Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Fine, didn't change my life and frankly I don't have the context to appreciate it. That's my fault, not the albums.
Its hard to rate things like this
Sort of washes over you after a while. Nice at least to have something not as Anglo centric as the vast majority of this list 3*
I can dig it, but I can't understand it.
interesting introduction to qawwali. its the kind of music that improves upon relistening (or understanding the lyrics) Tracks to Track: Haq Ali Ali Haq
Well, this really isn’t my thing, I found it to be pleasant enough and enjoyable, particularly as background music. I must admit that when I was listening to it, the music had stopped for several minutes before I realized that the album had ended.
Listening to this album is a double issue, both from the language barrier from me not understanding the language, and the different musical and cultural expectations that this record lives within, which I'm completely ignorant of. This album was never meant for someone like me. And yet I can't say I didn't enjoy it. It's deeply hypnotic, gets you into a sort of a trance listening to it, but it doesn't give the same brain scratch feeling that other albums do. Solid album, I see why it's on this list. I enjoyed it but don't plan on revisiting it. 3/5
Interesting, need headphones, would listen again
I know I'm more than likely missing some cultural context for this, but I didn't take anything away from listening to this.
V/rv
Once again I find it rather difficult to rate these "world" albums. This one was pretty enjoyable though. Favorite track: Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam
perdón pero no
No album available
Wow. Crazy good. 5/5
Kinda music I want to stop and get asked about on the street
Needed to be on drugs or something for this one
I need a lesson in what to listen for with some kinds of non-western music. So I don’t feel like I’m qualified to judge. Interesting from what I can take it but I wouldn’t rely on my opinion. I couldn’t find this on Apple Music or Spotify so I listened to a playlist someone compiled with the same name.
Very interesting to listen to
Not for me.
Sonically, this album is decent. Vocally, it is not. The singer has some interesting vocalizations and tones, but it’s just not pleasing to my ear overall. I found that I enjoyed the intros to a couple of the songs most of all. I’m glad I listened to it, as I’m always looking to broaden my musical horizons. This one just wasn’t my cup of tea.
0909 23:43 3.5
This is feels like a culturally significant piece of music but it just didn't resonate with me.
Listened to 3 songs and enjoyed it but found that to be sufficient. The vocals are a lot but the music is good but won't listen again. 4.5/10 (2.25/5)
The albums come thick and fast and I didn't dedicate much time to it due it it being challenging. Found a song I like in Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam though.
Intense, passionate, searching and (yes, editors) sexy – this works remarkably well as religious/spiritual music, including for non-believers.
No me interesa para nada este sonido.
It's not on Apple Music, so I couldn't listen to much. Seemed like stereotypical Indian music.
good! funky! it was good and not at all what i'd normally listen to!
This is not for me.
would never have listened to this if not on this list....super weird and interesting
"He was described as the fourth greatest singer of all time by LA Weekly in 2016." If this isn't an endorsement I don't know what is!!!! Musically its fine, not my jam tho.
Tough to evaluate, as it’s very different than what I’m used to. The spirit can be infectious, and the vocal warble is impressive. Vocal flourishes with intense power or speed really ice it. Vocals are the heart here, there isn’t much melodic accompaniment. Percussion is minimal but consistent to keep you connected. I’m happy to have been exposed to it, but don’t expect to find myself looking for this again.
Not for me thanks
Might have just been me but I had trouble finding this particular album in one spot so I just listened to his music for about an hour. Let me tell you he has a LOT of music out there to sample from. It really is impressive the volume of music he put out. Looking at his discography on Spotify it seems like he put out around 10 albums a year for decades. I appreciate the work effort but the music is not my style. Obviously I don't know what any of the lyrics mean which will always hamper my score. All in all it was okay.
Just really a good sound. Without being able to understand lyrics the dynamics and variety make this a sound listen. 4 Star. And yeah better than listening to Radiohead.
++: Haq Ali Ali Haq, Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam, Ni Main Jogi De Naal +: Allah Hoo Allah Hoo, Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka, Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bacchae 7,2/10
Interesting. Never heard of this one before.
I feel like I'm so brainwashed by Western music that I can't truly appreciate this.
I have no idea if this is good or not. I listened to less than 30 seconds. Extremely not my jam. Is it important? Probably, maybe. But I'm not gonna find out. I wish I could be more open minded about this but it's not where my head is right now.
I have no idea if this is good or not, but I would never listen by choice.
Couldn't get into it. Different yes but I prefer East Indian music that's instrumental over vocals.
It sounds like someone doing Jeff Buckley impressions. Seriously though, nice melodies and Indian instrumentation.
Some songs were exceptional, most okish
Not the kind of music I woult typically listen to, the songs were very long but quite enjoyable. He has a very nice voice and the instrumentals and background singers were always impressive especially when you really concentrated on them. Even without understanding the lyrics, the songs really made you want to dance. However, I wouldn't necessarily want to listen it again.
I don't necessarily have anything 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 Punjabi worship music. It started out quite pleasant with some nice melodic guitar sounds and his impressive vocals. It soon wore me down though. It got a bit repetitive and monotonous.
Not interested at all
Pleasantly surprised musically how good this is. The drums can be hypnotic, the guitar pleasant & his voice is wonderful. I can't speak lyrically as there is a language barrier but I'm kinda assuming this is this culture's gospel music. I'll probably never listen to this again but I'm glad I did.
There's nothing really bad about this, but this isn't anything I have any interest in listening to.
I respect this but this is not for me.
Couldn't find it to stream, so couldn't listen to it
Good background music. Maybe if I understood Arabic, this album would be more of an impact.
Sorry - I'm not a Bollywood - fan
did not do a full listen, its a vibe though
This was definitely interesting but not really my thing. I'm overall glad for the one listen I guess. Impressive vocals for sure, even if I couldn't follow along with the language.
This album is why I'm happy i've devoted nearly 500 albums into this project. Without it, I never would have heard Pakistani devotional music. While it probably won't make my end of the year list, I'm happy to have heard it and added it to my library. 3.5/5
“He’s my Elvis.” - Jeff Buckley. Amazing-though definitely need to be in the mood for some long jams.
I quite enjoyed a few songs. But it was a bit long and repetitive. Ok on the whole 3 ⭐️
I’m beginning to think that someone actually reads this stuff. After yesterday slagging off an Indian film soundtrack which had somehow made it onto this list, I get this. I said that the soundtrack yesterday was an embarrassment to the great array of Asian musicians of which there are hundreds if not thousands of examples. So along comes this one. Whilst totally unknown to me prior to today it is one of the good examples of Indian music out there and a good representative of this genre that some would say is underrepresented on this list. My knowledge of this genre is virtually nil so I purely listen to see if it pulls any of my strings. Well, just a bit and it is a world away from yesterday’s offering. But when I have previously popped my toe into this type of music it is the likes of Ravi Shankar which I have enjoyed more than what is on this album. 3/5 13/8/25
Not unlistenable but yikes
I can't really evaluate anything in the genre, this one is fine, though as an entire album it's a bit much. Is pretty mesmerizing though.
Very appreciative of getting something a bit different. I think for me this was more a curio than a new favourite, but I definitely enjoyed it whilst it was on.
It's not my kind of music. This album appears to be obscure, as it lacks a Wikipedia page. I do like the instrumentation. The fact that Ali Khan's family had been musicians for centuries is amazing. My favourite from the album is the final song because it's different. 2 stars for "Devotional Songs".
Such a change from my usual music, but interesting enough to get 3
Not my cup of tea. Songs sound very same-y
22/1089 my first non-english language album in this challenge and it’s also a language i’m unfamiliar with! Generally i’m really not into religious/faith-based music but since i don’t understand the lyrics i can probably get around that. Since Spotify only lists the dual album ‘Love and Devotion’ I’m going to listen to the Devotional Songs first and only rate them but I’ll probably go back and listen to the Love Songs too from the opening strings I can tell that i’m pretty sure I’ll enjoy this one. Allah Hoo Allah Hoo had a really nice consistent rhythm and pace, i love his vocal style. I could definitely see myself adding this to my ‘background music to read to’ collection. Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka has such a beautiful sound and vibe to it Haq Ali Ali Haq was a really good listen, and i like the intensity of Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam i’m such a sucker for the deep, thumpy drums common in south/south east asian music, especially with some plucky strings over the top This was a really nice and interesting listen, I know the list overall is pretty english-/west-centric but this is exactly the sort of thing I want to be discovering. faves: Haq Ali Ali Haq, Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae least faves: Ne Main Jana Jogi De Naal if i had to choose, it had some really nice parts but clicked the least sonically. 4 stars or
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is this?
It was okay
I have no cultural connection to this so it is hard to say if it holds up against other similar albums, but I didn’t hate it. I’m never going to listen again, but it wasn’t bad and boring like a lot of this list is.
I appreciate the intent to expose listeners to the music of other cultures. I'm not going to give this a one star because I didn't listen to it all the way through. My active listening state is not tuned to this sort of thing and I think it ever will be.
This was different and the eastern rhythms were interesting but once you've heard one song, you've pretty much heard them all. The call and response got to be repetitive quite quickly so something like this might be better in smaller doses.
2.3/5
Not my cup of tea
Favorite songs: Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam, Woh Hata Rahe Hain Pardah, Allah Hoo Allah Hoo Least favorite songs: Mast Nazron Se Allah Bachae 3/5
Not bad. No idea why this is on here.
Nice. Not for me.
I’ve listened to Mustt Mustt before which is way more Western-tinged, and I honestly enjoyed this one way more. Much more interesting even if it can be just as repetitive, which I don’t think is a flaw.
4/5
This album reminds me of the time my Serbian friend Milos drove me to a Death Grips concert in San Francisco. We pile into his old, brown Mercedes-Benz with a orange leather interior. The ignition sputters on and the car grumbles to life, opening the vents and blasting hot air into the car (Milos always kept the car a hellish temperature, for whatever reason). As I settle in to the soft leather seat, I hear chanting mixed in with the hum of the engine and fsssh of the forced air. It's an album of Hare Krishna chants. He raises the volume with a twist of a cracked knob and we roll into the darkening streets of Palo Alto. We drive in moderate silence for about an hour, only occasionally reflecting on the work day before, a movie we were interested in seeing (he made me watch "A Serbian Film" at one point, would not recommend), but were mostly silent under the mantra: "Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare" endlessly looping. I remember being taken aback initially. Milos was most certainly not any form of Buddhist, and at the time I felt that the music was mellowing out the vibes I wanted to feel before the DG show. But in the end we were both transfixed. We park downtown and attend the concert which was fast-paced, phenomenal and LOUD. I left the show mostly unscathed (just a fall or two in the mosh). Milos developed a diagnosis of tinnitus, expected to be lifelong. We drove home in a dark silence. In the subsequent weeks we saw each other less and less, then inevitably both moved away and never spoke again. This album elicited those memories in a palpable way. While the context, culture and music is different than the Hare Krishna album above, the goal is to be enveloped by the music to be taken to a place of thought and reflection. Nusrat Fateg Ali Khan certainly did that. And while it's not a perfect album, his voice is beautiful and impactful and I believe he achieved his purpose. 4/5
Good
Vibrant. Beautiful. The density of sounds and the quality of voice is truly unmatched. Incredible.
Enjoyed this, but I'll be damned if it didn't make me ravenously hungry for an Indian buffet. Also the first album I've been served up that didn't have a Wikipedia page.
lungo
Not for me. 20 seconds into each song, it sounded like same song. Not familiar enough with anything about the style to hear why it stands out amongst its peers.
Love and Devotion – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Dub / Reggae / Electronic (1988) | Avg: 3.46 | Favorite Song: None Alright, I’ll be honest with this one—it started off with some promise, but got painfully repetitive fast. Most of the tracks landed squarely in the 3-range for me, and not because they were offensively bad, but because they just didn’t evolve. There’s only so many times you can ride the same groove before it starts feeling like a loop rather than a song. Nothing stood out as unlistenable, but nothing stood out as necessary either. I get the appeal if you’re zoning out or using it as background music, but from a critical standpoint, there’s just not a lot of substance to grab onto here. It’s the kind of album that blends into itself and leaves you checking how many songs are left. If there was supposed to be a deeper meditative arc, it got lost somewhere in the monotony. Especially after hearing 12 7+ minute songs, I got sick and tired of it. Not a total disaster, but very much a one-note experience.
I never would have listened to something like this without the 1001 albums challenge. I was mesmerized.
Not my cup of tea
Me queda muy lejano el estilo de la música pakistaní
I really wasn't feeling it.
I do feel a certain joy and contemplation while listening, which I think just hints at what really lies behind his music.
I 100% own up to being an uncultured American, but this just didn't do much for me. Long songs with lots of repetition annoy me in every genre, and I just couldn't connect much with this. I can definitely hear the talent, and I do appreciate whenever I come across some of the (minimal) cultural diversity on this list. But personally this wasn't for me. Definitely understand why it's on the list, but I wish I had more similar to compare it to than having to stand on its own.
There seems to be some discrepancy on Spotify, as the app shows this album having twelve tracks, whereas only nine tracks appear. After listening to the nine tracks, I think I’ve got the sense of what the other tracks would sound like. This Pakistani guy does a lot of scatting on the album, which is lengthy. I appreciate getting the opportunity to hear this type of music, but it’s not my favorite genre.
Ha, I just said I wouldn't hold my breath for other non-English stuff, and here comes this. Another confusing album, since 'Devotional Songs' was a real release, but this is a reissue(?) called 'Love & Devotion' with probably(?) the same content? Hmph. At least it's something different. I never listened to qawwali before, and let's be real, I probably won't in the future. It's too opaque for me -- I don't know any Urdu, if I've even correctly ID'd the language here*, and the sound is pleasant, but I end up mentally relegating it to the background just because I don't know what the lyrics mean, and they seem like the main draw for this genre! I think I liked what I'm assuming is the Love half (first 6) more than the Devotion half (second 6). *OK, it's both Urdu & Punjabi (and a tiny bit of Persian), and also: Jeff Buckley was a big Nusrat fan and even covered 'Yeh Jo Halka Saroor Hae'! That's more fun than 500 Hallelujah covers. Highlight: 'Un Ke Dar Pen Pohchne to Payen' (seemed more energetic than the rest), 'Allah Hoo Allah Hoo' (mainly because of the transparent vibe)
Considering this was 1.5hrs I didn’t get as bored as I thought I would
Enjoyed the vibes. Would go hard in King of Spice.
This is neither my cup of tea nor my cup of coffee. It became boring very quickly. I'm glad to have it behind me and won't have to listen to it again.
Could do with a lamb bhuna
Ugh. This album is not short. And a lot of it sounds the same. I feel like I’m at an all you can eat buffet Indian restaurant. "Have you had their tikka masala? It’s really good, but it’s spicy. Be careful." In all sincerity, this just wasn't my bag. I honestly can't give it a 3, but it also doesn't deserve a 1, so it will likely get a 2 to fill the category of either, (1) I don't get it, or (2) this just isn't for me.
What are "Songs that could be used as a music bed for any Hollywood middle eastern action thriller?" Some of these were more upbeat and enjoyable than I thought. Having said that, this is still not bag of chips. The constant tabla and droning instruments really do wear on your sanity after a while. I appreciate his contributions to this style of music, I don't have any connection to this culture and really haven't enjoyed what I've heard.
Hypnotic. I find this much more listenable than the Fela Kuti album that came before, though they both feature long-groove songs that just carry and carry. Ali Khan's keening vocals contrasted with the chanting/droning singers and the chugging-engine drums put me in kind of a trance. Play it all day.
i liked his voice
Don't have it on apple music
..
ok i gues
I saved a couple songs. I really liked it.
Swing la bacaisse dans l'fond d'la boîte à bois.
Sort of a tricky one and one of the difficulties (and joys!) of exploring world music. This music exists entirely in a context that is foreign to me. Sufi devotional music? In a language I can’t even pretend to begin to comprehend? Oof. So what I like is that, I could probably tell this is devotional music if I went into this blind, there is a joy radiating the whole thing, and Khan has an amazing voice, he really has some amazing solo parts where he’s clearly flexing, it’s great.
Now I think I like 'foreign' music more than the next man but this album was annoying as f**k. Sorry not sorry.
Nope. Not for me. Appreciate the guys obvious takent and vocal range but not my jam.
Came into this not knowing what to expect. It's tough for me to grade relative to anything else because I'm totally unfamiliar with this kind of music, but on its own merits I found it pleasurable. Don't know that I would seek it or something similar out again, but I wouldn't mind it if I come across it.
While it isn't my thing, I can appreciate the talent behind it.
Amidst all the garbage indie and unremarkable modern music, something refreshingly different. Meditative, exhilarating, joyful, captivating, and above all, *interesting*.
Well I enjoyed this a million times more than expected. When people talk about how the Project can help them 'get into world music', I think they probably mean 'listen to Graceland and remember Buena Vista Social Club', but this is the real good stuff. It's very moving, the instruments are fascinating and new to my ears. It loses marks because I was fairly pleased when it finished, and found it hard to distinguish song by song very much. Me problems though.
Has a good beat, you can dance to it.
Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Not on Amazon music
Headache inducing. Instrumentals were good at points but I would never listen to this again unless to troll someone
absolutely zero idea what any of the songs are about but the beautiful melodies, vocal riffs, and trance-inducing drones of the beat are perfect. I'm a huge fan.
This grew on me a bit and I liked it more than I thought I would after not loving the first 30 seconds…still not my favorite, but 2.5 rounded down.
Nope…
I listened to one song and skimmed a few others. I feel like I get it.
I’m devoted to my wife and kids. I will not play this for them.
A bit more repetitive than I usually like, but the harmonium always sounds pretty cool. Towards the end I started getting more hooked in, and the repetition started to get hypnotic.
You can definitely recognise that the vocals are good and that Nusrat is talented, however the type of music is not really a personal vibe and it would be interesting to hear him in other styles to see how the talent carries over. Overall 2.5/5 with a bump to 3.
This was a really good surprise. I wasn't familiar at all with Pakistani music or Qawwali in general, however I really enjoyed this album. Great melodies, vocals, up tempo rhythms and percussion patterns throughout. It actually reminded me of some of the West african griot music. 3.5/5 raising to a 4.
A song was missing on Spotify. Don't think I needed to listen, I got the vibe. Vocal is impressive. Spotify link leads to a double-release Love Songs and Devotional Songs. I realised half way through the last song on the former. 3/5.
Day542 - i’ll give him credit for quantity, he has over 200 albums on itunes,but not this one.
This is actually pretty easy for me to listen to. I wish I knew what they were saying cause I think that would add to it. Anyways its fun.
*Uplifting middle east music. *Enjoyed it - good background music. *Research - Nursat Fateh Ali Khlan is Pakistani and died in 1997 at age 48. RATING - 6.5/10
VERY outside of my usual listening but it's pretty good. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan I believe is the vocalist and is incredibly impassioned and emotional in his delivery. It's actually pretty cool and I might try out more of this! 8/10
Devotional Songs by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan took me far outside my musical comfort zone. I found it challenging to locate the album, and even more difficult to engage with the music itself. While I recognize that the purpose of this challenge is to broaden horizons through exposure to different languages, cultures, and musical styles, this particular genre didn’t resonate with me. That said, I appreciate the opportunity to explore something so deeply rooted in tradition and spirituality, even if it wasn’t to my taste.
Vibes
Interesting but the collection of Love and Devotion was way too long for a comfortable listen at 1h:30m
Not available on Apple Music, but ended up listening to Mustt Mustt. Pretty good album and I don't ever listen to religious music. I guess I liked it because I can't understand the lyrics
Not my thing
Not my genre of music, but very well performed.
Not very good.
The problem with world music is often not knowing any context: Was this groundbreaking?, did it set trends? etc. All I can judge it on is "Did I enjoy it? No!
5.5/10 Highlight: Haq Ali Ali Haq
I've never heard of Nursat Fateh Ali Khan or this album, but I'm always down to experience something new. I've reviewed a few albums from south central Asia, but I don't think any of them were Qawwali music. I'm curious to see what this album has in store! I found Devotional Songs to be fine overall. I think if I had a better understanding of music theory and composition, I might be able to better appreciate the sound of this album. However, I still thought this album was enjoyable and interesting to listen to. Much like the cuica in Brazilian music, I was really drawn to the sound of the sound of the tabla on these songs. There's just something about its sound that I really enjoyed on this album. I obviously didn't understand the lyrics on this album, but I thought the singing was full of passion, and it's impressive that NFAK is able to sing with that kind of intensity for long periods of time. The only song that really stood out to me was "Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam." I loved the hand claps and the rhythm of the instruments, and there was a really great melody under the hand claps as well. After that, I felt that I appreciated the album more, as I was able to get more of an understanding of what to listen to. I wasn't blown away by this album, but it sounds like the sort of thing that would grow on me if I became more familiar with it.
-Listened on Spotify which is missing three songs -Songs are too long for my terrible westerner ears -"Un Ke Dar Pen Pohchne to Payen" is probably my favorite off the album
It was interesting. Glad to have heard it. But it's not for me. I may skip adding one of these to the playlist. If they weren't so long I'd toss one on there though. ~2.7 stars
Culturally distant. Unappealing to my ears.
I'm not used to this kind of music but it's quite o.k. and I really like the cover artwork.
Finally something different! However, songs sound very similar 3/5
5.5/10
Although I don't technically understand what Khan is singing, I sense through his incredible vocal performances that his passion and *ahem* devotion are strong and sincere. From a melodic standpoint, I found this album to be a lot "hookier" (it feels strange applying that word to this style of music) than some of the other non-Western albums I've received for this project, and despite some of the song lengths, not nearly as repetitious. Overall, I quite enjoyed this, and think it could grow on me if I took the time to familiarize myself more with qawwali. 3.5/5
i dug that immensely…i really really REALLY like the drumming patterns in south asian (or hindustani??) music—the tabla i guess is what i’m referring to here—i love how intricate and nimble they are. and i like the droning quality of the sustained vocals. idk how to describe it i just like it<3
that was really beautiful even though it looks like some of the songs are not available on spotify (and I didn't look for them elsewhere). I was excited to recognize "Allah Hoo Allah Hoo" as the same tune and similar phonetics to the Jewish prayer "Hallelu", identifying the similar musical origins in both cultures. I did not look up the translation of the lyrics for every song, but I chose "Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka" to look into because that one was my favorite. Google Translate didn't do it justice so I found a translation with a few lines from the song that were much more poetic: ‘Remembrance of the Prophet feels like a fragrant garden / How sweet the name of Muhammad feels Beloved Prophet / remembering you feels beautiful to us’. Fav tracks: Yaad-e-Nabi Gulshan Mehka
Sorry for being narrowminded and uncultured, but I didn’t like listening to this at all
Mujahideen album.
I was not familiar with this artist or these songs, but I dug it.
pretty repetitive. got old quick
***An ok album
Interesting style but a bit long
I’m unsure why, but that album just didn’t really do much for me. I’ve really enjoyed some other traditional Indian music such as Ravi Shankar, but for whatever reason this just didn’t tickle my ears in the same way. There were definitely catchy parts, and it’s far from being awful music, but this one’s just not for me.
Sounded fine, I don't know enough to know
Note - this album is on Tidal as the second disc of the compilation "Love and Devotion". I'd never really connected with him when listening before, but I put this on my headphones during a bus ride and just spaced out. Beautiful, trance-like pieces. Unusual melodies for a western listener but no so unusual as to be off putting. I can see why Jeff Buckley was a fan - the power behind some of the notes is astonishing. Perhaps the lack of lyrical understanding on my part is what prevents it from being a 5, but still a genuinely enjoyable listen and one I'll be coming back to.
I don't have any context for this
Just really not my thing
Two discs, 3/12 tracks missing on Spotify, but no way this doesn't get rated poorly Yeah not for me, although groovy
This is an album (I think?) very much outside my comfort zone, so I find it nearly impossible to judge it much beyond representing a genre that I have heard when travelling or in certain shops/restaurants. That said, I can hear that the quality of the musicianship is high, and the rhythms are great. There is a strong, positive mood, and listening does transport me back to happy memories in India. I doubt I'll be tempted to play much again in the future, but will happily listen again if it were playing.
It's pleasant enough to listen to, but it feels very repetitive (made worse by it being in non-English). If I was Pakistani, I think I'd be a big fan of this.
Not really into this, though it was fine background music for an afternoon. I didn’t annoy me, which is more than I can say for a lot of music.
Not something I'd listen to again in a hurry but it kept me moving! I didn't hate it!
Very upbeat vibes. Songs seemed a bit long and repetitive though.
It was fine. Do I feel like I needed to hear this before I died? No. Did I still enjoy it? Kinda.
I always struggle with things that are so foreign to me. This was pleasant enough to listen to but not anything I’d revisit.
Nope
Awful
Nice sound a lot of nusrats albums sound similar
this is probably awesome. i really dug that massive attack remix of whatever it was from about 30 years ago. but it’s not on here
I enjoyed this listen. It was very removed from what I'm typically spinning and I think that made me want to pick out details more. I really loved hearing all the different instrumental layers and melodies. It was a bit long but was a decent vibe all the way through.
Great Asian citar tunes
I was not familiar with the world's 4th greatest singer of all time according to the LA Times, but I'm glad to know him. Inspired a rewarding trip to YouTube.
Surprised at how much I liked this. Not an everyday listen but it definitely is quality.
1. parda - 2 2. halka - 1 3. zada - 1.5 4. payen - 1.5 5. allah - 1.5 6. meka - 1 7. ali - 2 8. dam - 2 9. mazt - 2
This is just so far from what I'm used to listening to. I'd have to give this one more time
3,25
Listened before?: No, never heard of these artists I love it. Beautiful, moving, relaxing. Will certainly be adding this to the rotation.
This was a weird experience. I'm not even sure I listened to the right album. It's supposed to be "Devotional Songs" but the album cover and the Spotify link are to a differently-titled album, released in 1988 instead of 1992. I spent a while poking at this but decided to just listen to it and move on with my life. I liked this a lot. It's not a new genre I'm going to explore or anything, but I found it to be perfectly serviceable background music.
This was at least interesting because it’s pretty far removed from anything I normally listen to. I would not go so far as to say I liked it or will likely revisit it.
No. Just no. It took two songs, that basically sounded exactly the same and then I was done.
I generally liked this album, but as it went on the music started to fade into the background as a generally enjoyable but unremarkable backdrop to my workday. I was mostly introduced to music from India / Pakistan through classic Bollywood music and movies and I find album to be a welcome addition to my overall musical map but I may not make too may trips back here over time.
Well, this is absolutely outside of my usual wheelhouse but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued — the album wasn’t on Apple Music so I had to resort to YouTube for it, and I had a good time with it! Khan has a pretty cool biography, and a list of heavy-hitters as collaborators, too. I wouldn’t say I can see myself throwing this on at random, but the music is mesmerizing when you’re in the right headspace for it.
This was an experience! This is the kind of album this list was made for. It was fun for a couple songs, but I didn't need 90 minutes of it.
meh
Good background music I guess
needs more guitar.
Had to listen to this on YouTube since it wasn't on spotify and some of the songs seemed cut-off. Kind of repetitive
Interesting to listen to but really not my sort of thing at all.
It was surprisingly nice.
This album, although not my cup of tea was an enjoyable listen. I rarely listen to middle eastern music so this was a completely new experience for me to hear an entire album. The musicianship was very good and the singing, although I have no idea what they are saying was clear and concise. Best songs were “Allah Hoo Allah Hoo”, “Haq Ali Ali Haq”, and “Ni Main Jogi De Naal”.
You can definitely feel the joy come through in these songs. To my ears, they all sound a bit too similar. I didn't dislike any of them, and yes I could tell them apart, but being that I'm not particularly familiar with qawwali music, they didn't sound very different. The end result for me, I enjoyed the listen, I get why people love his music, but I likely wouldn't put it on again. Favorites: "Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka"(had a little different sound than the rest, so it stood out)
I really need to put more World Music in my life. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a pretty amazing vocalist, and I can see why every song is pretty much over 7 mintues, as his voice puts you in a kind of trance. Woh Hata Rahe Hain Pardah nice opener to the album. Allah Hoo Allah Hoo is just a fun song. Haq Ali Ali Haq is another good sing along, probably will have that one stuck in my head later.
I enjoyed this.
its lit
During the first track I was afraid I wouldn't get through the whole thing, but then I got into the groove and was able to appreciate the musicianship here. Not a genre I'll return to, but I'm glad to have heard it. 3.3
While it is very interesting, and I am glad to know it, I am unsure how frequently I would revisit.
I don't know what the guy is saying but he can really sing. There is an amazing amount of volume coming out of this guy, it must be amazing live. Not sure if I would listen to this again but I don't regret hearing it.
Better than Coldplay
WTF?! 🤬
I’ve always loved Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. This a great collection of his work. Yes, it’s long, but it merits its length. Especially since this list has so few non-Western albums, an extra hour is manageable.
This is the iconic voice of Indian/Pakistani songs for generations. The music is good, but generic to my ear.
It's a nice change of pace. No idea what the words are, but it's pleasant enough to listen to. Good, energetic background music for me. 3.5*
Good vibes
1,5
Respect. I'm not sure how much I enjoyed this (not as much as I should have), but I wouldn't skip this if it popped up on shuffle.
Not it
Interesting listen, but not really my style. It is nice to hear something from outside the US and UK.
3.25
Favorite Track: Haq Ali Ali Haq
I found this music entrancing. Just lovely.
Unique, refreshing, and pleasant. While I enjoyed it, the songs were far to repetitive and unnecessarily long.
I don't know anything about this type of music, but I think it's pretty good. 4 stars or B+.
Devotional Songs I don’t know anything about qawwali or Pakistani music at all, but similar to the Call of the Valley album, there’s something about this type of music that really appeals to me. I’m not saying I’m at Harrrison levels of reverence and devotion but I did think this was excellent. Maybe it’s the hypnotic and mesmeric feel to it with the vocal chanting and percussion, or that not understanding Urdu means it has a degree of mystery (although even with not understanding Urdu the themes of religious reverence are pretty obvious), or that there are some elements that feel familiarly folky or Western sounding, eg the guitar on Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka or the Spanish sounding intro on Haq Ali Ali Haq (a song about Ali Ireland need to get rid of some phlegm) and the intro to Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam (a song about Ali Ireland playing Rugby and being quite vicious) I would never have listened to this without the list, I’d never have heard of him or thought about listening to this type of music, but I’m really glad it did. 4. 💖💖💖💖 Playlist submission: Ni Main Jogi De Naal
Overall, an album I enjoyed, and particularly Fateh's vocal power. Some of the vocal runs dotted throughout the album are indescribably good. I also like the pacey tempo, and call-and-response carrying the listener along. There are a couple of tracks which fall into a slower dirge; which offer little respite given each track is eight minutes long. I don't know what they're singing about - but it sounds like they're into it, and that's pretty infectious. A high three.
My man Nusrat! I see he goes by NFAX. Just imagine a concert with NFAX and NOFX. That would definitely be a banger. Unfortunately, Nusrat is no longer with us. I always believed that effort and enthusiasm helps make anything a better experience and this guy has it. Maybe It's because I just got done with a Crosby Stills & Nash, some of the most uninspiring music I've heard in a bit, but I thought this album was at least interesting and full of energy. Btw, did you see how many albums this dude has made? Holy shit..... Can't say I'll ever seek this guy out, but somehow, I think I'll remember the name. Who knows, next Shank get together, I may have to throw on Allah Hoo Allah Hoo just to see the reaction. 2
2 Look, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not particularly cultured in music from non-English speaking countries, and that there’s probably a lot of great stuff out there to discover if I continue to explore… but this ain’t it for me, dawg. Though, to NFAK’s credit, it did grow on me somewhat over the course of my listenings. During my first listen, at the gym, I thought it was annoying, and I was over it probably less than a minute in. Listening to it during work, I found it to be okay background music, and sitting here now after an additional listen, I can admit there’s a degree of fun to this. Still, a lot of these tracks sound kind of the same, and most feel overly long. If you listen to the version of this album that’s on Spotify - Love and Devotion - it’s actually a combination of two separate albums put together, Love Songs and Devotional Songs, respectively. I personally didn’t find a striking difference between the two, but for some reason that I can’t explain, I want to say I liked Love Songs just a touch more. Overall though, a bit too much of this one sound, which definitely started to wear on me. One of the things I’ve seen people praise about this guy is the emotion and intensity in his voice (dude could apparently go full send for several hours), and while I hear what they mean, I have a hard time connecting with it. That’s definitely the language barrier, but as one of those pretentious a-holes that connects with lyrics, it made this album somewhat of a challenge for me. I guess that’s more of a “me” problem though - if you look at the list of artists this guy supposedly inspired, it’s kind of crazy: Mick Jagger, Peter Gabriel, Eddie Vedder, and Red Hot Chili Peppers just to name a few. Hell, Jeff Buckley even referred to my guy as his “Elvis”. Not my Elvis, nor am I probably likely to return this album, but no regrets in opening my mind a bit. Maybe I’ll understand it the next time I’m in Pakistan.
i honestly avoided this one for a few days because i was intimidated by the length, but i liked it more than i thought. admittedly a bit repetitive, and not my usual fare, but it wasn't bad as a work soundtrack.
while it's nice to get a break from the usual forgettable 90s/00s britpop, 90 minutes of qawwali devotional music was not really on my radar. this guy seems like a household name to many people so this is just my own anglocentric ignorance showing, but it felt pretty repetitive and similar to me. not my favorite but there were some cool bits throughout. favorites: yeh jo halka saroor hae, sanson ki mala pey
the music of a sweaty summer afternoon in South Asia, waiting for your relatives to prepare dinner. There's something hypnotic and peaceful about these tracks. I suspect some of them, if sampled correctly, could lead to some quality world music EDM. 3.5/5
Erm.... it's like I walked in to two people making out in the supply closet at work but they don't work there.
Shout out to the guy whose review pointed out the Spotify link takes you to a double album. The only way I could find the actual Devotional Songs album was by googling "Devotional Songs Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Spotify". Saves you 45 minutes. I enjoyed just a single song from this slog of an album. It was "Yaad-E-Nabi Guishan Mehka" and I think it's because it didn't sound exactly the same as the other songs which could honestly be a single song for all I know. However, that one song can't make up for how bored I was listening to the rest of it. Maybe if I understood Urdu/Punjabi, I could appreciate it more at least just for the lyrics but that's not something I'm prepared to do at the moment.
It's interesting at least. Definitely not up my alley.
Not my bailiwick. So take my review with a grain of salt. 3 stars means it’s good joyous music.
Not for me 1/5
very interesting Pakistani album, it's nice !!! it's just cool music and nothing much outside of it, good to be on the 1001 for diversity of differing music
I'm glad I listened to this Pakistani music, and it contained some good ambience. Though I wish I realised that it was a double release instead of a single release. Alas, it was a good album.
Okay, so I fully went into this thinking, "There's no way I'm gonna like this. Pakistani music? Nah." But I listened to it, and after I got through the first track, the final 20 seconds of the second track made me sit up in my seat. Then, my ears tuned in, and man I have no idea what they're saying on any of these tracks, but they put nothing but passion into it and you feel it. I loved every song after the first one. Don't let the runtime scare you, this one is very very good.
Not something I'd listen to for pleasure, to be honest, because it's... Just a bit too unknown for my ears to enjoy. You can tell it's well played and produced, and it's a breath of fresh air to get something on this list that isn't more or less American or British mainstream/mainstream-adjacent stuff. Still... Hard to go for more than 2 stars.
A good album and very different from what I usually listen to. I liked the style and rhythm of the music.
almost had a heart attack when seeing the length but i only need to listen to the second half Anyways this is completely fine but I’ve also never in my life had the compulsion to listen to word music outside of challenges like this so
Not really my thing. Seemed quite devotional which I’m sure others will find resonance with. 2.5/5
Not something I would ever listen to by myself so glad for the chance to listen to it but its not for me obviously not terrible musically just in a style not for myself.
No frame of reference to say if this is good devotional music or not but I vibed with it.
nice
Easily one of the best singers of all time. Incredible range and ease of singing. Favorite track: sanson ki mala pey other picks: biba sada dil morr de, yeh jo, yaadan, ali maula
I mean, the album's name doesn't lie. These certainly are some devotional songs alright. Honestly, I've become kind of numb to the whole "world music album with no wikipedia article" thing at this point seeing as this is at least the fourth time it's happened. This is a pretty unique album as far as this album list is concerned. This is an album comprised of 6 Islamic hymns from Pakistani artist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. More specifically, these are Qawwali songs, which I guess is a specific type of devotional song. Now, I'm not particularly well-versed on the culture this music comes from. However, I am pretty well-versed at this point on what I like in music, and I can definitely say that there are some things to like about the contents of this album. The singing is pretty good. It's perfect for this style of music. The instrumentation is quite engaging. The rhythms and melodies are pretty good. I wasn't able to find good translations of the writings, but I'm sure it's good, albeit heavily focused on the whole Islam thing. The songs are a bit long too, but I'm sure there's a reason for that. I don't know if this specific album needs to be here, but I can't say I'm upset that I listened to this. I never would've listened to an album like this if it weren't for this album project. I think that's pretty cool. The album's good, but not for me personally. 3/5.
Traditional ethnic music is kind of a dick move in some ways, I have zero background on how to form an opinion as I know nothing about Pakistani music, and I am not sure I have the time or desire to learn more about it.
The Good: It’s all about devotion… The Bad: In a language I don’t understand… The Ugly: a double album… There really isn’t too much one needs to say about this album, except that the rhythm and cadence can bring you into a lull and make time fly. As it is impossible to know what Nusrat is trying to tell us, I will go by him, most likely, wanting there to be world peace! Maybe, at some point, I will listen to this album again, for now, straight down the middle 3*
This just isn't for me.
Nope. No thanks
I’m a big lyrics person so listening to songs in other languages is hard for me to connect with. But I appreciated the vibe of this.
Life changing
would just like to let everyone know that I submitted my essay w/ 28 seconds left. really living on the edge. woohoo. anyways I grew up hearing brown ppl devotional music I think alot of it is really fucking annoying to listen to. i dont mean that in a disrespectful to god way but I also am not religious so I guess it doesn't matter. I do think some carnatic music is really nice tho and theres def been some performances n stuff my mom dragged me to that I really enjoyed. I thought this was too long and not that enjoyable tho. I think Carnatic music is better than this in general tho, I guess im biased. idk everytime(everytime!) we have an album I feel to the smallest degree somewhat culturally related to I have a lot of opinions
4/10 - It was kind of boring and all of it ended up sounding the same. None of it was necessarily bad which makes it a 4 and nothing lower.
Listened at gym. Twas pretty annoying
Mumba-Yumba
probably won't listen again, but it was good focus music for a work session
01) Allah Hoo Allah Hoo - 7,0 02) Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka - 6,0 03) Haq Ali Ali Haq - 5,5 04) Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam - 5,0 05) Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae - 5,0 06) Ni Main Jogi de Naal - 5,0 TOTAL: 5,58 (56/100) Current ranking: 412/486 Just to clarify, the link takes you to the double album "Love and Devotion", of which disc 1 is the album "Love Songs" and disc 2 is "Devotional Songs". Since the latter is on the list, I decided to listen to only that one. You're welcome.
Like a lot of folks here, I first heard of this artist through Jeff Buckley's Live at Sin-é album. Unfortunately, I never investigated further, but I remember thinking if Jeff liked this artist, he must be something special. I was right to think that. This album is certainly in my top 5 of the albums on this list I had never heard before. Normally, I'm not much of a fan of "world music," but I am very much enjoying listening to this. Cool depth, texture, instrumentation, vocals, and just the vibe in general. Super glad I listened to this
Sorry, just not for me.
Doing
Not my jam, but 8 can see how people would like it. 2.5/5
Non fa proprio per me. Sono contento che nei 1001 album si incluso qualcosa che non sia inglese o americano, ma l'album è qualcosa di troppo distante da quello che sento abitualmente da non saper come valutarlo
I was only able to find one song from this album on YouTube since it’s not available on Apple Music. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do, even though I can’t understand the lyrics, it’s full of energy and spirit.
LONG...I suppose it is ok. Nothing I would ever choose to listen to however. 1.5/5
I didn’t expect to spend my afternoon with a Pakistani Qawwali album sung in Urdu and Punjabi — especially one that’s more a curated sampler than a proper studio album. Until today, I hadn’t even heard the word Qawwali. Consider me educated. And, given the current political climate, I wouldn’t be entirely shocked if someone heard this blasting through my window and decided to alert the authorities. The real revelation, unsurprisingly, is Nusrat’s voice. He doesn’t just sing — he commands. One moment, he’s murmuring something that sounds almost too intimate for public consumption; the next, he’s unleashing a tidal wave of praise that feels like it could lift a roof off its foundations. His breath control is absurd, his melodic runs could outrun a cheetah, and his improvisational confidence is the kind of thing that only comes from being the undisputed master of a tradition that predates most modern genres. But this is more than just a vocal masterclass — the backing ensemble deserves their flowers too. Harmonium lines ripple like heat waves, tablas lay down endlessly shifting rhythms, and the chorus of singers (his trusted “party”) answers Nusrat’s every phrase, creating a call-and-response structure that’s central to Qawwali itself. This isn’t just music; it’s a conversation with the divine, meant to draw everyone — singers, listeners, believers — into a shared spiritual trance. That trance didn’t fully land for me. Chalk it up to cultural distance, spiritual misalignment, or just a lack of context, but the repetition — essential as it is — started to wear me down rather than lift me up. That’s not a flaw in the music; it’s just a reminder that this wasn’t made with me in mind. Released in the heart of the early-‘90s “world music” boom, Devotional Songs is a textbook case of how to bridge cultures without diluting either side. Credit to Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records for resisting the urge to sand down the edges. This still feels raw, reverent, and resolutely itself — a window into a sound that’s been filling shrines and courtyards for centuries. Not every track hit me equally, but a few absolutely cut through. Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka sways with a gentle, hypnotic pulse that I found strangely comforting. Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam turns up the intensity, with Nusrat practically testifying over a relentless groove. And Allah Hoo Allah Hoo is just pure transcendence — a perfect entry point for anyone curious about this world. So no, I won’t be starting a weekly Qawwali night anytime soon — but this was a wild, beautiful detour, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want from an album on a list like this. It doesn't surprise me that Devotional Songs landed in the 1001 Albums selection — you can’t claim to know the full spectrum of music without stepping into these once-regional niches and seeing just how deep the well goes.
Listening to NFAK, one has not much idea of what one's listening to (other than it's being called qawwali and being linked to Sufism [which one has always sorta dug without {again} knowing too much about it]). But what one hears are a deep spiritual yearning and a reaching for what can only surmise is an elevated plane of union with the lord. Editors are right, it's sexy, too. The seeming sincerity and commitment ("seeming" because how can one know another's heart, even through his voice) and intensity provides insight into why the dervishes spin. The technique seems astonishing, too, though of course one can't say if its historically accurate or dogmatically appropriate or technically innovative in any particular way. Certainly it creates a meditative mood. This is warmer, more tuneful and less austere (and perhaps a tick less captivating therefore) than the later works, the folky and flamenco flourishes adding accessibility, too. Perhaps most amazing of all: he sings with this power and passion whilst sitting down if the various YouTube concert videos are to be believed.
Immediately flew into my top 10 qawwali albums of all time! Great voice and unlike some other Asian traditional arrangements there is an inherent rhythmic quality in Devotional Songs that makes this an enjoyable listen.
Few, if any, is on the level of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan when it comes to the world of qawwali music. Devotional Songs is partly inspired by some Western traditions which makes for thrilling listen that never fails to amaze you.
Indescribably fantastic. I have no context for the music. But every time i hear these ragas and Khan’s chanting, I smile. Must have this music in my life. Five!
So excited to see what I got on my birthday, but I got this and it’s not even available. Boo. I did listen to some on YouTube, though, and well, what? I guess I actually enjoyed whatever was happening, and I wish I could easily listen to the whole thing without creepy ads after every song.
It was decent I guess
tranceful and hypnotic
Nope
As a fellow reviewer said: "Better than Radiohead"
Couldn’t get this one on iTunes so had to listen to videos on YouTube. Strangely wonderful if a bit samey after a while!
Je vibais quand même fort au début, mais rendu à la moitié, soit à la quarante-cinquième minutes, les chants élégiaques et hypnotiquement répétitif ont eu raison de ma patience
2/5
Not the type of stuff I'd listen to normally, but I can definitely appreciate the musical talent on this album.
Nice to come across something truly different on this list, even if I wasn't mesmerised by it. Made for some pleasant background listening for a while.
Qawwali High…Qawwali low. Lots going on and I’ll buy into this gent is one of the best. Don’t expect to listen again on purpose but accidentally I wouldn’t complain.
Not My fav fateh ali but still a good one. The qawalli vibe in general tickles my brain in the right ways Also the lungs on this dude... rest in peace
Technically good and I am a big fan of this but it was a lotttt and I couldn't do a full hour and a half
I'm not really sure I actually listened to the correct thing here, conflicting information on various sites left me in doubt, but I listened to an hour or so of this guys songs and by the end I was loving it. Not sure I'd come back but it was fun while it lasted.
Coming to this genre completely cold (aside from where his vocals have been used by Peter Gabriel) makes this hard to judge So all I can really say is this is an extraordinary sound and vocal performance
I was already slightly familiar with Nusrat from Jeff Buckley's awkward cover of Yeh Jo Halka Suroor Hai on Live at Sin-e. Not that this is something I listen to often, but I really do appreciate the meditative nature of these songs. I'm sure there's a lot of generalization and simplification of Sufi culture in my understanding of it, but it's hard to deny the beauty of their art.
Las pocas veces que este sitio me genera un álbum no occidental, me alegro. Este álbum es de música religiosa sufi, conocida como Qawwali. Es un tipo de música que induce al trance, con una instrumentación muy simple, típica de la música indostaní (palmas, tabla y mandolina), que cumple su papel religioso. Aunque el álbum completo se me haya hecho un poco repetitivo, creo que está hecho con mucha pasión y gusto, y merece una buena nota.
Not for me. It all sounds very similar to me. Definitely didn't need to hear a double album.
Not my bag
It sounds repetitive to me because I don't recognize the lyrics, and the songs do go on for quite a while.
Felt a little too long but pretty good
A calming and pleasing album - I suppose that’s the point of devotional songs.
It certainly is interesting to listen to something like this and, having never heard it before, understand it through the lens of a band like Talking Heads, or even artists like Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon. I am not well versed in "world music" (what an awful term!) and so it's nice to get an opportunity to check this out. That said, I wouldn't make this a regular part of my musical diet, so the rating is largely due to that. Great inclusion on the 1001.
3.5
I mean, sure.
It's far from my preferred type of music, but after so many albums (and a lot of mediocre stuff), I should always pay some respect to this kind of inclusion that allows me to taste really different kinds of music.
Album is listed on Spotify as Love and Devotion, though I wish there was a Wikipedia page for why this individual album was selected. Always interesting to learn about a new kind of music, and qawwali really delivered a lot of emotion and pride without the need for understanding
No me gusto
Interesting and different. I'm glad I heard it. But not my cup of tea.
Interesting to listen to for a while, but not my kind of music. Gets tedious after the first half-hour or so (90 minute album). By my self-imposed scoring system, this is either a high-2 or low-3 star rating.
2.5
awful
Probably a cultural thing but I did not enjoy this album. Probably just not used to this music and it was 1.5 hours which is too dang long!
the vibe is nice on this one
I respect the vocal talent but this was definitely not for me
I'll be honest, I did not listen to this whole album. After the first couple of songs they started blending together and I just could not appreciate the music properly. It's probably my western bias but I find it hard to enjoy this music.
Listenable
It’s okay but not to my taste