Music in Exile

Really cool desert blues. I knew the first song from a while back but not the whole album so was nice to listen to this! Nice groove, slightly same-y towards the end but would defo listen again

6.5/10

Bewitching rhythms, entrancing melodic loops, feverish vocals.

I understand the cultural and social significance of the band. That said, it was okay. It's hard to listen to music when the lyrics are in another language. Great beat and amazing guitar work.

album did nothing for me, but it was bearable

Another win for the list, introducing me to something I never would have listened to. Too bad I can't understand the lyrics, as that would give a deeper appreciation. I enjoyed the western/african fusion, but did find it somewhat repetitive. I will listen to more in their catalog.

As I don't understand the language, I'm at a loss how to review this properly. The music is ok, the production is a bit flat, the singing is ok, but that's about it.

Finally an album with a bit of spark after a real run of turgidity. If they’d kept up their initial groove all the way through this would have had a higher rating from me.

Insane. Blues with Malian Rhythms. Wild Bro.

Absolutely awesome music. What a find in this list!

Bängäs, hyvää pilvenpolttomusaa. Luize sano et tää oli sille aivan täydellinen nappi, aikoo mennä seuraavalle keikalle. ”If songhoy Blues has 1 fan its me. If songhoy Blues has no fans consider me dead”

This is #day60 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... while I sympathize with the band's backstory and the hurdles they had to overcome before creating music, I agree that this album wouldn't have made it to the list otherwise. Generally, I don't mind blues, but this... I just can't relate to what I hear on this album. Maybe I'm numb. Sorry, this is a one-off experience for me. I'm giving it a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day61.

This album is why you sign up for a process like this. 4*

Pretty good. Maybe would have enjoyed more if I knew the language. As it stands, it was good but won't revisit

I enjoyed listening to this music. 5

Fun!

3 out of 5. Real interesting listen and good singing.

What did I even listen to

This is rad

Didn’t know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised!

Enjoyable listen and great opening track.

I enjoyed this album. Considering the bias in this list to psychedelic rock and male singer-songwriters, this album is a welcome relief. Awesome music. Not being able to understand the lyrics made me appreciate the sound of the words and music so much more. Worthy of this list.

I enjoyed this one - I think having it in a different language added to my enjoyment and I could just enjoy the vibes of the music - I can only imagine the lyrics are pretty sad/angry about needing to flee their country where music was banned due to extremists. The melding of music from different cultures is so interesting to me - this feels a bit hypnotic in places, I like the repeating elements and the power of the grouped voices.

That was a rollercoaster. After 10 seconds of the first track I was considering turning it off. I persevered and after a couple of tracks I was actually enjoying it. By the end of the album it had all got a bit too 'samey' for me and I'd just about had enough. Musically it was quite unique, I could hear the obvious and expected influences from Africa, but also some rock and folk tones too. I won't be rushing to hear anymore of their work, or even give this particular album a rerun - but it was worth listening. Another 3 stars from me.

An interesting melding of Eastern music and American Blues. I really did not care for it overall. I think the musicianship was fine but I did not care for the vocals. I liked "Soubour" and "Nick" but the rest of the songs were just meh. I feel like this album would not be included in the list if it weren't for the Band's backstory and the obstacles they overcame to create their music.

2/5 couldn't understand any of it, was getting bored of it

I liked this, very interesting mix of genres here. I probably won't go back to it though, nothing really hooked me.

Blues mixed with more traditional African music. Pleasant to listen to, like a familiar meal with unfamiliar spices. If you like electric American/British Blues, you might like this album. I’m torn between 2 and 3 starts, so I will round up.

I felt musically each song had a lot of repetitive melody in both the vocals and guitar parts. It didn’t feel like enough variety in that regard. They certainly are good musicians, but they lost me with the repetitiveness. Lyrically I don’t know the language, so if I could I would vote 2.5 rather than 2 out of 5 if I understood the words. Maybe the lyrics elevate the album some.

It takes elements from classic blues and rock and roll from the 60's, the first or second song in the album reminds me a bit of Talking Heads, with a guitar riff and looping background vocals. The rest of the album is closer to chuck berry overall, though not very similar because of the emphasis on vocals and percussion. Overall, i like it, its a sweet take on classic rock and roll and blues with elements to bring it to modern times with commentary on the mali life.

A very unique album for sure. I can go with the vibes but not something I would listen to on a daily basis.

I really liked this album a lot. Songhoy Blues' sound is quite unique to me. The songs were some nice blues rock. This was the first time I've ever heard Malian music and I'm glad I did. How this album came to be is an interesting read itself. 4 stars for "Music in Exile".

This one is really nice. I love the vibe and tempo. The vocals are enchanting along with the musicianship that accompanies it. Beautiful sequences and captivating sounds that really draw the ear to only want to be closer to it. This is one of those records I likely never would have discovered without this project. Very solid.

It was ok

I liked it! I think I’d have to listen again to fully form an opinion and appreciate it.

I really wanted to like this more. Great story and the first song sounds a bit like the black keys

Not for me.

I don't know their language. But listening to this I could hear protest, heartbreak, confussion, happiness. Everything was genuine and compelling. I liked the music as well. This was worth the listen

Foreign language blues Familiar rhythms and feels album to groove to

so good

Always interesting to hear rock interpreted from different cultures and perspectives, definitely would not have listened to this otherwise! Sad that this is just a remnant of a much larger civilization's musical history. A good groove - mix of Afro and rock and blues almost.

Thought this was a very good album with some interesting history to it as well.

The music was fun and definitely something I wouldnt have listened to without this experience.

A great take on rock/blues with an African ancestral sound

This was an amazing find.

hell yea

Overrated Album. Hate it.

Very cool, the kind of thing I wouldn't have come across without this list.

No me gusta el estilo.

This feels weighty. I love the sound and how tight it is but without being able to understand the words I'm forced to sit back some. Reading the history of this band was interesting. I'll relisten to this for sure. Great blues work.

I enjoyed this. Solid musicianship, nice vibe. Interesting use of the Blues. Felt a little repetitive at times not knowing the language, but toe tapping none the less. Would probably try and check out again.

In so many cases, rock music from around the globe can feel just a little bit off, as though people are trying to mimic American or British music, but not quite getting it right. Western African rock is the exact opposite; the music has a deeply familiar feel to it, even when it sounds nothing like "Western" rock. This is a huge part of the allure of Music in Exile. The aesthetic is deeply rooted in chants and drones, but it rarely strays from the cascading arpeggios and bouncy arrangements that makes West African rock sound so pretty and joyful. This album was a joy to listen to. It isn't necessarily something I'll revisit, but I was pleased at what an easy and agreeable listen it was. 3.5/5

Some great tracks and guitar, worth revisiting

Similar to the other Mali blues I’ve heard, I like it while listening but it doesn’t usually stick with me. On second listen I was pulled in more, even went and listened to some of their other stuff. Good record, would probably lean 3.5, but will go 4

Nice one, most of it

African rock is good

Right from the beginning, this blew me away. I think it's fair this group has a style where they crush the instrumentals with a rock or blues lick, the singer sings the name of the song, and the backing vocals echo him back. But it's just so great and it's nothing I would have found on my own. Soubour is an awesome opener, though I think my favorite was Jolie.

Solid, quite enjoyable. The songwriting may not be very diverse or complex but I still liked it well enough

interesting fusion. blues. rock. international

Goated

This was a really good listen. African Rock with a terrible back story

Not a big fan of this sadly despite it being quite a unique listen. I don't find the songs to be that memorable and it starts to feel quite samey after a while. I wish it would have a stronger presence or like more electrified blues to grab my attention. I don't see myself going back to this one. 2.5 stars.

Enjoyable but not memorable.

Was definitely surprised by this one, African blues is not something I’d ever say I’d listen to on my own but some of these songs rock even though I have no idea what they’re saying. The last few songs aren’t my jam though but solid listen

This album was briefly in the book, but it has been removed in the latest editions. 3.5/5

Good mixing of genres here. Surprisingly enjoyable album.

I wasn’t my thing. Enjoyed it though

Sometimes it's nice listening to musics in languages I don't know for the poetry of the sound. I found that I was able to appreciate the voice as an instrument rather than vocals since I didn't know what was being said. I thought the rest of the music was also easy to listen to and enjoy. I wasn't expecting blues music from west Africa but I can see myself coming back to this one.

Þetta er geggjað

Need one more listen to call this an out-and-out favorite (only had time for one today), but pretty damn great regardless. Glad one of the post-05 selections has hit

It's not the same sound as American Blues, but it is fundamentally related, for instance, the songs are very rhythmic. Many of the tracks are quite catchy, if I could speak the language, I bet it would be fun to sing along. The instrumentation can seem quite simple because the listener's attention is concentrated on the fancy guitar playing, but the stuff going on in the background is what makes the overall sound so deep and polished.

Super catchy. Not a blues guy, but this slaps.

Didn’t realise I needed indy rock from Mali in my life but not upset I’ve got it.

Malinese Black Keys

I liked this album a lot so it was tough to only give a 3/5. Would have easily been a 6/10 because it had a great vibe, perfect to listen to on lazy weekend afternoons. It wasn't a bad album by any means, I loved the rhythm, and especially love an album that's not in English because it really is something different from what I usually listen to. I just struggled to pay attention to it because there wasn't anything about it that made me go "oh yeah this slaps". Keeping this album saved though so maybe I'll change my mind in future and bump it to a 4/5

I went through a pretty big Afrobeat phase awhile back but was not familiar with desert blues. It’s not bad. Nothing on this album particularly grabbed me but it was a nice change of pace as something to listen to. I’m glad to have spent some time with this album.

No lo conocía, pero me gustó mucho. Sin duda volveré a escuchar esta banda. Bello e hipnótico sonido.

A unique blues album from the heart of Africa.

Musically, this is good. But the language barrier brings it down for me

🎧Excellent African rock/desert blues, really enjoyed this. Favorite tracks: Al Hassidi Terei, Petit Metier

Loved the mix of rock with native African melodies in top. I can really get into this. (8.0)★★★★

I really enjoy desert blues and this is no exception, although I think I prefer other artists like Tinariwen and Mdou Moctar

2.5

Okayish desert blues. Rich, earthy, fairtrade sound but none of the songs really grabbed me and the vocals weren’t quite my bag. A 1001 album I wouldn’t mind too much if it was playing at a coffee shop. 3 macchiatos out of 5.

3.5 stars 7.5 out of 10

Great performances and energy. Interesting style of music.

This might be the perfect treadmill album. No clue what the songs are about but the rhythms are fantastic.

2.5/5

I wish I could remember when I first heard this. I think it was my first intro to “world music”, and it’s still got that same magnetic charm now. I love this and all the musical doors it opened up for me. Three cheers and five stars!

A cool and unique take on American blues/rock. Not the most exciting, but pretty well-executed. Best song: Sekou Oumarou

Really interesting album with an interesting history behind it. 4/5 because I enjoyed the exposure to blues in Timbuktu.

low key this was fire, it was a bit too long so i’d give it a light 4 but this was actually kind of a banger

Pre-listening thoughts: I have never heard of this group or album yet again. This is a more recent pick so I’m extra curious just because picks from the 2010s and beyond are so few and far between. Also what are the odds that in my first 50 albums two of them are African music? I thought this list was very white and western centric so either there’s more diverse picks than I thought or the random generator is giving me all the non-western picks now. Post/during listening thoughts: Just like the other album I have heard from an African musician, I do not speak the language they are singing in so my understanding of the album and any context it may fall in is super limited. I had no idea desert blues was/is a genre so this is kinda interesting. I think maybe watching whatever documentary this band was featured in may provide some needed context but without it, this music is pretty standard sounding world rock. 4/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: not without proper context (also have been informed that this album was in a previous edition of the book and has since been removed - interesting) Fav tracks: Irganda Least fav tracks: idk man I zoned out today was a long day PS I just want to say I found the list of albums that were in previous editions of the book that have since been removed but are still in this generator. This one I’m not upset I had to listen to but the VINES album?? That one was terrible! Should’ve never been in the stupid book to begin with. And wym you’re gonna remove Britney, Gorillaz, and TWO Adele albums but keep soooo much other crap??? Crazy.

I loved the sound

This was fun!

Very interesting blend of genres. I enjoyed this and might reach for it in the right mood but probably not one I would go for often. Not too much of a problem for me that I can't understand the language, it's just got a nice sound.

Je ne comprends pas les paroles, la musique est souvent douce et enjouée, mais il y a dans la voix une certaine résignation. Très beau

169/1001

3/4

Music in Exile is the kind of album I desired exposure to! But Songhoy Blues' story is more interesting than their music. Their music, while nowhere near the awful trash I've been subjected to, was repetitive and melded together. I couldn't get into the album despite my best efforts. I learned about the genre desert blues--and I can say with confidence that Songhoy Blues absolutely honed in on a blues, rock, and African sound. At the very least, I don't regret listening to this album.

I mean, I wasn't completely sure what to expect from a afro-blues rock band from Timbuktu; I only knew how to think of it from the perspective of an American band performing that genre. Turns out, I wasn't too far off! Without being able to understand the language of the lyrics, I feel like I can at least say the voices and vocal stylings of Songhoy Blues is well suited for this genre! The album title -- "Music in Exile" -- is quite impactful, considering the story behind the members of Songhoy Blues being forced to leave their homes due to socio-political conflict. Even the band name "Songhoy Blues" alludes to the suffering and struggles faced by the Songhoy people in this situation. But seeing as this was their first album, it is obvious that the situations they were facing drove and influenced their music. There is truly some great guitar work at play on this album, and despite the white world's tendency to refer to anything by non-English bands as "world music", this is not really world music. There are aspects of traditional African music at play here, but it is definitely not the most forward part of their music. Being this far into the project, questions continue to arise in me like "do I really need to listen to this before I die?", but I digress. It was a good listen. Not a great one, but a good one.

Decent! This is why I love this list, I would never have heard this without it.

REALLY liked this album. No idea what the lyrics were, of course, but the music was intoxicating!

I listened to the first two tracks on the album. There were interesting melodies in them, but it became too African for me. I therefore stopped listening further. 2/5

This was really fun. Much better than I expected. Just an incredible mix of jazz, rock n roll, and blues with a strong desert vibe. Loved it

Første lyt var kæmpe godt. Det svinger virkelig godt. Andet lyt nød jeg lige så meget især sangen Irganda er fed. 3 og 4 lyt var det delux udgaven som fik et lyt. Det var for meget. Der er dog basis for en sjov cover quiz med numre som man kender, men i helt ny fortolkning. Alt i alt er det en ren 4er, som man bliver nærmest begynder at headbange til! (Sidelæns bange.)

Jeg aner ikke hvad de synger. Men det betyder ikke noget. Det her album bliver jeg glad af. Foden vipper og hovedet bopper. Det vil være en perfekt booking til en solbeskinnet tidlig eftermiddag på en festival.

Not bad.

The instrumentation and vocals are solid throughout but after a couple of tracks nothing much really changes and becomes incredibly samey. 4/10

Blues würde ich das ja nicht nennen, man kann es sich aber durchaus anhören!

Brilliant! I wish I could understand the lyrics but the music ace it.

The music is pretty tight!

Refreshing to see some African music in a predominantly UK / US centric canon. Reminds me of Gnawa music a lot. Awesome album, gets a bit repetetive though.

Great, creative instrumentals. Petit Metier was my favorite.

Every once in a while you get a gem that you’d never have heard of if it weren’t for this book.

Was looking good for a 4, but definitely worth a listen

Classic rock sound, loved it.

Album 509 of 1001 Songhoy Blues - Music in Exile Rating : 3 / 5

Like the soundtrack to a Mali version of The Departed.

A great album - not my style

this is like…very good 3.5/5

This was pretty good given my expectations. Can’t go crazy over it like many of the reviews. But it wouldn’t be something I was dying to turn off.

non so se mi verra' voglia di risentirlo pero' e' davvero carino, andato via senza annoiare.

en stark fyra. riktigt svängigt och gött sound.

Great vibe. Haven’t really appreciated blues this much before

Once “Soubour” started a turned up the volume. Very Cool stuff.

Not sure what language they were singing but it was kind of fun.

OK, but this kind of slays. No expectations going in, and absolutely chuffed.

Relatively interesting, but I think I like the biography better than the music. Still, a nice find.

Not what I expected at all. Better.

Even without understanding the language, the music itself was very enjoyable

Good for what it was. Obviously I didn’t know what the hell they were saying, but music was good

This was fine. Cool music, cool story behind this band. I probably won't revist it though.

This is a fantastic entry for this type of list.

Enjoyed this!

Did nothing for me

Born out of pain yet songs of joy and presents the most tasteful vibrant north African blues rock with some impressive instrumental swirls and licks.

not really my thing, but i can see myself listening to this again someday..

dudes from mali

I didn’t understand a word of the lyrics. No tracks I’d listen to again. They have a good sound though.

Thoroughly great, I enjoyed every song a lot, the only thing really missing for me is more variation in the production of the songs, and a couple of the solos are a bit too much, but I'm hard to please in that realm anyway.

Very moving background to the origin of this album. It was made to keep the music of northern Mali alive during a time when an extremist group banned music in that area. It’s an interesting listen, but without being able to understand the lyrics it eventually all started sounding too similar to my ears. I know that’s a me problem not a them problem, but I can only rate it for myself.

This album started really strongly. Unfortunately it drifted off after that.

I haven't checked yet but I got the feeling that these guys are from the same region as Mdou Moctar, and will be the second Tuareg guitar band Ive gotten into... I've checked, and they come from the country next door, 30 hours by car. Listened to it 3 times today, loving it, an now gonna look for more bands from the region. Listened to it twice more, looking for the vinyl now so I can take it to vinyl night at The Grand Trunk (my local bar)

Unique yet familiar sound. Good blend.

1.8/5 listened 2x

Amazing guitar rhythms. Interesting blend of African melodies mix with the Blues. First listen. Not bad.

This one got me moving. I always find it fascinating how when I hear African rhythms and guitars, it becomes so clear how much of our American music of so many different genres owes allegiance.

Some really cool bears and guitar but a little repetitive

3.5, the vocals remind me of Mdou Moctar.. guess it makes sense given the similar of the languages

Nice change of pace from sad British music. Only three stars though because I didn't the music particularly compelling.

This is what I love about the 1001 list/app: finding a great album that I've never listened to or heard of. Music in Exhile is a great example of this. I love the guitar playing on this. It's like a highlife guitarist was dropped into a blues band. Highly recommended! Liked songs added: - Soubour - Sekou Oumarou - Nick

After a couple of listens this is really cool. It's a 3.5, but going to 3 for new-ness, plus blues riffs start sounding the same to me after a while.

Fedt og dejlig med noget anderledes

Unique mix but very enjoyable. First African rock/blues I've come across and it worked very well, impressed

2.8

I started to get bored towards the end, probably cuz I couldn't understand a damn thing they were saying. Imagine how bored you would be listening to Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" if you didn't understand a damn word he was saying. It's not bad, but to keep my interest there's gotta be crazy merit in the instrumental -- something like Stevie Ray Vaughan or Beethoven. Regardless, my favorite tracks were Soubour and Nick. Least favorite track was Mali.

What an origin story! Getting connected with guys from The Strokes, Blur, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is quite an introduction to western audiences. Looks like they played at ACL a few years back. The blues riffs at faster-than-standard-blues tempos on top of the driving persistent rhythmic patterns makes it feel both familiar but not. It’s all very tight and precise. The production quality is high without being overdone. I enjoyed it! 3.8

Good rhythmic energy and groove; world music with a bluesy feel. It has a contemporary and accessible sound. The music doesn't vary much with different sections (i.e. verse/bridge/chorus), but it works without feeling overly repetitive. Very solid overall. 3.6

One word: Goddamn.

Unexpectedly, we both really liked this. There’s a range of styles, all interesting.

Dude this is literally what this entire 1001 thing is for. Despite the language barrier, this was hella catchy. I love how they incorporated the rock sounds of the west but still stayed true to their own sound. Opening song? Fucking banger. I can’t give a 4 because I have no idea what’s being said though.

The story behind this is so inspiring. Music transcends all. Getting help from Julian Casablancas is awesome too. I think the guitar is so so crispy. You can feel the influences behind the music so clearly. I even hear like some vampire weekend energy on jolie. I think this is cool and I am blown away but I don't see myself coming back but I am glad I heard it

Solid interesting album, good stuff.

Clearly inspired by the late, great Ali Farka Touré, Songhoy Blues brings the same unstoppable energy to their music that made Ali so influential. "Music in Exile" is powerful and moving in a way that modern American blues so often isn't. The electric tones of Muddy Waters and Albert King find whole new dimensions when they're shaped and guided by the unexpected rhythms and patterns of Malian music. It's a whole vibe and I couldn't be more here for it. I don't understand a word that's being said and I don't care.

Interesting group. Good music, enjoyed listening to them.

Some great tracks mixed with dated-sounding ones

Great musicianship. Songs not so much.

Lidt for langt fra mit udgangspunkt

I've never heard of this band before and their story is very inspiring. I was somewhat excited initially because I felt like the music was competent and I was hoping to hear something that really stood out to me deeper in the album. Unfortunately I never found anything that stood out to me and before I realized I'd been through the album 3 times without really noticing any of it. I don't think it's bad, just very forgettable and same-y Standouts - 2/5

The driving, relentless force of the Desert Blues! Some do it spacier, but none do it rockier!

Had a nice beat.

love the rhythms, I want to move

great

Yep always quite liked these guys, and this is more what this list is about to me rather than another bloody Elliott Smith album. Driving bluesy gritty tunes from Mali, no idea what they are saying but the same goes for plenty of English speaking artists. Great to hear there is music from beyond the Anglosphere worth checking out.

Ótimo álbum, não conhecia os artistas. A pegada de blues combinada com a história deles é simplesmente incrível. Tem uma super pegada "Cowboy Bebop".

It was interesting to hear how much Western rock influence this album seems to have. This album put me in a good mood! That said, it felt long. I’m a big lyric lover, so any album where I can’t hear or understand the lyrics is hard to listen to for more than 30 minutes.

When I saw the cover, my heart dropped because I thought it was going to be yet another hip hop or (c)rap album, however this is a lovely light and tuneful production worthy of another listen.

I hope I am not been a bit unkind here but I do think that inclusion of this album on this list is a tick boxing exercise to include a fair percentage of rest of the world albums in the list. If an album is deserving of inclusion then it should but surely an album should have some merit making it stand out from the mean but I fail to hear anything of merit here. There are plenty of rest of the world album’s out there which I am aware of and which have had some influence on some of the top artists making great albums today. Peter Gabriel albums immediately spring to mind. To make an assessment about the worthiness of this album I did of course listen to it. It is a joyful album and the instrumentation on the album is good. But nothing exceptional. I had a one star rating in my head but then after a bit of research learnt that there is a deluxe version of this album. This comprised of extra tracks two of which are covers of The Clash’s Should I Stay Or should I Go? And Led Zep’s Kashmir. Jimmy Page apparently endorsed this version which alone gives the album another star. The Clash’s best known song (probably?) rocks along well and is interesting because it is sung in another native tongue. That is worth another listen and perhaps playing to your Clash mates to garner a reaction. 2/5 15/7/24

Lot of fun. The African music almost always hits. I love Casablancas so was even more exciting reading that Cult Records helped release this. It didn’t disappoint even though my expectations were a bit higher than they should’ve been. Such a fun fusion and such an amazing story of how such awful circumstances drove this band together. Rating: 4.2

Didn't understand any lyrics but overall not a bad Album.

Interesting from a cultural perspective but not crazy about the music itself (2.5/5)

Good musicianship, but I had a hard time focusing without being able to understand the lyrics.

I love the opening track. This album is fantastic. This is a must listen.

What a lovely album. Wouldn't say it's Blues, but who cares. Both the bass and acoustic (and brief electric) guitar performances are fantastic, and the vocals slide in with complementary ease. Some of the cleanest mastering I've ever heard *chef's kiss*. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Soubour, Irganda

Uhhh not a fan & definitely not a must listen to before you die.

Was happy to be introduced to this style.

This is as fantastic. I have no idea what they said, but what a great sound.

Nice drive to the music; guitar work is great! Can feel a bit repetitive at times.

Jazzy rock!

Brutal

Kinda decent in a “World Music” sort of way.

Does not hold up that well.

5/5 - excellent and followed on nicely from a deep dive into Desert Blues

Really enjoyable album which I would likely have never come across if not for this project. I will definitely have to listen to it a couple of more times. It slows down towards the end which isn’t a bad thing, but it just meant I ran out of steam while listening to because I personally was not in the right headspace. There is a lot of powerful emotion in the music and lyrics, I would love to see a translation. The earlier tracks will definitely go into my daily commute playlist though.

Loved it all the way through

I liked it!

Great music

A great album! This album proves that you don’t need to understand the lyrics to enjoy good blues! Upbeat and catchy!

This is different. I was surprised.

It's fine but the words mean so much in a song that when I can't understand them then I don't really like the song. 2.48.

This album is deceivingly modern. Because if this exact same thing, cover and all, came out in the 80s or even the 90s, I wouldn’t bat an eye. This doesn’t feel like something that released in the same year as Rodeo by Travis Scott. It’s hard to provide something new or unique to music in the 21st century. Any idea you might have has probably already been done by somebody in the past. So when something does actually give a new take or approach, it stands out. Except I don’t know how well this album really stands out. This band still seems to be pretty underground. That’s kind of the unfortunate fact of groups from eastern countries. But I believe they still succeed in providing a new angle on their genre. Specifically blues. They combine it with more traditional African rock and world music to make what is called desert blues. And I can admire this fusion. Because it is, for once, something new to me. But that is sadly where the positive things I have to say end. Because beyond that, this isn’t actually doing anything that interesting. It’s a unique blend of genres, but the most unique thing about the music itself is the vocals. I saw a comment someone made about this occasionally sounding like Home Depot music, and that stuck with me the whole listen. Because it is sort of true. But once I reached the half way point, everything just started to blend together, and I lost any engagement I might have had at one point. It’s not like I was anticipating anything mind blowing. But I can see potential for something better. Maybe I’m just not open-minded enough for something like this. Rating: 4/10

Felt like I lost a ton of context because of the language difference unfortunately. Left me with okay, not great, blues music

A cool spin on the blues and an important context behind the creation of this album. We really enjoyed this.

Didn't understand the words but it was a vibe

Very pleasant listen, goes well with work (as does a lot of stuff in another language than English as you're not decoding the lyrics).

A+. No notes. Excellent vibes. Great emotion. No clue what they are saying but I love it.

I wish I understood the lyrics as according to their bio this band arose out of anger at Jihadist movements in Mali.

Didn't know that I needed this in my life. The hook is so catchy, I'm really into it.

On continue de creuser le sillon de ce foutu projet "1001 Albums" et, de temps en temps, on tombe sur une pépite qui nous ferait presque oublier la corvée. Cette semaine, le hasard (ou l'algorithme, ce grand manitou moderne) a placé sur ma platine un disque sorti en 2015, une année où, franchement, je commençais déjà à trouver que tout sonnait un peu pareil. Le genre de lassitude de vieux con, vous voyez ? Et pourtant, "Music in Exile" du groupe malien Songhoy Blues a été une claque. Pas le genre de baffe qui vous sonne, non, plutôt la bourrade amicale qui vous sort de votre torpeur et vous rappelle pourquoi vous aimez la musique. Pour planter le décor, Songhoy Blues n'est pas un groupe sorti d'un chapeau. C'est l'histoire de mecs – Aliou Touré, Garba Touré et Oumar Touré (aucun lien de parenté, calmez-vous, c'est le "Martin" du Mali) – qui ont dû fuir leur bled près de Tombouctou. Pourquoi ? Parce qu'en 2012, des barbus intégristes ont décidé que la musique était l'oeuvre du diable. Interdiction de jouer, de chanter, de taper sur un bidon. La tristesse absolue. Ces types-là, au lieu de se morfondre, ont trouvé refuge à Bamako, la capitale, et ont monté un groupe. Leur nom est un manifeste : le peuple Songhaï et le Blues. La musique comme acte de résistance. "Music in Exile". Le titre dit tout. C'est lourd de sens, et pourtant, à l'écoute, c'est tout sauf plombant. J'avoue, quand j'ai lu "blues malien", je m'attendais à une énième resucée d'Ali Farka Touré, le parrain incontesté du genre. Respect éternel, bien sûr, mais à 55 balais, on a envie de surprises. Et la surprise, elle est de taille. Oubliez le blues poisseux et humide du Mississippi. Ici, on est dans un blues du désert, un truc aride, tendu, où chaque note semble arrachée au sable et au soleil. Ce qui frappe d'emblée, c'est cette énergie brute, presque punk dans l'intention. Ça sent l'urgence, la nécessité vitale de jouer. Le disque a été produit en partie par Nick Zinner, le guitariste des Yeah Yeah Yeahs, et on sent sa patte. Le son est clair, tranchant, sans fioritures inutiles. Il a su capter l'électricité du groupe sans la dénaturer. C'est là que réside le tour de force de cet album : ce n'est pas un disque de "world music" pour bobos en mal d'exotisme. C'est un putain de disque de rock. Les guitares sont en avant, nerveuses, elles crachent des riffs qui sentent autant le sable chaud que le garage crasseux de Detroit. On pense à John Lee Hooker, on pense au Gun Club, on pense à tous ces groupes qui ont compris que le blues n'était pas une pièce de musée mais une matière vivante, inflammable. Une très bonne et agréable surprise, et pour un type comme moi qui a passé des années à vendre des disques, à voir passer toutes les modes, de la cold wave au grunge, tomber sur un album comme ça, c'est un bol d'air frais. Ça vous réconcilie avec le présent. On se dit que tout n'est pas mort, qu'il y a encore des mecs qui ont des choses à dire et qui le font avec leurs tripes. La découverte du groupe par l'équipe d'Africa Express de Damon Albarn n'est pas anodine. Ce projet a toujours eu le chic pour dénicher des talents bruts, des musiciens qui ne trichent pas. Songhoy Blues, c'est exactement ça. L'album est un mélange détonnant. Les chants en songhaï, évidemment, ancrent la musique dans son terroir. On ne comprend rien aux paroles, et alors ? La musique est un langage universel, et l'émotion passe sans avoir besoin de sous-titres. Les rythmes sont complexes, tribaux, mais ils ne tombent jamais dans le cliché folklorique. La batterie de Nathanaël Dembélé (remplacé depuis) est d'une efficacité redoutable, elle pousse les morceaux, leur donne une dynamique implacable. Et puis, il y a ces guitares. Mon Dieu, ces guitares... Elles serpentent, elles mordent, elles pleurent. Elles sont le coeur battant de l'album. On évite ici le détail de chaque morceau, comme convenu, mais il faut quand même citer des tueries comme "Soubour", avec son riff hypnotique, ou "Irganda" et son groove irrésistible. Chaque titre est une variation sur le même thème – l'exil, la résistance, l'espoir – mais le groupe a l'intelligence de ne jamais se répéter. On passe d'un blues-rock fiévreux à des ballades plus apaisées, mais toujours avec cette tension sous-jacente qui fait la force du disque. Alors, au final, que retenir de "Music in Exile" ? C'est un album né de la douleur, mais qui transpire la vie. C'est la preuve que la musique peut être une arme, un cri, une célébration. C'est un pont magnifique entre l'Afrique et l'Occident, entre la tradition et la modernité. Ça ne réinvente peut-être pas la roue, mais ça la fait tourner à une vitesse folle, sur une route caillouteuse et poussiéreuse, et le voyage est sacrément excitant. Un solide 4/5, donc. Parce que ce n'est peut-être pas l'album le plus révolutionnaire de l'histoire, mais c'est un disque nécessaire, sincère et foutrement bien foutu. Un disque qui a une âme, et en 2015, croyez-moi, ça ne courait pas les rues. À écouter, et plus si affinités, comme dirait l'autre. Une très belle surprise, en effet.

Wtf was this?

3.5/5

Love it!

I couldn't understand what they were singing, so my enjoyment of this album was all vibes. I do enjoy knowing the lyrics to a song, as I'm dumb in that it takes words to get me totally into an album/song. Overall, this was an enjoyable album and I did not expect it to sound the way it did. The music belongs in the book, even if I would not necessarily buy the album.

Solid album. Good mix of African rhythms and American southern rock/pop.

Ok to listen to once

Great discovery, like finding these kind of gems in this list!

I am sure this is great music but…….

I liked the sound and feel of it- I wish I would have had more time to look into the actual meanings of the songs. Overall, pretty nice to listen to.

Liked it. It was fun to listen to. Lots of heart and character. More than just a blues album because of where it comes from. Wish I knew what they were saying. My only gripe is that the guitar solos are kind of basic, nothing revolutionary. It’s also very repetitive. It is really cool to hear a style that emerged out of slave/black culture in the United States through the lense of African culture. Very unique. B teir.

This is a really solid album. Sometimes I’m more likely to skip the world music picks but I would advise against it for this one.

Engaging rhythms

it was okay. probably wouldn't listen to it again.

Nice bit of variety, but hasn't really stayed with me after a couple listens. 3.5 🌟

Totally something new and unheard of for me. Not at all what I expected! African blues - wtf! First song is great!!! Really feels like the classic afro rock from the early 70's, but with a bluesyier sound. The guitar playing is amazing - very dexterious and interesting. Seriously good album!!! Amazing work.

This was surprisingly kind of fire 🔥

I was really stoked for this, after listening to a Toure album a few months back on this list. Malian blues was such a surprising and exciting genre, I was blown away. This one wasn't quite at that level. I'm not sure if it's just that the novelty wasn't there, or what but it was almost disappointing. I do think it's objectively good, though, and if I hadn't been comparing it to that last album I might have loved it.

Incredible. If you’re a fan of American blues, then you’re bound to appreciate this gem. The incorporation of Malian music is delightful, and it is, in fact, what allows the blues to transcend on this record.

Liked this tbf, decent vibes

sick honestly. probably won’t listen again but not bad at all

Great grooves

first listen african rhythms are my favorite

Vibey as fuck

Vibe 100

Cool album, one I would have never listened to or heard of without this website. The language barrier at first was off-putting for me, but the music itself is universal. The melodies, chords, arrangements, instrumentation and musicianship can be appreciated by anyone who speaks any language. Lots of songs here that are in uncommon time (Lots of 6/4 or 6/8, whatever you wanna call it). Its refreshing to hear that from a western perspective. The drums and percussion shine the brightest in this album. Refreshing album to hear on this list. FAVORITE SONGS: - Soubour - Sekou Oumarou - Nick - Mali 4/5

Reminds me a lot of Mdou Moctar - love the Saharan blend of blues rock

RIPS.

Good music but not my scene

This rules. African blues with a hypnotic edge. Reminds me a lot of hill country Mississippi style blues.

Funky but they do kinda blend together. It's King Gizzard but I don't speak the language.

Passionate African rock with electric guitar. I’ll need to take a deeper dive.

Wel lekkere nummers, maar ook niet baanbrekend. Heel solide

A solid album with excellent blues playing. I was starting to connect with it after the 2nd listen and feel like it’s one that would grow on you as you get past the non-English vocals. Probably an ignorant comparison, but this reminds me of Buena Vista Social Club in a way, the expert musicianship mixed with a new age air and international grooves. A good effort.

pretty cool. 3.5/5

Not to my taste but recognise the quality of the music

It was a vibe, "dudes just being dudes."

Wasnt too interested

the first song sounds like ford truck month. the rest is pretty cool

Music in Exile I don’t know much African music outside the big names Like Ali Farka Toure and Fela Kuti, but the bits of African guitar music I hear I always like, and this is no exception. From what I read it sounds like Ali Farka Toure was a big influence, which I can hear, and would make sense as they are both Malian. I had this on repeat all morning and I really enjoyed it. There’s no doubt there is a similarity across all the songs, but I find the combination of African guitar grooves with western blues/rock touches most pleasurable to my ears. I liked all of it but there were a few standouts: Soubour, a great bluesy opener, I loved the guitars working with each other and I always love some handclaps. Irganda, the Nile Rodgers/funk/angular rhythm guitars sound great. Seiko Oumarou, taking things down a notch, love the repeating guitar figure and the little runs here and there. Al Tchere Bele, I love the more polyrhythmic feel and some more funk style guitar Petit Metier, the acoustic guitars are a nice point of difference on this one. Desert Melodie, great mood and atmosphere on this one Mali, a lovely, slightly haunting melody and a nicely subdued end to the album. I enjoyed it so much I think I ended up listening to it about 5 times. I also tried their next album Résistance, which also sounded great on first listen and might be better than this. I suppose it’s easy to fall into a slightly patronising trap with African music, a kind of ‘they’re a happy people’ type stereotype, but even though I don’t understand the lyrics there is definitely a sense of fun and excitement to it, especially when you read about the background of them leaving their hometown to escape civil conflict. Along with Jorge Ben this has been the best of the non Western, non English language albums we’ve had, and I definitely enjoyed as a break from some of the rock/metal albums we’ve had recently, so an easy 4 for me, I will definitely put it on rotation and am looking forward to listening to Résistance more and trying Optimisme. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ok

Nice Malian guitars, very reminiscent of Tinariwen. Enjoyable.

Mitt nye favoritt desert blues-band fra Mali

Sharia law couldn’t keep these sick blues licks down!

Nothing special to me, but I enjoy the unique grooves and instrumental parts. It’s nice to hear different styles of music as well.

We like political blues

Eh

This was alright but wouldn't be something I'd revisit. Decent quality for what it is though

Wall to wall bangers. This is why I'm doing this.

The music is cool, but a bit repetitive.

The music was great.

4/5

Really amazing story behind this and amazing sound. Really into this and will be listening again, and watching that documentary. Believe that!

Unexpectedly driving and amazing.

First time hearing these guys and I loved it.

I liked this enough while listening but probably won’t return to it.

Meh.

Pre listen: Don’t know these guys, but if they’re like Tinariwen, I suspect I will like them. After listening: it’s definitely the same genre, but I don’t get the same excitement from it. Gonna be a 3.

Something about Mali Music that really soothes me. The combo of the voices and unique instrumentation is was does it.

Vette combinatie, +1 ster voor het verhaal

It's okay

It really didn't catch my ear

Banger.

I never heard of this band. Lyrics are not English. The song arrangements are catchy and bluesy. I have a hard time getting past the singer and the language barrier. I do like the guitar work though. Kinda fun I guess.

3.5★ What a banging album. There’s one value in listmaking and it’s to discover material that you otherwise wouldn’t have come across or given a spin, which is very much the case with me and this album. Not sure how much the lyrics have to do with the titular theme but I do feel that understanding them would probably help the resonance, as opposed to the songs sounding like similar variations of the same thing. Nonetheless I really liked it. Favorites: tracks 1-5 (Soubour, Iraganda, Al Hassidi Terei, Sekuo Oumarou, Nick) + Wayei + Petit Metier (this plus the opener probably being the favorites among the favorites). No obvious skips on the first few listens, though the last two tracks are notably weaker.

3.5/5

Okay

Tres bon

Wow! Didn't expect this sound at all. Very Rock-Bluesy. Apple Music categorizes their music as "Worldwide" but I feel like it's too broad.

That's not my taste in musik. But ok.

Yea, pretty nice

I know "Smokey" is a cliche word to describe blues rock, but god is this album smokey and super cool. At the same time, its accessibility is undeniable - sounding similar to many Western contemporary mainstream blues-rock bands (Like 'The Black Keys' come to mind, minus all the tacky genre fusions later-ish in their career) when looking at how immediate all these songs are. The fusions with West African music styles are there, especially on the percussion and vocals, but Western blues music is still very much dominant I found. I love Malian singer Kaira Arby's contributions to the psychedelic 'Wayei', which may be my favorite track here and the one with the most overt African musical influence. A majority of these songs have these snappy grooves that are insanely tight, unabashedly repetitive, and soothing while still leaving room for subtle build-ups like on the layered 'Sekou Oumarou'. All the playing is great here and the instruments pop. This entire album is classy, vintage, and impossibly sharp. There's something so immediate about all the songs here. It also captures a very uniquely endearing mixture of genres, one that I'm certainly eager to dive more into in the future.

EXTREMELY repetitive music. Language I dont speak isnt a barrier for me to enjoy music, but its the only thing that might make it interesting. Otherwise, if you heard first 30 seconds of the song, you heard the entire song. It doesnt evolve anywhere. NNN

Average

Despite not understanding shit, I can say that african rock is fire. Stand-out: Ai Tchere Bele, Petit Metier

The opening song was rockin', reminded me of the Mississippi Allstars, half a world away. The rest of the album is very good and musically interesting. This band is a new discovery for me.

I very much enjoyed the overall vibe, guitar work, and melodies on this album! Even if I didn't understand the language, it was an enjoyable listen, and it was a very pleasant surprise to hear Nick Zinner and Damon Albarn show up!

This was so much fun to listen to, something I probably never would’ve found without this list.

I think this was the most interesting album yet. The band is described as "Desert Blues" and they are writing music about being pushed out of their homes in Mali by Ansar Dine. The songs itself are a blend of a modern sound (I don't know anything about North African Desert Blues) and old-school blues. Some songs could have fit on the Cream record from a few days ago. Petit Metier and Soubour were my favorite songs. I've added the entire album to my Liked Songs playlist. This is the first album that I feel like I would truly never have heard had I not started this album journey. 9/10

Before knowing the backstory of Songhoy Blues, I just thought it was great guitar music and wished I understood what they were singing. Reading about them, it’s a must listen and I think they’re heroic. Preserving their culture with such a context is amazing. I love this band and will come back to it.

I’ve never heard of this band or album before, but this album was an unexpected treat. Right from the start, I was hooked by the guitar playing on this album. I loved the bluesy sound that this album had, but I really liked that the tempo was much faster than the traditional American blues. This is easily one of the most unique albums that I’ve ever listened to, and probably one of my favorite world music albums that I’ve gotten to review. I enjoyed learning about Songhoy Blues’s story; their background is sad, but the band’s resilience is incredible. I don’t know much about Mali, but I do hate religious zealots who run governments, so I can relate to the band in that way. In addition to the guitar playing, the percussive elements on this album were really good too, and they really helped add some depth to this unique sound. Even though I didn’t understand a word of the lyrics, there was so much emotion in the vocals that it didn’t matter too much. The vocal parts where multiple people were singing really created a shared sense of longing and collective pain. I didn’t have time to look up the lyrics today, but that’s definitely something I want to do in the future. This is an album I’d be keen to revisit, and I hope I can find a physical copy to keep around the house.

medio pesado !! ya fueee. 6/10

It took me a bit to start appreciating the African lyrics/vocals partnered with the blues instrumentals but once I started coming around to it, I dug it. Listened to the album twice and liked it more the second time. There's something powerful about this genre. Reminds me of Fantastic Negrito.

No idea why this is included in the 1001, but it's not bad. A little repetitive.

Different

Fun world music

African folk.

African Black Keys at the start but generic world music by the end. I REALLY enjoyed the beginning, though I had no clue what they were saying.

I'm gonna be honest I didnt know what to expect and was afraid I would dislike it a lot. But listening to this was very fun and surprisingly relaxing I will deffinitely be checking more of there music

Smooth blues! 3/5

ЧЁРНОЕ НА БЕЛОМ КТО-ТО БЫЛ НЕ ПРАВ Я ВНЕПЛАНОВЫЙ СЫН АФРИКАНСКИХ ТРАВ