley," and "Haircut Money." I saw The Mammals play in a Lexington, MA, concert -- they are fine musicians, brimming with energy and wit. And it doesn't hurt that some of the group belong to a family of folk demi-gods.

how do.......2003-02-02

real music sounds great
listen, tap your shoes and smile
grammy's are a joke

Average customer rating:

The Funkadelic & the Mellow Jerry Garcia
One Great Album
hooter-what?
A great find for the Jerry fan
A Trip To What Next?

Hooteroll
Jerry Garcia , and Howard Wales
Manufacturer: Evolver
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Side Trips, Vol. 1: Howard Wales & Jerry Garcia Live
Fire Up Plus
Keystone Encores, Vol. 1
Live at Keystone, Vol. 2
Blue Incantation

ASIN: B00008V5UD
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Morning In Marin
Da Birg Song
South Side Strut
Up From The Desert
DC-502
One A.M. Approach
Uncle Martin's
Evening In Marin

Amazon.com

Grateful Dead guitarist/icon Jerry Garcia was involved in any number of side projects during his illustrious career, but few as adventurous or musically far-ranging as this 1971 collaboration with keyboardist Howard Wales and a handful of other Bay Area musicians (including Garcia Band cohorts John Kahn and Bill Vitt). On his first album release outside the Dead, Garcia seldom takes center stage, instead seasoning a diverse collection of instrumentals with spare, tasty trademark fills and some propulsive funk- and R&B-inspired rhythm work. Selections like "South Side Strut" underscore Wales previous work in service of James Brown and the Four Tops, but range as far a field as the Bitches Brew-lite free form jazz of *Morning in Marin* to the gorgeous, ethereal Garcia showcase "One A.M. Approach." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

The Funkadelic & the Mellow Jerry Garcia .......2007-02-10

This is a brilliant album from beginning to end. It alternates between high energy, fired-up, funky organ, drum & bass driven tracks with fuzz guitar solos akin to Funkadelic's first album & James Brown or Brian Auger and beautiful, trippy instrumental ballads.

The up-tempo tracks have the rhythm section cookin' and Howard Wales smokin' on the organ with Garcia grooving along and completely at home with the tunes in funky Eddie Hazel fuzz-guitar land and sometimes even venturing into Reggie Lucas/Pete Cosey land of the Miles Davis "Agharta" album. Then you have the slow tracks "Up from the Desert," "One A.M. Approach" & "Midnight in Marin" which are gorgeous compositions with definitely the best Garcia electric playing I've personally ever heard. These are what I always play first for anyone who says they don't understand what's so great about Jerry Garcia. The man is a deeply soulful cat who values feeling more than superficial chops and that's what great music is all about in the end

This is also the album many people will like who aren't big fans of the Grateful Dead because it's a bit more of a departure into a grittier, jazzy urban sound , away from their more countrified, hick influences and from Garcia's bluegrass influenced recordings.

Highest recommendation and one to pull out as the ultimate demonstration of Garcia's hippie-renaissance-man versatility.

One Great Album.......2006-12-03

I just picked up this album today in Poland.. I bought it thinking it would be typical, good enough Jerry so what the hell. I can't tell you how happy I am that I've bought it. Knowing nothing about Howard Wales, but loving the old 60s Hammond organ sound I must say that I am abashed that I've never heard of the guy. His playing is F***ing great and Jerry has really suprised me with the funkadelic style he conjured up on this most excellent album.. Think the soundtrack of a 70's blacksploitation flick mated with suprisingly jazzy Jerry impros and you've got some EXCELLENT product. This is as good as Jerry gets and even non-Dead fans should groove on this baby.

hooter-what?.......2006-10-03

The Grateful Dead were clearly the grand-daddies of all the Jam Bands that would follow, but even in light of that it is still interesting how far ahead of its time this particular album is... especially in light of the million bands that would follow in the footsteps of Phish and JTQ - - and so here it is, a Hammond Driven / groove mixed with trippy fusion album from the source... and considering that it was recorded back in 1971, it is amazing.

As for the sound... overall, quite funky at times...in fact, a few of the tracks reminded me of some of the stuff a group called Black Heat was doing around that time - - Though the album is a bit "sloppy" at times, once the band gets into a groove, they're into a groove... I think a key problem is the bass playing on the album (both organ and real) - - sometimes a bit out of sync, though everything else is working... Howard Wales's playing itself is very interesting... at times very gospel influenced (he really works the Leslie and Drawbars!), but suddenly he might start ripping into a Jimmy Smith type solo or some groovy chord comp. (Could be the acid kicking in?) - - between Garcia and rhythm guitarist Curly Cook, the groove is really driving... Bill Vitt the drummers also keeps things hot and on the edge.... though a bit inconsistent at times, suddenly, the track will sound like its about to flop and next thing you know, its really hot, gritty, funky or something good is happening...

As for my favorite track... Uncle Martin's - - a sampling DJ/acid Jazzheads wet dream... '70s porno soundtrack funky... and I mean that in a positive way ! ! ! Wales is really ripping on that one... Vitt is outfunking Bernard Purdie... the bass player IS with it... and Jerry Garcia's backing is REALLY REALLY REALLY funky !

Overall, I'm tempted to give the album 4 stars, but when the band is cooking... they're so funky, tripped out and way out there, its impossible not to forgive the occasional jammy incoherence now and then.

A great find for the Jerry fan.......2006-09-06

From the multicolored artwork to the spaced out guitar and organs this is a classic piece of 70's pop-jazz (just kind of made up that category but it's hard to call this fusion). It sounds like Jerry was exploring some of the same ground Miles Davis was exploring but he still keeps the music in the Grateful Dead genre. The results are a little different but make for an enjoyable journey that any fan of the dead or Garcia should enjoy.

A Trip To What Next?.......2005-02-04

Enjoy Hooteroll? and Side Trips Vol. 1 for the fantastic Hammond playing by Howard Wales and it doesn't hurt that JG comes along with the package. I have owned the original Hooteroll? release on Lp record since the mid 1970's and was spoiled by Howard's playing. He squeezes every button on the B3 and pushes the Leslie to it's limits using every tweak and whistle the horn can throw. I've seen several good Hammond players live throughout the years but none of them pushed it to the limits like Howard does and I've always walked away from those concerts feeling somewhat disappointed. My only disappointment with the CD release of Hooteroll? is the fact that one of the better songs where Howard really pushes the envelope was left off the CD. What happened to "A Trip To What Next"? The song was replaced by "Evening In Marin" which is a re mix or second take of "Up From The Desert". It would have been a gem to include all the material on the new CD. Hopefully "A Trip To What Next" will be released on Side Trips Vol. 2. Hooteroll? If your a Garcia fan and haven't heard it... your in for a treat. One of the best projects in Jerry's discography.

No Accomodation for Lagos/No Discrimination

Average customer rating:

Tony Allen is Great
a beautiful thang yall...
Afro Beat

No Accomodation for Lagos/No Discrimination
Tony Allen
Manufacturer: Evolver
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music

Nigeria | Africa | International | Styles | Music

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Jealousy/Progress
Lagos No Shaking
HomeCooking
Live
Booniay!!: A Compilation of West African Funk

ASIN: B000068CWZ
Release Date: 2002-06-18

Tracks:

No Accomodation For Lagos
African Message
No Discrimination
Road Safety
Ariya
Road Safety

Amazon.com

Fela Kuti is known as the architect of Afro-beat, but Nigerian drummer Tony Oladipo Allen was the genre's prime mover. Allen melded highlife with traditional drum patterns and African-American R&B, funk, and jazz. He played with Fela from 1964 to 1979. This double CD, originally released as two LPs in the late '70s, makes it possible for a new generation to experience the Afro-tantric, sub-Saharan grooves Allen and Africa 70 laid down on the turntable and the dance floor. Allen locks down the dub-influenced rhythms while below-the-equator bass lines, kinetic guitar licks, and funky horns turbocharge the long tracks (such as on the title cut, the uplifting "African Message," and "Road Safety"). As political as it is pulsating, this dancing document by Tony Allen shows that the music he and Fela created was the real rave music. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Tony Allen is Great.......2004-06-19

This is a great album. The only bummer is the sax solo during No Accomodation -- if it's Fela, it's like he's freestyling on a bad day. Otherwise, this is serious music, in the sense that it's raw and spetacular. If you're flying into Lagos, this'll give you a real feel for what the atmosphere is like. Bill, be safe!

a beautiful thang yall..........2003-10-26

i am drawn more and more to the afrobeat sound...
this album is like the duke ellington leading the jb horns or earth, wind and fire's phenix horns in a sunday evening jam session... imagine parliament-funkadelic in the hands of miles davis and you kinda get somewhat of a feel for what i'm saying...

or better yet, if you like grover washington or some idris muhammad, then you'll most definitely enjoy this as well...

go ahead, give this a try yall... traditional jazz fans and smooth jazz fans can probably both find some satisfaction in this sound.

i hope you enjoy it!

Afro Beat.......2003-01-11

There is more to this record than there might at first seem. When I first listened to it I was a little overwhelmed by the length of the songs and their seemingly repetitive nature. However, all my initial reservations were thrown aside as I found myself increasingly drawn in to the music. My reluctant Western ears have opened up to the power of the funk influenced, but still African, bass lines and drum grooves and to the horns which accent these relentless groooves with an exciting energy. Tony Allen's vocals are deep and funky and compliment the strong musical rhythm. The content of the lyrics ranges from political and social commentary to the music itself and so give the listener good insight into life in Lagos at the time. This record is definately worth checking out, it has a great vibe, and should get better the more it is played.

Average customer rating:

Bloom has made finely crafted songs since the early 1990s. This is another example of consistency and dedication.
Best performer from ireland
Almost as good as live!
fantastic
A wonderful concert

Amsterdam
Luka Bloom
Manufacturer: Evolver
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Before Sleep Comes
Innocence
Between the Mountain and the Moon
Keeper of the Flame
Salty Heaven

ASIN: B00008V5UG
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Exploring The Blue
Sunny Sailor Boy
Gone To Pablo
Natural Mystic
You
Don't So Hard On Yourself
Make You Feel My Love
Diamond Mountain
Perfect Groove
Monsoon
Fertile Rock
Delirious
Gabriel

Album Description

Live album (Luka's first) recorded in concert at Theater Koninklijk Carre, Amsterdam on February 11th, 2002. Digipak. Evolver. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Bloom has made finely crafted songs since the early 1990s. This is another example of consistency and dedication........2007-03-10

Bloom has made finely crafted songs since the early 1990s. This is another example of consistency and dedication.

Best performer from ireland.......2005-12-01

I have been a total fan of Luka Bloom since he played in my Fathers pub in a small town in Ireland in the 80's before his first album. He is a pure genius! Words, voice, music, performer and this album proves all of the above and more....He is brill live and this ablum makes you feel right there at the show..its the only thing i treasure of Luka to remind me of the good old days watching and listening to him perform.

Almost as good as live!.......2003-11-04

I first heard Luka Bloom open for the Pogues at the Fillmore in San Francisco in the late 80's. I came away with ringing ears (3 days!), one broken rib and a new musician to love! I would go see him whenever he played in less strenuous venues around town, and he was always astonishing. The power and beauty he can pull out of his guitar is sublime, his singing haunting, and his stage performance charming. I never felt like his studio albums did justice to his live performances, until this one. While no CD can simulate the wonder of Mr Bloom singing 40 feet in front of you, this is a fine substitute until he comes to town again!

fantastic.......2003-07-08

Luka Bloom is an incredible singer whose deeply emotional and convincing vocals are fully intact, and even more animated live.
Buy this CD.

A wonderful concert.......2003-05-06

Leaving the Carre Theatre in Amsterdam after Luka Bloom's magical performance that night in February 2002 the only sad thing I felt was that I could not replay the evening again at home. As the sleeve notes to the album say, the audience had no clue the evening was recorded. 'Amsterdam' contains a wonderful live selection of songs from his earlier albums, and the intimacy of the evening can be felt throughout the entire record. Definitely a 'must have'.

Average customer rating:

Lame.
Just Like Everybody Else
Evolver
Godhead Does It Again!
evolution for the masses

Evolver
Godhead
Manufacturer: Reality Ent.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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2000 Years of Human Error
The Shadow Line
Power Tool Stigmata
Non-Stop Ride
Looking Through

ASIN: B00009Y3RA
Release Date: 2003-07-15

Tracks:

The Hate In Me
Just Like You
Giveaway
Keep Me Down
Far Too Long
Deconstruct
Fade Away
Dream
Ghost Of Your Memory
Anybody Else
Rotten
Without

Customer Reviews:

Lame........2007-06-23

Godhead is nothing without Marilyn Manson. This is just another attempt by this band to become the next Static X and they fail miserably. Jason Miller has lost his mojo, and IMO, this band will never do anything amazing again. 2000 Years Of Human Error was the last good album by this band, and every album since has been watered down and pathetic.

Just Like Everybody Else.......2006-08-20

I love Godhead, and I love how original they sound. Nothingness, Power Tool Stigmata, and 2000 Years of Human Error all displayed their unique approach to industrial and metal. All three albums had their distinct sound and style, but they all blended the electronic sounds and samples with metal guitar. Sadly, with Evovler, they seem to almost leave behind their industrial roots and opt for a more straightforward metal album. I don't feel that Jason's vocals suit this style, either. On past albums his voice seemed perfect for every song, but he does not have a purely metal singing voice. I understand that they wanted a stripped down album in order for them to all play the song exactly as it sounds live. Or their attempts at commercial success after years of sounding innovative without much recognition, and their constant moves from one label to another. I just wish they wouldn't have sacrificed some of their original sound in the process.

Evolver.......2006-06-30

Great Cd. A little more produced than the previous albums. If you are a godhead fan, definitly worth the buy.

Godhead Does It Again!.......2005-09-16

It is a shame that Godhead is not as popular as some other rock bands that are simply a joke, yet very popular. Or perhaps it is better that Godhead remains at the fringes of mega popularity; it will allow them to write their unique blend of goth/industrial rock. I first heard about Godhead from my high-school, where, coincidently, drummer James O'Connor had attended a few years ago. I bought their independent albums, and I fell in love with their music.

Godhead seems to be going in a different direction from their earlier roots (ie, 'Nothingness', 'Power Tool Stigmata'), which was more goth/synth pop in style. The style of this album is more metal than goth...but this not necessarily a bad move. Musicians evolve and change, and so does their music (and hopefully their audience). No one can change that. I do not want to hear the thing over and over again under the guise of different albums. Godhead does not do this. They are truly evolving, and mastering their craft.

'Evolver' is one of my favourite Godhead albums. When I first heard it, I was stunned by the sheer power of the music, especially Jason C Miller's unique, eerily deep voice, which adds to the power of his lyrics and enhances the surrounding music. The first half of the album is very fast-paced; the second half gradually shifts to a slower, more contemplative tone. 'Evolver' keeps one listening to the end. My favourite songs are 'The Hate in Me', 'Just Like You, 'Deconstruct', 'Ghost of Your Memory', and 'Rotten'.

evolution for the masses.......2005-07-24

Some dont like the latest Godhead because of the sell-out factor. Some, because they think Godhead "mellowed". Its not that they mellowed... they really, truly have evolved to the next level. The music is fantastic from start to finish. Each song has a way of 'not' sounding like the next. Vocals are still top-notch (as always), and the music is poignant, yet not overbearing! :D

I can not find a flaw with this CD.

Music:

Music