Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Couldn’t stop smiling. I was so delighted by these covers. Really fun but a bit monotonous after a while
I like sitar music. Ananda's father, Ravi Shankar, is a high bar to reach. But there wasn't enough tabla here, and... Aside from the last track, this sounds like something you'd hear at a head shop in the 70s. The covers of "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Light My Fire" seem a little out of place. "Light My Fire" doesn't have the classic organ riff until the end, which seems odd. And "Jumping Jack Flash" sounds more like "Satisfaction" to me. The 13 minute "Ocean" was more repetitive than anything else. I was expecting more of a build to a conclusion, and it just... ended. Maybe you just had to be there. And maybe you had to be stoned to be there. Top tracks: "Snow Flower," "Metamorphosis," "Raghupati"
It was kind of interesting at first, but the novelty also wore off. I thought the Jumpin Jack Flash cover was neat but I was bored with the Light My Fire cover. Metamorphosis was solid as it twisted and turned over 7 minutes, and I especially liked the faster-paced end of the song. But then I wasn't nearly as intrigued with (and didn't need) the 13 minute Sagar. His uncle is far better, which is probably why I know the name Ravi and not Ananda Shankar.
Groovy, baby! Yeah! Very 60s. It was actually a fun (if cheesy and dated) listen. Still, I'm a sucker for crossover music and I wouldn't mind listening again. Favorite tracks: Jumping Jack Flash, Snow Flower, Sagar (The Ocean) - particularly the end - the intro was way too long but at least sounded cool, Dance Indra (I thought it was pretty weird at first - it was, but a cool weird), Raghupati (especially the end, like an Indian Hey Jude).
Good vibes. Is this like a sitar pop cover album? Probably won't play actively but could be good as just chill background music for hanging out or whatever
Bold move to open your debut album by absolutely murdering a modern classic. The original pieces were a little better.
While I appreciate the inclusion of this album in a list of important albums, this really wasn't for me. The most interesting part were the covers of Jumpin Jack Flash and Light My Fire. The two covers did a decent job melding the rock and Indian music though for me, it was only ok at best. Overall I am glad I heard this but am glad I also won't listen to it again.
Pretty cool to listen to once, but not much I'd repeat
The covers at the start are a little tacky, but it really kicks off once you hit the second half. The 13 minute track is a real journey, if the whole thing was like that it would be something special.
Deeply virtuous and a love letter to the sitar.
# 477 : 09/05/2025 : Ananda Shankar I don’t love it, I don't hate it, better than I expected, but not something you'd play to your friends. Metamorphosis
It's pretty interesting. I like the Stones and Doors covers actually and the blend of rock is nice, I've only ever heard one other Indian album but this is solid
no
I hated the covers and I loved the rest of the record. Cool instrumental stuff, very psychedelic.
That was a fun listen
Komische indische Rythmen.
This is one of those albums that was probably incredibly innovative in it's blending of genres but just doesn't hold up today. I don't even want to hear the Doors play Light My Fire, why would I want to hear a cover of it?
very interesting listened to this mid crash out which was insane really like i would never go out of my way to listen to it but i didn't really hate it
Artiste inconnu. Pas mal en musique d'ambiance, mais guère plus. Le son de sitar devient lassant à la longue. =>2/5
Dig it. Sitar music. The last song is directly religious and I disagree with what is said. But otherwise really enjoyable.
Is this a joke?
Yeah, this whole record is rad af. Very unique. Lots of fun. Really well done. Absolutely influential and inspiring for generations of western musicians.
3-
fine, 2, why is this on the list?
Pre-listening thoughts: well props to the list for recommending me something I’d never seek out on my own Post/during listening thoughts: idk man this is underwhelming. It’s like in the same vein as when you’re at school and your teachers start playing orchestral covers of pop songs. It’s the reverse side of that same coin. The synth is just awful. The sitar is okay. But like this is street performer level quality, like the guy who plays Rock Band drums to accompany pop/rock music at the gas station near my house. Haven’t seen him in a while, miss him 4/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Mamata Least fav tracks: the covers
I enjoyed listening to this. It was nice to hear the sitar for something different. 6/10
I didn't really enjoy this. A lot of it felt the same in a bad way.
wierd but interesting
This was remarkable top to bottom. Really enjoyed the vibe here and will certainly return. 5 stars.
Clear demonstration of talent, but a little goes a long way.
It was interesting, to hear the Indian influences on western songs. I don't know if it was anything that super unique or different, people cover songs and interpret them in their own ways somewhat regularly. Part of me wishes he had leaned even more into his roots to make the songs truly different, but it was okay.
This is perfect music for yoga, tai chi, meditation, the poetry of Rumi, or just spinning around in circles until you see God or barf (whichever comes first). I especially enjoyed the Doors cover. I'm convinced that Metamorphosis is about a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. The fist part is it's happy caterpillar life munching on the green things and crawling along. Then in the middle things get confusing as it goes into it's chrysalis halfway into the song. And the beat gets faster and has to break out while the notes keep stretching to expand it's wings and the rest of the song is about being driven to it's instinct to fly. But that's just my interpretation. Sitars make a beautiful sound and Ananda Shankar really makes it sing.
This would probably be a 5 if I was tripping on acid. The sounds were cool, but I’m not sure I’m cut out for listening to that much sitar in one sitting (or would that be a sittaring?)
tava esperando uma coisa e veio outra completamente diferente?? não foi uma combinação ruim pra ser sincero
ou, legal demais esse, hein. bem mais interessante que o último shankar que passou por aqui!!
The covers and the last song with the English intro and the chanting were gimmicky and trite, although I assume there were pretty valid commercial reasons to include (and bookend the record with) them. Metamorphosis was a five star track, with Sagar (Ocean) close behind. Overall the sound feels kind of dated, which is a little odd for fusion music. I read the Wikipedia summary which noted this was originally intended to be a collaboration with Jimi Hendrix - that made me resent the moog synthesizer that took his place more than was probably fair. Not mad I listened to this album, but I am a little surprised it made this list.
First few songs were fun, I enjoyed the Light my fire cover. But soon afterwards it got pretty boring.
4/10 - I was kind of enjoying the first few sounds but the ocean was just so long and so repetitive that I got annoyed.
A lot of pretty interesting and unexpected stuff on this. Fun listen
3/5 enjoyed it. Mostly instrumental, some covers (like jumping jack flash)
For those who don't know, Ananda Shankar was an Indian sitar player and the nephew of classical musician Ravi Shankar. If that name sounds familiar, it's because his uncle introduced George Harrison, and by extension the larger Western world, to Indian instruments for use in popular music. As a result, bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Yardbirds all combined elements of raga into their rock music throughout the 1960s. Unfortunately, it got to a point where the market became saturated with more formulaic stabs at this combination, and thus interest declined in the raga rock phenomenon. That's where Ananda comes into the picture. After playing with contemporary musicians like Jimi Hendrix in Los Angeles, he traveled back to India to bring Western rock music back to his country for a change. Using sitar, Moog synthesizer, and more standard rock percussion, Ananda created a sound indebted to his country's musical roots while paving his path forward. There are some truly transcendental pieces to be found on his self-titled debut. From the gentle descent of "Snow Flower", the bossa-nova sway of "Mamata (Affection)", the crescendoing progressive rocker "Metamorphosis" that ramped up tempo throughout the track, the 13-minute serenity with the wind blowing in the background of "Sagar (The Ocean)", and the tabla-driven mystique of "Dance Indra", there was excellent sitar and synth play in these compositions. The album ends on a pleasant call-and-response in "Raguhupati", praising a higher deity regardless of the name we use to identify. There is an issue I have with this album, and you might have noticed it towards the beginning. There are two sitar-driven covers of popular rock songs, in this case the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and the Doors' "Light My Fire". These covers were done as a compromise, to ensure that this album could still be marketed to a Western audience with songs loaded in the front that they were already familiar with. Even if it sounded like they tried for more bombast with "Jumpin' Jack Flash", these covers cheapen the overall product. There was an opportunity to push the existing style on this record into more innovative territory. As it stands, though, Ananda Shankar's debut is still a promising album that opened up doors for more world music fusion. Other acts will follow and combine other countries' musical elements into their own, which I'm sure is a fitting legacy for Ananda to have.
Indian cover songs from The Stones and The Doors...
Nothing notable that I could recall.
A two ish? I wouldn't listen again. It wasn't as out-there as I expected. Jumpin Jack Flash isn't too bad on the sitar!
Lite lattjo ändå. Det känns dock, kanske låter konstigt, men lite generiskt. Samma plonk. Det är dock ändå rätt najs i öronen. Behagligt.
Gillade den skarpt i början men lessnade lite mot slutet. Covers ger ju inga pluspoäng heller, men det var rätt behaglig lyssning så en trea är den värd.
More of curio than content itself. I like the idea of blending together the cultural fascination with traditional Indian music via the sitar and the futuristic new Moog synthesizer, but sometimes an idea is a bit ahead of its time. The tech itself isn’t advanced enough to actually execute on Shankar’s vision, and the Moog work is just…fine. Meanwhile, Shankar is a good sitar player, sure, but I wouldn’t say he’s a particularly great composer, which is an entirely different skill, and kind of important when you’re trying to make a good sitar album. I like about half of this record, but in an ephemeral way, not in a way that sincerely blows my mind. And what’s worse is that all the tracks I do like are the brief ones that feel more like sketches. The tracks I don’t like, though, those are a chore. I think both covers stand out as bad– they feel like cheap cash grabs because they were cheap cash grabs forced on Shankar by the label. Sure, he ✨makes it his own✨ with the sitar and Moog, but these basic ‘60s rock session musicians are awkwardly and limply glue-sticked on top, and it just ruins it. “Light My Fire” is the better cover here, but it’s not even close to being worth your time. The other red flag is “Sagar (The Ocean),” which feels like an epic attempt to show off Shankar’s skills as a composer, but again, he isn’t a good composer. This track just circles the drain around the same motifs for 13 exhausting minutes, and there’s no sense of progress, which is an essential quality of any song that’s more than 7 minutes long. I can see how pre-Internet era music nerds hyped this up as a forgotten classic. It’s unique in the way a competent nightcore album would be, and it’s a deep enough cut that it proves to other nerds that you’re actually a digger, like for real. I can see how that attitude landed it a spot in this book; multiple editors probably acted just as I’ve described, especially since they all also seem enamored with the ‘60s psychedelic movement in general to a fault. And this is a fault, because taken at face value, I think knowing that this album exists is more interesting than actually listening to it.
I liked this but I don’t need to listen to it again.
Interesting, especially 'Sagar'
Même critique que tout les albums de sitar ever: très cool au début, incroyablement irritant à la fin. Mais puisque je suis de bonne humeur en ce Lundi de Pâques, j'accorde un 3.
2.8
sitar? I barely know her
Beautiful instruments. Awesome tunes. Very happy to see Indian music represented in this collection.
I’m not a fan of this music but the album grew on me
This started off interesting with the mixing of the sitar with more popular rock songs of the 60's. The second half of the album became a little meandering and less interesting to me. Outside of the combination of keys, new(er) rock music and the sitar, a lot of this album are instrumentals that don't necessarily catch my ear. Probably an album that deserves a spot in the book but not an album that I would revisit.
Something borrowed. Something new. Okay, Ananda Shankar. Almost 4 stars with this.
3.5
Ok
Good album, but it quickly becomes very repetitive. I think the overall sound would've made more of an impact had they shortened the album tracks
Rating: 4/10 Nah.
Listening to this on the home from work made me depressed.
Interesting. A few good tracks. I have always loved the Jumpin' Jack Flash cover. I would grab a cheap copy.
It is okay. Some covers of popular pop music from the time. I am not going to listen to it again, but it was fun to listen to . This 1001 list is funny though. This is on yet SO MANY important and influential albums are not
This is my favorite sitar album ever. On the other hand, it’s also my least favorite. I suppose this one’s a banger…if you like an hour of sitar. Not my cup of tea, but I can recognize the skill. I assume this is Ravi’s daughter, but alas, no Beatles covers.
Not all that interesting, but I liked the final track.
I don’t usually like the sitar, and I think I still don’t like the sitar. However, this is the closest I’ve ever come to liking sitar.
I was ready to write this off as a novelty album after hearing the cover tracks, but it turned out to be a very cool blend of Indian classical and psychedelia.
Bad idea right from the start - a cover of Jumping Jack Flash featuring sitar and MOOG synthesizer. Even if it didn't have sitar, it would be a poor cover. With it the sitar and tabla it's almost too weird to listen to. Two tunes later, and it's Light My Fire. Even weirder. I can understand trying to grab the world music raga wave going on at the time, but, oh, is it embarrassing now. The following Woodstock warning could just as easily apply to this album by substituting 'raga rock music' for 'brown acid'. "The warning that I received, you may take with however many grains of salt you wish, that the brown acid that is circulating around us, is specifically not too good. It's suggested that you do stay away from that; of course, it's your own trip, so, be my guest." ~ Chip Monck ( Woodstock '69 ) Or maybe "Don't listen to this album if you've dropped the brown acid." At least it's no FKA Twigs, so I'll give it ⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 80 🎧 LPs left to review: 921 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 20 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 22
A lot of albums by the Shankars on this list, eh? And it seems that some are more justified in their inclusion than others. Ananda Shankar is on the less justified end. Though in Ananda's case, there are some very specific elements that I feel could be improved to bump it up to a 3-star record or higher. The most noticeable element is the left-right mixing in the tracks Mamata (Affection) and Sagar (The Ocean). For reasons I cannot begin to understand, the sitar is played on-beat in the left ear and repeated about one-third of a beat later in the right ear. And darn it, it's distracting. These two songs ended up being the only two I didn't at least slightly enjoy – but Sagar is 13 minutes long, making up nearly 33% of the album's runtime. Pretty rough. I also wish they had used more vocals and percussion solos in the album, because those have historically been my personal favourite elements of Indian classical music. The opening cover of Jumpin' Jack Flash is so odd that I can't help but be charmed by it. Pumped up, even. It really transforms the sound of the originally straight rock'n'roll piece into something almost wall-of-sound-esque, maybe like a work by Phil Spector. I could see it being played in a stadium for hippie-boomers after their exhausting day smoking weed on a beanbag in a dimly lit apartment. The textures are thick and exciting (helped significantly by the backing vocals, which are great). Really the only big problem is the sitar's melody sounding a whole lot clumsier than the vocal melody in the original song. Sitar just doesn't work with static melodic lines, and the song (or part of it) ends up sounding more like a silly parody of the Stones than a faithful emulation. It's still a solid performance, though, and is probably the strongest single track on the album. Light My Fire is a more questionable cover, seeing as the thick vocal texturing is abandoned and you're forced to listen to the melody. Which is fine, by the way – but not on a sitar. The Doors did it better. 2/5 Key tracks: Jumpin' Jack Flash, Snow Flower
A refreshing listen with a couple of strong highlights - Jumping Jack Flash, especially
Don’t get it
George brought the sitar from India to the West, Ananda rode that wave! Turns out I can only take so much of the sitar and raga rock, better in small doses. Dance Indra was most enjoyable. This album did transport me to my impression of India for a brief 40 minutes. (2.4*s)
This sitar fusion album was better than anticipated. Who knew a sitar could shred. I enjoyed this for the most part but it ran a little long. There's some high points that do well to create an atmosphere of traditional Indian street markets (or an opium tent) but the fact that the covers are the stronger tracks tells you something about the album in general. Still happy for the listen and exposure. 2.35 for Ravi-nephew.
Pretty cool fusion album. The sitar brings the trippiness to any song and I always like when it is featured. Sounds even better when paired with the Moog synthesizer. I enjoyed the two covers most and was hoping for a Zep one with "Sagar" but unfortunately got a dragged out traditional Indian song instead. Overall a nice 40 mins...2.28.
Sitar is an instrument that I respect the hell out of and enjoy in small doses. Unfortunately that doesn't always translate to appreciation of Indian, or other sitar-lead music. It's cool in doses but doesn't keep me hooked most of the time. It's not often that sitar crosses over into American rock, but every now and then it effectively does so. There are a handful of incredible examples (Do It Again - Steely Dan, some Beatles stuff) but those are relatively few and far between. Ananda Shankar manages to bridge the gap pretty well with his debut album. The Jumping Jack Flash and Light My Fire tracks are cool for offering an alternate take on some familiar songs. Other parts of the album feature some good example of some sitar-fusion. The longer more traditional tracks are the weakest part of the album for me but I can appreciate them on a single listen. I don't think I'll delve any deeper into Ananda Shankar but I'm glad I had an excuse to listen to this even if it isn't the strongest entry on the list. 2.23 stars
Bunch of covers of western songs using a Moog and Indian instruments. Not very exciting. I can imagine it was a very different sound back in the day but has not aged well.
The covers were interesting. The rest was mostly all the same. Why is this on here.
The sitar does not do Light My Fire any favors. This all sounds to me like embellished elevator music.
I appreciate the effort, but I prefer actual ragas from unc.
I went in expecting to love this, since I'm a sucker for Indian fusion music and Streets of Calcutta is one of my very favourite tracks, so imagine my surprise when this was... kind of mid? There's some good stuff, but a lot of the "fusion" is either mediocre covers or of the "man plays sitar while radio-friendly pop of the 70s is also here" form. And that's not even mentioning the closing track and its take that all your gods are actually Lord Ram in a hat, which sure is. A theological position you could take
In a twist that will surprise nobody, i really liked the traditional music in this and hated the pop song covers. As there’s only two of them, I can keep to a four star rating.
I mean, what can you say? He's a master of the instrument, the songs are great (though I'm not completely sold on the covers personally), Sagar is a blissful tune to unwind to, definitely worth being on this list
no debe haber sido fácil llegar a esta mezcla de Este y Oeste en esos años. Claro, ahora escuchamos el cover de Jumpin' Jack Flash y suena como incontables otros covers que llenan los bytes de Spotify en esas listas creadas por algoritmia impersonal y avaricia, pero seguro que insertar el Sitar en medio de música rock popular no fue ni fácil ni obvio. De ahí que la experiencia resulte en un disco que aguante múltiples escuchas hay una gran distancia que para mí caso resulta insalvable. En cualquier caso, gracias a este proyecto puedo decir que he escuchado mi primer disco de Ananda Shankar, al que no habría llegado si no fuera el caso.
Sugar (The Ocean) is pretty good.
Ihan suht vinkeästi etenki rockista kunnon jumitukseen. Ei vain jaksa aktiivisesti kiinnostaa mua 40 minuuttia.
Lännen ja Intian suuri kohtaaminen kuulostaa turisteille kaupiteltavalta CD:ltä (ks. Jumpin' Jack Flash ja Light My Fire sitarilla tulkittuina). Yksi 13-minuuttinen jami herätti sympatiaa, mutta en usko ottavani sitäkään tehosoittoon. 1,5
I preface my remarks by saying I don't like the sitar anyway, but this is just lobby music.
Yeah nah. Sitar, big no no. Annoying after a minute. mhm No thanks Ananda
an extremely different and perhaps inherently less "respectable" presentation of indian music to a western audience than the ravi shanker album i got a while back...mapping the instrumental palate onto what is mostly western popular music structures, including two cover songs (from the rolling stones and the doors). the lengthy Sagar is the clearest nod to more traditional form, but even then it doesnt seem super crazy in a psych rock context (tho the genre was often v influenced by south asian music ofc). honestly i love this KGJGKG like to a kind of ridiculous degree. the bizarrely maligned covers are v interestingly arranged and set a great template for the other more western tracks, which with vocals and another arrangement style could have made up a beloved rock record all on their own, the melodies are sooooo quality!! and sagar is as beautiful and engrossing of a departure as i could ask for. ppl might whine about the v Existence of this music and theres prob not nothing to it but every part of this from the note on the cover to the clear effort to make the music as good as possible makes it feel sincere and even moving. and god its just great great nourishing music...underrated classic!!!
pitää ananda kovaa luotia koko albumin ajan, mutta sitten tulee heikkoa luotia maailam jumaluudet biisissä… paha..
Very cool. Listened to Sagar practically all day (I wish the last part of it took a larger portion of the song or was extended).
As someone who seeks out albums that are rare gems, I was stunned that I had not heard this album, nor even heard of it. An awesome merge of Eastern Sitar and Popular Western music tropes. Familiar enough to Western listeners to follow the path, but mysterious enough to cause actual wonder and delight at every unexpected turn.
What the actual fuck...
Have there been any studies with neurodivergent people and their response to this style of music? It makes my ADHD brain focus and gives me a nice happy dopamine hit. I’m not cruising with the homies jammin this album, but I think it could help me clean the house.
Very good album if you are on LSD, not for listening on a monday morning at work....
Interesting but not great
Exactly what I expected.
Ind jjf
Good novelty album
Really wanted to like this but it was generally middling sitar playing with some synths thrown in. The covers made me want to rate a 1 because they sounded like bad "Sitar Hero" versions, but Metamorphosis and Sagar both elevated it. 2.4/5 -> 2/5
Skeptical at first, I did research on it a little bit and suprisingly I adore it's sound. I instantly loved the cover of light my fire and a very romantic sounding mamata. When I read that this album uses the sitar as well as the ever present incorporation of classical indian music I can help but feel the same way how I felt and loved the album roots by sepultura. I know that it's a totally different comparison in so many ways but the incorporating of these native sounds, how sepultura incorporated tribal brazilian music to metal music is how I see this album. Adding traditional or classical sounds of a native country and pairing it with modern instruments like electric guitars and syths is a first a worst pairing but ends up as a match made in heaven
It's not bad, but cover albums do not belong here
I'm not sure I like sitar covers
Fuck yes. Sick blend of Indian sitar music and and western rock influences. Jumpin’ jack flash cover blew my mind. A couple of the more traditional ones didn’t quite work for me on first listen but still overall banging.
Covers but replace all the vocals with zither track.... Neat concept
I like this sooo much more than the Western bands who just sampled a sitar every now and then in the 70s. I am reviewing from a Western perspective, so maybe I see it differently because the Western elements sound more 'neutral' to me, but I feel like this was an actual well-considered blend of styles. It takes the Indian-Western pop fusion to something a bit more than a fad, which I always feel it is to some extent. Plus I did fully vibe
Veered dangerously close to Pan Pipe Moods territory at times but I do enjoy a sitar
Verbindung von westlichen Pop und indischer Musik. Interessant, aber etwas zu exotisch für mich.
Absolute sitar master. I love Indian ragas, incredible sounds. I’m into the covers of rock songs of the time too—they are arguably improved.
Fascinating and beautiful. Sitar is such a fun instrument and I adored hearing it speaking my musical language
Cool sound, but it gets boring quickly
Fine
2.5/5
Entertaining in small bursts , but really feels like a novelty record. 2.5
Wasn’t keen on this. Felt like a novelty act
Beautiful background music
Anada Skankar was a sitar player, and the nephew of the renowned sitarist Ravi, who released psychedelic versions of Western rock. His work has an Indian sound, for he sitar and supporting instrumentation, and included frequent use of synthesizers, adding electronic soundscapes to the tracks. The album includes some famous covers - "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Light My Fire" - with a collection of original tracks. The covers, and the connections, brought this work some fame.; the music is good, but not particularly great...
I love the way the sitar uses drones that create a contrast between on the one hand the continutiy of that sound which works amazingly along with the rhythms to create a deep trance like state while, on the other hand, and the changing melodic phrases and intensification of speed/tone create a layer of tension and release through each song. This album works up sitar arrangements of familiar 60s rock classics - kind of corny, but makes sense as familiarizing bridging element introducing western listeners to a set of sounds they'd known for a couple of years as a means to give rock an exotic twist.
Definitely not my type of music but very interesting even still. Did end up enjoying most of it.
I was in the mood for psychedelic rock, so this album was quite perfect. I had never heard of the man, even if I'm of course familiar with his uncle. But it was a very pleasant if slightly strange listening session. When closing my eyes, I could just picture the spirit of the hippie 70s in my head. This album has a massive potential as background music to set the mood, and I'll probably use it like that. (Really liked the sitar, and that cover of Jumping Jack Flash).
eh, not for me
Fire
1.5/5
Starts out with a bonkers psychedelic sitar cover of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and doesn't let you go from there, It even throws in another cover, this time The Doors' "Light My Fire" and you're all like, "WHAT THE FUCK Y'ALL?!?!?", properly questioning which timeline you slipped into...
Really interesting mix of sitar songs, with a variety of moods. I enjoyed this the most of all indian music so far. Stand-out: Metamorphosis, Raghupati
The sitar is such an intense instrument that listening intently to an album of it can be overwhelming, sometimes in a good, powerful way, but overall, for me, in a way that batters my senses. Nice to have a range of cultural influences across my albums though, even if I'm not entirely on board.
I kind of enjoyed this! Not something I'd ever grab and listen to lol - but pretty cool for a different sound. I enjoyed the couple covers and enjoyed hearing some different culture of music. Do not think this should be on some all time greatest list anywhere lol - but entertaining none the less.
Think I’m going to have to learn how to play a sitar so I can sit in my living room and just jam out with it all the time now. This album was just fun. I loved everything about it. Starting with the covers by the Stones and the Doors, then just jamming out with the sitar all every single song was awesome. I was bobbing my head to everyone and I would do it again. This was such an amazing introduction to this type of unique sound and I’m so happy I was able to find it.
I enjoyed this. The sitar is one of the coolest instruments and the ability to layer and create resonance with it is unlike anything in western music. I can totally turn this on in the background while I’m working. Ananda is technically a nepo baby as his uncle Ravi is the famous sitarist who George Harrison learned from but we’ll let that slide when you create incredible music like this.
This shit is rad.
Once you've heard the first track, you've heard them all.
Funsies
Quite nice - pleasantly surprised
Psychedelic rock with sitar, very soothing and dynamic at the same time.
May have been groundbreaking in 1970 but not really that good. Covers are a bit meh! I’ve listened to much better sitar music
Des airs psychédéliques, traditionnels, totalement hypnotiques.
Just fine
Correcto
Not sure why everyone loved the sitar in the 60s/70s. Can’t even picture myself enjoying this on acid.
Great instrumental music with sitar
Sort of whimsical and if you are in the mood for that it would be great. A whole album of it gets a little tiring for me. It's creative and I'm sure the musician is great at what he does but I'm not sure I need to hear it again unless it was in a super light hearted setting where people are putting odd songs on for comedic effect.
Melkeen 5, ainakin viime tylsien levyjen jälkeen jotain mielenkiintoista
There's a sitar on the cover of this album. There's a sitar on the songs of this album. There's now a sitar echoing in my ear canals. Bit of a novelty album.
interesting, i leven liked the 13 minute song quite a bit though i think where it's placed in the track listing is quite odd
This was very cool! I love the covers.
A redeeming quality is that this helped moved fusion forward with other projects.
Interesting but starts to sound kind of samey by the end.
3 - It was okay, but I'm not a big fan of the covers tbh
ohhhh mommmy. Fave Tracks: Jumpin' Jack Flash, Snow Flower, Light My Fire, Raghupati 4.1/5
Covers a bit gimmicky, but the more traditional sitar music is good, as far as I know…
I enjoyed the feel of this album, but I would've loved more lyrically.
Interesting but no songs that quite stick
It’s not for me. I was so shocked to hear an Al Green song tho
Probably won’t listen again but a cool experience
Hier steckt sehr viel Liebe in der Produktion, Komposition und im Arrangement. Ton und Sound: top. Wirklich gut gemacht. Auf Dauer ist es jedoch nicht mein Album. Kann aber verstehen, warum es auf dieser Challange erscheint.
A fun take on a couple of classics. Something a bit different.
Indian music. No vocals. Lots of sitar. Covers of Light my fire and Jumping Jack Flash
This is really interesting and eclectic! Matching a sitar, a Moog and traditional rock instrumentation shouldn't work, but somehow it does here. Liked Songs Added: Jumpin' Jack Flash Light My Fire Metamorphosis
Interesting. Good to listen to with a nice German beer in hand.
It was okay, I only really liked Jumping Jack Flash.
What a peculiar record. Props for trying to meld the sitar with a synthesiser - in this it's undoubtedly ahead of its time - but that's about all I can do to commend it. For me this didn't really rise above curio status.
The first half was much better than expected, but, unfortunately, the second half was exactly as expected. 2.5/5
MEHHH not for me
- cooles Projekt irgendwie, gut umgesetzt und gut produziert - leider bin ich nicht so richtiger Fan der Sitar, weswegen mir einige Lieder dann leider etwas nervig vorkamen
It’s interesting without ever thrilling!
Interesting sound, some work, others a bit forced but overall I like it.
Baby, can you light my sitar. 7/10
Groovy psych!
Had very low expectations, but thought this was a good listen. I don’t normally like instrumental albums, but this felt different.
Don't get it. The sound of indian classical music trying to imitate western pop. Doesn't sound right. But still not bad.
A very interesting and unique blend, truly making the sitar shine and carry melodious and uplifting riffs.
Yes, this is a good one. Haven't listened to it in quite a while, but I do recall enjoying it.
It was alright
Didn't really pay much attention but nothing stood out. 2.5/5
Fun! Kind of cheesy, but I liked it
This was kinda cool at first with all the synths and sound effects. But I just don't think the sitar is doing it for me as a lead instrument. I prefer when it tiptoes into a [Beatles] song, adds some flavor, and spirits away. By the 5th song, I was tired of the noise and oh god the next track is 13 minutes long.
Thought it was a little gimmicky at first but after a while it really grew on me. By the end I liked it a lot. I don't think I'm being ironic either.
Great album. Really ground breaking sounds at the time. Definitely a classic
This is the album that fully blended classical Indian and modern Western styles of music. Sometimes it is kinda elevator music, but it is very influential and has some amazing tracks. 4/5
Well this was something! I actually really liked the sitar cover of Light My Fire! I wish the rest of the songs were like that one - a bit more upbeat The sitar music was nice but it just became background music 3 ⭐️
Really enjoyed side A, kinda wish he stuck with the mashup concept for longer.
It's interesting. Probably not going to seek it out, and I don't personally need a sitar version of the Rolling Stones or the Doors, BUT, had I been a British-Indian teen and this came on at the club in 1970, I can very well see how impactful it would be. Personally, liked the traditional stuff better.
Everything you’d expect Indian covers of psychedelic music to be. 2.0
4+/5
This was fine. Didn't really seem that original though.
The prodigal sun puts his name out there with a... Rolling Stones cover? I wonder what uncle Ravi had to say about that. What a unique piece of fusion, especially how it features the sitar throughout. Could feel forced, but is done in a respectful way and I enjoyed for what it is.
Not gonna lie, the sitar versions of Jumpin' Jack Flash were a bit odd, but on a re-listen, I actually dug it a bit. The sitar being used as a vocal fill-in is a bit jarring but it works in this case. Overall, this isn't my jam, but I appreciate it. 1/5
Well, it's not Ravi Shankar, for better or for worse. I found this somewhat charming at times albeit it inevitably ends up being a watered down flavor of both genres he's trying to cover. I'm giving it an extra point but what are we doing here.
Not for me
Ananda Shankar is the debut album by Ananda Shankar, originally released in 1970. I really dig the idea here. The fusion of rock/pop with indian classical. Then, on top of that, adding in some electronic elements. This would've been a huge hit had it come out like 2 or 3 years prior. The cover tracks are ok, but I really prefer the originals, and I really wish there were more original tracks on here. Indian classical instruments manage to blend so well with that early moog synthesizer sound. Very psychedelic at times.
Kinda boring
I actually enjoyed it, even though maybe I shouldn't have lol. Cooler than Ravi's stuff.
Ok, I see you Ananda! The first song grabbed me in a way that the last few albums on here haven’t.
Covers of familiar songs with a touch of sitar. About as essential as a recording of me on the toilet after overestimating my ability to finish off the extra spicy plate of curry and the 7 beers that I washed it down with.
Just needed a kazoo
Nice historical album. Not quite my music, but interesting to have heard it and gained an understanding of where it came from, how it influenced other artists and how the raga moved into western music. There is no way on God's Green Earth that is would have found myself listening to this ordinarily ... Let's go high two stars ... Possible for me to listen to again ... Possible.
I feel a bit cheated by this. You'd think that when you're presented with 1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die, you will get every flavour of music there is, yet so much of this list has been dreary British post-punk/indie. Here we finally get something that promises to be unique, and it kind of is, but why does it have to be sitar music filtered through the prism of Western rock music? It doesn't sit right with me, and the covers are painful here. But at the same time this feels fresh compared to a lot of what we have had. I'm gonna rate it a 3 but I honestly whatever rating I give it feels wrong.
Not really my jam. But interesting
Great album. Will never listen to the entire thing again, not that it’s long, but it’s too much instrumental and not enough singing. I loved the last track. Otherwise, a tad dull. Opener was fun, but not sure it was quite necessary. I enjoyed it enough. 3/5
well, who whould have thought that this instrument could be THAT annoying after only 2 songs?
love a good sitar
I like the sitar songs, and I'm positively surprised by the number of "traditional"-ish Hindi music we have on the 1001 list, but honestly, this album is pretty annoying. There is no novelty or upbeat; it's just a bunch of covers (or almost covers) without any new energy or so; the sitar is there only to be.
Never knew you could shred a citar.
lovely
Not my thing
It was unique...
I do like the sound of the sitar, but aside from the rock covers, I am struggling to truly enjoy it. A lot of the tunes don’t seem to go anywhere interesting.
Off the success of his uncle Ravi Shankar and the proliferation of sitar influence in western psych rock music, Ananda Shankar completes the circle by covering a Rolling Stones classic and a Door's hit. He further innovates on the Raga Rock genre by utilizing synthesizers in beautiful harmony with the sitar. Side B opens with the incredibly floaty Sagar (The Ocean), which slows everything down for an ambient chillout. This puts the true majesty of the sitar on display, as Ananda weaves a microtonal solo that harmonizes perfectly with the accompanying instrumentals. The result is an elevated experience that showcases the true potential of the sitar, a piece of work so incredible that it feels as though it overshadows the rest of the album with how damn good it is. The last two songs are traditional folk songs that are still worth listening, but pale in comparison to the beast that is The Ocean. Few albums feel as though they are exemplary of a genre or style of music. This is one of them.
This kind of ruled, I'd definitely listen to this again. Sagar (The Ocean) doesn't need to be 13 minutes long though, it really slowed things down.
I had fun but the 13 minute track was a real stretch of patience.
Begon erg goed, tweede helft minder
Sitar covers of Rolling Stones songs?!?!?!?!?!?!?! No
When I saw that this was an Indian/Western rock fusion album, I got excited. However, I found it only really delivered that fusion for the first couple songs, and then reverted to straight Indian music. I don't mind that, but really enjoyed the fusion sound, so it was a bit disappointing that it fizzled out for me. I'll be keeping "Light My Fire" on my phone because that was a JAM and I think I like it more than the original.
Not my jam
Interesting idea, not my jam at all.
Ehhhh. Covers of original songs are just that - covers. Even if done in a world music style.
I found it engaging - he is incredibly talented for sure.
Who knew. Very fun
sitar rock!!
stuck between an intercultural handshake and pothead spongebob. maybe to someone more familiar with this kind of music its sensibilities are clearer, but the tackiness can cling to my ears and the pendulum swings back and forth.
Very enjoyable album. The covers weren’t my favorite, not that they were terrible, but it felt a bit forced. Sitar + Moog synth makes for one hell of a trippy sound. I’ll likely revisit the full album for sure.
The sitar is a fascinating instrument. Not only sonically, but harmonically. In spite of its quarter-tone scales, it can perfectly adapt to Western music, a feature that Ravi Shankar's nephew uses to generally great effects on this record. The addition of a moog synthesizer is also a nice touch, and for every electronic music nerd out there, this LPs helps document what it was possible to do with what was at the time a quite novel instrument. Which is quite a lot, actually, as the conclusion of the short and moody "Dance Indra" can prove. Very nice to hear from today's vantage point. Covers of the Stones' "Jumping Jack Flash" and the Doors' "Light My Fire" were obviously added for commercial reasons. The first sounds great, but the second is a little ridiculous. I would even venture to add that this cover of the Doors enhances what's potentially annoying in the original composition to new levels of grating. "Light My Fire" is such a weird hit -- an iconic earworm for sure, but also one that can quickly become tiring or self-indulgent. But, as the hilarious review that's gonna top this section until the end of time suggests, maybe that second rock cover is just added there to prevent the end of the world from obliterating us all... 🙃 This record is mostly interesting for the original compositions anyway. "Snow Flower" is a delicate ballad that's perfectly placed after the Stones' cover opening the proceedings. "Mamata" veers too close to sickly sweet territories, and at this point, you wish you could hear music that sounds closer to real Indian raga traditions. Fortunately, that's what Ananda Shankar elects to do on the next two very fine cuts, "Metamorphosis" and "Sagar". The latter track even ends on a hypnotic segue, both meditative AND melodic, and nicely supported by a simple yet effective moog bassline. After "Dance Indra", "Rhagupati" returns to the patchouli-scenting, sun-baked turf of the record's first side, with quite stereotypical vocals (first and last time they appear) uttering somewhat clichéed lyrics, sure, but also chanting an outro section that manages to sound both "pop" and mesmerizing. This closer here epitomizes both the assets and pitfalls of this sort of project, aptly summarizing the album. Luckily it ends *strong* on the assets, which can make you forgive the quaint-sounding shenanigans in its first minute. All in all, a pretty cool album. The thing is, this is the *second* record in the list mixing classical Indian traditions with sixties rock / pop rock, if my memory serves, and I fear that might be one record too many. *Ananda Shankar* is probably the better album in the pair (don't quite remember what the first one was anyway). Yet I'm not sure that even this one is the sort of record that screams the word "essential" to my ears. Once again, the "problem" might stem from the title of Dimery's book. Maybe this is an album you need to listen to at least once in your life. But in that case, there are probably more than 1001 of them, and it's disconcerting to think all those "interesting" LPs might use a slot that could be used for masterpieces in different music genres (including some badly represented in the book). That said, I can readily admit that listening to this album in California in 1970 must have been a memorable experience for a lot of music fans out there. In other words, that it was a whole trip, man. 🙂 So I'm leaving the door open to this LP, as quaint and dated a couple of tracks on it may sound today. Because, interestingly, and apart from that couple of misses, most cuts aged quite well, all things considered. And that if you open your shakras, so to speak, there are enough evocative soundscapes in here to spend a good time. After all, and all concerns about 'album podiums' left aside, that's what music is for, is it not? 3.5/5 grade for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3.5). Number of albums left to review: 27 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 419 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 247 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 311
I never knew I needed a sitar cover of light my fire until now.
Meditative un a way, it ebs and flows. Great music if you're willing to take the trip
This is not without it's charm in it's own right but I did like the Stones and Doors covers!
I liked that well enough. I was never really a fan of the Rolling Stones, so I didn't even realise this was a cover album. The songs translated well enough, and it had me interested the whole way through.
A little sitar goes a long way
This is on the list for variety and interest rather than how good it is. This is only okay
And I applaud any artist who tries to do something different and interesting like Shankar is doing here. This is something really wonderful and special. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-ananda-shankar-by-ananda?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
2 stars
You know I just don't like the sitar as a tonal instrument. So you can imagine what a freaking treat this has been to listen to.
I liked "Metamorphisis." Overall, that was the only enjoyable song, and sounded skillful. The second half of "Sagar" was nice. The rest of the album, I did not find as pleasant to listen to. Sitar music mostly makes me feel chaotic, while the album seems to be going for a psychedelic and relaxing vibe. Not really a psychedelic-leaning music fan.
# Album Name: Ananda Shankar # Artist: Ananda Shankar # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: First time ive heard the sitar version of light my fire and jack flash. Wasnt bad actually. Not a patch on the originals of course but an interesting take. Overall i like the sitar as an instrument. Theres something really relaxing about it. Theres no doubt about the skill of Ananda Shankar either. Its a well put together album. But for me personally, i can only take 2-3 songs in one go. A full album was simply too much and it detracts from the quality. I got lost in it. And i dont mean in a good way. Ultimately it did not hold my attention. Could be OK for study or concentration based background music. # Top Tunes: Light my fire and JJF # Would I listen to it again? Dont think so. But i will look into some more sitar based songs.
Interesting
i really liked it for an indian cover band
It was definitely an album that was worth listening before I die, but I feel the gimmick is a lot less interesting now that Indian culture isn't some exotic foreign concept like in the early 70s
Interesting covers but not much else
👎
Didn't like the covers. Other songs have interesting parts. Standout song Metamorphosis Dance indra
Not my vibe unfortunately, and nowhere near as impressive as the album by his uncle from 100 or so days ago. The covers of The Rolling Stones and particularly The Doors are not great and, while the other tracks are stronger and combine the sitar with western rock instrumentation and Moog synths in a quite interesting way, the songs just kind of meander and leave a lot to be desired
I acknowledge I'm a sucker for the sitar! It has such a unique sound that is so easy to recognize, and it feels both mesmerizing and energizing at the same time. The sitar can, however, be a very intense instrument and difficult to master. Ananda Shankar knew exactly how to wield it! Hearing sitar-heavy versions of two major sixties songs is riveting. I didn't know The Doors' "Light My Fire" could become any more psychedelic, and Shankar's version of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is on the experimental side. Both were different and enjoyable, but what I liked more were the original compositions. There's something about the freedom Shankar had in these songs. He didn't confine himself to any singular tone or mood. Beautiful, soaring, trance-like, whispering, striking, mysterious. A worthy inclusion that I enjoyed hearing. (At the very least, it's better than another brit pop album, huh?)
Psychedelic music of the 60s and 70s owes so much of its sound and what makes it special to sitar and moog synth. A sitar need only play a few notes and Westerners are instantly flooded with things like "hippie", "acid trip", and of course, "psychedelic". So what better way to pay tribute to the instrument's impact on psychedelic music than an album of predominantly psychedelic sitar music, mixed with sitar covers of primarily psychedelic-era Western rock music? Some of the cover songs' riffs are easily recognizable, whereas other parts of the songs have even heavier sitar riffs than they did in their original versions. The original songs are also quite interesting, well done, and show off the sitar well. After hearing this, I'm still not sure I needed to hear it before I die, but I will say that it's one of those albums that feels like it offers an awesome music history perspective. Nonetheless, there seems to be a general dislike for Eastern music on this project, but I always appreciate it when it pops up, so I can be thankful for more exposure!
kind of a novelty but also i listened to it back to back 3 times so it was doing something right
Hmmm. I had never heard a Sitar version of Light My Fire or Jumpin’ Jack Flash. I appreciate the effort and skill with such a unique instrument. I honestly liked the other songs better, such as Metamorphosis or Raghupati, which felt like I was being immersed into a cultural experience. I don’t if I’ll come back to this but it was definitely an experience.
Far out man. My love of George Harrison has made me like and appreciate sitar music. I personally really like the "Light My Fire" cover. I'll add that to late night listening. "Sagar (The Ocean)" was too much and I'd skip that one going forward. I did dig the last track, "Raghupati", with its unitarian vibe of we are all one. This does feel a bit gimmicky overall trying to capitalize on The Beatles and their introduction of the sitar into their music. However, it has a certain nostalgia that is fun now in retrospect. Is it a classic, nope. But still some fun tracks anyway.
“Sagar” has force, otherwise an unremarkable mix with a couple of unflattering covers, the whole veering too often close to muzak, and not the interesting kind.
Mixed feelings about this initially, the Jumping Jack Flash cover didn't really excite me although Light My Fire sounded admirably more ornate even than Jose Feliciano's version. One of my kids loved the sitar drone, claiming the longer tracks were "very calming", and made a rare demand for a second listen. Soon after the whole family was grooving along
There's an interesting blend of East and West on here and it's a pleasant listen. Much better than listening to Ravi, brilliant as he might be. That said, I'd not listen to it again.
I like the sitar, do not like the western psych influence
-1 for the covers
I did not need to hear this sitar album before I die. Nope.
Yeah, I was really into this. Refreshing to hear something really unique after hearing a lot of punk/ rock music back-to-back. Not that I despise those genres or anything. But there was something groovy and whimsical about this whole album. The "East meets West" thing maybe doesn't totally work for me, I probably agree with what appears to be a consensus that the covers don't work as well as the rest of the album. But I basically disagree that the last half of this album drags. Metamorphosis and Sagar were probably my two big pulls from this album. (I also liked Snow Flower). Which I think mostly means I liked this album most when it leaned towards it's Indian roots (but maybe someone with more knowledge of Indian music would have differing opinions because I know fundamentally nothing about Indian music). Anyhow, really enjoyed, the three that I mentioned will be joining a couple of my instrumental and dancey/party playlists.
I didn’t finish it but this was way more enjoyable than I expected it to be
I didn’t need to hear this before I died. This is just sitar karaoke.
A lot more interesting than I thought! Ravis nephew, so nepo album warnings were everywhere. I came to learn that Ravi didnt even teach him, so thats pretty cool I thought there were some super interesting tracks and the mesh of east and west is always cool. Freaking Moog synthesizer! Metamorphosis was a great building track. Really enjoyed all the covers. Having played a sitar recently, ive come to appreciate all the resonating sounds that come from that box of strings. Pretty fun album
How many Shankars played sitar?? On this list I was maybe expecting some Ravi, maybe some Anoushka, but never even heard of Ananda (apparently Ravi's nephew). This is basically Indian jam band music. I don't like this style when it's on Western instruments, but when it's a sitar, for some reason I dig it (probably because it feels exotic to my gringo ears, like shopping in the ETHNIC aisle at Whole Foods). So maybe I'm giving too much credit for novelty, but I dig it. Also any album that I can listen to while I'm working gets an extra star, which is basically the opposite of the point of what we're trying to do with this exercise, but this is my truth / lived experience / personal journey so I can give stars however I feel like it A cover of Light My Fire was unexpected and fun.
Kind of like the Fatboy Slim of India - fun grooves and interesting, just not sure I needed it. Would be interested to hear more in the genre though.
A couple of the covers were cool, but overall, it wasn't for me
George was wrong, sitars suck.
How is Ravi Shankar’s family so full of musicians? Today, we have his nephew (I think). It is much poppier than what I’ve come to know from Ravi and Norah Jones, but still with plenty of sitar to bring the Indian vibe. Jumpin’ Jack Flash felt a little familiar, but I’m unsure why. Otherwise, this was a fun listen. I’m unsure if I’ll be coming back for future listens, but I did enjoy my time with it today.
2024-09-22...
Not really for me
conceptually cool if a little dated in its idea of both western and eastern popular music...pleasant background noise 6/10
An odd mix of western pop rock and indian folk, it seems like. It was certainly a new experience for me to hear Light My Fire played on sitar.
I’m sure better sitar recordings exist than this, but it was an inoffensive listen.
First half was pretty good, and relaxing. Second half was annoying and had to skip.
This is what I do this project for. To hear crazy neat stuff I never would’ve known about otherwise. Some of its silly, some of it’s cool, some of its a bit too long. I shoulda been blissed out on the couch or in the back yard not driving down the Garden State Parkway. It’ll zone you out real quick.
Yup, it's exactly what you think it's going to be. Interesting, but probably wouldn't revisit.
This album should have been listed under "1001 Albums you would have wished you had died before listening to this dreck"... 40 minutes and 35 seconds I'll never get back...
I believe this is a sitar and I love the sound. The covers were a bit whatever to me and I enjoyed the music that was unique but all around really enjoyed. 4.5
3.
Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
Kind of split on this one. The cover songs I found to be kind of cheesy and much less than the sum of their parts in terms of combining Indian instrumentation and western pop music. But I did enjoy the B side of the album; Sagar was probably the high point, good even if very long. 2.5/5
This is kinda fun. I like the cover songs more than the originals though. Still, not really something I see myself coming back to. 3/5
Another album I was surprised to like so much. Not really my thing, but my rock n roll soul appreciated the Stones and Doors covers enough to vibe with the whole thing. Some really cool stuff throughout! B
Fusion
Interesting, but it grew a touch samey over the course of the album. Some of the covers were really cool, though.
Cool!
Is okay
I’m coming from a place where sitar music can only ever be given a max 3 marks. I enjoyed light my fire and jumping jack flash and I’m feeling reasonably generous, so a 3 it is.
Replace the sitar with any western instrument and nobody even notices this album.
Sitar music… light my fire is kinda cool.
This is NOT what I expected to hear. How have I never heard this before!!!?!! This is AMAZING! 4 STARS
Not sure that i fully appreciate instrumental albums but I quite liked the sound of the sitar. Covers were interesting introduction. By the end it was psychedelic sounds. It lost me at The Ocean. This is a very 1001 albums album. A curiosity
A curiosity for sure, but I didn’t hear anything there to make it stand out.
Ever wonder what it would be like if you gave a '70s psychedelic rock band a sitar? Me neither. But now I know. I did not particularly like this album (the sitar is a bit of an acquired taste I think), but I kind of respect what he was going for. It's like a blend of early Western rock and traditional Indian music. It definitely leans more traditional (the sitar is heavily featured throughout), but it's fairly unique. Very limited lyrics, but there's a bit here and there. Not really my thing at all (the 13-minute song near the end really got annoying), but I'll throw him a second star for being unique. It also opens with a "Jumpin' Jack Flack" cover which was kind of fun. Favorite song: Light My Fire Other: Jumpin' Jack Flash 9/5/24
The two cheesy covers early in the record are a serious misrepresentation of how good the rest of this is, especially "Mamata," "Metamorphosis" and the furious closer "Raghupati." Even if one weren't an Indophile, one would dig thoroughly.
Really didn’t expect to like this, just felt wrong - western techno paired with Indian music. Surprisingly it wasn’t bad.
Never been a fan of re-imagining of tunes on different instruments. Reminds me of those god awful pan pipes albums my dad used to play all the time. This one is a little better.
WTAF?
Tough one to rate. The covers are cool and fun, but sorta gimmicky. The rest is cool enough, but doesn’t feel like it’s saying anything in particular. It’s fine. Sometimes I think 3 ratings can be the worst ratings, because they are just there. At least if I’m giving something a 2 or a 1, it’s evoking emotion.
This felt mostly like the light music you hear in an elevator. The covers aren’t all that spectacular and the originals are just ok. 2/5
I'm a sucker for sitar and world music. I dug the covers. 5/5
Ok interessante ma non fa per me.
Intriguing, novel, serious
Good God. Abandoned after four songs.
Interesting idea but the novelty wore off pretty quickly for me.
Glad there’s some world music in here. Sadly ig this is just not rlly my tea. It’s of course an instrumental album, but it doesnt rlly help that there are multiple covers of already known songs from famous artists in there. I did kinda like it though so 3 stars.
I was expecting this to be annoying and boring, instead I found this delightful and entertaining. I especially liked the covers of Jumpin' Jack Flash and Light My Flower. 3.5 stars.
This was such a fun, calm and soothing listen. I'm definitely coming back to this one when I want something light in the background.