Reviews (page 10 of 13)
Funky African Jazz, apparently inspired Talking Heads. Nothing to hate here, if a bit long. Bernie Hancock esque, I’m a fan. 3.7/5
This was pretty good. I’ll probably never listen to it again. But good nonetheless.
Lots of great grooves but lacking some hooks to really bring me in.
jazzy
A great story and a cool sound. It felt more like a singular song than an album experience given its short length and similarities among the two tracks.
The problem I have with Fela Kuti's music (and this genre of African music in general) is the repetitive aspect. I realize there's a meditative quality and intention to sitting a groove for a long time, but even if the band is great and has kickass horns, I don't want the same groove for 12 minutes. I acknowledge this is a "me problem," though.
The Good: we know the singer is a he, cause he’s a fellah The Bad: we did not need to know he’s a cuty too, besides, that’s only for mothers to know… The Ugly: realizing that this cute fellah will be devoured by zombies in no time… African style jazz. For me neither here, nor there. Yet, I can understand that Fela did not have it easy and that he used his music as a way to place attention to a horrid situation. But we are here for the music, not the politics… and though I found the music palatable, I was kind of glad when the 4th song was done… Run of the mill rating for me… 3*
I think even outside of the artist's and music's context this was a fun listen
3.5 - cool and jazzy
yeah this was great, why was every song 17 minutes!
Як я колись писав, із жанром afrobeat ,я знайомий доволі поверхнево. Але після огляду чудової сумісної роботи Yannis Phillippakis із легендою цього жанру - Тоні Алленом, цікавість до цієї джазової африканської музики у мене, безумовно, зросла. І цей класичний альбом став чудовою нагодою, познайомитись із жанром поближче. Тим паче, що автор цього альбому - Fela Kuti, фактично і є його засновником, а у гурті Afrika 70 він грав разом із вищезгаданим Тоні. Афробіт - це, по суті, суміш афро-американського джаз-фанку із «традиційною»африканською музикою, зокрема - нігерійською. А ще, це була доволі «ідеологічна» музика, що звертала увагу на політичні проблеми Африки. І Zombie - є дуже яскравим його прикладом. В ньому, Fela Kuti критикує тих, хто сліпо підкорюється наказам, та не здатен думати своєю головою. Натомість, «відповідь» на критику від нігерійського військового уряду не змусила себе чекати. Він скерував армію для нищівного нападу, який призвів до поранення, та згодом, і смерті матері Fela, а також до повного знищення його комплексу, відомого як Республіка Калакута, та його клубу Shrine. Що стосується музики, то це доволі колоритний джаз із фанковим грувом, що передає дух спекотної Африки. Він мелодійний, танцювальний і, не дивлячись на доволі серйозні та зовсім «невеселі» теми які тут підіймаються, сповнений сонячного та веселого настрою. Зрештою, в цьому, швидше за все, і є його особливість. Коли бажання радіти, насолоджуватися музикою в собі та, не дивлячись ні на що, ділитися радістю із усіма навколо - і було головною ідеєю музикантів. Проте сказати, що альбом мені сподобався дуже і дуже сильно, я на жаль не можу. Проте тільки завдяки контексту, він сприймається як щось значно більше ніж просто музика. Це частинка іншої, далекої від нас, культури, поринути в яку цікаво, хоча б, для загальної ерудиції.
Enjoyable for a while, but the fourth (live) song was difficult.
Some good grooves, songs are a bit too long, probably better enjoyed in a live setting
it was good, jazzy and soulful. it was clear it came from a troubled and oppressed viewpoint. stand out track was Mr. Follow Follow
‘Twas ok
Awesome politically-charged record, but I don't see myself revisiting this one often except outside of historical interest
Вроде есть неплохие музыкальные моменты, но уж слишком долгие и однообразные композиции. 5,5 из 10.
I did really want to like this album due to the political context surrounding it but it wasn't anything exceptional musically. Musically it provides very little for me with neither of the four tracks being added to a playlist. But the sheer fact that the release of this album lead to his subsequent arrest and the death of his mother at the hands of the Nigerian police instantly makes this a cool album for me. This is a protest album which does the excellent job of demonstrating the struggles within Kuti's home country. Although I am unlikely to listen to it again the context is still incredibly intriguing. 6/10 Cool political context.
Sehr nett echt echt sympathisch Die average album quality geht hoch
Nice beat - but long songs and annoyingly repetitive.
An immediate mood booster.
No más instrumentales T.T aunque estuvo bien Me estresa que solo canten hasta como después de 7 mins en todo
Interesante Jazz africano supongo
Interesting. Very cool stuff. Holy shit, this first track is so long. 3 stars
i love jazz and i love these songs i find the artistic direction in its entirety very beautiful and i'm glad it made this list!
3/5
First song is an absolute jam, don't really care for the rest of the album
I really enjoyed the title track. The rest of it was beautiful in a technical sense but not really my vibe. It was nice to have on in the background this morning as I was waking up but I probably won’t relisten.
It’s ok - some uniqueness is not enough to make up for sameness.
Awsome
Some really great afrobeat/jazz. Apparently some scathing political themes that got his mother killed and him nearly beaten to death, but not going to be able to dig into that for this review. Ultimately though, while I recognize it's great, it's just not for me. I'm super picky when it comes to jazz (Mostly just like 50's jazz and jazzy conscious hip-hop type stuff), so it just isn't for me.
I enjoyed the album, great musicianship, but four twelve minute songs with repetitive lyrics for 3 minutes of them just isn't enough for me. Felt like a live album.
Prog soul/jazz. Interesting to listen to.
pretty good but probably wouldnt listen again, as im not the type for long jazzy instrumentals
waz not in the mood but nice thing
pretty cool
Super fun, dance album
This is #day179 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... in your head, in your head, Zombie, Zombie, right? It was interesting to discover where Afrobeat comes from, the story behind the album, and its fatal consequences. It appears to be an important record not only in world music but also in Nigerian history. This is when music becomes a weapon of resistance. On the other hand, I felt uneasy learning that the guy had a mass wedding ceremony where he married 27 women at once. It's kind of strange considering his mother was a women's rights fighter. I doubt I'll be coming back to this record anytime soon. As a one-off acquaintance, though, I don't mind it. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day180.
Gute Musik aber ein Arsch von Mann.
The groove is strong. 5/5 with the historical context, 3/5 right now.
When I saw this pop up I swore it was the second album from him on the list. Now I remember how I heard of him - he was in the rrhof ticket at the same time as Iron Maiden. Anyway I get the talent here. All good glad I listened.
Not my favorite but I feel I've grown for having listened to this album
Pretty nice!
Pleasant enough but not really my thing
This was fine…
Eh, it’s ok. The better of the afrobeat albums, but just ok.
Correcto
This is not my thing at all, yet it’s a fun listen. It’s a protest album with powerful lyrics, strong energy, and great music throughout. It’s fun. Favourite song: Only 4 to choose from but it is easily Zombie Least favourite: Everything was an easy listen with some great beats. Album artwork: Cool cover
Short Sweet Decent 3
better then i was expecting. don't think i'd revisit it.
Too much fela kuti lately. Its fine. Not sure how groundbreaking it is.
Definitiv coole Musik, sehr groovy und der Jazz-Band-Vibe mit vielen Instrumenten, den Akkordfolgen und verschiedenen Soli obendrüber gefällt mir. Allerdings finde ich die Songs sehr repetitiv, da die Akkordfolgen, über welche soliert wird, eher invariabel und harmonisch nicht wirklich interessant sind. Beim Live-Stück finde ich es sehr interessant zuzuhören, wie sie etwas Zeit brauchen, sich aufeinander einzustimmen und rhythmisch zusammenzufinden.
3.4.
A really interesting sound- I enjoyed the blend of jazz and afro beat. I can see how this was an influential album on the Afrobeat genre as a whole. Overall- solid album
Vibing
I found nothing to dislike about this album, and I thought the vocals were the best parts. It's just not my kind of music.
I like the afrobeat sound but it got boring
Very fun listen, even better than the last one, it is a bit short thought with only 2 songs on the original release.
A bit short as an album, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Some really cool parts, some questionable parts.
I listened to this my first go round. It's interesting but not something I'd listen to again.
It's a jolly bounce and it's the source of Afrobeat. For that it gets a middling score. I wouldn't listen to it again.
I enjoyed this while making dinner tonight. Did it change my world and perception of music? No. But it was a fun listen.
Le iba a dar un 2, porque era un poco rollo, pero resulta que son los de Time Of The Season.
absolut, absolut
I really the jazz instrumental on this album mixed with Fela Kutis vocals, it's very groovy and it's a good album to just chill too. Only problem i have is that the songs are too long... now I dont mind longer songs but songs on this album dont really go anywhere... the instrumental stays the same through out the whole song with maybe one or two new instruments added 9 minutes in... (almost each song is around 12 - 13 minutes long), or maybe a solo somewhere sprinkled in the song but other then that I really like the album but probably won't listen to it again or add any of the songs to my playlists. 6/10
Very listenable, essentially single track album.
Cool. "Nigerian afrobeat" from 1976. Tons-of-instruments prog, that I thought of Jazz first, but it's got a more big band, 1970's beat (as in, an actual beat whereas Jazz may not have that) to it. Like a 1970's rhythm. They're 12+ minute prog songs, but the center section verse-like parts with lyrics can be sung along with. It also sounds like absolutely nothing I listen to. 3.5? Round down, because it's so out of my range of taste I doubt I'd ever want to listen to it again.
Nice if not my thing.
3.5 good solid album.
love all the different genre fusions going on, really good stuff
Interesting acrobat jazz. I liked it
Fun Caribbean jazz album
It's decent? More background music than an active listen for me. Didn't hate it. Didn't love it.
This was a relaxing listen. I had it on in the background of my workday. It didn’t have the quality standouts like the earlier album featuring Ginger Baker. This ain’t no Ye Ye de Smell.
Aside from the tragedy, death and destruction experienced as the result of this album being made, it didn’t quite live up to the earlier live Fela album on this exercise.
Did not expect a second helping of Fela Kuti in this exercise. While I really enjoyed the first one we got (the live album), this one didn’t leave me feeling the same way. Maybe just not enough to this one (side story aside…)
Popped this on while taking a jog. Zombie was actually really nice to run to. I enjoyed this but it did drag a bit. 3.25
Didn’t enjoy this as much as the first Fela Kuti album but still solid. Was shocked to read about the Nigerian government’s response to the album. Tragic. 3.5/5
energetic pop/rock filtered through african-inspired sounds. interesting listen.
Did start to get a bit blinding ... you know, like when a fireworks display goes on way toooo loooooong. And actually, all the whizzes and bangs actually just make one appreciate the quiet darkness of the sky. Accomplished in many ways. And the last track seemed like a sort of Doors/jazz sandwich. Extra star for the last track.
I love the rhythms!! I got into Afrobeat via The Good, The Bad and The Queen a few years ago and Tony Allen who plays on this. It's a great groove and Fela was clearly important musically and politically, although it seems he was an odd character too. Is it wrong to compare with Bob Marley, Burning Spear and Misty in Roots? If they came together at a festival back then it would have been amazing. Was heading for 4 stars but just dragged on too long.
A cool dive into the origins of Afrobeat. Really interesting to see how the genre has transformed over the years. Did enjoy the grooves a lot. By the looks of it, the average song length here equates to the average number of wives that Fela Kuti had at any given time 🤔
Can hear the influence on Talking Heads here, particularly in the first track. Really strong start to the album but unfortunately it gets a bit boring towards the end.
5/10 I'm glad I listened. I like it. 11-12-2024
Lite skönt sound ändå. Energi och känsla. Men i slutändan räcker det inte så långt. Rent "bakgrundsljud". Inget jag skulle lyssna aktivt på.
Bra fart och lite kul lyssning, men generellt är inte det här en genre jag är helt såld på. Tycker det blir lite för hetsigt och stressigt emellanåt, men gillar samtidigt energin så blir en svag trea.
I don't think it is really for me
Boh
I got veeery into Fela back in the late 90s early 2000s bc his son Femi was doing loads of touring and I used to go and see him and his band all the time when they came to NYC - often til 3,4 in the morning - they were such a force! still have a flyer on my fridge for one of his shows in Bklyn : ) I actually won Fela's discography in a contest so I know his work very well - my faves often include his fantastic collabs with Ginger Baker, not this album. But man was he a force
This one jumps into your soul. I repeated it a few times throughout my day, and it added energy...I was plugged in.
The fact that this album started a political revolution and got hia.mother murdered is wild. Good stuff though!
I really appreciate a political album that can make us dance.
I enjoyed listening to this album but I think I enjoyed reading about his life more! 27 wives? Wow. I shall certainly check so if his other stuff.
Would love to listen to this again but high as fuck. Even on a long relaxing drive. I probably would not listen to it on my daily music consumption, but it does have a specific vibe it fits well with that jazzy afrobeat sound.
This is undoubtedly an impressive album but would not listen to it again. I cant relate to the artist and the music is reflective of the politics in Africa to which i have zero knowledge of. All in all its good just not my cup of tea.
I want more
Funky goodness
feels like a huge cornerstone of the jazz fusion stuff i listen to & ive never heard of fela kuti until now !! observation no crime stands out 4 me very good when i'm listening/remember to put it on but also feels like some of the songs are hard to stick in my brain/re-listenability is a bit questionable. time will tell
I would passively listen to this any time
Fun to listen to on a long drive home. 3/5
Uallalu!!!
3.5/5. This dude married 27 wives, was extremely critical of the Nigerian military which might’ve led to his mother’s murder.
Seems pretty standard Fela stuff
This starts brilliantly, a cool beat behind it, fun sax, and some real feeling in the lyrics. I like it a lot, but it's too much of the same thing, meandering around over and over, and that stops it from getting a properly good score. 3/5.
I can, without a doubt, say it’s the greatest Nigerian, anti-government, Afrobeat album I have ever heard.
This was groovy. Nice bakground working music.
For an album that is supposed to be so political in nature it is surprisingly upbeat in tone. It’s listed as “fusion” but I found it very “jazzy”. It is not I what I would consider regular listening material but it was enjoyable
Enjoyed this. Good working music. 7/10
This is the second album I got from Fela Kuti. I got to admit, the first album (Fela with Ginger Baker Live) immediately impressed me, but with this one I was initially put off, I don't know why. But I kept listening, and I have to say that I like this album too! The music is usually not my piece of cake, but boy if you listen carefully you cannot avoid to appreciate it. Favourite song: Zombie
Jazzy African vibes. Pretty good.
Fun Jazz/Funk album. Excellent saxophones and trumpets. Actually all the horns are great. I enjoy how for every song the lyrics start halfway through. Every song has a 6 minute intro.
Erinnert mich an die Hintergrundmusik von Tropico 5, wird aber mit der Zeit zu monoton
Good, but likely won’t listen to it again
This made me want to eat people’s brains
Interesting, but I'm usually partial to wordless jazz.
Enjoyed the background vocals in particular, but didn't find the rich grooves I had hoped for when recalling the live record with Ginger Baker.
I love this kind of jazz. A nice album with superb musicians.
Classic afro jazz album. I was expecting more, but not bad. Felt a bit repetitive.
Jazzy
Catchy afrobeats
Ok
Very good, but I don't feel like I need to listen again to get anything more out of it
This was cool. I now understand when people say the talking heads were inspired by Fela Kuti.
This African-influenced jazz album isn’t anything super special sonically, but its historical makes it far more interesting, on top of it already being a brief, enjoyable listen to begin with
Quite repetitive, and music was a bit chaotic. But not horrible.
Fascinating story behind the album and interesting sound.
Awesome and jazzy. Listened to it the night I proposed to my future wife.
I can appreciate the musicianship and the artistry, but this is not my favorite genre.
I was super busy at work, so this one just played in the background. I was able to be highly productive with it, so that was cool. After the album was over, it just continued to play his prior albums. This was the better one of the ones I heard. I couldn't tell you which song I liked better, as it just flowed together with decently long songs. I love the album artwork. I'll give this a 3.5.
So I feel like I have listened to a lot of music that was influenced by Fela, but have not really given Fela himself an actual listen. I had no idea how politically active he was and kudos to him for standing up to intrusive govt. A cousin of mine is half Nigerian and half Trinidadian and he lived for some time in Lagos. He said that if you can survive in Lagos you can survive anywhere in the world. I hear that corruption and the political problems are still a big deal there. I guess this is the type of backdrop that these songs were recorded to. Good songs but they are long and a bit meandering for a guy working through tasks all day. Another smoking rhythm section and the horns sound great and raw. I see also how this music influenced calypso and probably other types of Carribean music. I plan on checking more of his stuff out as I am a big fan of Afrobeat and African jazz.
Nice change from the other albums. I like the afro-and-jazz-combination. But it´s hard to rate! The original two track LP is only an EP and therefore I would give it only two stars. The 4 tracks CD reissue is ok. 2,5
My listening tastes are hardly eclectic, and I dislike jazz and mostly hate horns, but some of this is kinda fun.
***An ok album
Liked it. Great sax in first tune
Sounds pretty funky
i dont know if it is very becoming to listen to political protest music and give it an x/5 star rating based on how cool and novel it sounds but here we are i suppose
This was a decent jazz album. I had it on while working and really enjoyed it.
This is the best Afrobeats I’ve seen so far. I thought it was really good and would’ve been even better live. Personally I struggle to listen to songs that long - must be the short attention span. People don’t make long albums anymore for that reason and I think it’s kinda sad.
Fine, long songs got kinda repetitive but don't have strong feelings either way on this one.
I respect Fela Kuti’s guts and he makes me want to like this album more than I do. Because it’s not really my kind of music at all, and both songs could be half as long without losing any impact. However, as opposed to many artists in the genre, the melodies are hummable, none of that «playing random notes Herbie Hancock John Coltrane» garbage. An extra star for the sentiment and impact
Not a lot of variety but I like what is there 3.5/5
I feel neutral about this
Pretty good
Super groovy world music. It's hard for me to describe but I like it. Great beats and vocals although I don't understand the lyrics. Easy to listen to, it's not too overstimulating.
Jazz is still weird. Talent, groove. Not my jam
В отличии от всяких комерсов типа Rage Against The Machine или Anti-Flag, вот этот старина внатуре ганстер. Шороху навел музыкой своей конкретно
Very cool
I enjoyed it
Title track is great.
4 songs and 53 minutes long - dang Enjoyed this one a lot! Wish I could give it 3.5 stars. But don’t really see myself putting it on again in the future.
Zombie is a very interesting album in many ways. First there is the fact that this album technically has only two songs (the other two are from the CD reissue) making it really short for an album. The other way its interesting is in it's lyrical themes basically criticizing the Nigerian government (which resulted in a lot of bad things happening to Kuti). The album itself, while not amazing, is a fairly fun listen for what it is. Every song had quite a lot of energy to it and generally kept introducing new elements in pretty decent ways. My only real gripe with this album is the organ, while unique in idea, sometimes tends to come out of nowhere in some of the songs which can get rather distracting. Other than that though, this was a fairly good listen. Best Song: Mr. Follow Follow Worst Song: Zombie
enjoyable but long songs could i write poetry to this? n
A most worthy album. Political and impossible to ignore, Fela Kuti brought Afrobeat to the world stage. Unfortunately, Fela Kuti was ruined for me due to being overplayed on the jukebox of a spot I used to work. Somewhere around the eighth minute of the thousandth time I'd heard "Zombie," I had heard enough. Familiarity breeds contempt, indeed.
Really cool sounds, but repetition and super long songs are not my thing.
Not bad at all. Not for me, but I definitely get why people like this album
Pretty cool album! Worthy of another trip or two.
Ik beoordeel deze op de 2 originele tracks. Ik tref deze artiest nu voor de 2e keer in deze lijst. Ik merk dat ik er exact hetzelfde in zit als de vorige keer. Ik word er niet wild enthousiast van, maar het linkervoetje zit onbewust af en toe toch lekker mee te tikken op de maat. Het heeft iets vrolijks, ook al gaat het album blijkbaar over politieke kommer en kwel. Ik moet wel zeggen dat de track Zombie na een minuut of 10 een klein beetje irritant wordt door wat te aanwezige, niet prettige geluiden. Maargoed, dat duurt dan een half minuutje. Af en toe een keer tussendoor is dit wel lekker. Ook deze keer krijgt ome Fela een (nipte) voldoende.
Vedi recensioni di Davide ed Erika :) (anche se mi sa che io darò 3/5)
I loved it. The guy was a legend in his own lifetime.
Interesting music but the songs are just far too long. I get creating an ambiance but 4 songs should not last almost an hour.
A lot better than I was expecting, based on a couple of other African artists that had previously cropped up on this list. It was a lot more 'western' than I was expecting, some really strong funk vibes coming through. I guess, if you think it about long enough, then funk music has long roots in african music anyway.
A great intro to Fela Kuti and his music.
2.6/5, listened 2x, some solid material with just some weird jarring segments
Really cool jazz
Não é meu estilo mas entendo o apelo
Really cool, I started by having it on as background music but got into the groove of it as it went on
I liked it a lot but would like it more if it were full instrumental
This was a cool album, I enjoyed the beats
No es lo mío pero es interesante.
I suspect this is one of the more truly political albums we'll get in this collection, and it's really weird to read about the context (as well as the lyrics) from nearly 50 years ago, in a very different place and time. If I hadn't read the Wikipedia entry for the album, I doubt I would have guessed at *any* of the lyrics or their intent, and probably would have simply enjoyed the tracks for the music alone. And I also wouldn't have ever realized that the title track not only caused riots in Ghana, but the album effectively killed Fela Kuti's mother and destroyed his home and his community. It's also sad that this album marked the end of his band Africa 70, apparently because he chose to fund his presidential campaign instead of paying them after the Berlin concert in 1978. Given that there have been nearly 45 albums by Fela Kuti between 1970 and 1990, I kind of wonder whether this was a good choice to showcase him and his music? "Zombie" (the song) is a fun listen, at least musically, but some of the others aren't particularly distinctive, and kind of drag along at times, both before and during the lyrics parts. (And I only belatedly realized that the original LP only had "Zombie" and "Mr. Follow Follow", but I still feel that way even with the LP's second track/side.) But with all the context of the album and its aftermath, it's hard to give it fewer than 3 stars, given how much he sacrificed (and sacrificed of others) for his music (and I feel a bit guilty for only 3 stars).
It was okay, a little bit different.
Exceptional rhythms and Afro-beats. The saxophones and horns on this album are amazing. My main knock on it is that the political driven lyrics get a bit repetitive after a while in these longer songs.
its ok
Yeah, this is cool. A really awesome sound and each song feels really complete and separate, which isn't always the case for me in this genre.
not bad, kinda interesting. Reminded me of something ... Groove Collective maybe?
A solid groovy jam-filled album. Quite enjoyable.
OK. Nothing to scream about. Good rhythms and sound overall.
An interesting album. The subject matter is quite intense which is at odds with the upbeat music. I think I'm put off a bit by the "jam-band" element of it. Standout Track: Zombie
Really cool mix of jazz, funk, afro and latin music.
Just listening to this without context, I thought it was just OK- a cool funky beat with some nice saxophone instrumentation, but gets overly long and repetitive. ... but after reading the Wikipedia page and understanding the real-life consequences of this album (led to the Nigerian head-of-state sending an army to attack Fela Kuti's compound and murdering his mother), it takes on some extra weight. Puts into perspective the serious risks this guy took (and the price he paid) compared to the American musicians putting out anti-war protest songs in the 60s.
Jazz pero un poco mejor que lo anterior
I got excited when I saw that there were only 4 songs in the album, but it's pretty much the same length as a normal album, so that was pretty disappointing. Nice little jazz album, nothing too exciting, enjoyed having it in the background.
It's alright, got some nice beats and grooves here, but it didn't really grab me or anything like that. Really interesting backstory on this album tho
Zombie the song is repetitive. Decent stuff all around. You'd probably have to be tuned in at the time to understand how groundbreaking this album would be. I was not.
Not my kind of stuff, but nothing wrong with it. Pleasant listening. 3. I feel that it deserves more of a review than that, but can't really say more.
Shock horror. An album from this genre I enjoyed! What has this 1,001 list done to me? Doesn’t hurt to occasionally enjoy something outside my normal lane. This was a lovely soft melodic funky jazz, as opposed to the overly clever nonsense I usually run away from. A very solid 3.
This is great, I love the rhythms, repetition and vibe, the call and response, just so much going on. It's apparently a protest album against the Nigerian government. It's difficult to tell how much of a protest it was with the sparse lyrics, but the end result of the antagonism was for Fela to be beaten up, his commune burnt to the ground, and his mum defenestrated. God knows what might have happened if he had really gone to town with them Billy Bragg style. Still, like most normal people, he took solace by marrying 27 women to drown (or is that to add) to his sorrows. Poor fella. But his music is great and I would have loved to have seen him live in concert as it sounded like a party! (Maybe the Nigerian Government didn't like parties?). A mid 3
Not really my kind of nusic but really enjoyed the background story of the artist - very interesting
The title track is fun, not as into the rest of it but overall not bad.
Nigerian Funk Jazz Charismatic
Didn’t mind this
Good vibes and awesome horns
I was stoked to get another Fela Kuti album. I loved the last one that was on this list. I enjoyed this one but it definitely grab me like the last one. Zombie was a great song and Mr. Follow Follow was pretty decent but I don't feel like Observation No Crime was as engaging. It got a little repetitive to the point where I didn't even want to finish the song.
This is not my bag, but I did enjoy the listen.
Quite enjoyable. The upbeat, dancey vibe does not convey the serious circumstances of the album.
Very enjoyable
Interesting listen for sure. If you wanna listen to political music in the car? In the AM? Have a go at this.
Zombie by Fela Kuti is an electrifying Afrobeat anthem that channels the raw intensity reminiscent of James Brown's legendary performances. Fela's masterful fusion of funk, jazz, and traditional African rhythms creates an infectious groove that captivates listeners from start to finish. The title track, Zombie, stands out as a tour de force with its relentless energy and politically charged lyrics. However, while the title track shines brightly, the remaining three tracks on the album struggle to reach the same heights. Despite Fela's inventive dynamics and musical arrangements, they don't quite live up to the explosive energy of Zombie. Nonetheless, Fela's innovative approach to Afrobeat and his fearless exploration of social commentary make Zombie a timeless classic worth experiencing. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 1 STAND OUT TRACK - Zombie
Sjov nok plade, med en tragisk historie.
Oh goody goody back to our regularly scheduled 70s music. Thank GOD its not another white British man this time. When I saw this album had 4 songs and I was like yay it won't be too long and I looked at the time and it's 53 MINUTES BRO what is this, space truckin by deep purple. Favourites: zombie intro (5 minutes long), all the instrumentals. Overall enjoyable sound but the length of each song is too much. 3/5
Love that the generator is finally giving us some more unique music that I wouldn't have heard of before. Honestly even though it wasn't my favourite thing ever, I think that more albums like this one that force an average listener to go outside of their usual genre/scope should be included on this list. I really appreciated finally getting to hear something that wasn't from an American, British, or Irish artist. The songs were long, but they were pretty funky and enjoyable. I probably need a bit more time with this one to fully appreciate it, but I'm going with a very solid 3 for now
Cool
I appreciate this album’s inclusion, and am glad to have listened to it. I like the grooves and the sparse, call-and-response melodies. And yet, it’s quite long and repetitive, seeming more like attending a jam-band’s concert than listening to a well-conceived album. So, though the album is interesting, I don’t think I’ll be listening to it again.
the first song is something i’d expect to hear in a heist movie. cool instrumentals, love the jazz, funk and soul, but it’s not what i usually go for. i appreciate it but not my favourite
Very enjoyable would listen again
Very specific genre, but good in its zone
Looked into the history of this one. Very interesting. Vive la revolution
This is my mowing music.
Good stuff, feels like I'm at a carnival
Lengthy tracks! Good though.
This was a great reggae jazz album
This would be my first time intentionally listening to Afrobeat. FK is one of those artists that I feel like Numero really likes. Initially, I'm liking it. The delicate and complicated guitar work on the title track forms this rhythmic base. Really well recorded bass and drums give this a tight sound. Then you get this sweet rock organ (that in some ways is almost cheap Casio-like in the best way) coming in. There's an almost Steve Reich like quality to the composition and the layering. Easy to get lost in the grooves in here. Also hearing some sounds that remind me of Santana's sort of mystical, tranciness. There seems to be a lot in common between Afrobeat and it's contemporary in latin rock and jazz around this same time period. I was also reminded of a couple of Grover Washington Jr. records from the same era. Really enjoyed this record!
Reading the history behind the music and Fela Kuti’s story was fascinating however it wasn’t enough to make me enjoy the music. I’ve definitely heard worse on this list. The jazz was tolerable as background noise but it wasn’t musical or interesting enough for me to pay attention for longer than 30 seconds.
I found this to be an enjoyable listen, I didn’t love the song/album structure but I know social media has atrophied my attention span. I just found the songs way too long, I loved when the vocals would kick in but it would only be towards the back of 10+ min song; but the album is very well executed and well done.
Solid but horns aren't really my thing and this seems like a showcase of them.
Sounds like a call and answer; cool rhythm and sounds but a bit repetitive
Powerful album.
It’s alright. Kinda long
Sounds like this was a very important album *politically*. I don't know a lot about Nigeria so it doesn't speak to me from that perspective, but it's impressive that it caused such a stir. For me the music is decent.
I've never listen to a soul jazz album before but enjoyed this. I think this would be particularly good live. I enjoyed the ongoing rhythm throughout.
Definitely not for everyone
Can't fault a man for jamming but I would've loved to see this without 8 minute intros to each song too
Pocas veces un disco tiene una repercusión sociopolítica tan impactante como tuvo "Zombie" en 1976. A ritmo de música afro-beat Fela Kuti creó todo un himno contra el dominio de los militares, asociando a los soldados a la palabra "zombie", de manera que, siguiendo el sonido contagioso de la música, la gente empezaba a caminar como un zombie cada vez que se cruzaba con ellos por la calle. El régimen militar de Nigeria, tal y como podía esperarse, lo persiguió. Un grupo de soldados "desconocidos" atacó la comuna en la que vivía y su madre murió víctima de las heridas tras ser arrojada por una ventana. En este disco los ritmos africanos se cruzan en sentido contrario a la tradición con los procedentes de Norteamérica creando una fusión imprescindible de escuchar al menos una vez.
01) Zombie - 7,5 02) Mister Follow Follow - 7,0 03) Observation Is No Crime - 6,0 04) Mistake - 7,0 TOTAL: 6,86 (69/100) This Fela had 27 wives!?! Oh, yeah... the music... It's OK. Nothing special. I don't like jazz but afro elements do make this listenable. Every song lasts for a few hours and he starts to sing after 45 minutes. The ladies are repeating after him (after all, they are his wives), the musicians are jamming, and Fela sings some political lyrics that infuriated the Nigerian government so much that they killed his mother. Who was, by the way, the first Nigerian woman to drive a car. See? I learned a lot today...
Cool.
Cool Afro groove Very cool music
Impressive music from someone I was only aware of in name only…glad this one popped up. King of the Afrobeat! If not for reading background on Fela, I wouldn’t have realized this was a protest album while listening. And a good one at that…He paid a terrible price for this album…and it didn’t stop him from making important music.
Marco el camino del afro beat
Good, but this is legitimately only half an album.
Not an everyday listen, but it has fun energy to it and a solid groove.
Very jazzy. Not bad, but, in my opinion, not super exceptional either. That being said, it still wasn't a bad listen.
Pretty good. The title track is very good.
The title track is an exciting anti-government, anti-military political statement that may have directly led to his mother’s death and nearly his own. Songs that have that sort of impact are rare and should be celebrated for sure and I’m glad that I’ve now heard it. The rest of the album is solid afrobeat jazz fusion, but nothing as poignant as Zombie. Certainly opened me up to the world of Nigerian music.
Really took me off guard in the first track when I was vibing to the jazzy sounds when some sub-par singing came in. Sub-par in the way I felt the music just didn't need it. I would rather listen to the instrumental version.
I had listened to this album previously on my other project, and given it 2 stars for being too long (and less compelling than the other albums of a similar genre I had listened to that week). But this album is really listenable. Some parts, I’ll admit, do sound like my high school marching band. But the funky African beats made for a fun, easy listen.
long songs, fun, jazzy
Though I have listened to a fair amount of Fela Kuti, I had no idea about the political events which are major hallmarks of his career and who he was as a person in Nigeria. Overall, from what I gleaned, this isn't about music-- it's about fomenting political change and creating a movement. And it came at quite a cost apparently causing even the death of his mother. Given that, it's hard to criticize someone speaking knowledge to power and fighting against oppression. Horns, lyrics, rhythm. What's not to like?
So much of rock and roll, and popular American music in general, is built around rebellion against authority of various kinds. And yet it barely scratches the surface of rebellion, coming in a society of free speech and democratic government. In authoritarian societies, rebellion through music or any other means is far more dangerous and potentially powerful. Criticizing soldiers as “zombies” would be tame in America, but in Nigeria it got Fela Kuti’s compound burned down and his mother killed. For singing "Zombie no go walk unless you tell am to walk!?" Harsh. And he didn’t even sing that until 10 minutes into the song. But for those minor slights, the government sicced those zombies on Kuti’s compound, burning it down and killing his mother. Musicians in the US have it easy! Freedom of speech and rule of law? The biggest threat being Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center? Instead of complaining about the man, maybe American artists should be thanking the man! (Relax. I’m kidding. Mostly.)
The original album has energy and an excitement to it. The tracks added to the CD rerelease…not so much. The rhythm instruments on Observation No Crime sound quite uninspired and the song drags on for way too long. I’m discarding the CD version bonus tracks. Even so, this is an album better consumed live rather than through iMusic.
Standout was the live track in Berlin. Otherwise meh…
Jaha tyhjä träkki soi ja albumi pääkopassa.. Ihan laatuahan uskon sinne pääkoppaan mennneen... Musisointia.. vailla vertaa...
This feels like something I am supposed to pretend to like more than I actually do. I appreciate the musicianship, but I’m not seeking this out again. 2.75 stars, so I round up to 3.
Such a cool and fun one, love me some funky jazz. However, now I feel that the live album from this artist I got a while back on this list was completely unnecessary. [0152/1001]
Whoa this is like funky jazz. I think this was probably an influence on Talking Heads' music. Low and behold - Talking Heads are referenced in Fela's Spotify description. Interesting music - I don't think i'd listen again but I can see it's influences.
I find myself humming and nodding along to this quite pleasantly. It's not al album I'd put on out of the blue but it definitely takes me elsewhere in the world and head.
Not a jazz person so pre-judged but really enjoyed it. Right time, right activity (speed-cleaning)? (ntm.)
Afrobeat is better than jazz.
Some cool jazz writing and worldly flavors. I didn't enjoy the singing sections as much, and it was maybe a little excessive with the brass
Oke
Wanted to give it a 2 since so many amazing albums have been given a 3. But it was good. Unique. Special.
Notable track: Zombie
As a jazz album, I really have no context for this. If this was pop I would probably love it.
Jag har aldrig innan lyssnat på psykadelisk afro-jazz och trodde aldrig heller att jag skulle göra det, men det här var förvånansvärt bra! Det är kanske inte den musiken jag kan tänka mig att lyssna på när jag tex går till skolan, men definitivt när jag sitter och pluggar. Detta album får 3/5 stjärnor då det inte riktigt var min musiksmak men inget jag direkt tycker dåligt om. Min favoritlåt från albumet var Zombie.
Svängit
This is a really good album! Really like this afrobeat/jazz.
Alright, not that much to say about it tbh, chill but I wasn't that inspired
Groovy! Legendary Fela Kuti King of Afrobeat
Actually didn’t mind this. Mental story about the background and the killing of his mum.
Africa and jazz
A pretty enjoyable and upbeat jazz record
Fun music.
A fun collection of jazzy jam sessions with clear Nigerian influence. The percussion (and general instrumental work) throughout is well done, and the resulting sound is clean, groovy, and deceptively simplistic. However, if you’re going to put out a full-length album with four tracks, those four tracks had better be either groundbreaking or consistently engaging. The album almost managed the latter, but the music eventually became straightforward, conventional jazz, albeit with a stylistic spin. The vocals, particularly in the opening/title track, are the most hook-like element. Everything else was background music - "bar jazz" - and, most likely, nothing more.
what a groove! afrobeat jazzy fun. not great to work with because it was too fun lol
There are two main tracks on this album, "Zombie" and Mr. Follow Follow;" both are pretty good but they are far too long at over 12 minutes a piece. It's hard not to lose interest in them after 7 minutes or so.
Schon ganz geil irgendwie. Höre sowas sehr selten.
pretty interesting
Didn't really do it for me, though I can appreciate the historical/cultural importance.
interesting afrobeats. 3
Jazz funk fusion in the late disco age. That's cool man.
Always enjoy Fela Kuti. This one wasn’t in my tops of what I’ve heard but still a fun listen
Gefällt mir! Guter Sound! 6.3/10
Okay
bien
New. Not bad
Kind of enjoyed it
No me esperaba un álbum así, quizá lo utilizaría para algún proyecto pero no para una escucha solitaria
Good stuff
Jazz 🧠
Only found one song and it was too long. Just not my style.
12 minutes of mostly instrumentals. still good tho
Not what my usual style is, but interesting music to have on in the background. I also appreciate the Nigerian(?) protest back story on this album.
Enjoyed this!
It's dated! The quality sounds like it's from the 70's. One sound I liked. It's jaz sounding and I could hear a slight Zidico sound. It was OK1
Too funky for it's own good
2.8. Not really in my listening spectrum.
This one's just okay. I'm only judging the first 2 tracks here since 3 and 4 are from a re-issue.
Jazzy, rhythmic, intense. Lyrically political and anti-government.
It was fun and interesting at first but I started to realize that, after the first song, all the remaining ones were following the same formula over and over, which made it get boring
Smooth tropical background music. Receptie muziek
Melodischer, eingängiger Jazz der 70er aus Nigeria. 3 lange Stücke und eine Live-Aufnahme. Die Trompeten in Stück 3 sind anstrengend.
still not mine...
Long but good
Definitely not my normal type of music. Loved the Afro-Caribbean vibe to it all. It started to get a little repetitive by the end. Feels like something that would be good on a repeated listening or as background music at an outside party. A little too joyous for chill music. 3.5
I like the inclusion of the organ. I don't hear that a lot in African music. This album is a vibe
3/5. Was a lot of fun and better than many mainstream albums within this journey.
Good in the background, a little long.
Pretty rad jazzy album. Reminded me a lot of a Bebop tune. It was fun to listen to. A nice 3/5
I enjoyed that.
Could be a fun time