Reviews (page 7 of 12)
Excellent! Really good soundtrack for housework. 3.6
The album criticised the Nigerian government; and it is thought to have resulted in the murder of Kuti's mother Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and the destruction of his commune by the military. In 1978 Kuti married 27 women, many of whom were his dancers, composers, and singers to mark the anniversary of the attack on the Kalakuta Republic. Later, he was to adopt a rotation system of keeping only twelve simultaneous wives
Read the story behind this guy, and this album. Wild stuff. Great music
Really interesting combination of jazz and African beats
superb
This reminds me of Tito Peunte. Very AfroCaribbean sounding with great horns. I like the instrumental sections best. My favorite song was Zombie. I think this would be really good as background music for a party.
Not a dancer but I was dancing
jazz 👌👌👌
Amazing!
Never heard of this guy before, was sold before the end of the first track. This is a really great album and is the kind of stuff I signed up for. Only complaint is all 4 songs follow a similar structure
Sehr cool! Kannte ich noch nicht. Könnte super als Hintergrundmusik bei einer Party laufen
I haven't listened to much Fula Kuti, but this was good, nice rhythms and feel. 4 tracks on the album, so quite long tracks but all good.
I was ready to get quickly fatigued by this LP, but it's a great album. A true classic.
So cool. Best one so far.
Me likie da afrikan muzic 4.5
Chad Sax
Great akbum
Great Afro-beat album that marked Fela's breakout in both West African popular music and Nigerian politics. This album also showcases drummer Tony Allen's talent. Wish the album were longer.
Unlike no others, but many like him. Feels right. This record is a good representation of that.
Ohhhh yeaaaaaaa
Very groovy, almost trancelike quality to his music
I love me some African funk. Feels like a soundtrack to an 80s cop movie including high speed chase scene - song 1, cop walking into seedy bar - song 2, and stake out - song 3. 4/5
This is great. Not sure it's really classifiable as a full album but hey, not really my place to judge.
nice
Fela kuti has never disappointed. It's always fire.
Another one where I had no idea what to expect, but ended up enjoying it lot. Really chill jazzy world music. A nice album to have in the background.
Enjoyed this album, and everything that played after on autoplay. This is what I love about 1001 albums generator.
Great instruments!
Another classic!
I enjoyed this. Fela Kuti has been on my radar for a while but this the first of his albums I've listened to. It probably wouldn't go in my regular rotation but I'd listen again.
Interesting, wanna dance
tons of fun, super jazzy
Recognized some of these songs from a local coffee shop playlist! Definitely a good vibe for getting into a productive mode.
很chill的黑人音乐
Yes fantastic Afro fusiony jazz which he invented!
Amazing rhythm, very calming groovy music. Reading through Fela's bio on Spotify was fascinating. The songs tended to be too long for my personal liking, but still very good!
I can get down to this
Suprised me. Such a groove.
"Zombie" is a studio album by Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti. This is Afrobeat album which criticized the Nigerian government and it is thought to have resulted in the murderous Kuti's mother and the destruction of his commune (Kalakuta Republic). The zombie metaphor describes the methods of the Nigerian military. This album has two songs both in the 12 to 13-minute range. "Zombie " opens with a funky guitar, a jazzy beat and multiple horns. This is a good song example of Afrobeat - the fusion of jazz, funk and blues with Western African musical styles. Fela's vocals come on midway through where starts repeating "zombie" and "murder." The next song "Mister Follow Follow" has mutliple horns which takes the lead. There's more of a African beats at the start which turns more jazzy. Similar to the first song, the vocals come in midway. The music is on this album is compelling and one the best fusion styles I've heard. It's hard to completely appreciate the conditions and political nature of Fela's situation at the time but given the reaction, it put more into my listening experience. The re-issued CD has two additional songs which are also worth a listen.
Really solid jazz/afrobeat. Great grooves, and overall a lot of fun.
Great longform jazz album. There's a bit of funk in here, and overall greatly enjoyed this. 10/10 would throw on at a dinner party.
Had no idea I was a fan of Afrobeat until now. I love how long the songs are; it really lets you live in the groove. The musicians are all in the pocket, but maintain a looseness so that the music keeps its heart and authenticity. The call and response vocal style serves to bring you into the music even harder.
Well right off the bat I recognized the trumpet lines that Beyonce sampled in her Homecoming tour, so that was a great hook for me! I really liked listening to this even though it was quite short. It got me wanting to move! Listen again:yes Purchase for my collection: maybe Favourite Song: Zombie
So… i just checks the album length and it’s 53 minutes. but there’s like 4/5 songs, i didn’t do the math but that’s an insane song length each song, hats off to you mr fela. and a bit of exuberant jazzy high life on a dreary 8am morning in london isn’t bad i guess. i get why he’s legendary, and i can see the influence he has had, so i think a song has to be 12 minutes, not really, but i’ll forgive it for Mr Fela.
I didn't walk away humming any of this but the groove of most of these songs was pretty undeniable.
An album so potent that it provoked the Nigerian authorities to attack Kuti's commune, an assault that led to the fatal defenestration of Kuti's mother. Putting the white hot politics aside, this is a cracking album of itchy, hypnotic afro-funk. Essentially two tracks long (in its original format), the length of each cut enables solid grooves to be established and provides a platform for some romping improvisations. Not my usual food and drink musically; maybe this might prompt me to delve further into this sound?
Yeah i like it! really nice that there came unexpected vocals too. not doing too much and for me jazz is a hit or miss thing
An enjoyable listen. Great background music.
First exposure to Fela Kuti. Read his bio and liked him even more. Great for background music while cooking or just chilling.
Classic Afro funk sax
Jazzy but surprised that I would like it. Would listen again.
Listened to some, great rhythm
Another example of how the greatness of the music is sometimes in the story. I can't think of another album that may have led to an artist's parent's death or a national political movement. In 2 songs. Wow. Wish I'd gotten this before the other live album.
Two track original, or four track rerelease? I went for four, and it was largely worth it, although I do think the first track was the strongest. His back up singers seem a little sharp sometimes. Maybe it's on purpose, who knows.
You support the Nigerians federal government actions from the 1967-1970 civil war if you don’t highly rate this album. 7/10
Me reading about the context of this album: :o 7.5/10 Fave track (there's only two): Zombie
Fela rules. Loved this record, very groovy. There are records of his I like better, so I’m holding back that last star, but pop on any Fela Kuti album and it’s pretty much guaranteed to bang.
Not as familiar with afrobeat, but this makes me want to be. Sparky polyrhythmic grooves, evolving layering and horns like nothing else
Iconic Afrobeat. 2 tracks. 25 mins total Hard not love. 3.75
Så endte vi også i den helt anden boldgade. Der var kun 3-4 sange på albummet men det varede alligevel 50 minutter! Genren var lidt jazz-agtig. Overall rimelig fedt!
hypnotizing, political. long songs that somehow never outstayed their welcome fav of the bunch: zombie
Yeahhhhhh
Sweet music. I love an ~average~ length album that only has like a few tracks on it. Feels like a challenge to get through some of these 12 minute long tracks uninterrupted. Cool album cover too. I love the overexposed, grainy photo, and the painted-on text. Really enjoyed this one. I love the push and pull of energy and I feel like this is something I could put on and it would get me in a good mood right away. Got my hips shakin and doing things that most albums on this haven't done.
Amazing Kuti, afican beats and trumpuet, a little bit more than a four. Expensive Shit.
Can an album be too short? The original release of this was 25 min which may be slightly too short to form a proper impression. Anyhow, for the duration it was playing I enjoyed it! Groovy, upbeat and different from a lot of other stuff on this list. Still, a bit more variation would be fun as well. Extra props for the cover art which is really cool!
in another life i'm part of fela's harem getting fucked up and making sweet sweet afrobeat music in some extremely colorful pants.
4.5/5
4/5
Just following orders
8/10
Wonderful jazz music that made me start jamming and realize I don't listen to enough jazz.
Really enjoyable album
Lekker muziek, maar wel veel van hetzelfde
Another good Fela Kuti album. Not music I seek out, but I love listening to it when his records pop up on the list. 4/5
Very smooth
Zombie no go go, unless you tell 'em to go Righteous. 4/5
This was a really cool jazz album, the experience of listening to explicitly political music from another generation and culture was enriching and fascinating.
A really good listen. 8/10
Afrobeat cool as hell
really good album
S'écoute bien, je ne pensais pas que l'afrobeat pouvais être autant jazzy. Pas grand chose à redire, très solide, très intéressant, à réécouter. 8/10
Cet album a été une belle surprise, tant par sa Groove et son saxophone hyper maîtrisé que par son message engagé
Visionary message over earth-shaking grooves? Of course I'm going to love this. Only issue is I don't love the second half as much due to its less exciting melodic and lyrical content.
zombie is a really good track, the rest is pretty good too but it's the obvious highlight
That was fun!
looking back I am a bit sad that I gave Live! by Fela only a 3 but with this I get a second chance and I will take it. I really love the live feeling of the other one but this one is better in terms of quality... I personally prefer Live! but this is also good af. 4/5
You can write protest music and still have fun and be funky
Great groove, but not my kind of genre. Overall a good listen though! Excellent merge of jazz and funk
• Honestly I was actually really pleasantly surprised by this album • I really liked the sounds, although I did find that the songs were a bit too long for my personal taste • I would listen to this album again • Favourite song: Zombie
Funky jazz beats. Long tracks with a freestyle session vibe. Chill background music - will return to this.
I joined this to find music & genres that I'd never listened to before. I've heard 2 Fela Kuti albums now, love them both and they are now in my vinyl rotation. Definitely exploring thus genre further.
Wow amazing afrobeat origin
Cracking title track. The rest is pretty damn good as well.
Super fun
Fun album
A breath of musical fresh air! The more I hear of Afrobeat the more I like the genre. Tragic to hear about the repercussions that this artist suffered for making his music... That's something to reflect on.
Good tunes AND anti-establishment? Nice.
Is this the best album on the 1001 Albums list to criticise Nigeria's military dictatorship? I'll let you sift through the reams of other Nigerian protest albums to be found here before coming back to me with an answer. What is clear is that the story behind "Zombie" would fill any songwriter's whole career: at the time this album was released, Fela Kuti was living in a commune which he'd declared an independent "Kalakuta Republic" seven years earlier. After numerous provocative swipes at his government, and sublime pioneering exercises in Afrobeat, "Zombie" became Kuti's culmination of all-out protest. Its popularity resulted in one thousand soldiers ransacking Kuti's home, burning it to the ground and murdering his mother (herself a prominent women's rights activist). As a shamefully ignorant Brit, this wasn't how I first heard of Fela Kuti: that was a few years ago, when I read about how he'd influenced Brian Eno and David Byrne in their creation of one of my all-time favourite albums, Talking Heads' "Remain in Light". This is where the grooves began, and "Zombie" delivers them in spades. It's defiant, angry, passionate and joyful, and it only lasts for twenty-five short minutes. Across this album, Kuti personifies every single soldier in the Nigerians' military regime as a "zombie", following orders, unfeeling and unable to follow their own instinct. The culmination of the magnificent title-track sees Kuti barking out multiple orders ("Fall in! Fall out! Fall down! Get ready!") as the rock-steady groove holds relentless underneath, the horns rising in a breathtaking crescendo. Political commentary aside, it's a brilliant party, with some of the most sing-along-able horn parts I've ever heard. It lasts for twelve minutes, and I'd happy have let it go on for twice as long. The second and final track, "Mister Follow Follow", is a little more languid and slightly more sombre, but still a rhythmic powerhouse. A little more material to fill the space in between, matching the energy of "Zombie", would have lifted this score all the way, but as it is, we're left with a solid album and an absolutely remarkable story of a controversial icon.
Just a good groove throughout. Favorite tracks: "Zombie", "Observation Is No Crime"
This was an absolute joy. Powerful jazz mixed with afrobeat and with a message to boot.
Not what I usually listen to, but thoroughly enjoyed it!
Such a dark, bloody background for such a level of groove.
8/10 - very jazzy, not something i would go out of my way to listen to but still good
Cool stuff. Cool artist
4/5. Crazy story behind this one that truly elevates the listening experience, however it was still pretty banging even before that. The title track alone brings this one to a 4. It’s not a 5 because the second track is a little slow at times.
Only 4 tracks and all of them are 12-14 minutes long. Uh oh. I’m suspicious. You know? I like this! It’s really jazzy and fun. I don’t have any context for understanding it, but I looped through it a few times and just really enjoyed it. Very cool record.
Groovy and experimental, always love to see only 4 songs on an hour long album
Highlights: "Zombie" Few notes, really. Rare to have an album that influences multiple genres so quickly, from jazz to rock to pop, but it gets there by being a successful synthesis itself -- of Nigerian music, jazz, and funk. This propulsive opener has to be one of the most significant direct international influences on American music since bossa nova, Afro-Cuban jazz, or Hawaiian steel. Thinking about how afrobeat works its way through the next forty years, along with reggae, I was wondering if the rampant exoticism of the 80s says something about the post-Vietnam ennui, as though after MIC called the public's bluff, people found themselves looking outward to relive their own thwarted romantic expectations of art as protest. It's more charitable to think there was real recognition or appreciation; people intuitively felt Cesaire's claim that fascism is colonialism turned inwards.
Liked the jazz, nothing really grabbed me.
I liked it a lot, surprisingly. Very rhythmical.
First time listening to Afrobeat properly. Great listen, good instrumentals with catchy melodies.
Wonderful stuff. Fela at his inimitable best for four strong pieces.
Really good
The first song didn't convince me, but it got good real quick after that. Great jazz!
Fela is one of my discovery of last few year. Nice one !
Explosive grooves, tasteful brass, epic singer, great guitar, varied percussions... What do you want more? The best of afrobeat and funk.
Not sure I'll ever listen again but enjoyed it. 4
A great jazz album. The songs are long and progressive, but this suits the style well. An all round bop
Afrobeat for everyone. It's like jazz but funky. Just great music. The context behind it is hardcore too - people dying and property getting destroyed all because of the title track. Fela pissed of the authorities. If only more musicians did that. Best Track: Zombie
Hell yeah
That opening track is a killer
Not something I'd choose to listen out of blue, but what a great listen! Great blend of funk, soul and bunch of other influences that I can't name. Also interesting read on Wikipedia about this album and Fela Kuti in general.
Fela Kuti lived a very interesting life. This album got him into quite a lot of trouble with the Nigerian authorities and may be the reason his mother was murdered and his commune destroyed. Aside from its critique of the Nigerian government, this album features strong funk and jazz elements wrapped together with traditional Nigerian music. The result is a heady Afrobeat which is heavy on the funk rhythms.
Awesome jamful jazz record with a great live finishing song (which is 50 minutes long, but goes by in a breeze) from Berlin Jazz Festival, 1978
Jazzy
Badass. For an album with such a shocking backstory, this was a great amount of fun! This is exactly why "The Great Curve" is the best song on Talking Heads' "Remain in Light". Might have to look into African jazz.
Fela Kuti is a singer songwriter from Nigeria, who is credited with creating the Afrobeat genre of music. Afrobeat is a combination of African musical styles and American funk/jazz/blues. It also has chanted vocals. This album is very politically driven, focusing on the unrest and violence in Nigeria at the time. The album title, Zombie, was a metaphor, referring to the Nigerian military's methods. It is believed that this album triggered the attack on his commune, and the resulting murder of his elderly mother. This music is spectacular, and doesn't feel like 12 minute songs when you listen to it. There is something about it that pulls you in and keeps your interest. The Spotify link is for the re-release, which happened in 2009, and included 2 more songs, so this is the one I listened to and reviewed. Overall, fantastic music! Thoroughly enjoyed discovering "afrobeat", which is a genre I didn't even know existed. Will definately listen again. Favourite songs: Zombie, Mr. Follow Follow Least favourite song: Mistake (Live at the Berlin Jazz Festival) 4/5
What a cool album. Beautiful jazz vibes, and love hearing jazz as a form of protest--Charles Mingus would be proud. Favorite track: Mistake
I liked this.
Surprisingly good
Great album. listened to it twice and it is now on my wantlist. This sounds like a lot of things, jazz, funk, latin music, reggae, etc. I don't know the first thing on afrobeat but if this is it I want more.
wow! great record, fascinating history. love socialist records. funnily similar to the RATM record from the day before, thematically. glad to know it.
Notes - Anti Nigerian government and military protest album - Afrobeat style that kuti is largely credited with creating - Groove based music - lots of accessory percussion, drums, rhythmic guitar parts - Political and direct lyrics about the actions of the military in Nigeria - Part of his signature style is 15-20 minute songs which caused his music to not gain too much popularity outside of Africa - He’s been described as a combination of che Guevara and bob Marley lol - Really fantastic saxophone playing all over this thing Fav - Zombie - I can definitely see why this song made an impact Least fav - There’s only 2 songs on here so by default its mr follow follow 4/5 - really interesting and significant
Track Ranking: 1. Zombie - 7 2. Observation Is No Crime - 7 3. Mr. Follow Follow - 6
Funky and great!! doing best tracks for a 4 song LP is a bit silly they’re all good
Had a great beat
Funky Worldbeats. Can’t argue against it.
Bonzinho
Puts you in a trance so you can be a zombie oh zombie. Song is long but actually kept me engaged. Steel drums were cool. Song is a critique of the Nigerian army, so political and dancy.
Zombie!
Tarinankerronnallista jatsia hyvällä flowlla! Loistava miksaus!
I'm not sure if you can really separate this from its crazy political context. Purely as music I'm not sure it makes it to my top tier of music I've listened to by Kuti. Though second tier is still pretty great.
Very different from any album I came across here. The tracks are very long, above 12 minutes each, but for this kind of music, I think it isn't really that big of a disadvantage. Because if you go for that sort of music, you basically there for wonderful instrumentals and solos, which are all part of this album. I think it was very well-composed and I found it enjoyable. The music puts you at ease, it's perfect to just sit down and take time for self-care with this playing in the background. I especially liked the parts were African influences were the most visible, because cultural diversity in music is something I'm really fond of. I wasn't able to establish which one is the best and worst track for me here since there are only four of them and I decided to keep it like that-I liked everything.
Classic Fela Kuti.
Such richness of soul, groove and funkiness that so much of contemporary pop music is put to shame. And yes I suppose I mean "Western" or non-African anyway. This would be a genre worth learning more about.
Esto estuvo muy bueno. Inmediatamente agregado a mi biblioteca
i mean this is sick af, idk how to criticize it tbh, ig it’s j a little long and don’t develop quite enough, and i think maybe the tone could be a little cleaner/more controlled
Unanimous 4* from my car
Pretty fun. Jazz with African styled percussion
Day 8. November 1. Love that this album showed up. Sounding really good so far. Not exactly an album for focused listening, but works nicely as accompaniment. The songs could be shorter to make them more concise and sweet, they're a bit bloated now. But consider my interest in Fela Kuti and Afrobeat piqued.
Extremely interesting, even without its historical context. There's a consistent "fire" through the album that grabs you, very passionate!
African activist jazz. Fantastic.
very good sound, enjoyed it a lot!
Maximalist in the best sense. Makes one wish equally one were a dancer and a political revolutionary. There's a sense of humor, too, the little folk song quotes at end of title cut. When it comes to FK, one's definitely up to Follow Follow.
I'm always intrigued by 4 song LPs like this one. I did like it, the style is somewhere between Raggae and Afro-Jazz
Funky!
Loistava, varmaan parasta genressään.
Hieno levy ja siistiä kuulla tästä länkkärivaltavirrasta poikkeavaa vastarintamusaa! 4/5.
More Fela! I love this album. I especially love Fela's spooky Farfisa. The whole record is a solid groove, man.
Best story behind an album I’ve heard in ages. Cool music. Reminded me of the band Magma a couple of times
I enjoyed it. Great to listen to when working
This was so impressive
Stupendous as always.
FINALLY NOT ROCK JAZZ WOW INCREDIBLE AMAZING First track alone my goodness, so much texture, so fun, great to work to
Very cool mix of Latin and African rhythms, and Jazz. Reminds me of something I would hear at the International stage at Montreal Jazz Fest. Definitely very cool, and I will revisit this album in the future.
Liked it a lot.
Good tunes, wouldn’t have listened to it typically. But was good
Not usually a fan of jazz, not bad!
A few 12 minute jazz band pieces to really bop to.
I definitely need to listen to more Fela Kuti. I just haven't taken the time to do much of a deep dive. This is a great album, only 4 tracks but each 12+ minutes in length and fun overall sounds. Good background noise - would be a great vinyl to own.
Exact reason I signed up for this, I would never have found this otherwise. Excellent vibe on this album!
j'ai beaucoup aimé écouter cet album en commençant ma journée
Catchy Album
Fela Kuti buen jazz
Enjoyed it a lot.
This album was amazing!
Jazzy(?) and fun. Upbeat and feels like a good album to play in the background while cooking with my mum
Jazzy, funky, and mostly danceable. Good party music with minimal lyrics.
Fela Kuti est tellement important dans l’histoire de la musique. Il a influencé plein de gens. Cet album est peut-être un peu tard dans sa discographie. C’est bon pareil.
J’aime beaucoup ce que fait Fela Kuti sans avoir entendu d’album complet avant celui-ci. Il a produit beaucoup d’albums et la charge historique de cet album fait en sorte que c’est le bon choix pour cet exercice d’écoute.
This is the second album that I have gotten and both have been quite enjoyable. A new artist that I like that I probably would have never heard of if not for this 1001 albums music project. Thanks for the recommendations.
Really solid political jazz album
Very very cool. Not heard this before but really enjoyed it.
Fela Kuti's brand of afrobeat music is interesting to me, in that all of the albums of his that I've heard sound very similar to my ears, but still I like what he produces. The background information about this album is fascinating, as it is likely one of the most politically significant albums of all time. Kuti treated his music as a force for social and political change, and this album was certainly received that way, both by his fans and his enemies in the Nigerian government. 4/5
Afrobeat. Entretenido. Venga, un 4.
It was really interesting to read about the history behind this album and how it led to an attack on Kuti's commune. Still I liked it slightly less than the other Kuti albums I've listened to over the years (and on this challenge). Can't really say why but it just didn't click with me as much as the others.
Good sounds. Play loud
Now I don't like jam band music, where there is little structure and lulls to the music. This album seems to shape up as jam music, but at least the first song has a fast tempo, where you're supposed to get lost in the beat to dance.
Good grooves
Жизнерадостная музыка, тяжелый текст.
Pretty funky sound. Glad I had a listen.
Fela kuti e så boss maaaaan
This was pretty cool. The background on this album was quite something as well. The only problem is actually in the scoring. I think my overall honest assessment would be a 3.5 but it's going to get up to a 4 for how bad ass it really is.
Sesión jazz chula
Very funky Sax player, that lyrics are very strange indeed...
Like it.
A lot of passion in this
Solid Afrobeat album.
Far more pleasurable than I expected! Bouncy fun with a real groove to it. As I may have said before, 12 minute songs are rarely a thing I enjoy, but here there is so much movement and variation I really enjoyed them.
Classic Fela Kuti: infectious grooves to get you on your feet, coupled with powerful political and social messages. The horns are brilliant throughout as are the baking vocalists. Genius.
I'm not going to lie you. I spent an inordinate amount of time today wondering how Fela Kuti would feel about gas prices. You know, just to see if I get into his thinking space. He wouldn't give two shits about gas prices at any point in history. He'd overhear people griping about gas prices and immediately lose interest. Fela would be more concerned with drivers who fail to yield, and even that concern would be minor. Fela was likely a huge fan of invention, but I'm guessing overall he didn't see the automobile as a necessity for him. He was more concerned with creating a perfect musical landscape, an offshoot of which would suggest listeners take an edible and just live in his music. Fela would have LOVED that. No, gas prices would never be a cause of concern or interest for Fela Kuti. He always had bigger and better themes in mind.
While incredibly short and lyrically sparse, it is an impressive display of political ire. It's makes people want to move and shake, send a message while providing compelling fusions of afrobeat, jazz, and funk. It's music of the people for the people, and Fela Kuti understood that very well. It's a shame that his mother was killed as a result, which adds to the lived-in reality of what Kuti was expressing on Zombie.
So, all I know about this guy is that he gets nominated for the Hall of Fame a lot. Did he ever get in? Somehow I had assumed he was more of a roots/reggae style. This is not what I was expecting. This album got him jailed, his mother murdered, and his entire town destroyed. That's terrible, but gottdamm, that's rock n roll.
jako mi se svida to sto krene pjevat nakon desetak minuta pa svaki put bude iznenađenje. Jako dobar album.
Stvarno zanimljiva i strašna pozadina što se događala tijekom i poslije snimanja ovog albuma. I opet '77 godina, pa ta godina je premoćna za albume bila, a ovaj album upada sada u moje favorite te godine.
Pretty nice
proper lively, layered and nicely non-cloying
In its own genre, it's good.
Excellent, what a legend
I enjoyed it. I've loved all the jazz on this list except spy v. spy.
Enjoyable funky Jazz which at times was reminiscent of the New Orleans vibe. Was great to listen to preparing dinner but not sure I would sit down and listen to it. Original vinyl was just two long tracks so I'm glad that there was a couple of bonus tracks.
Enjoyably funky jazzy protest. I rather enjoyed this one
Essential. Vital 70s music.
Afrika!
Super catchy and fun, and held my attention even with super long tracks.
good this. its festival daytime bar music.
Trancy groove but long and very similar
Super chill funky stuff considering the subject matter and controversy. Pretty good background music.
Afrobeat (jazz, reggae, africana)
Love those horns.
Probably more of a 3.5.
jazzy!
This list could be 1001 Fela Kuti albums and I’d still do it
4-
Not a genre I would have likely discovered on my own. I really like this album. Good arrangements with powerful significance behind the songs.
Zombie is worth 4* on its own. It might even be 5*. So good.
Interesting listen, not usually the type of music I listen to, but it kept my attention all the way through. I especially like the instrumentals and the Afro-beats are so infectious and energetic, it brought warmth to my otherwise chilly day! Nice!
Tykkäsin listalla aiemmin olleesta Fela Kutin levystä ja ei tämäkään huono ollut. Sopivalla tempolla soitettua jatsia, ei liian vikkelää. Se jokin erityisyys tästä kuitenkin jäi puuttumaan, joten joutuu arpomaan kolmosen ja nelosen välillä. Pyöristetään vaihteeksi ylöspäin!
Resurrected
I enjoyed this quite a bit and will definitely be revisiting it again this year.
Never really listened to anything like this before, really fantastic! Really great beat and horns that just loop and drive without tiring. Lyrics to Zombie stood out, so I did some research. I feel like this is the type of music that has so much more impact with background - or using it as a way to educate. You can hear so many things that influenced so much music. I enjoyed this one :-)
Not entirely sure how to rate this album. I thought it was pretty good and the story behind it is awesome. A lot of the songs had these weird moments of awkwardness that affected my enjoyment. Between 3 and 4 stars but closer to 4.
I liked this a lot. This is very funky.
4 very long songs, but it is so dynamic that the hour of listening passes very quickly. Ideal of cooking hours.
Like it, as i´m not a jazz export, don´t know if it´s really exceptional, but it swings, has spirit and uses vocals like an instrument rather than spitting lyrics
I listened to the album before reading about it, just to mix things up (usually I read about it before listening). I enjoyed it musically - I've always been drawn to Afrobeat/ music of Africa. I obviously didn't know what each song was about specifically, but the passion and energy was undeniable throughout. I learned that this is a political album - it's criticism of the Nigerian government likely resulted in Fela's commune being attacked by Nigerian soldiers. His mother was killed in that attack, and Fela was severely beaten. Also, he formed the commune which declared itself independent of the Nigerian government. He played multiple instruments, had multiple wives at once, and is widely regarded as the pioneer of the Afrobeat style.
What a life this guy has lived..and yet with such tragedy, comes uplifting music despite themes and lyrics rooted in darkness. Quite a unique blend and I really enjoyed the two pieces. Great dynamics and a great overall runtime.
Afro-Jazz fusion
Frenetic and contagious. This one was a chant for freedom and art. I will always applaud meaningful art! Sorry to see the aftermath caused by this album. Death and war is the language of tyranny
Interesting! I was digging it!
Fun & jazzy album
Sehr schöne Life Aufnahmt
Four tracks, 10+ minutes each! It’s Fela, so they all have a danceable vibe.
Nice jazzy after-beat album. Just 4 songs but each has a pretty unique sound and the lyrics get straight to the point of what they’re trying to say. The horn work really made this album for me. 7/10
Heard it, liked it
Liked it a lot
Sounds like lots of Kuti's stuff - enjoyable African jazz. 7/10.
Very jazzy. First time I've heard reggae elements in jazz. Lots of movement to the music.
I liked this more than I expected - definitely fusion music, but bringing the best of both.
Jazz
This was a cool album. Always nice to have a departure from familiar genres. Nothing too special about it, but great rhythms and just an enjoyable groove. Just a few songs, all very long, but the kind of long songs that I enjoy. Basically the polar opposite of that Goldie album we had recently that overstayed its welcome. Favorite tracks: Zombie, Mr. Follow Follow. Album art: Hard to tell exactly what's going on here. A collage of soldiers, and Fela is pointing a finger gun at one of them? Is he accusing soldiders of being zombies? I'm not sure. It looks alright though, and the bold, colorful text design is really great. 4/5
Before I heard Fela Kuti, I heard Femi Kuti (his son). A co-worker then introduced me to Fela. I do really enjoy west African music, and this is classic.
Histórico.
Sublime
What a cool f'n album. Had no idea who this guy was, but what a story, especially how this album was beloved by the public but incensed the Nigerian government. Now those are powerful lyrics. And his delivery (and his backing band's) is electric. I love Zombie by the Cranberries but I think I have to Kuti's Zombie right up there with it. The album is really just two songs. Zombie kicks serious ass. Mr. Follow Follow isn't quite as good but it still deserves respect.
Always had a soft spot for Fêla.
yeh. dig this ok
Rating: 7/10
A pioneer of Afrobeat at the intersection of jazz and West African rhythm and instruments. Interesting to hear the political history behind this album and Kuti. Dude married two dozen women and had them his back up singers. Tracks flow well and have a lot of diversity in itself, maintaining the rhythm while trying out various instruments and vocals. Very well produced. You can hear the inspiration of soul and funk, especially in the third track. Fourth track was the weakest but still pleasant and would definitely get a huge applause out of me if that played at my jazz festival.
No hay pierde.
I like this, good brass especially. Favorite track is Zombie.
This is what I’ve been waiting for, something wild and different. Great rhythms, an actual message, and kinetic intensity. Hell yeah.
Nice!
афро битялово одинаково и по домашнему, скупая слеза текла по моему лицу, БЛЯДЬ регги
I dig it.
Yea good to hear some dance jazz....fine track ..zombie
A catchy protest album. Who knew that could happen? Fela Kuti’s band here is tighter than any other band ever tried to be, and he is full of rage and energy and channels it into songs that energize you fully. Twelve minute songs that you actually want to hear through to the end.
Something completely different. For long songs, it was incredibly funky. Didn't love it but will be a recurring listen
really liked it, very niceeeeeeeeee
Great vibe to work to. Fun and upbeat but can also be great background sound
Some chill African jazz, with some POP Lots of horns
Good
A great jazz album that I hadn't previously heard of
Awesome album, short but still fulfilling. The songwriting is great although I had a hard time understanding the vocalist.
i liked it
Sehr gut zum Uni machen und nebenbei hören, fand es sehr entspannt und mochte die Instrumente sehr.
An absolutely amazing Track 1. 4 tracks of afrobeat jazz. The surprise when the vocals kicked in 5 minutes into the song created an intensity that I'm always searching for in my music. A hugely interesting and enjoyable album - matched only by the story of the man.
Not my top favorite of his albums but a goodie.
Funky album, heb hier wel min of meer van genoten
jaaaaaaaaazzzzz
powerful with and without the heavy context behind it of resistance to military rule in Nigeria. aside from its meaning, it also communicates on a physical level in a way that's hard to find an equal to – its extended groove is irresistible
Pretty much every Fela Kuti album is a really excellent song the album is named after followed by a good song that can't quite live up to the main attraction. Zombie is one of Kuti's best songs but Mr. Follow Follow is even more forgettable than some of his other secondary tracks. I had, in fact, literally forgotten what came after Zombie. Still, it's not BAD. Solid 4 overall, best album yet.
This album made me feel like I was living the life of the guy in the Pixar movie Soul
Funky
Funky Jazz Album. Anothwr album with long songs Zombie gets a little repetitive for my tastes I think but all thenother songs have good development and interjections that make them worth listening to, unlike Bat out of Hell
not _super_ into Afrobeat but it's a warmer-temperature aesthetic not dissimilar to Bitches' Brew. liking the revolutionary undertones
great
I don't have a lot to say about this one, but I thought it was really catchy and fun. (And a good, short album to follow up after yesterday's pick).
Dosc niecodzienny pik listowy, bo muzyka ani to hamerykanska, ni brytyjska, a tym razem afrykanska, afrobeat prosto z nigerii lat 70, bedacym panstwem rzadzonym przez wojskowe junty, zmagajacym sie z nieposzanowaniem jakichkolwiek praw, no i jak przystalo na afryke z wszelaka bieda, takie tlo na ktorym powstal ten albumik, sam Fela Kuti nie byl wlacznie grajkiem, ale takze aktywista politycznym dlatego glownym themem jest tutaj wlasnie militarny rzad, ktory mozemy utozsamiac z tytulowym zombie, orginalne wydanie zawiera tylko dwa ponad 12 minutowe traki zombie i mr follow follow, ktore juz samymi tytulami jasno wskazuja o czym beda traktowac, reedycja zawiera dodatkowy trak observation no crime i zapis live kawalka mistake z berlinskiego jazz festiwalu w 78, Kuti byl wspierany tutaj przez bande znana pod nazwa Africa 70, jak na nigeryjska muzyke i okreslenie afrobeat jak dla mnie brzmi to jazzem lat 60, dosc surowym w wykonaniu, ale jedak juz granym w wiekszych bandach, bo troche instrumentow mozna tutaj naliczyc, ale dokladnego skladu grajcego nie potrafilem znalezc, co natomiast wyroznia ten material od typowego jazzu sa wstawki wokalne, wykorzystanie chorkow, ktore nie tylko w rytm sie zgrywaja z swoimi wstawkami, ale nieraz same nadaja tempa traku, gdzie wystepuje licytacja miedzy chantem chorowym, a Kutim na glowym wokalu, ktory tak samo jak chorkowe wykonany jest w typowo afrykanskim ingliszu, wiec dosc prostym i z typowa skladnia, ciekawa postacia jest sam wykonawca, bo jako dzialacz polityczno spoleczny, tak bardzo mial w niesmaku wladze, ze postanowil stworzyc wlasna niepodlegla komune, brzmi niezle, ale jesli dodamy do tego, ze mial wlasny harem 27 zon nadaje to prawdziwie afrykanski klimat opowiesci, po wydaniu zombie rozmontowali mu komune, ale muzyka przezyla i jest swiadectwem jak sztuka potrafi walczyc z systemem, na plejke wrzucilem oba orginalne traki, bo sposob w jaki nagrany zostal mistake pozostawia wiele do zyczenia
Impressive
Fela groovt sich mit zunehmender Zeit hypnotisch in die Ohrmuschel, frisst sich smooth ins Hirn, breaking & entering my mind, body just follow follow. (Haben Can sich hiervon eine dicke Scheibe gegönnt?) Virtuos instinktive 3.8
Cool in context, and fun enough in general, one of my favorite "big band" albums so far.
Diferente e bem gostoso de ouvir
Was a bit apprehensive after getting yet another Fela Kuti album but this one is very different, much less frenetic Afro-beat and more Afro-jazz, it meanders at a more relaxed pace and has a more serious political tone.
Great rythm and arrangements. Good vibes.
Nice radio, learnt take five
I was excited about this one because I enjoyed Fela Kuti's live album (w/ Ginger Baker) so much. I still think that's the better album, but this one is no slouch either. Excellent African rhythms and drums horns, with a good political message underneath it.
love it. cool beats
Added to YT Music.
Love the horns. Great grooves. Don’t love the singing.