Zombie

Album was very upbeat and a good listen. Each song was quite long but did not really feel that way with very little vocals. The tempo and instrument play were smooth and easy to listen to. I feel it is a solid 6/10 and gave it 3 stars.

Oh shit! Jad Abumrad’s Fela Kuti podcast was a media highlight for me last year so this is a bit of a thrill! Zombie is unreal. From the pod (I think), when performed live it instills a sort of trance where you’re just v i b i n g as one does, then all of a sudden ZOMBIE and you’re thrown into a sensory mindfuck of “omg I’m a zombie on the dance floor like the zombie military doing state sponsored terror” … then the music spurs you to revolution. Casual. So fucking good. (Clearly there was enough of a perceived threat that a literal thousand soldiers destroyed his commune and killed his mother) What a complicated fascinating man. I’ve been thinking about the episode about the women for months and months. I had heard most of these songs but never all together in context and I was v much in awe throughout

2 - TERRIBLE

I enjoyed this! Jazzy jam album that's a good listen while doing something else. It's maybe a bit more heavy on instrumentals than I'm usually into, but i can still appreciate it. Knowing what happened after it was released makes it hit harder than if I didn't know.

african Pop, Jazz, 1977 -> 3

I've never really heard afrobeat knowingly before this list and this is my second or third album of that genre but I have to say it's quite interesting indeed. Jazzy with heavy emphasis on rhythm, I can dig that.

Good stuff. Wish it were longer.

Twelve-minute tracks normally send me running, but Fela Kuti had me bouncing in my chair the whole time. Fabulous horns, an irresistible groove, and a revolution you can dance to.

It’s like they had a great idea for like 4 songs, but then realized 4 songs isn’t enough for an album, so they dragged each song to 10 mins to make a full album, these songs are so much longer than they have to be, I get so bored, then I hear singing, and it’s pretty good, it’s just these boring compositions dude

A powerful political statement that got Fela Kuti into a load of hassle. It's really good to hear this stuff on this list (I think I got an earlier Kuti collaboration with Ginger Baker). Only the first two tracks comprise the original release (maybe a bit of a stretch to call two tracks at 25 minutes and LP rather than an EP!). Excellent stuff.

Straight jamming on this. You gotta be in the mood to vibe through these long songs, but the energy is undeniable

Decent album. Lots of horn. Feels more jazz than afrobeat to me.

Disse har jeg hørt før, litt vibe mens jeg gjør skole, ok

A little too jazzy for me but it's got a vibe. Fela Kuti sounds like a character.

funky, enjoyable but not my fave

Not really feeling this one today. I rated the Kuti-Baker album four stars, but I can't quite wrap this one around my brain. I feel like I want to see it live and feel the heat and the sweat and it's just not there. They should have hit me with this one a few months ago.

Jeg er en sucker for afrikansk jazz. Denne stod og surret i 4 timer mens jeg jobbet i dag. Deilig.

Afrobeat at its best. Love me some jazz and jlfunk fusions, and this is no exception.

Chill vibes with a poignant message. Fela Kuti always brings the goods, and Zombie is no exception.

Ух! Мне такая музыка нравится! Тут и джаз и афро и даже немножечко регги. Композиции больше 10 минут. Такие маленькие путешествия. Никогда не знаешь что там будет. Неожиданный вокал ближе к середине, смена ритма. Добавлю себе в коллекцию. Пять.

A suprisingly upbeat album considering its main theme is criticising the Nigerian government

First song is super groovy but falters a little bit after that for me

Fun listening to Afrobeats for the first time but the songs were long, which isn’t usually my style, and I listened at the gym, which wasn’t the best environment.

Album #311 Fela Kuti: Zombie I have decided to rate this album, including its historical context, because even though the music itself is quite excellent, it really gets taken to the next level based on its real-world impact. Zombie was essentially Fela’s protest album against the authoritarian Nigerian government, a protest so scathing, in fact, that thousands of troops stormed his compound after its release and killed his mother. Or at least this is how I understand it after my cursory research into his life as a result of listening to this album. Oh yeah, also the guy had 30 wives. He was really on his Didier Drogba shit, causing actual political change just by being incredible at his craft. The first two songs are absolute stunners, and actually were the only songs on the original LP, and if that were the version I listened to, this rating would probably be higher. But unfortunately the back half doesn’t live up to the extreme highs, though the last two tracks are quite enjoyable in their own right, to be fair. Definitely felt like an essential piece of music, and I mean if David Byrne idolizes you, you can’t be half bad. Best Songs: Zombie, Mr. Follow Follow, Mistake Worst Song: Observation is no Crime Score out of 10: 8

There are days when Fela was the best in the world ever. I don't want to whitesplain this, so jus' listen to this, it"s about that throwing stones at monsters is a good and worthwhile practice.

The rare album made much better by knowing its political backstory and what happened in the follow-up. A bit of fascinating history.

This album is a good example of why I wanted to listen to this list. This is something I am usually not exposed to and Fela Kuti is certainly influential enough to belong on this list. I didn’t love it. I do like long jams, but this is too jazzy and not funky enough for me. My favorite parts were any time there was singing. Those repeating refrains and that beat are sublime. But there were long parts of just trumpet that just don’t appeal to me

I'm not one to tell people how to live their lives, there are myriad valid ways to be a person, and I am certainly not young or naive enough to think that there is anything inherently wrong about living a sober and boring existence, HOWEVER, to go through one's entire life without getting completely stoned out of your gourd and dancing like a deranged goblin to Fela Kuti at least once is a goddamn crying shame and a waste of time upon this earth.

I really enjoyed this album! I love discovering new music and that's why I started this project. I was very interested in his story as well, and the political messaging that upset the Nigerian government, resulting in his mother's death and his commune raided.

1976 Afrobeat

Jeg kunne virkelig godt lide Mr. Follow, og selvom den er en fjerdedel af pladen, og jeg ellers godt kunne lide rytmerne, så er jeg ikke helt oppe at ringe.

4.2- this is going in rotation at the bar for sure. Usually not one for long songs, but the repetition here just never gets old for me.

Across two lengthy tracks filled with infectious rhythms, Fela Kuti takes aim at the Nigerian government. Both tracks allow you to get lost in beat before Kuti's rallying voice come in. Kuti calls out solders for acting like unremorseful killers unable to think for themselves as they blindly follow the government's orders. Backed by a number of backing singers joyfully repeating Kuti's powerful words, there is a a sense community found here in what would have been very dangerous times. This feels like a party whilst also feeling fiercely political.

We like jazz, we like Afrocentric beats. I had high hopes from the start and the what followed was 50 odd minutes of pure jazz and it was great. Instrumental only albums are touch and go, but this one is fantastic.

Great vibe, jazzy and chill with good vocals when they are occasionally added. Brilliant for background chilling.

8/10

Good music to get shit done! 2.5 rounded to 3 because I was productive

Cool beats, the album also has some crazy lore

pretty fun

This would be great music to hear live, don’t get me wrong. I just think it loses its luster playing for an hour in my airpods for an hour. Not a ton of unique sounds, but I can appreciate the music

Funky. Good work music.

I want to like it more than I actually do, cause I know the name and the importance of the song. I don't know that I was blown away, solid and interesting is enough, and I enjoyed the long form more than I thought I would. May be we just didn't meet at a good time.

hell yeah 4

4 leaning 5, this was fun to listen to.

This is an interesting album. It sort of takes the principals of jazz and fuses it with the local musical vibes of Fela Kuti. Really good stuff.

This is a 4-piece jazz album from the 70s. It is filled with groovy instrumentals, heavy on the saxophone. The vocals are minimal but add to the groove when there. I think this album is super fun and I enjoyed listening to it and bopping along. I think there’s a lot of character to it as well.

Love Fela Kuti! Love Coconut Records! Love Nigerian music! Love Zombie! 8/10

You know, it was alright. For jazz I liked it better than a lot of offerings here. It's a 3.5 ish record for me.

I enjoyed my last Fela Kuti release, the one with Ginger Baker, and I’m enjoying this too. This one’s maybe slightly more serious and slightly less of a party but not by that much. It’s still a blast to listen and dance to. Sucks that it brought such devastation on his life, but that makes it seem more heroic in retrospect. Cool stuff. ML420

Nice African Jazz

I love that Fela always lets you sit with the groove for a while before the lyrics come in. I wish there were 4 more songs on this album, as it certainly did not feel like two 12-minute songs. Horn-centric grooves like no other, classic call-and-response lyrical style, so masterful in its layering. Fela is a legend, and I don’t know if anything more needs to be said. His musicality and courage are both something to be admired. Favorite tracks: I mean, there are only two...so both

Im a big instrumental person but this wasnt my absolute favorite

Excellent

Just not into it

Terse and energetic.

Ganz fetzig

Now isn't this the very antithesis of five mumble blokes saying we just make music for ourselves and if anyone else likes it, that's a bonus. This, without knowing anything before pressing play, is music demanding attention. It is not background, it grabs you and requires a response - either turn it of or that tiny toe tap that started from the first blast of horns is going to spread thought your nervous systems... and nervous system it is. It's not aimed solely at the feet because when those solos start needling on on your nerves - it is clear that this isn't just party music. Then i clicks the links and read the context. Nigerian anti government protests, the Zombie's of the title are the Nigerian military. Protest, resistance, death ... How Fela Kuti was the innovator of afrobeat and a political activist (and more too as one review on the app simply said "Murderer, rapist turd" so that is probably more to unpackage). In a rock context, I can hear things like Talking Heads, Paul Simon and Foals ... whether that is good or bad things are probably bridges to be crossed further down this journey but I am told this is the root source of all of that ... And it is thrilling. Of the pieces presented, we're talking four tracks all over 10 minutes long based on solid structures and blasting horns. With anything of length, especially where routed to a structure, the challenge can be to hold attention but these songs absolutely grab the wave and hold mevtill the end with some really anxious solos breaking through to keep it interesting and fresh . When the album is over, I can still feel the groove within and there a little sway in my usual stumble through the day to day. Yesterday, I started with Wilco which was inauspicious beginning but this is the real shit. Music with a purpose, that opens up areas I was totally unaware of. Obviously not every record can do that but when you find it, what a joy! Afrobeat, African politics etc. etc. Definitely an album I'd want to hear again from an artist I want to know more about. 4/5

Achei interessante, muito instrumental de jazz. Poucas faixas, mas muito longas.

Feels like a very mean spirited 2 stars. I'm sure it's much better than that and for what i've read about Fela Kuti he sounds like a great man. But it just wasn't really my sort of thing.Sorry.

Zombie was the most popular and impactful album by Fela Kuti. It ignited the nation to follow Fela's lead and rise up against the military government, and may have caused the death of his mother in response. Even without that context, it is a great representation of African funk-jazz music. Now that’s an album that you should listen to! 3.75⭐️

Took two listens buts its a fun album. 3.5 out of 5

First Listen; 3.5; This album was refreshing since it's quite a bit different than most other albums on this list. Very compelling sounding. Manages to sound simple and driving while still being complex. Favorite Track: Zombie

Reading about Fela Kuti, it sounds like the man was larger than life, leaving me surprised I hadn't heard of him until this album came up. I'm glad he's now on my radar. This album has so many things I love, jazz, improvisation, African beats, and music that speaks truth to power. I can imagine this music translates really well to a live setting particularly with the call and response portions.

What a potent and powerful political message Fela manages to send here. Sadly it was one that resulted in tragedy and undoubtedly proved him right. I highly recommend reading a bit about Fela and the purpose behind this release, as if the power and impact of this wasn’t apparent just from listening. It doesn’t hurt that the music is beautifully produced and sounds great as well. 1 listen Favorite Track: Title Track

Quite enjoyed this—

This was a great weekend album! I had fun jamming through the grooves for a few days.

This is the kind of album that I think everyone can enjoy. I am so glad this album generator has finally gave me the chance to listen to it. I had no idea what to expect, as this is my first time listening to Fela Kuti, but I was so thrilled with the mix of jazz, soul and funk which I was met with! The vocals here are incredibly iconic and I would definitely love some of this on vinyl. I've appreciated it fully now with my noise cancelling headphones, really relishing in every element and layer, but I think it'd also be such perfect background music for a dinner or gathering! Really upbeat and powerful. Also, works really well for studying and locking in as the songs are so long and continuous.

If you're going to go for polygamy, go for it. A mere 27 wives? If you make an album that makes someone so mad that they throw yer ma out a window you are not aiming for average. Quite liked it, even though the missus wasn't a fan of the lifestyle choices (wink).

Zombie erschien 1976 bei Coconut Records in Nigeria, aufgenommen in Lagos, wahrscheinlich in den Arc Studios. Sicher ist das nicht, die Angaben zum Studio sind dünn. Der Nigerianer Fela Kuti hatte den Afrobeat da längst aus Jazz, Highlife und Funk zusammengebaut. Das Album besteht aus nur zwei langen Stücken, mehr braucht es nicht. Der Titelsong macht sich über Soldaten lustig, die Befehle ausführen wie Automaten. Die Frauen im Chor werfen das Wort „Zombie“ wie Nadelstiche in die Pausen. Tony Allens Schlagzeug marschiert, die Bläser setzen kurze Signale dazwischen. Ein Riff, ein Rhythmus, endlose Wiederholung, und trotzdem wird es mir nicht langweilig. „Mr Follow Follow“ auf der B-Seite steht im Schatten des Hits, hält aber die Spannung. Inzwischen höre ich ihn fast lieber. Die Armee nahm das Stück persönlich. Im Februar 1977 stürmten rund tausend Soldaten Kutis Kalakuta Republic und brannten sie nieder. Seine Mutter wurde aus einem Fenster geworfen und starb an den Verletzungen. Ich kriege das beim Hören nicht mehr getrennt, auch wenn die Musik für sich allein bestehen würde. Dazu passt, wie ruhig sie klingt: nichts Verzweifeltes, eher die Gelassenheit von jemandem, der genau weiß, dass der Spott sitzt. Ein halbes Jahrhundert später klingt der Chor noch immer, als stünde jemand direkt hinter mir.

More like this would be good

It's calming, uplifting and still not joyful. Music made to leave an impression by people loving their job. Reading up about Fela also leaves quite an impression! The tracks are a tad long for my personal taste and the lack of vocals is a little sad.

Very snazzy and catchy. The backstory is wild (it being a political protest album whose popularity upset the Nigerian government so much that they destroyed Kuti's commune and killed his mother)

sur le balcon de Bologne

In terms of cultural significance and impact, this album is near flawless, it's message is vital and the results that it brought, both to the intended cause, and his personal life, were massive! His own mother got killed, and when researching this album, a chaotic performance in Ghana ended with a riot, resulting in a ban from the country! However, where this album thrives from an impactful perspective, I think that it can sometimes be overrated from the perspective of enjoyment. Both of the tracks were very enjoyable, but I think I'd rate each of them about an 8/10. I don't factor cultural significance and impact into my ratings, as I rate based on personal enjoyment, but most of the moments that I enjoyed the most about this album was researching the context surrounding it!

Enjoyed it. Interesting background too. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

This was my into to fela, title track is a rollercoaster in the best way

Really cool and enjoyable

Interesting and historic album. Definitely the type of album I expected to see more of during this project.

Maybe my favorite album

Nice to listen to. I couldn't really get further than that.

i feel like i smell salty shrimp. and then its scooby doo, zombie. why so long songggg. follow follow follow follow x100000000

All instrumental = 1

En av de skivene (gjerne spilt direkte før eller etter Expensive Shit!) som jeg alltid kan sette på.

Endte opp med å spille bonussporene her også fordi jeg bare ville ha mer. For en opptur etter å ha slitt meg gjennom Steely Dan

3.5

If the average track length on your album is over 13 minutes long, it better be good to get any favours from me. Thankfully, it does clear that bar.

The production and the playing on this is masterful. Horns in all the right places. Just a bit too similar

Good jazz, cool story very enjoyable but not impressive enough for a four

Fela Kuti is amazing. Tony Allen on drums, too.

Fela Kuti is such an interesting figure in Pan-African history that I really wanted to enjoy this one, but I didn’t really. The sound is by no means unpleasant, but follows a pretty repetitive formula. Take 7 minutes of jazzy sounds, add in 4 of repeated lyrics, and hey presto! An important album, but not one that I found that impressive.

An album and musician whose backstory was more interesting than the actual music for me (definitely recommend reading the Wikipedia articles). In genre terms it’s one of the most famous Afrobeat albums, essentially a fusion of jazz and funk with West African styles. The main instruments are the usual guitar, bass, drums, plus horns and call-and-response vocals. It’s certainly not a bad album (in fact it’s pretty decent), but with the original release consisting of only two nearly thirteen-minute-long tracks, which largely stay on one rhythm/groove for their entire duration, I didn’t find it the most engaging listening experience.

The music is alive, urgent and meaningful.

Some great grooves and powerful lyrics

To my surprise, it turns out I've listened to Fela Kuti before, I listened to coffin of Coffin for Head of State about a year ago and remember liking it. Zombie had a great groove and I liked the outro. I really liked the bass and guitar on Mr. Follow Follow and how towards the end when the keys come in it really changes the song. Apparently the original LP only had these two but on the CD reissue and Spotify there is also Obsrvation Is No Crime and Mistake (Live). These two are good but I don't think they add much and aren't as good as the first two. Observation Is No Crime was my least favourite, Mr. Follow Follow was my favourite.

Great for studying

Beautiful funk, jazz, and afrobeats put in this very politically charged album that I just can’t help but love. The history that surrounds this record adds to the feel of the music especially the call and response sections which really get the blood pumping. Fav tracks: zombie, Mr. Follow follow, and observation is no crime

Pretty fun Way too long songs though

Cool

The lyrics of "Zombie" do seem intended to provoke soldiers — but the apparent response of the attack on his compound was unbelievably over the top. It's hard to believe that an artist can have that effect. It's been 50 years, but maybe the world has not changed so much. I wish it were possible to divorce the music from its real-world context; I find it sad to listen to knowing some of the backstory.

Here is what happens as a direct result of Zombie, the Nigerian government reacts by burning down a community Fela built for his band and family, then they murder his mom and beat him with in an inch of his life, which leads to Fela marrying 27 woman (much better version of the movie 27 dresses) to protect them I guess from Nigeria, countless riots and whatever else that the wiki article left out. Essentially zombie is telling Bob Marley’s whole life and discography to hold my beer. Now on to the music, this shit slaps. Like the reverse vampire weekend African music with some American funk sprinkled in. Personally my favorite Fela is expensive shit, but this is a close second. 5 Stars.