Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Not really my thing, but interesting
This is supposed to be a mixture of east Indian and rock and roll music. But the only song that fits that category is their cover of Jumping Jack Flash. I would have loved to have heard more rock and roll covers. But, you cannot deny the talent of the musicians on this album. It's just not my thing.
Who knew the sitar could bang so hard? Sitar cover of Jumpin' Jack Flash goes harder than it has any right to, and Light My Fire isn't far behind. The other tracks on the album are quite strong, with very tasteful playing. The sitar just sounds so cool. The only way someone wouldn't think this album is enjoyable is if they don't like the sitar as a sound. Which be a mighty shame, as it is a very cool instrument.
Strong 3,5
Before I even start listening to this album we should take note of a few 'issues' with this whole list of music. It should really be named 1001 Albums You Need To Listen To Before You Die (From The Perspective Of A White Boomer Who Really Loved The Music From Their Generation). Why is there so little, for lack of a better term, “World” music on here. You must listen to *almost* every fucking Beatles album but other fantastic music from around the world is not worth you listening to. Don’t get me wrong I love David Bowie, but we don’t need 9 albums of Bowie to get across Bowie some of those slots could have been used for other artists. This is the kind of album that I would expect to be playing in a headshop. It would go right along with The Grateful Dead and other "Hippie" music. I was first going to compare this to Muzak but it's much better than that. This is a banger and a nice pallet cleanse from the Brian Wilson album I got the other day.
One of the songs is a cover of The Rolling Stones, cooool.
I like how he just layed out his entire idea for the album on the cover. The sitar is interesting, I can't tell if it's soothing and smooth or kind of whiny. I appreciate that Ananda came in with an idea of what he wanted to do and I think he accomplished that. It does have a western feel with the sitar infused. The covers were funny
Yeah this was interesting. I was quite the fan of this album due to its difference from the vast majority of other material here, although I wouldn’t necessarily rank it as a favourite… there’s only so much Moog/sitar a bloke can handle. I enjoyed Light My Fire the most and added it to my playlist. Overall a high 3.
It wasn't bad but it took me several attempts to listen to it fully since it was kinda boring
The covers of the Stones and the Doors aren’t that interesting, but the original material and traditional songs are solid. It’s sitar music through and through - if you find that sound annoying or grating, this album will not be for you. Notable tracks include Mamata, Metamorphosis, Raghupati.
I'm sure it was groundbreaking at its time. Today, sitar- and Moog-based instrumental versions of 60's hits just... doesn't do it for me.
Somewhat nice album, but even for the time quite cliche. Pop had already been blended much better with Sitar music before. The covers here are fun but not really worth listening to more than once. The original tracks are a bit better, but I feel that Ravi Shankar and others produce more interesting works.
A little disorienting. While I appreciate the skill and effort, seems the old traditional instrument and modern electronic devices are best left in their own corners. Sure, they can come out and play sometimes, but not for too long or they start fighting.
Perfectly fine in the background although the covers were pointless. Also, not see why it’s on the list but it’s not horrible.
I'm in a benevolent mood — not sure this is quite at a 4-star, but it made me realize that for all the Indian/sitar I've experienced as a listener, it was either pure raga or an Indian aesthetic being worked into a Western construct, and here this was the opposite, the Western aesthetic being interpreted through the Indian construct, and for that, I was totally tuned in. I guess it's a cultural bias, but it was also just fun and interesting, and for that, the 4.
The covers didn't do much for me, but the originals were kind of cool. I really liked the last tune. Kind of reminds me a bit of the Indian version of Enoch Light. Easy listening. Not sure it's anything revolutionary, and I don't know that it needs to be on the list, but I've certainly heard worse albums on here, and it's pretty cool background music.
Absolutely loved this!
The guy is obviously a proficient sitar player but I found this difficult to get through. There wasn't enough musically keeping me interested here, there's a 13 minute song (which isn't a problem - I've heard longer) that barely changes up at all. To me a lot of it was random twangs of the sitar just constant, and it did grate on me after a while.
A lot more accessible than the last sitar album.
Overall I enjoyed this album quite a bit but I found I enjoyed the original tracks more than the covers. I have always liked the sound a sitar makes but have only really heard it in the tracks the Beatles used it in so listening to a whole album was really interesting.
What a phenomenal & innovative album this turned out to be! Combining the traditional Indian sounds with the (then) modern Western sounds made for a very pleasing sonic experience. The covers are nice, but the melodies that Ananda Shankar came up with on his own compositions are what really elevate this record. It fell off just a little bit toward the end, but this is still one of my favourite new finds from this project so far.
Really liked the psychedelic vibe of the sitar and loved the Moog. Probably not an album I’d listen to too much (and I find the Jumping Jack Flash cover a bit kitsch), but enjoyed listening to it.
Jumping Jack Flash produced a wow, I liked most of side one. Side two was a bit middling
Unique sound. Very creative.
Sitar and tabla covers of The Doors are much better than The Doors, as it turns out.
Wallpaper music, nothing more. Listenable for a bit thats all. Certainly not groundbreaking
Nice.
If I were to try to write the ultimate mushroom trip album I'd probably start out with a sitar and a Moog synth. Who doesn't think about kaleidoscoping colors and laughing, pipe-smoking, top-hat wearing caterpillars when they hear a sitar? For whatever reason, I'm not getting that vibe with this... maybe it's the covers, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm in a drugstore or hotel lobby in india going about my day doing the most mundane shit.
That was fun. On reading about the album, it's cool that someone from the home of the sitar did their thing with anglomusic rather than the other way round. As I write this, I think it's going from a 4 to a 5 - I look forward to owning it on vinyl...
Fun blend of east meets west. Soothing and enjoyable.
Some interesting songs near the end, but the rest it’s annoying
This is fun and good. Makes me think about my parents getting high.
Light My Fire was so good! I love sitar music. Interesting combining it with Western music. Do I like traditional better though? Giving it a 4 because it's different, but for me it lands at somewhere around a 3.5.
Not that exciting of an album, but it is defintely something that would be alright as a background in a movie, for example. Overall, quite oriental-sounding, but maybe a bit meh.
didn’t vibe with this but dick cheney died today so who really cares
I got a lil lost in hyperspace :/
Excellent and I probably wouldn't have ever thought to listen to this if it wasn't on the list
At first I was really excited about this album and enjoyed its uniqueness. But it wore on me quickly.
This was my first time listening to Ananda Shankar’s self-titled 1970 album, and what a fascinating experience it was! Ananda masterfully blends Indian music—especially the sitar—with Western rock and electronic influences. The album is largely instrumental, featuring sitar, percussion, and the Moog synthesizer, creating a unique fusion of Indian classical sounds with psychedelic rock and funk. Standout tracks include vibrant covers of The Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and The Doors’ “Light My Fire,” alongside original compositions like “Metamorphosis” and the epic 13-minute, raga-inspired “Sagar (The Ocean).” If I had to pick a favorite, it would be track number 3, “Light My Fire,” which I found particularly captivating. Here’s a fun fact: the album was originally intended to be a collaboration with the guitar legend Jimi Hendrix. The two even jammed together in Los Angeles before Ananda decided to record the album on his own, wanting the music to fully reflect his personal artistic vision rather than a joint project. If you’re curious about a pioneering blend of East and West in music, this album is a must-listen!
some nice eastern arrangements and origal tunes
It was nice, but i wouldn’t recomend it, only the last song.
I appreciate the Shankar spin on the covers. 3/5
this started off well but it started getting worse with every song. And this is coming from someone who loves listening to the sitar
Not really my thing. Mildly entertaining as background music.
nah
Badass Jumpin Jack Flash cover gives this one 4 stars
This psychedelic fusion album blends sitar and tabla with electric guitars, bass, and drums, creating a vivid dialogue between East and West that feels both meditative and exuberantly experimental.
Nice
Este disco trás dois elementos que me incomodam: notas "esticadas" dadas por instrumentos como cítara e slide guitar; e música instrumental onde as letras dos temas são tocadas pelos instrumentos replicando a parte vocal do tema original. Faixa de destaque: "Metamorphosis".
Pretty cool and unique album! I especially like the use of moog synths and is very reminiscent of a lot of Indian fusion I would listen to in high school I especially liked the cover of Light My Fire and Mamata
I like the last track a lot. I like the singing! Wish the album was filled with more of that. I found the beginning pretty bland and generic. THREE!
Very dated. Didn't do anything for me. Two stars for effort.
pretty interesting album. the more "traditional" stuff on here is really great, and the less "traditional" stuff is interesting but kind of goofy. i never thought of the combination of sitar, moog, and classic rock. it's an interesting concept but i don't know how well it pulls it off. it is a bit dated and clunky sounding, and while i think a lot of applications of moog from this time period can sound cool or charming, it does sound a bit out of place here. still, it was an interesting listen, and i did enjoy listening to it, even though i think it somewhat misses the mark here.
Not my jam, the sitar cadence makes me anxious, and I don't like religious music.
First time listening to this. I am not an avid sitar listener, so this album isn't like anything I've heard. Some good jams on this. Light My Fire cover is the peak, the breakdown on The Oxean was great too. Slows down on side 2, side one was really solid. I'll check this out again, and more of this dude's catalog.
I enjoyed this album, Its great to hear different interpretations of familiar music. Loved it!
Surprisingly dreamy and enjoyable! I'd listen to this again for sure
This is kind of good but hits like an Austin Power’s novelty album
Did I ever need to hear Jumpin Jack Flash and Light My Fire played on the sitar? No, I did not, but now I have. This was better than the Ravi Shankar album though because it was more than just the sitar. You know I don’t like instrumentals though.
Definitely not what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised once the album got going. I didn’t realize it was gonna be instrumental, but I didn’t mind it at all. Favorites: Snow Flower, Metamorphosis, Sagar (The Ocean)
Jag diggar det här! Jag har inte så mycket att jämföra med eftersom jag inte lyssnat så mycket på sitar eller indisk musik. Det är en uppskattad omväxling från att bara höra västerländsk musik som använder sitaren för att få in en österländsk touch. Istället får vi nu höra den indiska motsvarigheten, en tolkning av västerländska låtar med sitar istället för gitarr. Albumet i sig blir lite tröttsamt att lyssna på från början till slut, det blir istället något jag har i bakgrunden på lägre volym när jag pysslar med annat. I övrigt: trallvänliga, bekanta melodier med ett roligt sound! Kul! Jag vill lägga poängen på typ 3,5/5, men det landar på en fyra tack vare Anandas musikaliska skicklighet och det vackra omslaget. Bonuspoäng för att jag älskar instrumental musik. I helhet känns albumet som en vacker klenod att visa i en monter. Svårt att placera vad det ska fylla för funktion, men vackert är det från alla håll.
Awesome! :)
*Interesting take on the covers with the sitar *No question about great musicality, just don't know how much I would re-listen to this, but it was cool to be exposed to
Mom, can I skip today’s album please? Son, it‘s only 40m and it’s good for you to listen to other instruments for a change Mom, please? 🥺 (After the last track) Mom, last song is a killer track! Son, you see. It’s good to obey your mommy!
Some tracks had me vibing. The Ocean was an interesting time. Would I listen it it again. Probably not. Jumpin Jack Flash was a wild start to this album.
W sumie to całkiem ciekawe. Taki folk rock z coverami kilku znanych utworów. 4/5
It’s a lot of sitar.
Would be awesome if I was tripping on acid.
That's enough sitar for me.
Pretty fun listen. Lots of great tracks. The covers were cool, but the last track “Raghupati” is absolute money!
I just have to take a second to appreciate the all-time burn dropped by a critic of this album, calling it "'touching' – but in a way that would put an old man in a children's park away in jail for life." Just wow. While I might agree that I didn't find this album all that moving, there is something really interesting about it. At least a part of it is just that it's so different from all the rock/pop, US/British albums that come up on here, at least in terms of instrumentation/arrangement. Beyond that, the mixture of rock and traditional Indian music was engaging and kept my attention. The cover tracks on this album aren't all that great, but the original songs were mostly strong efforts. I did get a bit weary listening to the 13-minute Sagar, though. I didn't love this album, but I enjoyed it enough to say it's a solidly good listen. Overall: 3.1/5
love the combination of western and indian music
Couldn’t make it to the end. I lasted through the Stones, but had to fast forward the Doors track. Everything else was unpleasantly foreign to me… like gumming down food with no texture or taste. 2 stars for Sitars.
It’s hard to believe this album was released in 1970. With the use of synths and sitar it could also be from 2020’s. A timeless instrumental record. “Light my Fire” cover is superior to “Jumping Jack Flash”
Conceptually interesting but I would say otherwise not my favourite listen
Terrible
Overall very chill album.
Nothing special
Interesting and atmospheric but not something i'd listen to on the regular.
Very interesting. Indian and rock fusion, with electronic overlay. Very instrumental, with a few covers.
This is a really fun and interesting fusion of traditional Indian sitar and western psychedelic music that set the stage for a lot of eastern/psychedelic crossover music that would come in future decades.
Album 922 of 1089 Ananda Shankar - Ananda Shankar (1970) Rating : 3.5 / 5 Certainly not something I’d normally reach for, but I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit. It’s always nice to hear familiar tunes in a completely different style, and this album offers just that - recognizable covers reimagined through a sitar-led, psychedelic lens that gives them a whole new feel. It’s not the kind of album where you’re judging melody or lyrics — it’s more about the atmosphere and the artistry of it all. A unique blend of East and West that feels both experimental and surprisingly easy to listen to. Not your typical record, but absolutely one I’d recommend giving a spin.
Loved seeing her and her dad
50
Wow this was so good. I'm not sure what I was expecting but this was really cool.
OoOooOo cousin to Norah Jones. Groovy twang. Coincidentally the covers are my favourite tracks. The cascading waterfall of runs in Light My Fire are serious ear ticklers. The bro was not here to fuck spiders.
Kind of cool!
At first I hated it. Then I kind of got into the cheesiness for a few songs. But in the end it still greatly annoyed me.
Never heard of him. Sitar Pop music. First heard about the Sitar because of George Harrison. Would be interesting for Morrison to sing to.
äh ändå ganska gött. lite långt kanske med tanke på att det rör sig om ett instrumentalt album med sitar som huvudinstrument. men rätt trevligt att sitta och programmera till. en svag trea.
its just sitar covers?
Well that was an experience, music to induce hypnosis. Covering those two classics was brave, and Jumpin' Jack Flash did have a certain something. But then the second half just tailed away into nothingness.
Odd and insistent on a style that didn't go anywhere. Say it louder for the people in the back - if you're gonna do a cover, it has to be better!
I mean its pretty interesting and also well recorded. But you know most of the songs are covers thats mainly why they sound so good, so I dont think I can give it too high of a rating. This was fun, would love to listen again, but its a high 3
I'm a bit torn on this, since the covers come off as quite gimmicky, yet they are technically well done. I just feel that "Jumpin Jack Flash" especially is just the original song, with a sitar as Jagger and some extra cosmic synth added. It's not bad, but I don't feel like it's adding anything to the discussion except check-out-how-good-of-a-sitar-player-I-am. I just feel like the Stones and Doors covers here are cashing in on a trend, and the soul isn't there. Then again, I can understand that these are here to attract Western pop/rock listeners. Again, I'm torn. I enjoyed the original compositions and traditional arrangements more. I thought "Metamorphosis" was the highlight of the first side. "Sagar (The Ocean)" dominates the second side with its length and seems pretty simple at its core, but actually has some breathing room and takes its time while most of the other tracks don't. My favorite track was actually the last, "Raghupati" with its catchy and beautiful chant and fade out. I would've liked to see this lengthened to close out the album.
Fun
Good.
3.5 Fave track: Snow flower
maneirinho demais, musica indiana com uma pegada velho oeste + um toque psicodélico dos anos 70.
Love a sitar album
Right off the bat, we've got a sitar cover of "Jumpin' Jack Flash". Plus a cover of "Light My Fire" not much later! Hearing classic rock songs such as those in a new light was interesting. There is enough original content here for the album to hold its own too. There was a clear intention to fuse traditional Indian music with Western rock here and it's effective. The sitar has always been associated with psychedelic rock in the West, thanks to groups such as the Beatles and Rolling Stones incorporating it into their music, but Ananda Shankar reminds the rest of the world what the sitar can offer on its own. Too much of the sitar might not be for everyone, however.
1969. I kinda enjoyed this psychedelic Indian cover album. Whacky and fun
I can take it or leave it. I guess I'll leave it.
This would likely be incredible live. Raghupati was my favorite for the group singing and funky rhythms.
Let us sing in praise of Rama who is the eternal one. I would dance a manic sweaty dance to this song. Fav songs: Raghupati, Light My Fire
Fun listen. Not sure I'd revisit.
This was pretty cool. I liked the last track a lot.
Good album
01) Jumpin' Jack Flash - 7,5 02) Snow Flower - 6,5 03) Light My Fire - 7,5 04) Mamata (Affection) - 6,5 05) Metamorphosis - 6,0 06) Sagar (The Ocean) - 5,0 07) Dance Indra - 5,5 08) Raghupati- 5,5 TOTAL: 6,25 (63/100)
Standart Musik von jedem mittelmäßigen indischen Restaurant
Delightful versions of songs I know and songs I don’t know.
#712. This is the kind of thing you listen to and go "huh, neat" and then never think about ever again. 3/5: fine?
Listened Before? N Trippy, man! Trying to cash in on the sitar craze of the 60s. I approve! I'm surprised they got some of the song rights they did (Light My Fire in particular). The version of Jumpin' Jack Flash instantly became my favorite. The rest of the album is very listenable but I can only do so much sitar. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Jumpin' Jack Flash
idk man i just don’t like listening to an instrument for like 8 songs straight they all sound the same and it’s really not my typa instrument. sounds like something you hear if u go to someone to tell u ur future
I was delighted initially and for a little while thought I might end up taking this seriously but then I got bored.
I think the most impressive aspect of this quirky but entertaining (and *very* sixties sounding) album is how it predates the whole acid-house movement by several decades, and yet a couple of the tracks--the instrumental sitar-rock versions of "Jumpin' Jack flash" and "Light my fire"--have stood the test of dancehall time. There's not a lot of cohesion to the album as a whole, as the more traditionally oriented tracks have little to do with the rock adaptations, and the lack of vocals and lyrics makes it challenging to keep in the foreground (except perhaps the closing track "Raghupati", although I didn't understand the chants/chorus). The two tracks that I thought were highlights were "Jumpin' Jack flash" and "Metamorphosis", while "Sagar (the ocean)" took the prize for the most long-winded and meandering track we've had in a long time. Regardless, it's an odd curio in this collection, and I'm glad to have heard it. Too bad, though, that he chose not to create an album with Jimi Hendrix, as that could have been an amazing experience for all.
The Jumping Jack Flash cover didn't work for me, but Light My Fire did well with the sitar, and I really liked the last track.
The sitar is an amazing instrument, and this guy plays it masterfully. I enjoyed this but because they were all covers I can’t give it higher than a three.However, I like all the songs he played, and the sitar gives these songs a sound I have never heard before. So on second thought, maybe I can give a 4.
That jumping jack flash sent me lol
Incredible banger. Have to put this one on at my next party.
Albums like this are half the reason I’m doing this challenge to begin with – to hear ambitious genre crossovers from artists I likely never would have found otherwise. The little quote/blurb on the cover immediately hooked me and I had to listen to Ananda Shankar as soon as humanly possible. This album definitely delivers on its promise of combining Western and Indian music, though the execution certainly isn’t perfect. It sets out to do such a specific thing, but does that thing in so many different ways that it comes across a bit clumsy and lopsided. I couldn’t help but let out a laugh hearing songs from the Rolling Stones and the Doors covered in such a bizarre (yet legitimately good) way, with the songs recreated relatively faithfully, aside from the vocals being swapped with sitar interpolations. These are the kinds of tracks I’d sneak into a playlist while hanging out with friends or family, just to see how long it takes them to notice and what their reactions are like. The Ananda Shankar originals are generally the highlights for me, with songs like "Snow Flower" and "Metamorphosis" sounding genuinely compelling sonically. They make me feel like I’m floating through the galaxy in an endless Bollywood space opera. I can’t quite bring myself to give Ananda Shankar the four star rating that it probably deserves, as its longest cut (the 13+ minute "Sagar," which takes up about a third of the album’s running time) was honestly kind of a snoozer, but this is an LP I’m probably going to be telling people about for years. Highlights: Snow Flower, Light My Fire, Metamorphosis, Raghupati
I had never heard of Ananda Shankar before and thoroughly enjoyed this album. The covers (Jumpin' Jack Flash and Light My Fire) were great but so were the original compositions, and even the 13 minute Sagar (The Ocean) maintained interest throughout. A great find which I will be listening to again.
Le neveu de Ravi que je ne connais pas tant que ça. Quand j'étais au Cégep je voulais m'acheter un sitar et devenir aussi bon que Ali Akbar Khan ou Ravi Shankar. C'est jamais arrivé évidemment. De façon paradoxale, j'ai accumulé entre autres avec le temps un bouzouki grec, un oud syrien, un pipa chinois, pour finir par jouer pas mal tout le temps de la guitare...
Ça l'air extrêmement complexe jouer de la sitar et les arrangements sont bons. J'aime beaucoup la musique microtonale en général, mais je sais pas dans quel contexte je reviendrais spécifiquement à cet album.
Bah c’est comique les versions indiennes de classiques rock mais c’est pas mal ça. Une écoute c’était suffisant
fun reimagining of popular songs with sitar taking on the vocal role.
Wow, what a cool fusion of Indian and more electronic elements. Had never heard of this guy but will happily return to this album in the future, and check out some of his other work. Low 4*
Not for me
каверы получились прикольные, а вот все остальное - чистая база индусов
The cover songs at the beginning of the album are a fun novelty. After that, the more traditional sitar music gets tiresome.
great fusion
Pretty fun and light, surprisingly easy to forget it’s a largely instrumental album. Some really great melodies, Mamata stands out as a beautiful song. Personally found it to drag a little bit at the end, but could just be me.
This had me Light My Fire, just like Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
Dit was wat te ver buiten mijn comfortzone. 2.4
Now this is a curious album! I appreciate an album that spells out its mission right on the album art, and I think it fulfills Ananda Shankar's ambitions well. The cover of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is fun but also a little uncanny. This aspect of the album strikes me as some kind of precursor to a lot of YouTube music channels that mix styles and cover songs. Unfortunately, the album overall reminds me of those kiosks you used to see at museums that had samples of new age CDs, but that is due to something that came later than this album. Favorite track: "Sagar (The Ocean)"
Ananda Shankar was better than i was expecting it to be. I know that this guy is the son of Ravi Shankar who made an album on this list that came out way before this one but this one is what that album should have been. It still had the sitar that his dad's album had and that gave it the only bit of character that album had but this one goes beyond that by introducing some influences from western music, mainly rock and electronic music. This actually gives the album it's own identity and actually allows it to stick in my head rather than completely fade from my memory once its over. Its not perfect but i still liked this album a fair bit. Best Song: Jumpin' Jack Flash Worst Song: Sagar / The Ocean
The British Invasion bands broke based on their American R&B and rock and roll influences. Then they toured the other former colonies where they discovered heretofore-unknown-to-a-western-audience rhythms and instruments like the sitar. Which opened the door to the Shankar Sitar Complex. The sitar has remained an important instrument in popular western music.
well - this user is already a regular listener of old school 70s moog music, and thus: loved every second of this. highlights - jumpin jack flash, mamata (affection), metamorphosis, sagar (the ocean)
Was alright, don't mind a bit of something different but not sure I'd rush back to this.
Interesting. Especially the covers. Somewhat relaxing yet somewhat jarring. Not bad overall.
At first glance, I figured I wouldn't like this, assuming it was just sitar covers of songs. It was what I assumed, mostly, but I actually enjoyed it and it lifted my mood after that boring mayo ass Aimee Mann album I listened to earlier
Appreciate it, but not my jam.
More of a curiosity that a must-listen?
The covers sound a bit too "gimmicky", but the original songs do get you in an interesting mood.
I don't know. A track or two is okay, but the whole album is too much sitar for me. And Light My Fire was awful! But when it's good, it's actually kind of tasty!
love it!
Wonderful music to enjoy when sober and high. Even better experience when you have an incense stick or two burning on the side.
Malade !
Still not completely understanding why sitar was A Thing. Not unpleasant; the covers are mildly interesting novelties.
Interesting but not my jam
I quite liked the covers. Overall nice album for a change
This was a fun discovery. I’ll occasionally listen to Ravi Shankar as focus music while working and enjoy listening to the sitar, but I had no idea about Ananda. This album was a great mix of western and Indian music, especially his take on Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
I should listen to more Indian music. I hadn’t heard Shankar before, but listening gives me the same feeling as Ali Khan: inmersion in the rhythm and the repetition, the chanting, the way voices will counter the wild high-low of the music. It puts me in a meditative state. He covers “Light My Fire” here in a way that improves on the original in every way. I think a Doors album is next on the list, so I’m bracing myself.
Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this
Took a bit to get into but Sagar slaps! Metamorphosis was good too.
- ♡ - ☆ - 👎 Snow Flower- 🤷♀️ I've heard another song made by Ananda Shanka which appeared in the video game series, "The Little Big Planet" and now that I recognise the artist, I can't help but imagine the little big planet. It's giving me unintentional LBP vibes in this album. It makes me become nostalgic for this video game. God, I wish they can remaster all the games already...
VERY surprised, did not think I would enjoy this a ton and ended up really digging it.
Well the description was more interesting than the content... The covers I recognized were uninteresting and I don't know if other tracks are covers too. Maybe it has to do with production but the sound of sitar is grating here.
Some neat instrumental sitar music. This album is a vibe, and a nice relaxing one. The sitar covers of popular songs are certainly novel, and the lengthier pieces feel classical in composition and playing.
A really good album, with great songs I liked Jumping Jack Flash, Snow Flower, Dance Indra and Raghupati the most.
This was an interesting listen, you hear a lot of Western band incorporating Indian music in to their songs but not sure I've heard it the other way around. Was a good mix of western songs on the sitar and Indian rhythms. Think my favourite one was the long one towards the end that had this repeating outro, bit mathy. Unlikely to come back but well worth one spin. 3.5.
I didn't really get it. Didn't enjoy the covers, didn't really get into the new stuff, and prefer his uncle Ravi. Some virtuoso sitar on display there. Here, it is absolutely fine. I'm sure I'm doing him a disservice, but just not for me. Dance Indra was probably my favourite, I liked the breakdowns. Really spooky. I was interested to read about Ananda Shankar's influence on Cornershop (of Brimful of Asha fame).
Didn't think I needed sitar covers of the doors and the stones in my life..... This album confirmed that. I much preferred the original tracks though, it does have an interesting sound, the sitar. Sagar was the best. Can't help but feel there's nepotism involved here but perhaps I'm doing Ananda a disservice Won't be rushing back, especially not for the western covers 2.5
Not one I would personally consider a “must hear”, but nonetheless, it’s pretty cool and relaxing.
It’s fine
Point: 1001 is a lot, you see. Counterpoint: You are missing So Many.
Dette er grunnen til at man følger slike lister. Av ting du ikke visste at du måtte høre: Light My Fire på sitar!
Did not know that I needed a sitar version of Jumpin' Jack Flash in my life - that cover absolutely slaps. The rest, yeah OK, but 3 stars for the opening track alone.
- Sitar work is outstanding - Loved the cover of Jumpin’ Jack Flash - Snow Flower has great percussion, and the synth in the background adds to the tone of the song. - Light My Fire is interesting, but it’s not my favourite cover (my favourite is by Jose Feliciano) - Synth work has been consistently good so far. - Love the acoustic guitar accompaniment in Mamata - Metamorphosis has, as the name suggests, a great change into a fast and hard dance track - Sagar (the ocean) takes a while to get to the point by establishing a very moody sway of the ocean, but gets a bit more energy around the 8 minute mark - Dance Indra has some nice Sitar picks, but it felt a lot like it was missing something. Maybe some singing or a more urgent backing synth. - Raghupati is great. So starved for some vocals, and they work great here!
what my parents think im listening to when I say I like Pink Floyd... lol this was trying to be trippy to hard
Funky and fun. A maybe buy (if <$12)
Is aight. the indian now we’re kinda repetitive but it’s still interesting to listen to
I love the sitar sound and I really enjoy it Indian classical music. I like when it’s fused with western pop music (eg, the Beatles) or when guitarists let the sitar influence their sound. There are a few good tunes on this album (Jumpin Jack Flash), but it’s mostly a gimmick. The sitarist is too often simply plucking out the melody note for note. I get that it’s early days of sitar in western music, but it’s boring. Light My Fire is no better here than in its original incarnation (i don’t like the Doors, as a rule). This is a 2 — the artist can do much better.
While the covers didn't do much or change my world, it was a nice break from 1970's rock.
Jumpin Jack flash is a cultural phenomenon 5/5. Snow flower is a chiller 2/5 Light my fire is somehow Pink Floyd 4/5. Mamata makes Jimmy Buffett proud 4/5. Metamorphosis is a fuckin jam as I’m making dinner 5/5. Sagar was the one song I had to skip to the end 1/5. Dance Indra is a goosebumps song for sure 3.75/5 Raghupati makes me yearn for the mines. I do not know why and am unable to rate it.
scale: 1 - skipping if heard it again/actually skipped it 2- meh can be skipped/reaches point to skip 3 -nothing wrong/easy listen/not seeking out 4 - would listen to again 5 - must listen Jumpin Jack Flash - 4 Snow Flower - 3 Light my fire - 4 Mamata - 3 Metamorphosis - 3 Sagar - 3 Dance Indra - 3 Raghupati - 3
Je n’avais jamais pris le temps de découvrir la musique indienne, et ce fut une jolie découverte!
Ravi Shakar's nephew doing sitar covers of popular Western rock and pop songs sounds pretty much exactly the way you'd expect it to. But in 1970 there was still plenty of excitement around that idea and these two covers were enough to sell a lot of albums and generate some nostalgia for the recently passed psychedelic era. However, those were really the least interesting songs on the album. Ananda Shakar's debut album began life as a proposed collaboration between himself and Jimi Hendrix. While that would have been great, I'm glad that he turned the offer down to make his own music. After a few years of Western musicians incorporating Indian music into theirs, Shakar turned it around by leading an American band with guitars and Moog synthesizers. Kind an anti-cultural appropriation. However, it was more controversial in his native India where many people felt it was diluting traditional music with rock music. I understand this concern but for many, Shankar was opening up possibilities and allowing his music to reach a greater audience. Not simply as a background to rock bands, but with the sitar and tradition front and center. It's an incredible album.
I enjoyed the traditional tracks but found the cover of the Stones song and Doors songs to be a bit corny. I appreciate trying to bring a foreign style of music to a new audience but those ones came of a bit like a gimmick and I actually thought it brought the rest of the album down. Fun to listen to something different today though!
Considering this is an attempt to capitalize on the raga rock trends of the 60s, I was expecting it to be more of a gimmick, but the sitar and Moog synth actually work really well together. Incredible production and great playing all around. Probably not something I’ll listen to every day, but I thoroughly enjoyed it
Nice n jammy. Streets of Calcutta (off a different album) is a belter.
Thanks - but no thanks.
Really enjoyed this super fun, genre bending ride. My favorite track was Metamorphosis, a hypnotic jam that felt like a street parade through San Francisco and New Delhi at once. Least favorite was Sagar — at 13 minutes, it overstayed its welcome (but that’s my bias with marathon tracks in any genre). Overall, this album is pure joy, unpretentious, and one more reason to add “India trip” to my bucket list.
some good shit, some not great covers.
Oh my God, those covers are atrocious. I guess I can understand a new artist using something like that to get their foot in the door, but they are so terrible. If I never hear the Jumpin Jack Flash sitar cover again, it will be too soon. We now have AI to give us jokes like that, so in that way I guess this version was a half century ahead of its time. Fortunately, covers aside, this one can be pretty decent background music.
Clearly a skilled musician, but man I really do not care for sitar. The covers are certainly interesting, but the best song is the last one.
The sitar can be a fun appetizer but definitely not a full meal. Fun for a moment but it gets overwhelming quick!
Funky vibes
The Sitar is at best a complimentary instrument, and even then a little goes a long way. Hard to make it all the way through this one.
interesting at times, but often redundant. the covers were pretty cool, but over all, not for me.
This was fun until it wasn’t. Then it was annoying.
Different!
DNF, got a headache
Much more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. Stones cover is not good but snow flower was and the doors cover was great. Mamata is a bit of a sleeper (negative) and metamorphosis is good but starts to get into the how much drone is too much drone conversation (I like drone a lot). Ocean starts great but it just keeps going. Should have been a 4 minute track not 12. Indra sounds like the most stereotypical Indian/desert scene in every movie song, and maybe it set that stereotype. Not a negative. Raghupati was a good closer but not that interesting. Feelin a 3.
Does this album deserve to be on this list? It doesn't feel like it, but I didn't hate it. I was definitely tired of the sitar by the end of it, but I did enjoy the diversity with it being included in this list. Idk I'm landing between a strong 2 or weak 3. Felt like I was crossing the desert for 40 mins
The Indian songs on here were far better than the sitar versions of rock/pop numbers,.which were frankly terrible, especially the Light My Fire cover. Would be a stronger score if they'd skipped these. Going to average a four for Sagar and similar with a one/two for the western music to get three
I appreciated the covers on Jumpin' Jack Flash and Light My Fire in that they didn't solely rely on the sitar to make it unique. The rest of this was just pretty good and I enjoyed the psychedelic vibes. High 3, but not something I'd necessarily come back to.
This was a delightfully psychedelic ride through sitar country. I wasn't "blown away" in any sense until I got to Sagar (The Ocean). Absolutely loving the vibes of this one -- reminds me of some more avant garde electronica of the modern day (e.g., Nicolas Jaar). I didn't really care for the Jumpin' Jack Flash cover, but Light My Fire is fantastic. Other standouts for me were Snow Flower and Metamorphosis; the latter of which has some wonderful synth elements. High 3 for me. Not something I'll come back to immediately, but glad to have gone on the trip.
This album rocked. Metamorphosis and Sagar were incredible.
That was some really awesome trippy sitar! Could see this being music made today as well. The couple of covers that were on here that I knew were very cool versions of them. Kind of got lost with which songs were which but I really liked all of them. Raghupati with the singing was a great way to end it.
Damn thought this was gonna just be straight sitar for awhile, but the synths on Jumpin' Jack Flash are sick. What an awesome cover. Cover of Light My Fire is also excellent. Psychedelic af. Sagar is a fun one. I would absolutely trip to this at night and it would be delightful with the wind noises. This was solid.
LMAO Why is this in the list???
I dig the rock covers and enjoyed the longer stoner sitar pieces too. I'm glad ive heard this - never had. Probably the only version of Light My FIre I need to hear again, lol.
The covers felt pointless and the whole album was very similar. If it was like half the time it wouldn't be so bad. But the same sounds over and over get old
better than I thought it would be, but not good enough to re-listen.
Part of the reason I enjoy this project is that it sometimes introduces me to music I otherwise would have never discovered, the other is that it gets me thinking about the history and progression of modern music. This album definitely fits in the former. By 1970 when this album was released, many musicians, like David Crosby, Jimmy Page and George Harrison had commented on their love of Indian music, with artists incorporating raga-like elements into their music, albeit sometimes with modern instrumentation. For the most part, this album explores the reverse, letting modern rock and pop take the lead, but incorporating the sitar. Of coarse this was not the first use of the sitar in modern music. The dream-like sounds of the instrument lends itself to psychedelic rock so well that many artists had already incorporated the sitar into their recordings. However, I’m not aware of any psychedelic album at the time where the instrument takes to lead throughout. This experiment created a unique album that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to, so much so that I’ve also started exploring his later music, which I recommend if you enjoyed listening to this album. For the most part, I enjoyed the originals better than the covers, but I can see why the artist and producers felt the need to give the listeners something familiar to hold onto. That said, the covers are incorporated smoothly and like I said previously the entire album is pretty solid. I suffer from depression and have found relief through psychedelic therapy. My sessions often utilize music without lyrics and I’m definitely pulling some tracks like “Sagar (The Ocean)” into my playlist. I deeply regret not being able to see Shankar perform with Hendrix, which actually happened, can you imagine?
Listenable enough. Spoiled by a bit of god bollocks at the end but goes with the territory I suppose.
It was decent. A bit long winded at times. More listenable than her uncle's stuff.
Thought the satar covers were cool, some songs were either originals or I didn’t recognise the song being covered. Some songs were far too frantic and unenjoyable to listen to. Hanna hated it
3/5
Non male, una buona chitarra. Però non 100%
старая скучная индейская залупа
Great, love the unique style of classic songs.
Any 30 seconds of this album will fit perfectly over that scene in the movie when the British/American rock band takes drugs for the first time and their minds start to expand. I can only take away a star here because I probably won't listen to most of this again. But "Snow Flower," "Mamata," "Metamorphosis"....... these are just excellent. The covers are fun and novel and kitschy, but there is legitimately great music here - if you're willing to brave the wild world of sitars. But the honest truth is I'm probably not most of the time. THREE STARS
Whilst the playing was high quality, this was not good. The covers really are one trock ponies that do not stand up at all. The original stuff was better but this is no more than a bad idea.
It's no wonder that lots of fun was being had in the sixties. Most of this made me want to dance around in a psychedelic kaftan, bare-footed of course. It's groovy as anything, and I'm here for it, drawn in by the fabulous, whirling cross-rhythms. The production actually seemed really fresh; as clear as anything. Most enjoyable.
I wanted to like this more than I did. The cover of Jumping Jack Flash was fun-as was the combination of sitar and electronic instruments. The last (or next to last) piece with the spoken word was not engaging-overall the album has potential but was uneven and-for me, at times-boring. I am glad I listened to it, but probably wouldn’t revisit it. Properly 2.5, but as I cannot see returning to it, will round down for now.
Interesting and cool. I could never rate it 5, but very listenable as background music.
Me suele gustar el sitar en algunas canciones para darle cierto toque exótico, pero escuchar un disco entero basado en este instrumento se me hace bastante duro. No puedo evitar pensar que está en la lista por el viaje que hicieron los Beatles a India a fines de los 60. 2/5
I appreciated the idea behind this, but I just don't really want to listen to a full album of sitar.
Fun record!
This was perfectly alright. Sitar heavy and largely instrumental.
That was kinda cool. I liked their take on Jumpin Jack Flash.
Well, who would have thought that sitar would blend well with western pop music? Certainly not me. Turns out I was proven right, as this is a real stinker. It gets a little better once we've been through the torturous renditions of Rolling Stones and the Doors classics. It doesn't get a lot better though to be fair. I'm going with two stars, which feels a little generous.
This is why I love this generator/list. Would never have listened to this in a million years. Listening to light my fire on the sittar was lovely
Jumping Javinder Flash .
ananda shankar
Just fine. The covers were meh, and the sitar was good, but not great. Soft 2-2.5 stars.
4.4
I enjoyed this. Indian classical music is always an acquired taste but this fusion with western music is a good stepping stone for me.
Kinda fun.
Not that it's a bad record but it certainly had a time and place.
Mamata was my least favorite so far. I liked light my fire. I didn’t finish it. I liked it though! I’d listen to it again!
Surprisingly Beatles-ey. But with sitar instead of voice. Holy shit this is a bop. Jumpin Jack Flash is UNREAL. This version is better than the original. Snow Flower was beautiful, the descending bends at the end were killer. Really cool and unique take on light my fire. Mamata is a really fun beach-y track. Makes me want a Pima colada or mojito and to go to the beach. Metamorphosis is just super cool, the interplay between the synth and sitar is really chill. The build in this one is really really nice. The climax feels very earned. Sagar is very eerie. Almost alien to my ears because I’m not used to listening to Raga very much. The repeating synth line in the back is very very scary. The guitar coming in at the eight minute mark is very relaxing and satisfying to finally get past the turbulent waters of the intro. HOLY FUCK HE USED THE REPEATING RAGA RIFF/RHYTHM AND MADE A ROCK GROOVE OUT OF IT OH MY GOD. The voice at the start of dance Indra scared the fuck out of me. This song is very almost prophetic of early gangsta rap. The repeating low synth bass notes with the sitar on top is very 90s sounding. Super hippy intro into raghupati. I liked the tone of that better than I liked the call and response back and forth kinda a mood killer honestly with how sick that intro sounded. After that the repeated vocal into the fade out was an amazing ending. What an incredible experience of an album that was. Just a masterpiece of genre blend of 70s rock mixed with traditional Indian sitar and raga. Very wonderful to listen to. I will be coming back again. Five stars.
Sitar aside, this is incredibly weird. And, on this 1001 albums list, weird is oft-unrecognized. 3*, Ananda, 3*!!
This is album is a fun listen. It's a playful fusion of Eastern and Western sounds with a unique charm. It’s a creative project that’s easy to enjoy and has some memorable moments. Still, it’s not something I’d call essential listening. Interesting and enjoyable, yes, but far from a must-hear classic.
Thought the psychedelic blend of eastern and western music was cool for a bit until I got bored with it halfway through. The last song was pretty memorable but that’s about it. Still solid playing.
Well that was weird.
Yes, this is a bit kitsch, but I think there is a real bridging of cultures at a time when that was something very new, and I think that the covers serve as a good part of that bridge, smartly placed at the front of the album, leading the listener into the deeper and more interesting stuff towards the end. I find the album very listenable and enjoyable for all that it is.
Ideja zvuči interesantno, na papiru volim fuzije naizgled teško spojivih stvari. I sitar je vrlo zanimljiv instrument. Međutim, nakon nekog vremena stvarno počinje ubijati, i shvatam da je sitar bolji u malim dozama.
So good. Love this. Al green, Shirley Bassey and Ananda Shankar all have AMAZING covers of light my fire. Also is you like this you should check out the track 'streets of Calcutta' by Shankar.
fucking shred it ananda
Surprisingly good
Well, this is... Far different than I was expecting. And I guess it explains what that mess on the right side of the cover is. See, I was out here expecting this to be another traditional sounding Hindustani classical album, in the same vein as CALL OF THE VALLEY or (to use a very fitting comparison point) THE SOUNDS OF INDIA. And if it **had** been that, I probably woulda been perfectly fine with this album. Given it a pass, though with the acknowledgement that at this point I've heard it before. No, no, no, no, no. That's not what this album is at all. I mean, it is kind of, yeah, but to act like it's just raga sitar music is to ignore what I consider to be the **real** star here: the **Moog synthesizer**. You don't understand how much I love the Moog synthesizer. I am **all** about those records that were put out in the late 60's and early 70's, where they'd have the thing flart out versions of classical compositions, Christmas carols and Beatles songs. They were novelties, and they were incredibly kitschy, but damn it, I love them so much. To my ears, it's just such an irresistibly fun sound. Seriously, go check out The Moog Cookbook when you get the chance; they put out two albums in the 90's putting grunge and classic rock songs through the same ringer. Back on topic, though. So, if you were to tell me that there was an album combining the sitar and Moog synthesizer, I'd already be interested. But on top of that: that they're **also** refracting "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Light My Fire" through these things? Oh, I am so very, very, very down for it. It sounds so much like those Moog records I love, and it's **amazing**. And while I'd say the album peaks with the covers, the rest of the record goes along pretty dang well, I gotta say. It's where the thing shifts from MOOG PLAYS THE BEATLES to MOTHER EARTH'S PLANTASIA, and as someone who used to wake up to that album, of course I'd be willing to give this my seal of approval. It's just such an interesting and unique combination, that I can even mostly look past how the 13-minute "Sagar (The Ocean)" kinda stalls out for a while at some point. I'll tell you, this combination is **not** going to be for everyone. Despite Ananda's intentions, it can come across as kitschy and like a novelty, and if you're just not in the headspace for that kinda thing... I get it, honestly. For me, though, as I've made it very clear, I am so in favor of it. Like, all I'm saying is, for combining an old tradition with a modern instrument, it could have gone **way** worse than it did here. S'all I'm thinking.
Indian tunes mixed with pop is a nice combo. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump down to a 3, though I really wish I didn’t have to. The album forced my hand, though. I liked 6 of the 8 tracks here, honestly. “Dance Indra” is ultimately just fine; totally nice listen, but rather plain. I respect Ananda Shankar’s mission statement on the cover of this album, and for the most part, his goal to combine Western music, “modern” electronic devices, & Indian music through the sitar, which his dad arguably made palatable & famous to American audiences, is really successful here. The first 5 tracks of this album, including the covers of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” & “Light My Fire”, alongside the banger that is “Metamorphosis”, are a great listen, and “Raghupati” brings back the energy at the end. All in all, those 6 tracks would probably be at a 4.5 for me, one that I might be compelled to round up, since “Dance Indra” isn’t even bad to me. It is all brought down to hell by Track 6, “Sagar (The Ocean)”, which isn’t even necessarily that bad of a track, but is so painfully, utterly boring that it screeches the momentum of the first 5 tracks to a grinding, 13-minute halt that feels like listening to a deflated balloon in slow motion. I truly love the way it starts, and the opening 2 minutes of it show incredible potential. I just didn’t get any sense of musical progression out of it, at least not for the first… god, 7:40-ish of that track? If you’ve gone 7:40 without any audible progression to the ear, then you haven’t made wallpaper music, you’ve made blackout music. The lights have gone out, the crowd is confused, and you can’t see the sheet music in front of you, so you just stick to the most basic tones & riffs imaginable until the lights start to come back on. The lights do go back on in that track, but they come in so late (like, the 10:20 mark of a 13-minute track??), that the vibe is already dead at this performance. I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that this is the single-most album-stopping track there has been on a single one of the 544 albums we’ve gotten to so far, at least to my ears. Am I overreacting because I got bored? Yeah, maybe. Is it possible that I just didn’t enter an intended zen state & the track just felt like it droned on because of it? Yeah, that’s definitely possible, but after the energy of the first 5 tracks, my brain wasn’t prepared to go into that vibe. Was there more to the track that my ears simply didn’t pick up on? Possibly, but it did feel like algorithmically generated sitar tones over a droning synth loop for 7 minutes, so if there was more in that first portion, I wasn’t very compelled to listen for it. Hell, if it only knocked down the album by a point to my ears, was it really THAT bad? I guess not, but it was just that fucking stale to me that I don’t think I can give this album a bump up to a 4. So, despite my rather regretful 3, I do highly recommend this album. Just skip “Sagar (The Ocean)” and you’ll get a really competent 27 minutes of great sitar work mixed with Western instrumentation that probably earns at least a 4, if not a 5, especially if it just clicks that nicely for you. It did for me, but… damn, that track is a momentum killer.
For a moment, I thought I was in Shifting Sand Land in "Super Mario 64" because of that intense sitar. I only wish this album had a bit more versatility. This is my second straight day I've listened to an album from outside of a Western Nation. To be honest, I'm all for it. Favorite Track: "Raghupati".
Really fun and interesting. Definitely not for everyone, but it surely is for me!
Surprisingly enjoyable. I thought the Moog and the sitar covers would get corny but I enjoyed it the entire album throughout actually. Well, I grew up with similar sounds. Maybe that helps.
Quite interesting, slept badly again this night
Not my thing at all
Overall I didn’t really like this.
I actually quite liked this. It seems to have been trying to capitalize on the craze of incorporating sitars into everything during the 60s, but in this case you obviously have a trained sitarist and it definitely shows compared to some of the psychadelic nonsense I've been exposed to this far. Does it work as Indian/rock fusion? Yeah, a little. If you're in the mood. If you don't like the sitar you'll kill yourself trying to get through it, but I don't mind it. The synth was used rather lighthandedly and was pretty cool. I dont know how I feel about the two covers on the album; they were ok, but not among my favorite tracks. My favorites were "Metamorphosis" with the raging sitar leading over some tight drumming, and "Dance Indra." The 13 minute centerpiece of the album "Sagar" did not really hit with me, unfortunately. It was way more free-form and improvy than the rest of the album, and just seemed to wander forever. It's a cool piece of history but doesn't have a whole lot of relistening value. I liked my time with it and it would be a 6 or 7 out of 10 for me, so a solid 3 stars.
Some indian dude playong western covers Nah
What da. This album is fire actually. First song is immediately a banger. What's this? The second song? Also a banger? How on earth do you blend these two worlds of music so well??? What it transitioned to the next song already Honestly 5/5. Very great tunes, I'll be putting this consistently on repeat. 8.5/10. But I'm rouding up to 9.
Ananda Shankar by Ananda Shankar is, quite frankly, not for me. Despite only running to around 40 minutes, it felt like a bit of a slog to get through. At its core, this is a novelty record, taking well-known Western songs and reinterpreting them through the sitar. It sounds interesting in theory, but in practice it didn’t land. The fusion feels more gimmicky than innovative, and the arrangements don’t have enough depth or energy to keep you engaged. Favourite track: If I had to pick one, Jumpin’ Jack Flash stands out, mainly for the novelty of hearing The Rolling Stones in this style Least favourite tracks: The rest of the album blurred together and didn’t leave much of an impression Album artwork: Like the music, it didn’t really resonate and feels quite dated Overall, this might appeal to fans of experimental fusion or musical curiosities, but it missed the mark for me
pretty cool. not too much original things
The Sitar is a beautiful instrument and Shankar is pretty damn masterful with it. There are other elements of sound on this album, including percussion, acoustics, vocals on the last track and so on. I love his interpolations of songs and melodies, Light My Fire was like the perfect cover; I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did. While these tracks are incredibly fun and meandering, they do come across as musical wallpaper with some psych-prog elements with traditional flair. Mamata is probably my favorite song on this album just because of how damn breezy and whimsical it sounds. Metamorphosis is psychedelic as hell and even gives me some Ashra vibes. Very psych, much prog, Sitar grooves for the mind and soul.
Not really captivating, pretty forgettable, nothing interesting besides Rolling Stones in a sitar - which I'm not really sure is that interesting.
mix of western rock music with indian traditional, sitar player; includes RS and doors remixes, some bright psychedelic
cool ideas, cool execution.
Interesting album, but the covers blow
Damnit - now I want Indian food
Started strong. Loved the Rolling Stones and Doors covers. Lost me a bit as it went on.
Great instruments but wouldn’t listen for 40 minutes
Interesting.
Interesting
I wanted to like this but it’s really goofy.
I wish the whole thing was like the last three tracks. They are fantastic. The version of Light My Fire almost ruins it.
Blahhhhhhh.
That was fun. Snow Flower was beautiful. I just thought Sagar took too long to go anywhere.
Überraschung! Weltmusik meets Rock! Cool, aber irgendwann eintönig!
Not really for me. Skilled and talented I’m sure, but largely the music washed over me. The cover versions have some novelty value.
I didn't like this record. I feel like it's technically interesting, and I have no doubts the Sitar playing is pretty good. But it fails to be an entertaining record beyond that, it's monotonous and it felt a bit gimmicky. I didn't enjoy listening to it, and I don't think I'll come back to it.
If you see the name Shankar and don't think sitar you haven't been paying attention. This album is awesome. I usually enjoy world music and this one was a highly enjoyable listen.
This is so so so so dated. It's like music in the background of the psychedelic portion of a Monkees biopic. I really don't feel like I NEED to hear sitar covers of Rolling Stones songs.
Nett, aber nervt nach kurzer Zeit.
A couple of good covers
Pretty cool!
Metamorphosis was my favorite song, but I didn't vibe with some of them. 5/10
Aurinkoinen sitra-coveriloittelu! Hymy tuli huulille.
...
The first half, especially the covers, are kitschy but fun. By the end though something has shifted a bit, so I relistened to side 2. The Ocean starts a bit goofy but slowly turns into something more interesting, and the next 2 songs are solid if not a little too polished jazz fusion. I'm pretty sure there's some banjo on the last track, though it's not in the track listing at all, so maybe just the sitar sounding like a banjo? It's a good idea either way, but maybe it's my idea! Anyways, just feels like things were heading in the right direction but altogether too tied up with crowd pleasing to really launch.
The covers here are super interesting. They sound familiar and yet very different. I'm a big fan of sitar so I greatly enjoyed this. Adding in the Moog at points was a very interesting choice as well.
In terms of this websites rating scale, a 4 I guess for importance. More like a 3 for my personal enjoyment which wavered a bit.
Better than most of the other sitar songs I have heard
Interesting
This album subjected me to two fundamental revelations. The first was just what can be achieved by a talented sitar player, which, as I haven't listened to that much sitar music, made for an interesting step in the development of my musical appreciation. The second revelation was that I can only enjoy sitar music in small doses, and this album represented a bit of an overdose. Nothing wrong with it, just too much sitar in one sitting. Thank you!
Hello, would you like to listen to rock covers on the sitar? You'd expect the answer to that question to be a look of abject horror and a swift knee to the groin, but actually, it turns out I very much would like to listen to this. I'd like that a lot. It's ideal working music, jaunty, tuneful but not in the way.
One or two sitar songs is fine, but an album gets old.
can’t even lie i messed with these sitar rock tunes. hugeeeee fan of the sitar. i really liked the cover of “light my fire”. i think this is a super cool intersection of genres! he SHREDS in “metamorphosis”. lowkey an easy 4/5.
Something different, I enjoyed the change of pace
the sitar slaps
Not terrible. Just weird
Outside of a couple skips, this album gave me some genuine 'wow' moments, and generally felt like water in the midst of a year-long drought. Let's get the big ones out of the way, there are two classic rock covers on here. "Light My Fire" isnt all that appealing to me, it doesnt heighten or altar the song in any remarkable way. But the "Jumpin Jack Flash" cover to open the album was spectacular, setting the tone for the album as a whole. The colorful, textured, slightly psycadelic sound of his sitar playing lead on here, combined with that whirly synth arp in the background - it's a hit (and makes the album cover seem so fitting). "Mamata (Affection)" was a very fun time, the bossanova guitar under a wandering sitar sounded like relaxing on a beach in India. But the best song here is easily "Sagar (The Ocean)". This song is masterful. A little while ago, I voiced my frustrations over a lengthy song on a dulldrum album (which I cant even remember currently). I said that just because you can do a long jammer doesn't mean you SHOULD do a long jammer. "Sagar" feels like a song so powerful that it was meant to happen, Ananda Shankar was just the messenger. The way this opus starts out in slow disarray and methodically brings together a long-winding sitar solo with those three acoustic chords under it -- chefs kiss! Despite the 13 minute length, I happily listened to this song again before doing this review. Those aforementioned 'wow' moments were frequent during this song. "Dance Indra" had the impossible task of following that up, but it was a cool song in its own right for how mysterious, upright, and regal it sounded. Lastly, I liked the messaging of "Raghupati" a lot. I dont know how culturally relevant this was in the states back when it released, or if it is even considered honest-to-goodness Indian music from listeners in India - I'd love to hear what they have to say about it. But to me, this was a great time. I wish so badly for more diversity like this, I could go without a few post-punk, 90's slow rock, or even 60's psych-rock albums and replace them with music from all over the world. Earned a big 4/5 stars
bah
What a dream this was, blending Western and Indian music. It's almost as if he's created a new form of music entirely that has yet to be named. It's both melodious and touching at the same time, the sound produced by combining the most modern electronic devices with the old traditional instrument, the Sitar!
A rich blend of indian classical music, western pop and rock. The first half has covers of The Rolling Stones' Jumpin' Jack Flash and The Doors' Light My Fire along with some melody based sitar pop tracks. The second half is full on trippy. Metamorphosis had elements of noise rock. Sagar (The Ocean) is a 13 minute psychedelic trip. Dance Indra was a haunting with it's heavy moog synth bass. Raghupati was a good closer. Liked it. Very listenable. 40 minutes went by fast. The ratings should have half stars as well. This one is a 3.5
Meh. Some tracks were alright, but that light my fire cover was garbage and kinda ruined the mood
save to library, reminds me of some sitar songs from beatles, 60s in general, i like