![turbulence [original recording remastered] [import]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000640AN.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg)
| 1. Turbulence |
| 2. Hint Hint |
| 3. Running The Human Race |
| 4. The Inner Battle |
| 5. Novalis |
| 6. Fine Line |
| 7. Sensitive Chaos |
| 8. Corkscrew |
| 9. While Romes Burning |
| 10. From A Place Where Time Runs Slow |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Originally released in 1981, featuring Yes Colleague Bill Bruford along with Billie Currie. Remastered and features full Roger Dean artwork. 10 tracks.
Disc 1 is by far my favorite of the pair, as it contains some really fantastic songs.
The Glass Prison is the first in a series of songs that conceptualize the 12 steps of the Alcoholics' Anonymous program. Beyond having a cool concept, it is a heavy-hitting metal track, which is a refreshing change from SFAM's overwhelming "progginess". Almost instantly it became one of my favorite Dream Theater songs, and one that I wish the band would use to open every single live performance.
Blind Faith is another great track. It's less intense than the Glass Prison, alternating between relaxed and upbeat, particularly during the instrumental passages. The chorus is a bit jarring, but during the verses James LaBrie's warm vocals are like another instrument enhancing the song's already great melodies.
I like the idea and lyrics behind Misunderstood, but I wish this were either a shorter or faster-paced song. James lays down another great vocal performance, but the pace of the song is just too slow for a 9-minute track.
For all its focus on both sides of the stem cell issue, The Great Debate just comes across as "Dream Theater does Tool", and that's just not a good thing. 13 minutes of Tool-style vocals and clips from news programs make this easily the worst song on this disc.
Disappear is an interesting enough song with a strong Radiohead influence. I don't love it or hate it, and it does serve as a nice transition to the second CD.
Disc 2 features the 42-minute epic title track, broken into 8 chapters, each of which (save for the Overture) deal with a different aspect of mental illness. This disc features everything great about progressive music - lengthy song structures, intricate instrumental work, and an interesting concept. It also features everything negative about progressive music - self-indulgent instrumental passages, artistic pretension, and yes lengthy song structures. I can't help but compare it to Dream Theater's previous epic song, A Change of Seasons. 6 Degrees comes across as a group of individual musicians screaming "look at me, look at me!" A Change of Seasons is an actual SONG, and a damn good one at that. It's tight, focused, and when it ends you're left panting for more. There are some impressive moments (About to Crash and Solitary Shell come to mind), but as a whole it just leaves me cold (and checking my watch).
It's funny, but I've seen quite a few reviewers here who share my opinion of this album, and none of us can bring ourselves to give the album the three stars it probably deserves. It's as if associating Dream Theater and a 3-star rating will cause our brains to melt. Well, disc 1 is worth at least 4 stars, and you have to grant disc 2 at least 3, so I'll round up and call Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence a 4-star effort. If they had added a couple of tracks from disc 2 to the first disc and called it quits, I'd probably be hailing this as one of Dream Theater's best efforts.
If you've never heard of Dream Theater.... What's wrong with you? Buy it! Now!
If you truely like good music, why don't you already own this CD? Buy it! Now!
If you think Brittany Spears or Justin Timberlake have any talent at all, then you wouldn't understand Dream Theater at all and you shouldn't buy this CD. Also, if you like Brittany or Jusitin or both... and that kind of music, Do NOT buy this Dream Theater CD..... Just go do your homework because you have to get up early and go to Elementary School tomorrow.
This is a GREAT CD!
"Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" is one of the band's weakest studio releases, in large part due to the second CD of this two disk album. The first disk shows a pretty fair amount of promise, albeit often blatantly derivative. "The Glass Prison" features some pretty good heavy riffs, and an introductory super-fast series of guitar sweeps from guitarist John Petrucci, which would sound at home on a Symphony X album. "Blind Faith" is the album's strongest track, as it not only sounds like a purely Dream Theater track (as opposed to mimicking another band), but it also features a great melodic instrumental turnaround in the middle of the song. "Misunderstood" and "Disappear" are both somewhat derivative of Radiohead, but manage to be pretty decent songs, with the latter having some pretty hefty emotional weight, due to the almost disturbing use of keyboards. "The Great Debate" is where the album starts showing its weak spots. Starting with their pseudo-EP "A Change of Seasons", Dream Theater's lyrics have often been amateurish and lacking in subtlety. With "The Great Debate", their attempt to address the topic of stem cell research falls prey to this weakness, and the blatant Tool homage on the musical side of things doesn't work here.
However, the side-long title track is what really sabotages this release. The pompous "Overture" section really sets a bad tone for this song, as it sounds like a rehearsal for a Disney movie soundtrack. The rest of this 40 odd minute song seems almost cobbled together artificially from outtakes from "Metropolis II: Scenes From a Memory". The sacharrin sweet approach from that album doesn't work here, and attempts to "toughen it up" with heavier interludes such as the "War Inside My Head" section fail to balance things out. It seems like the band was pandering to the same people who cried "sell out" when "Falling Into Infinity" was released. The calls for a "truly epic" (i.e. 20 minutes or more in length) song from the fanbase should have been ignored until they had more solid material and a better, cohesive approach.
"Six Degrees" barely eeks out a 3 out of 5, and only does so because of the presence of some entertaining material on the first disk. While the band is slowly improving its collective skill at smoothing out the robotic aspects of its songwriting skills, this album doesn't quite show evidence of it yet. While Dream Theater may admire Rush greatly, you wouldn't really know it when comparing "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" to Rush's very organic takes on the progressive rock genre.
It baffles me how so many Dream Theater fans have turned a blind eye to this album because it sounds so different from their earlier work. I always thought that's what makes this band so special -- that they never repeat themselves and cater to the lowest common denominator. It is true that the first CD sees Dream Theater turning to their influences, and not only Rush and Metallica this time, but also to bands like Pantera on the groove-inflected "The Glass Prison", easily their heaviest song to date. It begins with the same static sound that finalised Scenes from a Memory and picks up an incredibly beautiful bass figure that sounds almost exactly like an acoustic guitar. Myung's tone is clean, big and uber-heavy. With crushing rhythm guitars, pounding bass, and aggresive vocals, the song is elevated to prog metal heaven when Rudess' understated keyboards appear behind the main instruments, and even Petrucci's shred-intensive guitar that many have lambasted (especially on Train of Thought) makes an invaluable contribution to the excellence of the song. Unlike its successor, the shred parts on this album all emerge after carefully built up sections on this one with an intense keyboard and bass unison; or the superb "Blind Faith", which is graced with a wonderful bluesy shred piece. It is here where Dream Theater comes back to their vintage prog roots, boasting a stunning solo piano performance, protruding bass arrangement, and all-around songwriting brilliance.
The moodier pieces "Misunderstood" and the closing piece "Disappear" are both captured by undeniable Radiohead atmospherics. The flickering synth patches during the acoustic guitar intro on "Misunderstood" help thicken Petrucci's waves of dissonance at the end, adding to its intensity; whilst "Disappear" is arguably the most underrated Dream Theater ballad. The effects, sad piano melody, and Labrie's otherworldy vocals are too good to dislike. "The Great Debate" is the band's nod to the intricate rhythm arrangements of Tool, with both Portnoy and Petrucci providing a solid backbone to the song. Even Labrie's vocals evoke Maynard Keenan during the verses, but Dream Theater does add their own signature to it, mostly with Rudess' rising symphonic keyboard aesthetics and the clever mixing of opposing arguments that blast out from either speaker.
The second disc is far from "let's do a real long one-song album" attitude. It brings forth their unparalleled songwriting ability, highlighting the movements with cleverly arranged recurring musical and lyrical themes. The CD is about different individuals with mental illness, from bipolarity to post-traumatic stress syndrome; to sychophrenia, autism, and separation anxiety. What makes this disc an utter success is that the themes are perfectly summarised at the end; and they are also greatly tied together through a strong melodic theme that is started off with Rudess in the beginning, developed by Petrucci (what a nice guitar tone!) in the middle and climaxed by guitar and keyboards at the end. A bit like Awake in this aspect, the unity is maintained throughout without ignoring strong songwriting ideas. Labrie's excellent singing is backed nicely by Portnoy and Petrucci, portraying the different moods and confusion of the characters. "The Test That Stumped Them All" is unbridled heaviness, underpinned by killer drum staccato and Labrie's unique "diaologue"-style vocals. On the slower paced material, the helplessness of a mother being separated from her child is brought to the fore on "Goodnight Kiss", which begins peacefully and gradually transforms into its tragic finale -- give a listen to both the cries of the baby and its mother under Petrucci's moving guitar solo and Rudess' far-reaching synth colouring. The band's Peter Gabriel influence is demonstrated on the storytelling ballad "Solitary Shell" (note the similarity to Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill"). This proves that, besides mindblowing instrumental wizardy, Dream Theater are also capable of churning out catchy pop songs with strong hooks and a perfect balance between electric and acoustic guitar.
It took me years to fully appreciate this album, but even when I claimed disappointment upon its release, I kept coming back to this disc because I was drawn unconsciously. Now five years after its release, I can safely say this has been my most played Dream Theater CD post-SFAM, and it ranks right up there with their best. With flawless production done by Portnoy and Petrucci themselves, it is among my all-time favourites and perhaps their most detailed work. It's definitely worth the effort -- it will reward you like no other disc once it clicks with you.
"Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" is a brilliant piece of progressive rock and puts Dream Theater in a class with Emerson Lake & Palmer and Yes. When I met Mike Portnoy, he autographed the CD jacket's lyrics page of "The Glass Prison" and I nearly cried. When I saw them play "Six Degrees" in its entirety at Radio City Music Hall with an orchestra, I nearly cried once again. For I see something special in Dream Theater that sets them apart from others: their purity and perfection.
26 year old Sheldon Campbell has made a fan out of me. His style of making music has gotten to me over the years and from the first time I heard the artist, when I would essentially just tag him a Sizzla clone and be done with it, he has improved his style drastically. Always gifted with the pen, and still retaining many of his Sizzla-like oddities, Turbulence is able to hold the attention of both the hard dancehall seeking fan and especially the smooth lover's rock fan.
For years his career was labeled in a way that many of his contemporaries are. He had voiced tons of good solid tunes and high quality albums, but he had never had that one big tune that would set him apart from the rest, combined with the fact that he had announced himself leaving the role of Sizzla's frontman/sidekick, he needed that one big tune.
Enter his girlfriend and Notorious. Feisty songstress Sasha would make an unlikely combination with Turbulence, leading to 2 good tunes, one of which was a big hit, Want a Natty, which is available here. Notorious was even bigger, the artist's firts number one tune took him all over the Caribbean where fans feasted on it.
So here you have the long awaited album, so I and many other reviewers can stop wondering exactly when the tune might appear on an album. VP Records go out of their way to showcase the record, it is redone (even from their own StB) and cut as never before. Its still good enough to be the album's best, coming in second is unsurprisedly Want a Natty (aka Front Line) featuring Sasha. The two could presumably work together dozens of times and never have a dip in quality.
Also good here is much of the dancehall material of the second half of the album. Run Away, Woyeee, and Nah Run all pretty good tunes, especially Run Away Surprisingly, for a Turbulence album, there are no big big love songs on the album after Want a Natty, the artist has shown himself undoubtedly one of the best practitioners of the craft of the love song in recent times.
The album is largely produced by Israeli reggae master Piloni who may be best known with artist Jah Mason, and his riddims are top notch throughout. It is a slightly rushed and flimsy project however, the picures for this one (including the covershot) are all pictures from the liner notes of the Songs of Solomon album, its most immediate VP Records' predecessor.
Overall, I wouldn't necessarily call Notorious Turbulence's worst album (that distinction belongs to Sons of Solomon) but its not the absolute top notch piece that we might expect from the 'Future'. Yes, he can do much much better, but fans of the artist will probably find enough goodness here to more than justify purchase.
This is a message of Liberation very relevant to the contemporary Dance Hall audience.
Turbulence is one of the major pillars in the Rasta renaissance movement among the Bobo Dread in Jamaica. He reflects sincerity and commitment to a Rasta way of life.
Cultural artist like him promote all things positive and progressive, such as Liberation, anticolonialism, black consciousness, moral uprightness, the valorization of Africa and the rebellious opposition to the Babylon system of oppression.
In this new album produced by Piloni and Kirk , Turbulence is demonstrating his cultural creativity : an openness to new sounds and riddims coupled with determination to maintain the ongoing Dance Hall vibes and energy .It blends music and culture from Jamaica and Africa and is powering the music to an uplifting state of mind .
It is an album that gives a higher form of meditation in the music: high energy performance all along the album while sustaining to a reflection on the suffering humanity around the world.
His most matured album - Deeper with the lyrics, deeper with the brilliant arrangements by Piloni, deeper into the modern Dance Hall Roots.
Music that lift you up and promote life. This is revelation time for Turbulence.
Stronger Than Before comes to the masses courtesy of the two companies of the moment. Handling the distribution for the album is the Cousins label who is currently pushing some of the finest roots material available anywhere these days. Besides Stronger Than Before, this year alone, Cousins has released an early candidate for album of the year, Lutan Fyah's You Bring Blessings and on this very same day which Stronger Than Before comes forward, also pushing forth is Luciano's latest release, the masterful God is Greater Than Man, so definitely Cousin is doing very very big thing in reggae music. The production on the album is almost a given. To anyone having been consistently picking up reggae releases, the riddims here (and actually Byron Murray's overall style of production) should be very very familiar. Following producing releases in the last year alone for artists such as Norris Man, Jah Mason and the aforementioned Luciano and Lutan Fyah, Byron Murray's In The Streetz continues to push top notch vibes for the music and have finally dropped the release for Turbulence (just looking at their song lineup, by virtue of how many tracks have been recorded by a particular artist, you can probably expect a Sizzla album as well any day now). It has been my experience that Turbulence will generally excel on the type of riddims and vibes which allow him to explore his entire style; that is, give him the foundation to sing, chant, rap, do and just generally adlib as well, which is what he `grew up' on voicing for Fattis at Xterminator. While Stronger Than Before focuses more on the roots, Murray's ever expanding vault of vibes also gives Turbulence a nice setting to create a very powerful album.
Which is exactly what he did. Although, as I mentioned, the album moves at a slower pace on a whole, Turbulence finds a way to extract every style in which he is well versed and does a fine job. He also goes back and seems to recapture his underrated lyrical ability. After a 2006 which seemed as if the best thing for the overworked 27 year old Kingston native would be a vacation, and the first shot of 2007 being an increasingly frustrating work of mediocrity in Do Good (largely due to his producer on that album milking old deceased vibes), Stronger Than Before is a wonderfully welcome addition to Turbulence's ever expanding catalogue (by my count it becomes his 17th studio album, combine that with the fact that outside of Sizzla, Kartel and probably Jah Cure there is no artist in JA more active on the mix-tape circuit) and thankfully he's back to writing good lyrics, not just the virtual cookie cutter `Praise Jah' `Fyah Bun!' `Baby I Love You/Come back to me' style vibes which he got through the majority of `06 with pushing on albums. Need a bit of proof? Check the rather clever build of the title track over Murray's divine old school styled Desperate Lover riddim. Stronger, the song, begins as a nice ode to the pillaring artists of yesteryear and the music and changes to a song for the youths and is a praise tune all at the same time, its actually one of the better built and arranged tracks I've ever heard from the artist and would definitely love to hear him expound on it in the future (it actually reminds me of the wonderful Based on a True Story from the Join Us album). Definitely one to be checked.
As an album, Stronger Than Before, is exactly that, stronger than the few albums which came before it. The album hits is high water mark in the middle beginning with track 4, the album's best piece Play Hard Ball. Play Hard Ball almost shows everything which is solid about the artist. It flows nicely over the Number Tree riddim which is a big and lush guitar heavy roots riddim which doesn't exactly drive itself as a hard and forceful vibes, but Turbulence has that ability to push it and make it become exactly that and it was the tune on the album that made me come back to it several times before moving on. The tune isn't exactly bridging a new lyrical gap for the artist, as it is that `Babylon soon fall' type of tune, but again, the way it is presented and arranged makes it a winner (and the occasional yet lovely female backing doesn't hurt at all either). Check immediately after Play Hard Ball for a track which pushes the vibes in a different direction, the excellent love track, Reconsider over Murray's unnamed riddim which I always find myself trying to find the name of. . ., but its excellent, and again, nothing different than what you're used to from the artist (in this case, `baby come back to me') but Reconsider is more introspective as he almost appears to be upset with himself and lamenting the mistake he made, just a slight lyrical twitch making the track a winner and I would LOVE to see a live performance of the track with my Empress on my arm. And when I saw the title of the following track, Love Can Make, my eyes got wide as I envisioned a remake of early Turbulence hit, Love Can Make a Difference, this song is different (and not as strong) but still very solid.
Besides the middle jump up of vibes on Stronger Than Before check the one and only (yet obligatory) combination on the album, Prayer is Power with his group of friends and young artists Higher Trod. I'm always interested in hearing the group get a chance over the vibes (largely due to the fact that the Join Us album was pretty much a complete combination between Turbulence and Higher Trod) and Prayer is Power doesn't disappoint at all. Turbulence takes but one verse (and sings the hook) and gives others the chance to shine and shine they do and I'm probably most impressed by Prince Javed, seemingly the most active member of the Higher Trod Family not named Turbulence who comes off as a more impassioned version of Turbulence's uncle, Norrisman, at times (and even kind of looks like him!), but Javed doesn't disappoint leading the charge on Prayer is Power, the best JAH praising track on Stronger Than Before and one of the album's finest efforts overall (now if I can get like a Javed album or something, that would be nice. . .).
Stronger Than Before does an excellent and unexpected thing at the end. The final three tracks are all relatively strong dancehall tracks, a very welcome addition to one of Turbulence's slower albums (it actually probably most reminds me of a very very strong version of the Songs of Solomon album). The first of the three is probably the track that is most I'm most familiar with, I've Been Around, one of the strongest tracks over Murray's hit Bounce riddim. The second dancehall track (and the strongest) Di Ting (and the slackest) (yes dat `ting') over Murray's re-lick of the exceptional Mudd Up riddim shows Turbulence can do that kind of hardcore dancehall when needed and that riddim. . . If you only buy a few riddim albums, make sure you pick up the Return of the Mudd Up, love that riddim. Lastly is the solid I'm Not Afraid over the crazy hit Hot Wuk riddim. I'm Not Afraid is nearly as good as Di Ting and it even further shows Turbulence's ability as, lyrically, it's a pure roots track do style like a dancehall track over a dancehall riddim, very nice effort. My only regret at the end is that they didn't throw in the older, yet exceptional Hype in Jah over Murray's forgotten Forensic riddim, yeah it's a few years old now, and I imagine at the time, the strictly dancehall outfit never imagined putting out an album from the young Bobo, but I still looooooooove Hype in Jah.
Overall, definitely one of the `strongest' albums of Turbulence's career to date. I love the mix of vibes and Murray doesn't hit the same pitfall that Brotherman (producer of the Do Good album) hit. His vibes from the past year or two still have the fresh appeal to them (now if it's the beginning of 2008 and he's pushing a Capleton or Anthony B album with the same vibes then we might have a problem) and hearing Turbulence voice them doesn't detract from the fact that they are still very solid vibes. Stronger Than Before maybe a watershed moment for Turbulence, besides pushing mediocrity over the last year, he spent a lot of time in the tabloids due to a high profile separation with ex-girlfriend, DJ Sasha (and then a high profile exchange of lyrical jabs, and then a high profile lyrical reconciliation). However, should he return to pushing high quality music and push out the next big hit, it is likely that most fans and critics alike will quickly forget all of that and rediscover the artist. Because even though Stronger Than Before is a very very strong album, it doesn't even begin to show the true promise of one of the most untapped talents Jamaica has seen in a very long time.
The Truth is certainly right in the middle of those as it presents probably, lyrically, the deepest episode of Turbulence yet. If you're into the meditative/spiritual part of Rastafarian music then this is the one you need to seek out first. The pictures in the sleeves display the artist as a part of nature, in garden adornment and the album continues along that line. The best song here is without a doubt the closer Selassie I, very very spiritual and really displays Turbulence's development lyrically. Also check the title track, and I'd Rather Be. A lot of this album is directed towards women, and the artist's love of Black women.
Overall, I continue to be impressed with Sheldon Campbell's development as an artist, and I'm very interested to see exactly where his message continue's to spread and take his music.
Steve Howe later went on to help form "supergroups" with other cast-offs from various bands. Projects like "Asia" and "GTR" have Howe in the liner notes as the lead guitarist. Howe is a self-taught guitarist, and unlike many who were mentored by a veteran great or attended an acclaimed music school, it was Howe's love for the instrument and his love for music that helped him forge and great beautiful sounds that were technically proficient as well as imaginative in overall virtuoso landscape. It also helped him stay focused in keeping an open mind in trying to learn and master a variety of string instruments.
Turbulence is Howe's third solo CD of the over thirteen in his solo discography alone. Released in 1991, We are blessed with a bevy of sharp, melodic tones and rhymes that really helped Howe prove that he could break away from the "YES" sound that he created so long ago and continue to grow as a musician. I won't cover every track on the album but touch on a few select ones.
Track one is the title track "Turbulence" and clocks in just less than five minutes. This song is interesting because it really starts off fast and has two guitars playing off one another. One is electrical and the other acoustic. Its really amazing how fast Steve can play an acoustic. The song has a fast tempo and choppy, short spurts that eventually lead into some pretty drawn out electrical ambience that doesn't get to dark. The overall sound of this track can sum it up for the entire album when I say that it's pretty atmospheric. What is also great is that though it breaks into some really great crescendo, almost reminiscent of prog, the acoustic part keeps it down to earth with some, shall we say, enchanted folk like sounds. Just when you think it could not get more diverse, Steve rips off a shredder of a solo piece that would make any metal head proud. Track four starts out with a heavy and blistering opening that is slow and heavy on the guitar and drums. A saxophone can be heard faintly in the background for a short time before Steve explodes into a rhythm that plays along with another layer of electrical guitar added in for effect. The song is called "The Inner Battle" and despite Steve's great work on this one, is also enjoyable from the various percussion pieces that seem to add a lot of power to it. I will say this song does have a touch of "Yes" in it, but why wouldn't it? Perhaps instead of referring to it as the "Yes" sound, we should start recognizing is as the "Howe" sound.
Track six is "Fine Line" and starts out with a plinky and melodic acoustic guitar before seamlessly breaking into a rollicking high-note hurrah that is wrought with power. It rolls along with some great synth in the background before gaining ground again to allow Steve to enter into another fine solo. This sound is not dark but really a sound that is something of prog wonder. Almost "Tolkien" like, shall we say? Beautiful solo work that again, stands the test of time. I don't think there's a bad track on the album, as every song is well executed, tight in arrangements, and uplifting in sound. Track eight is "Corkscrew" and is a fine track that is played in the lines of a Spanish guitar solo. Visions of desert and tumbleweeds rolling by cactuses come to mind as Steve strums and strives on with this great acoustic track! Track nine, my goodness. "While Rome's burning" is one of the best solo's I've heard in a long time. On "Rome", Steve plays a pretty simple intro but the chops are pretty atmospheric and the song quickly breaks into an arena type rocker that is one for the ages. Steve again mixes in some different guitars on this one but the main chorus coupled with the HEAVY pounding of the drums doesn't leave anything on the table. Sounds that really to me somehow make the listener think of something of the past, or even of the buildup of a suspenseful event from a movie. His guitar playing tells a story, it sings to us, and just when you think it's going to die down, it comes back again to give us another dose. Track ten starts us off for just over 2 minutes with another Spanish melody before spending the last bit of the track in a powerful electrical guitar piece that has some angelic keyboards and slow but steady drums to help it finish off the albums ten track song listing in style.
He may not be Clapton, Henrix, or Van Halen, but who cares? He's Steve Howe, one of the most acclaimed rock guitarists of the past 35 years that you've maybe not heard of, but should have.
Different thing is a very very good album. Very rootsy, of course, thats Turbulence's natural way, but not so spiritual. Of course Rastaman writes Rasta songs, sings Rastaman lyrics and so forth, but you don't have to be a Rasta at all to enjoy tunes like the opener Girlfriend, I mean, that is just a part of life for basically everybody, its a very comforting tune, very well put together. "Da Future", as he and others have now deemed him (rightly so), maintains a consistently very good singing voice (which is even better in concert) and on a song like Burn Dem Down with rising roots superstar Luton Fyah, Turbulence shows his incredible ability to wade between the worlds of djaying and singing without missing a step, the tune is a wicked wicked combination and one of the main reasons I bought this one. Also really like Pride, which is probably my favorite tune on the album, Leaders with Taffari, Dread Times with Mark Wonder and even the flat out strange sounding Holiday. Oh and Marihuana.. .. .. and Unite. I could say every tune here, there really are no bad songs.
Overall, I say this is a definite one to get. You can certainly see the evidence of Turbulence's apprenticeship with Kalonji, especially in his writing. With so many young great roots artists prospering in Reggae music right now along with Turbulence, like Jah Cure, Warrior King, Luton Fyah and others, Turbulence with his overall talent, consistent recording schedule, great stage presence, the backing that he has (namely Xterminator) and 3 very very good albums under his belt, seems poised to be "Da Future" and then some when he is called upon to do so. Different Thing is not too different from what we're used to from the artist, which is a good thing. GO GET IT!
Originally released in 1981, featuring Yes Colleague Bill Bruford along with Billie Currie. Remastered and features full Roger Dean artwork. 10 tracks.
Turbulence,Steve Howe,Acadia,Rock,Rock/Pop
Average customer rating: 
|
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Dream Theater Manufacturer: Wea/Elektra Entertainment ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Metal
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Hard Rock
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Dynasty
| Warner Brothers Records
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005UEAR Release Date: 2002-01-29 |
Tracks:
- The Glass Prison
- Blind Faith
- Misunderstood
- The Great Debate
- Disappear
Tracks:
- Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence: Overture
- About To Crash
- War Inside My Head
- The Test That Stumped Them All
- Goodnight Kiss
- Solitary Shell
- About To Crash (Reprise)
- Losing Time/Grand Finale
Amazon.com
Never a band to do things by halves, Dream Theater here delivers a two-disc extravaganza with a title track that clocks in at a prog-tastic 42 minutes. Very much in the style of its 1999 studio predecessor, Scenes from a Memory, the "Six Degrees" piece, which occupies the entire second disc, is divided into eight movements beginning, of course, with the overture. It's meaty stuff, though musically it alternately noodles and thrashes about in a somewhat haphazard manner while singer-lyricist James LaBrie's struggles to make an impression over the stunning instrumental onslaught. The first disc serves up five pieces averaging about 10 minutes each that hearken back to the grungier sound of 1994's Awake. The result is an album that fulfills fans' expectations. These guys have found a formula and they're sticking to it. --Mark WalkerAlbum Description
Dream Theater's latest 2 CD studio epic, produced by drummer Mike Portnoy & guitarist John Petrucci. Elektra Entertainment.Customer Reviews:
3.5 stars, a bit too ambitious.......2007-07-07
Disc 1 is by far my favorite of the pair, as it contains some really fantastic songs.
The Glass Prison is the first in a series of songs that conceptualize the 12 steps of the Alcoholics' Anonymous program. Beyond having a cool concept, it is a heavy-hitting metal track, which is a refreshing change from SFAM's overwhelming "progginess". Almost instantly it became one of my favorite Dream Theater songs, and one that I wish the band would use to open every single live performance.
Blind Faith is another great track. It's less intense than the Glass Prison, alternating between relaxed and upbeat, particularly during the instrumental passages. The chorus is a bit jarring, but during the verses James LaBrie's warm vocals are like another instrument enhancing the song's already great melodies.
I like the idea and lyrics behind Misunderstood, but I wish this were either a shorter or faster-paced song. James lays down another great vocal performance, but the pace of the song is just too slow for a 9-minute track.
For all its focus on both sides of the stem cell issue, The Great Debate just comes across as "Dream Theater does Tool", and that's just not a good thing. 13 minutes of Tool-style vocals and clips from news programs make this easily the worst song on this disc.
Disappear is an interesting enough song with a strong Radiohead influence. I don't love it or hate it, and it does serve as a nice transition to the second CD.
Disc 2 features the 42-minute epic title track, broken into 8 chapters, each of which (save for the Overture) deal with a different aspect of mental illness. This disc features everything great about progressive music - lengthy song structures, intricate instrumental work, and an interesting concept. It also features everything negative about progressive music - self-indulgent instrumental passages, artistic pretension, and yes lengthy song structures. I can't help but compare it to Dream Theater's previous epic song, A Change of Seasons. 6 Degrees comes across as a group of individual musicians screaming "look at me, look at me!" A Change of Seasons is an actual SONG, and a damn good one at that. It's tight, focused, and when it ends you're left panting for more. There are some impressive moments (About to Crash and Solitary Shell come to mind), but as a whole it just leaves me cold (and checking my watch).
It's funny, but I've seen quite a few reviewers here who share my opinion of this album, and none of us can bring ourselves to give the album the three stars it probably deserves. It's as if associating Dream Theater and a 3-star rating will cause our brains to melt. Well, disc 1 is worth at least 4 stars, and you have to grant disc 2 at least 3, so I'll round up and call Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence a 4-star effort. If they had added a couple of tracks from disc 2 to the first disc and called it quits, I'd probably be hailing this as one of Dream Theater's best efforts.
Dream Theater is the best!.......2007-05-13
If you've never heard of Dream Theater.... What's wrong with you? Buy it! Now!
If you truely like good music, why don't you already own this CD? Buy it! Now!
If you think Brittany Spears or Justin Timberlake have any talent at all, then you wouldn't understand Dream Theater at all and you shouldn't buy this CD. Also, if you like Brittany or Jusitin or both... and that kind of music, Do NOT buy this Dream Theater CD..... Just go do your homework because you have to get up early and go to Elementary School tomorrow.
This is a GREAT CD!
Shameless Pandering Hurts This Release.......2007-05-03
"Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" is one of the band's weakest studio releases, in large part due to the second CD of this two disk album. The first disk shows a pretty fair amount of promise, albeit often blatantly derivative. "The Glass Prison" features some pretty good heavy riffs, and an introductory super-fast series of guitar sweeps from guitarist John Petrucci, which would sound at home on a Symphony X album. "Blind Faith" is the album's strongest track, as it not only sounds like a purely Dream Theater track (as opposed to mimicking another band), but it also features a great melodic instrumental turnaround in the middle of the song. "Misunderstood" and "Disappear" are both somewhat derivative of Radiohead, but manage to be pretty decent songs, with the latter having some pretty hefty emotional weight, due to the almost disturbing use of keyboards. "The Great Debate" is where the album starts showing its weak spots. Starting with their pseudo-EP "A Change of Seasons", Dream Theater's lyrics have often been amateurish and lacking in subtlety. With "The Great Debate", their attempt to address the topic of stem cell research falls prey to this weakness, and the blatant Tool homage on the musical side of things doesn't work here.
However, the side-long title track is what really sabotages this release. The pompous "Overture" section really sets a bad tone for this song, as it sounds like a rehearsal for a Disney movie soundtrack. The rest of this 40 odd minute song seems almost cobbled together artificially from outtakes from "Metropolis II: Scenes From a Memory". The sacharrin sweet approach from that album doesn't work here, and attempts to "toughen it up" with heavier interludes such as the "War Inside My Head" section fail to balance things out. It seems like the band was pandering to the same people who cried "sell out" when "Falling Into Infinity" was released. The calls for a "truly epic" (i.e. 20 minutes or more in length) song from the fanbase should have been ignored until they had more solid material and a better, cohesive approach.
"Six Degrees" barely eeks out a 3 out of 5, and only does so because of the presence of some entertaining material on the first disk. While the band is slowly improving its collective skill at smoothing out the robotic aspects of its songwriting skills, this album doesn't quite show evidence of it yet. While Dream Theater may admire Rush greatly, you wouldn't really know it when comparing "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" to Rush's very organic takes on the progressive rock genre.
One of the most rewarding albums ever.......2007-04-29
It baffles me how so many Dream Theater fans have turned a blind eye to this album because it sounds so different from their earlier work. I always thought that's what makes this band so special -- that they never repeat themselves and cater to the lowest common denominator. It is true that the first CD sees Dream Theater turning to their influences, and not only Rush and Metallica this time, but also to bands like Pantera on the groove-inflected "The Glass Prison", easily their heaviest song to date. It begins with the same static sound that finalised Scenes from a Memory and picks up an incredibly beautiful bass figure that sounds almost exactly like an acoustic guitar. Myung's tone is clean, big and uber-heavy. With crushing rhythm guitars, pounding bass, and aggresive vocals, the song is elevated to prog metal heaven when Rudess' understated keyboards appear behind the main instruments, and even Petrucci's shred-intensive guitar that many have lambasted (especially on Train of Thought) makes an invaluable contribution to the excellence of the song. Unlike its successor, the shred parts on this album all emerge after carefully built up sections on this one with an intense keyboard and bass unison; or the superb "Blind Faith", which is graced with a wonderful bluesy shred piece. It is here where Dream Theater comes back to their vintage prog roots, boasting a stunning solo piano performance, protruding bass arrangement, and all-around songwriting brilliance.
The moodier pieces "Misunderstood" and the closing piece "Disappear" are both captured by undeniable Radiohead atmospherics. The flickering synth patches during the acoustic guitar intro on "Misunderstood" help thicken Petrucci's waves of dissonance at the end, adding to its intensity; whilst "Disappear" is arguably the most underrated Dream Theater ballad. The effects, sad piano melody, and Labrie's otherworldy vocals are too good to dislike. "The Great Debate" is the band's nod to the intricate rhythm arrangements of Tool, with both Portnoy and Petrucci providing a solid backbone to the song. Even Labrie's vocals evoke Maynard Keenan during the verses, but Dream Theater does add their own signature to it, mostly with Rudess' rising symphonic keyboard aesthetics and the clever mixing of opposing arguments that blast out from either speaker.
The second disc is far from "let's do a real long one-song album" attitude. It brings forth their unparalleled songwriting ability, highlighting the movements with cleverly arranged recurring musical and lyrical themes. The CD is about different individuals with mental illness, from bipolarity to post-traumatic stress syndrome; to sychophrenia, autism, and separation anxiety. What makes this disc an utter success is that the themes are perfectly summarised at the end; and they are also greatly tied together through a strong melodic theme that is started off with Rudess in the beginning, developed by Petrucci (what a nice guitar tone!) in the middle and climaxed by guitar and keyboards at the end. A bit like Awake in this aspect, the unity is maintained throughout without ignoring strong songwriting ideas. Labrie's excellent singing is backed nicely by Portnoy and Petrucci, portraying the different moods and confusion of the characters. "The Test That Stumped Them All" is unbridled heaviness, underpinned by killer drum staccato and Labrie's unique "diaologue"-style vocals. On the slower paced material, the helplessness of a mother being separated from her child is brought to the fore on "Goodnight Kiss", which begins peacefully and gradually transforms into its tragic finale -- give a listen to both the cries of the baby and its mother under Petrucci's moving guitar solo and Rudess' far-reaching synth colouring. The band's Peter Gabriel influence is demonstrated on the storytelling ballad "Solitary Shell" (note the similarity to Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill"). This proves that, besides mindblowing instrumental wizardy, Dream Theater are also capable of churning out catchy pop songs with strong hooks and a perfect balance between electric and acoustic guitar.
It took me years to fully appreciate this album, but even when I claimed disappointment upon its release, I kept coming back to this disc because I was drawn unconsciously. Now five years after its release, I can safely say this has been my most played Dream Theater CD post-SFAM, and it ranks right up there with their best. With flawless production done by Portnoy and Petrucci themselves, it is among my all-time favourites and perhaps their most detailed work. It's definitely worth the effort -- it will reward you like no other disc once it clicks with you.
My Favorite Dream Theater Album.......2007-02-12
"Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" is a brilliant piece of progressive rock and puts Dream Theater in a class with Emerson Lake & Palmer and Yes. When I met Mike Portnoy, he autographed the CD jacket's lyrics page of "The Glass Prison" and I nearly cried. When I saw them play "Six Degrees" in its entirety at Radio City Music Hall with an orchestra, I nearly cried once again. For I see something special in Dream Theater that sets them apart from others: their purity and perfection.
Average customer rating: 
|
The Perfect Balance
Turbulence , and Richie Spice Manufacturer: Weeded Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dance Hall
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| Compilations
| International
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B000I5Y92M Release Date: 2007-05-22 |
Tracks:
- Finally Free - Turbulence
- Rainy Day - Turbulence
- Tap a Tap - Turbulence
- My Woman - Turbulence
- Master Of False Pretense - Turbulence
- We Are One - Turbulence
- Perfect Match - Turbulence
- Bless the Man - Richie Spice
- Castle Of My Heart - Richie Spice
- Come In Money - Richie Spice
- Cold Hearted Fool - Richie Spice
- Never Weary - Richie Spice
- Sell Out - Richie Spice
- Monday Morning - Richie Spice
Average customer rating:
|
Notorious
Turbulence Manufacturer: Vp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dance Hall
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| Compilations
| International
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B000ECWYNA Release Date: 2006-04-18 |
Tracks:
- Fire Pon Dem
- Notorious
- Do You
- Down Down Down
- I'm Yours
- Front Line (Want A Natty)
- Work It Out
- Love You
- Run Away
- Woyeeeee
- Hah Run
- Liberation
- Bongo Congo
Customer Reviews:
Notorious Failure.......2006-06-18
Rushed, Hurried but Not Bad.......2006-05-13
26 year old Sheldon Campbell has made a fan out of me. His style of making music has gotten to me over the years and from the first time I heard the artist, when I would essentially just tag him a Sizzla clone and be done with it, he has improved his style drastically. Always gifted with the pen, and still retaining many of his Sizzla-like oddities, Turbulence is able to hold the attention of both the hard dancehall seeking fan and especially the smooth lover's rock fan.
For years his career was labeled in a way that many of his contemporaries are. He had voiced tons of good solid tunes and high quality albums, but he had never had that one big tune that would set him apart from the rest, combined with the fact that he had announced himself leaving the role of Sizzla's frontman/sidekick, he needed that one big tune.
Enter his girlfriend and Notorious. Feisty songstress Sasha would make an unlikely combination with Turbulence, leading to 2 good tunes, one of which was a big hit, Want a Natty, which is available here. Notorious was even bigger, the artist's firts number one tune took him all over the Caribbean where fans feasted on it.
So here you have the long awaited album, so I and many other reviewers can stop wondering exactly when the tune might appear on an album. VP Records go out of their way to showcase the record, it is redone (even from their own StB) and cut as never before. Its still good enough to be the album's best, coming in second is unsurprisedly Want a Natty (aka Front Line) featuring Sasha. The two could presumably work together dozens of times and never have a dip in quality.
Also good here is much of the dancehall material of the second half of the album. Run Away, Woyeee, and Nah Run all pretty good tunes, especially Run Away Surprisingly, for a Turbulence album, there are no big big love songs on the album after Want a Natty, the artist has shown himself undoubtedly one of the best practitioners of the craft of the love song in recent times.
The album is largely produced by Israeli reggae master Piloni who may be best known with artist Jah Mason, and his riddims are top notch throughout. It is a slightly rushed and flimsy project however, the picures for this one (including the covershot) are all pictures from the liner notes of the Songs of Solomon album, its most immediate VP Records' predecessor.
Overall, I wouldn't necessarily call Notorious Turbulence's worst album (that distinction belongs to Sons of Solomon) but its not the absolute top notch piece that we might expect from the 'Future'. Yes, he can do much much better, but fans of the artist will probably find enough goodness here to more than justify purchase.
Best Turbulence album .......2006-04-28
This is a message of Liberation very relevant to the contemporary Dance Hall audience.
Turbulence is one of the major pillars in the Rasta renaissance movement among the Bobo Dread in Jamaica. He reflects sincerity and commitment to a Rasta way of life.
Cultural artist like him promote all things positive and progressive, such as Liberation, anticolonialism, black consciousness, moral uprightness, the valorization of Africa and the rebellious opposition to the Babylon system of oppression.
In this new album produced by Piloni and Kirk , Turbulence is demonstrating his cultural creativity : an openness to new sounds and riddims coupled with determination to maintain the ongoing Dance Hall vibes and energy .It blends music and culture from Jamaica and Africa and is powering the music to an uplifting state of mind .
It is an album that gives a higher form of meditation in the music: high energy performance all along the album while sustaining to a reflection on the suffering humanity around the world.
His most matured album - Deeper with the lyrics, deeper with the brilliant arrangements by Piloni, deeper into the modern Dance Hall Roots.
Music that lift you up and promote life. This is revelation time for Turbulence.
Almost the perfect reggae album.......2006-04-19
Average customer rating:
|
Stronger Than Before
Turbulence Manufacturer: Cousins ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dance Hall
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| Compilations
| International
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B000MZGWPK Release Date: 2007-04-17 |
Tracks:
- I'm Stronger Than Before
- Go Down Down Babylon
- Mis-Leaders
- Play Hard Ball
- Reconsider
- Love Can Make
- As Sure As The Sunshine
- Prayer Is Power
- Ungrateful
- I've Been Around
- Di Thing
- I'm Not Afraid
- Untitled
Customer Reviews:
Better Than Before. . ........2007-04-17
Stronger Than Before comes to the masses courtesy of the two companies of the moment. Handling the distribution for the album is the Cousins label who is currently pushing some of the finest roots material available anywhere these days. Besides Stronger Than Before, this year alone, Cousins has released an early candidate for album of the year, Lutan Fyah's You Bring Blessings and on this very same day which Stronger Than Before comes forward, also pushing forth is Luciano's latest release, the masterful God is Greater Than Man, so definitely Cousin is doing very very big thing in reggae music. The production on the album is almost a given. To anyone having been consistently picking up reggae releases, the riddims here (and actually Byron Murray's overall style of production) should be very very familiar. Following producing releases in the last year alone for artists such as Norris Man, Jah Mason and the aforementioned Luciano and Lutan Fyah, Byron Murray's In The Streetz continues to push top notch vibes for the music and have finally dropped the release for Turbulence (just looking at their song lineup, by virtue of how many tracks have been recorded by a particular artist, you can probably expect a Sizzla album as well any day now). It has been my experience that Turbulence will generally excel on the type of riddims and vibes which allow him to explore his entire style; that is, give him the foundation to sing, chant, rap, do and just generally adlib as well, which is what he `grew up' on voicing for Fattis at Xterminator. While Stronger Than Before focuses more on the roots, Murray's ever expanding vault of vibes also gives Turbulence a nice setting to create a very powerful album.
Which is exactly what he did. Although, as I mentioned, the album moves at a slower pace on a whole, Turbulence finds a way to extract every style in which he is well versed and does a fine job. He also goes back and seems to recapture his underrated lyrical ability. After a 2006 which seemed as if the best thing for the overworked 27 year old Kingston native would be a vacation, and the first shot of 2007 being an increasingly frustrating work of mediocrity in Do Good (largely due to his producer on that album milking old deceased vibes), Stronger Than Before is a wonderfully welcome addition to Turbulence's ever expanding catalogue (by my count it becomes his 17th studio album, combine that with the fact that outside of Sizzla, Kartel and probably Jah Cure there is no artist in JA more active on the mix-tape circuit) and thankfully he's back to writing good lyrics, not just the virtual cookie cutter `Praise Jah' `Fyah Bun!' `Baby I Love You/Come back to me' style vibes which he got through the majority of `06 with pushing on albums. Need a bit of proof? Check the rather clever build of the title track over Murray's divine old school styled Desperate Lover riddim. Stronger, the song, begins as a nice ode to the pillaring artists of yesteryear and the music and changes to a song for the youths and is a praise tune all at the same time, its actually one of the better built and arranged tracks I've ever heard from the artist and would definitely love to hear him expound on it in the future (it actually reminds me of the wonderful Based on a True Story from the Join Us album). Definitely one to be checked.
As an album, Stronger Than Before, is exactly that, stronger than the few albums which came before it. The album hits is high water mark in the middle beginning with track 4, the album's best piece Play Hard Ball. Play Hard Ball almost shows everything which is solid about the artist. It flows nicely over the Number Tree riddim which is a big and lush guitar heavy roots riddim which doesn't exactly drive itself as a hard and forceful vibes, but Turbulence has that ability to push it and make it become exactly that and it was the tune on the album that made me come back to it several times before moving on. The tune isn't exactly bridging a new lyrical gap for the artist, as it is that `Babylon soon fall' type of tune, but again, the way it is presented and arranged makes it a winner (and the occasional yet lovely female backing doesn't hurt at all either). Check immediately after Play Hard Ball for a track which pushes the vibes in a different direction, the excellent love track, Reconsider over Murray's unnamed riddim which I always find myself trying to find the name of. . ., but its excellent, and again, nothing different than what you're used to from the artist (in this case, `baby come back to me') but Reconsider is more introspective as he almost appears to be upset with himself and lamenting the mistake he made, just a slight lyrical twitch making the track a winner and I would LOVE to see a live performance of the track with my Empress on my arm. And when I saw the title of the following track, Love Can Make, my eyes got wide as I envisioned a remake of early Turbulence hit, Love Can Make a Difference, this song is different (and not as strong) but still very solid.
Besides the middle jump up of vibes on Stronger Than Before check the one and only (yet obligatory) combination on the album, Prayer is Power with his group of friends and young artists Higher Trod. I'm always interested in hearing the group get a chance over the vibes (largely due to the fact that the Join Us album was pretty much a complete combination between Turbulence and Higher Trod) and Prayer is Power doesn't disappoint at all. Turbulence takes but one verse (and sings the hook) and gives others the chance to shine and shine they do and I'm probably most impressed by Prince Javed, seemingly the most active member of the Higher Trod Family not named Turbulence who comes off as a more impassioned version of Turbulence's uncle, Norrisman, at times (and even kind of looks like him!), but Javed doesn't disappoint leading the charge on Prayer is Power, the best JAH praising track on Stronger Than Before and one of the album's finest efforts overall (now if I can get like a Javed album or something, that would be nice. . .).
Stronger Than Before does an excellent and unexpected thing at the end. The final three tracks are all relatively strong dancehall tracks, a very welcome addition to one of Turbulence's slower albums (it actually probably most reminds me of a very very strong version of the Songs of Solomon album). The first of the three is probably the track that is most I'm most familiar with, I've Been Around, one of the strongest tracks over Murray's hit Bounce riddim. The second dancehall track (and the strongest) Di Ting (and the slackest) (yes dat `ting') over Murray's re-lick of the exceptional Mudd Up riddim shows Turbulence can do that kind of hardcore dancehall when needed and that riddim. . . If you only buy a few riddim albums, make sure you pick up the Return of the Mudd Up, love that riddim. Lastly is the solid I'm Not Afraid over the crazy hit Hot Wuk riddim. I'm Not Afraid is nearly as good as Di Ting and it even further shows Turbulence's ability as, lyrically, it's a pure roots track do style like a dancehall track over a dancehall riddim, very nice effort. My only regret at the end is that they didn't throw in the older, yet exceptional Hype in Jah over Murray's forgotten Forensic riddim, yeah it's a few years old now, and I imagine at the time, the strictly dancehall outfit never imagined putting out an album from the young Bobo, but I still looooooooove Hype in Jah.
Overall, definitely one of the `strongest' albums of Turbulence's career to date. I love the mix of vibes and Murray doesn't hit the same pitfall that Brotherman (producer of the Do Good album) hit. His vibes from the past year or two still have the fresh appeal to them (now if it's the beginning of 2008 and he's pushing a Capleton or Anthony B album with the same vibes then we might have a problem) and hearing Turbulence voice them doesn't detract from the fact that they are still very solid vibes. Stronger Than Before maybe a watershed moment for Turbulence, besides pushing mediocrity over the last year, he spent a lot of time in the tabloids due to a high profile separation with ex-girlfriend, DJ Sasha (and then a high profile exchange of lyrical jabs, and then a high profile lyrical reconciliation). However, should he return to pushing high quality music and push out the next big hit, it is likely that most fans and critics alike will quickly forget all of that and rediscover the artist. Because even though Stronger Than Before is a very very strong album, it doesn't even begin to show the true promise of one of the most untapped talents Jamaica has seen in a very long time.
Average customer rating:
|
The Truth
Turbulence Manufacturer: Ras ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dance Hall
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| Compilations
| International
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000ADXDX Release Date: 2003-08-12 |
Tracks:
- THE TRUTH
- DIRTY WAYS
- WHAT I WANT
- FIRE BUN
- I'D RATHER BE
- MORE EFFORT
- ADDICTED
- BEEN GOOD TO ME
- ON MY NERVE
- SATURATE YOURSELF IN MY ARMS
- BABYLON CRUELTY
- LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
- SELASSIE I
Customer Reviews:
Meditate on This.......2004-01-27
The Truth is certainly right in the middle of those as it presents probably, lyrically, the deepest episode of Turbulence yet. If you're into the meditative/spiritual part of Rastafarian music then this is the one you need to seek out first. The pictures in the sleeves display the artist as a part of nature, in garden adornment and the album continues along that line. The best song here is without a doubt the closer Selassie I, very very spiritual and really displays Turbulence's development lyrically. Also check the title track, and I'd Rather Be. A lot of this album is directed towards women, and the artist's love of Black women.
Overall, I continue to be impressed with Sheldon Campbell's development as an artist, and I'm very interested to see exactly where his message continue's to spread and take his music.
ONLY THE TRUTH.......2004-01-13
Average customer rating:
|
Event Horizon: Selections From The Motion Picture Soundtrack
Orbital Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ambient
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Techno
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Movie Scores
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Movie Soundtracks
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
Dance & DJ
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Soundtracks
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000042IG Release Date: 2006-04-17 |
Tracks:
- The Forward Decks: Lewis & Clark/Neptune/Claire/First Contact/Core/Metal/Second Containment/Airlock
- The Main Access Corridor: Singularity/Ducts/Turbulence/Medical/Gravity Drive
- Engineering: Tomb/Blood/Countdown/Outer Door/Bio Scan
- The Event Horizon: Weir/Event Horizon
Customer Reviews:
Unique fusion of classical and satanic rock, evil vocals, chanting.......2007-04-02
Wickedly warped, just like the film........2003-10-25
Above average for a dance mix style soundtrack........2003-03-04
A Movie Soundtrack Worth Buying.......2002-04-09
exciting mix of orchestra and dance music.......2001-08-28
Average customer rating:
|
I Believe
Turbulence Manufacturer: M Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dance Hall
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: 9077215360 Release Date: 2005-06-21 |
Tracks:
- Selassie Interlude
- We Need Love
- What the Hell
- You're an Angel
- Mama Don't Cry
- Got to Be Smart
- I Mean Every Word
- Sweet and Pretty
- High Grade
- I Believe
- Taking Over
- Nah Stop Bun [*]
Average customer rating:
|
United
Turbulence Manufacturer: Kingston Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| Compilations
| International
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000RS0II4 Release Date: 2007-08-07 |
Average customer rating:
|
Turbulence
Steve Howe Manufacturer: Relativity ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock Guitarists
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003BVU Release Date: 1991-07-01 |
Tracks:
- Turbulence
- Hint Hint
- Running The Human Race
- The Inner Battle
- Novalis
- Fine Line
- Sensitive Chaos
- Corkscrew
- While Rome's Burning
- From A Place Where Time Runs Slow
Customer Reviews:
Turbulence - magical rock guitar that stands the test of time.......2006-08-01
Steve Howe later went on to help form "supergroups" with other cast-offs from various bands. Projects like "Asia" and "GTR" have Howe in the liner notes as the lead guitarist. Howe is a self-taught guitarist, and unlike many who were mentored by a veteran great or attended an acclaimed music school, it was Howe's love for the instrument and his love for music that helped him forge and great beautiful sounds that were technically proficient as well as imaginative in overall virtuoso landscape. It also helped him stay focused in keeping an open mind in trying to learn and master a variety of string instruments.
Turbulence is Howe's third solo CD of the over thirteen in his solo discography alone. Released in 1991, We are blessed with a bevy of sharp, melodic tones and rhymes that really helped Howe prove that he could break away from the "YES" sound that he created so long ago and continue to grow as a musician. I won't cover every track on the album but touch on a few select ones.
Track one is the title track "Turbulence" and clocks in just less than five minutes. This song is interesting because it really starts off fast and has two guitars playing off one another. One is electrical and the other acoustic. Its really amazing how fast Steve can play an acoustic. The song has a fast tempo and choppy, short spurts that eventually lead into some pretty drawn out electrical ambience that doesn't get to dark. The overall sound of this track can sum it up for the entire album when I say that it's pretty atmospheric. What is also great is that though it breaks into some really great crescendo, almost reminiscent of prog, the acoustic part keeps it down to earth with some, shall we say, enchanted folk like sounds. Just when you think it could not get more diverse, Steve rips off a shredder of a solo piece that would make any metal head proud. Track four starts out with a heavy and blistering opening that is slow and heavy on the guitar and drums. A saxophone can be heard faintly in the background for a short time before Steve explodes into a rhythm that plays along with another layer of electrical guitar added in for effect. The song is called "The Inner Battle" and despite Steve's great work on this one, is also enjoyable from the various percussion pieces that seem to add a lot of power to it. I will say this song does have a touch of "Yes" in it, but why wouldn't it? Perhaps instead of referring to it as the "Yes" sound, we should start recognizing is as the "Howe" sound.
Track six is "Fine Line" and starts out with a plinky and melodic acoustic guitar before seamlessly breaking into a rollicking high-note hurrah that is wrought with power. It rolls along with some great synth in the background before gaining ground again to allow Steve to enter into another fine solo. This sound is not dark but really a sound that is something of prog wonder. Almost "Tolkien" like, shall we say? Beautiful solo work that again, stands the test of time. I don't think there's a bad track on the album, as every song is well executed, tight in arrangements, and uplifting in sound. Track eight is "Corkscrew" and is a fine track that is played in the lines of a Spanish guitar solo. Visions of desert and tumbleweeds rolling by cactuses come to mind as Steve strums and strives on with this great acoustic track! Track nine, my goodness. "While Rome's burning" is one of the best solo's I've heard in a long time. On "Rome", Steve plays a pretty simple intro but the chops are pretty atmospheric and the song quickly breaks into an arena type rocker that is one for the ages. Steve again mixes in some different guitars on this one but the main chorus coupled with the HEAVY pounding of the drums doesn't leave anything on the table. Sounds that really to me somehow make the listener think of something of the past, or even of the buildup of a suspenseful event from a movie. His guitar playing tells a story, it sings to us, and just when you think it's going to die down, it comes back again to give us another dose. Track ten starts us off for just over 2 minutes with another Spanish melody before spending the last bit of the track in a powerful electrical guitar piece that has some angelic keyboards and slow but steady drums to help it finish off the albums ten track song listing in style.
He may not be Clapton, Henrix, or Van Halen, but who cares? He's Steve Howe, one of the most acclaimed rock guitarists of the past 35 years that you've maybe not heard of, but should have.
Steve Howe-Turbulence.......2005-09-21
Satriani is a hack!!!.......2004-08-15
Steve Howe's Masterpiece.......2003-02-25
In the inervening years, nothing has managed to even come close.
The songs are elegant, witty, and beautifully arranged. Each piece is cleverly constructed with just the right amount playfulness. One senses that Steve was having the time of his life making this, and that he was a very happy man.
A couple of the songs wound up on Yes' UNION album (re-arranged, of course), but they are better served as backdrops for Steve's brilliant guitar work.
The thing that makes this album so perfect is that it transcends the typical "guitar album": set up a simple foundation and then solo over it until you have "made the point" (this describes his failed QUANTUM GUITAR in a nutshell).
With TURBULENCE, Steve is concentrating on songcraft, not on virtuosity. The guitar playing is done at the service of the composition, and nothing is wasted. Everything is where it should be.
Bold, brash, grandiose numbers are contrasted by simple, sensitive ballads. It's truly a very moving work, and deserves to be in everyone's collection.
If you're remotely interested in what one can accomplish with the guitar, then this is an album you cann't pass up.
Very exciting music.......2001-11-16
Average customer rating:
|
Different Thing
Turbulence Manufacturer: Efa Imports ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Dance Hall
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Reggae
| Compilations
| International
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B00008O89Z Release Date: 2003-04-22 |
Tracks:
- Girlfriend
- Unite
- Leaders
- Marihuana
- Pride
- Let's Try
- Burn Dem Down
- Time
- Dread Times - Turbulence, Mark Wonder
- Dem Crying
- Holiday
- What a World
Customer Reviews:
Da Future is Looking Bright.......2003-06-04
Different thing is a very very good album. Very rootsy, of course, thats Turbulence's natural way, but not so spiritual. Of course Rastaman writes Rasta songs, sings Rastaman lyrics and so forth, but you don't have to be a Rasta at all to enjoy tunes like the opener Girlfriend, I mean, that is just a part of life for basically everybody, its a very comforting tune, very well put together. "Da Future", as he and others have now deemed him (rightly so), maintains a consistently very good singing voice (which is even better in concert) and on a song like Burn Dem Down with rising roots superstar Luton Fyah, Turbulence shows his incredible ability to wade between the worlds of djaying and singing without missing a step, the tune is a wicked wicked combination and one of the main reasons I bought this one. Also really like Pride, which is probably my favorite tune on the album, Leaders with Taffari, Dread Times with Mark Wonder and even the flat out strange sounding Holiday. Oh and Marihuana.. .. .. and Unite. I could say every tune here, there really are no bad songs.
Overall, I say this is a definite one to get. You can certainly see the evidence of Turbulence's apprenticeship with Kalonji, especially in his writing. With so many young great roots artists prospering in Reggae music right now along with Turbulence, like Jah Cure, Warrior King, Luton Fyah and others, Turbulence with his overall talent, consistent recording schedule, great stage presence, the backing that he has (namely Xterminator) and 3 very very good albums under his belt, seems poised to be "Da Future" and then some when he is called upon to do so. Different Thing is not too different from what we're used to from the artist, which is a good thing. GO GET IT!
Rock Music:
- Twenty Reasons to Be Cheeful
- Vegas Must Die! [Import]
- We Two Rock
- With Their New Face On [Enhanced] [Original recording remastered]
- You're Playing with Children in the Land of the Bugs
- Zoltabrane [EP]
- After All
- Afternoon Tea Classics, Vol. 1
- All Behind You
- Alone on a Stone [Import]
