Reviews (page 6 of 8)
This was pretty awesome. Would be 4 but it had some parts that got really repetitive and annoying. 3.5 stars.
I love sitar!
started out okay then it just got weird.
For as much as Western musicians stole from India during that time period, it was inevitable that they would try to steal some back.
The two covers may have been the best part of the album, proving that Eastern and Western music can mix. 3.5, but I’ll round up.
This was OK. I bet if you like Indian music, this is pretty revolutionary.
Loved the originals, kinda meh on the covers. Particularly the last four tracks. 3.5
doors organ driven light my fire: one of the most annoying songs on earth ananda shankar sitar and moog light my fire: amazing. perfect. beautiful.
This sounded pretty cool! It was a really interesting mix of early 70s psychedelic rock and Indian rock. Normally I don't love albums where it's a lot of instrumental noodling, but I listened to this as I was doing work, and I really enjoyed it. This is not something I ever would've discovered without this project, and I would definitely listen to this album again.
usually i would bristle at (nearly? all?) covers, but i'm gonna cut this guy a break. i am mostly beefing with the editor's logic, can't help but think there's probably another album of non-derivative indian music that could have been here instead. can't deny i loved the synths and sitar tho
idk I liked the covers but I don't know if it deserves to be on here
This is it, it's the only psychedelic prog album I would keep on the list, it's weird, good job
Not bad
I didnt hate this but it's just not what I would ever choose to listen too again
Two plain naan, chicken tikka and coconut rice please.
Interesting. Good addition to this bri’ish list.
It has its moments. Bonus points for being unique on this list.
Not as interesting as it could have been I feel.
Nice easy listen 6/10
Alright! Already had Light My Fire saved, so I’m excited to hear the rest. First song is rad af! Yeah, this whole record is rad af. Very unique. Lots of fun. Really well done. Absolutely influential and inspiring for generations of western musicians.
Favorite Tracks: Raghupati Light My Fire Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Ok
Technically fine, very much not my thing
Ananda Shankar is alright, it's something of a novelty album in places because of the sitar versions of really famous songs, and they're cool but no improvement over the original, and the fact they were included on a debut record kinda shows that the rest of the original work was lacking in quality and needed that to grab everyone's attention (and tries to over-compensate with Sagar being so long). Rest of it is well-produced and it's a genre that's worth representing in this list, it's just below average filler, 2.
Weird one, this. Not unpleasant, by any means, but there's not a lot there. Most of the fun is provided by the covers (Light My Fire and Jumpin' Jack Flash), the rest is fine but kinda blends together in an uneventful blob. 2/5.
Sure. Whatever. If an American in a 1960s film goes to India, at least one song from this album would be on the soundtrack. Rounded up on stars
Popular songs played on an Indian sitar.
That was mercifully brief.
No, no, no!
By simply having talent and incorporating more than just the sitar into the production, this album instantly rockets ahead of any stupid western psychedelic albums as well as most Indian albums on this list. Both high and sober, this shit slapped from start to finish. The mix of Indian and Western rock music was perfectly balanced and made each track interesting even without any vocals at all until the final song. Even though some of the songs are covers it still feels fresh and interesting.
Psychedelic
Fine. A lot of sitar songs just sound like a lot of other sitar songs
Troll covers. Peaceful music
Hey Alexa, play that one album where that indian guy covers american songs but makes sure every song still sounds the same. Oh also Alexa blow out my brains
Loved it .
This fucking rules. About to go rip some hash and travel the cosmos
I appreciate the musicianship but sitar is better in smaller doses for me personally. The mix of sitar with western music elements is cool and I did like this version of light my fire better than The Doors (That's mostly because I don't like Jim Morrison).
Sitar kinda cool in these rock contexts. Apparantly rejected Jimi Hendrix for an album? Either cap or stupid, 3/5
I like Indian music, but these covers are more muzak than meditative.
This feels like an album that would have been gifted around my family in 1970 or maybe something I would have heard later on NPR. It wasn’t bad, but I have no idea why it’s on the list.
The two covers on this album sound very silly to me and set my expectations for this album very low. But then eye album got better and better. Metamorphosis was thrilling and Sagar was incredible. If not for those dumb covers, this would have been an easy 5 stars.
Every song on this album sounded like the music that would accompany a spooky Mario level.
At first I was annoyed at this album for its inclusion of 2 rock covers which basically just replace guitar with sitar and call it a day. Seems gimmicky. What a waste to represent musical tradition going back centuries to a bunch of lazy fusion rock covers, just because it's played by Ravi Shankar's nephew, how much more western centric can this list get? But my stance softened a little with the originals that offer something a little more unique. This is not quite 60s rock, not quite raga music, but an interesting attempt to blend the two during a unique period known as psychedelia. Still taking stars away for the cheap and lazy covers though.
Vaya chorrada de álbum. Versiones de canciones clásicas tocadas por un tío con una trompetilla de feria.
More fun than I expected, but I didn’t need a whole album‘s worth.
I was worried, but this actually wasn't bad.
Pleasantly surprised with the sitar tunes
Couldn’t find this on a free service.
An interesting but odd way to approach early rock songs.
Very beatlesque
Interesting indian covers of old songs. Not as annoying as I thought it would be.
Very Sixties
Goes from "This is awesome" to "Okay, I get it. This guy really likes the sitar." pretty fast. Not the biggest fan. Interesting concept though.
Really not feeling this.
"Light My Fire" works as a sitar sing.. Who knew?
some really fun covers on this album
Really nice to listen to something different. Favourite tracks: Mamata, Snow Flower
Pleasent surprise tho
Album review haiku: Neither good nor bad, Sitar became quite boring Won't hear it again
I cannot judge this genre intelligently - this 2 star review just represents my level of enthusiasm.
Not as bad as a lot of other world music (admit it, it's a terrible genre overall. Don't let your liberal guilt fool you) but boy is this something that comes across as more of a novelty than something that one just must here before they leave this world.
Very interesting album. Organized chaos. Some of the chord progressions were so cool.
Sitars abound on this one. The name says middle eastern and to no shock so is the album. This was a different cover album than I have ever heard. It works. I’m not sure where you would blast this at full volume but it’s good to say I’ve heard it. Choice Cut: Light My Fire
Awful noise. Hated it.
This started on shaky ground with cover versions, but thankfully it picked up later. He is a great sitar player and when doing his own songs is quite enjoyable. That said, this really isn't something I would listen to again.
After an early morning pilates workout, I got the vibes, but only after skipping the first track…Jumpin’ Jack Flash? GTHOH with that cover song.
Torn by this album. To start with, it takes an interesting concept of marrying West with Eastern Rock. But it seems to do that only through a couple of random cover songs that shouldn't be covered. And then the rest of it is just straight up boring. I got through it, it was listenable, and a small percentage was interesting.
The nephew of the great Ravi Shankar, he is absolutely shredding the sitar on this. Now why they chose this instead of something from Ravi's catalogue, I can't say. This is really just a bunch of uninteresting sitar covers of popular songs. It also peaks right at the beginning with Jumpin' Jack Flash, hurting the flow of an album that needs those extra points to keep an interest.
very cool tbh didn't realize there were covers, looking at you "light my fire" prob a 3
While I like the idea of playing popular music with the instruments used in typical Indian music for me it just doesn’t work….. I prefer to listen to 70’s Classic Ravi Shankar
I can dig some of these tracks, including "Jumpin' Jack Flash." This whole album would definitely be better on acid.
Outstanding album that combines Western and Indian traditional music very well. It begins with raga rock then it goes more traditional, pure raga music which then ends again with a more Westernized song at the end. I enjoyed this album very much, it was exciting, different, and fun at the same time.
Psychedelic sitar jams! It’s lovely to hear some of the 60s classics raga-fied, but for me, the album really hits its stride closer to the end, with drawn-out passages and subtle changes in tempo. Stupendous.
india is a garbage country (racist)
typa tunes that play when a hollywood movie enters dubai 2.4/5
Amazing talent from the seventies. Opened quite a few ears to a different type of string instrument
Average sitar.
Indian pop album from early 70s. The cover of Jumping Jack Flash is so so but the cover of Light My Fire is horrible. I could appreciate the rest of the album, such as the 13 minute instrumental track (very nice build up) and especially liked the last song, some folk tune interpretation according to wikipedia, a great way of ending the album.
I have a hard time to enjoy the sound of this album, whether it deals with (redundant) covers or original material.
This is the type of albums i keep listening this list for. Never thought i needed a sitar cover of "light my fire" in my life, but i did. Thanks! ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Whatever I was expecting when I got this album today, it was not the music that is actually on this album. It opens with an electric guitar. The sitar is ever present in the album, but it's often complimented by Moog synthesizers, which is an incredible combination. I wish that the album featured more original music, or at least less popular songs to cover, but the execution is tremendous 4/5
I read the album cover and thought out Ananda, a little hokey but let's see what you've got. Also, nice handwriting. Unfortunately whatever part of this idea might work out didn't really pan out. A swing and a miss. Belongs on this list more than some of my other recent albums, though.
Ok….. random
This is what I imagine the late 60s sounded like. Super psychedelic! While I don’t mind the style of music, it just sounds super dated.
3.5
Good background noise.
This album isn't particularly ground-breaking today. Maybe it was back in 1970? It sounds awesome, though.
It's alright,bit naff in places.
Sitar Vs Synth, unfortunately there are no real winners here. Most of the tracks I enjoyed more before the sitar came in. Jokes aside I did really like the last track, which earns it an extra star.
At the beginning the combination of Indian music with rock music is still interesting, but in the long run it becomes quite tiring.
Ok. At first I thought this could be fun. Sitar instrumentals of famous rock songs. Those were fine. Then we got to Sagar (The Ocean). It’s just sitar jam session. When it ended and the next song started my three-year-old in the back seat even asked if it was the same song again.
Now here’s an album! First song really sets a fun tone of Indian music mixed with some 70’s flower rock. Got a cover or two in there too! And I liked his story on the last song. So glad this was on here.
Another interesting album, I'm a sucker for the sitar. This is from a Shankar I'm not familiar, and it's a combination of that sound with more rock and pop-type music, including the Doors' "Light My Fire." Quite a few hits on here for me, as I expected, but I can't pretend I like this as much as the real-deal Hindustani stuff we've gotten, like that Call of the Valley album. Still, it's a great departure. Favorite tracks: Jumpin' Jack Flash, Snow Flower, Metamorphosis, Sagar, Dance Indra. Album art: What you see is what you get: sitar. Plus a nice descriptive paragraph of what they're going for. The font and colors are really cool. Not the most creative cover, but it gets the job done. 4/5
Vaya chorrada de álbum. Versiones de canciones clásicas tocadas por un tío con una trompetilla de feria.
A great album let down by the covers.
The first couple of songs were alright. As was the final song. I wasn't very interested by any of the rest if it though
Cool sound
Covers were interesting. Otherwise, ok album.
Eh!
Who knew the Rolling Stones just needed some sitar? I enjoyed this.
One of the weirdest additions yet.
Nie takie złe nawet
Meh. Don't think sitar is my jam
1. jack flazh - 1 2. flouuer - 1 3. light my fire - 1 4. mamata - 1 5. morphoziz - 1.5 6. ocean - 1 7. dance indra - 1 8. raghupati - 1.5
Big fan of Indian rock fusion and while this is far from the greatest example, it still has compelling moments. Favorite track is metamorphosis
The covers are so interesting. I like this music, but some of the songs are a bit too long...
I’m a sucker for the Moog, and it is used *exceptionally* on this record.
Really great combination of instruments and sounds used throughout this album. Usually a sitar wears on me after awhile but I enjoyed this listen.
Didn’t know I needed this much sitar in my life. Jumpin Jack Flash is a revelation
“I wonder what Jumping Jack Flash would sound like on the sitar?” ……is a question no one really needed to know the answer to.
cooool
Not really something I enjoyed listening to, sitar is not my instrument of choice
Ugh No thanks
Not real impressed by the first half of this. Basically did covers by changing a few instruments and using a sitar to cover the vocal melodies. Not exactly what I'd call fusion. The second half of the album was more traditional Indian music and was at the least a bit eye opening and I warmed to it. But other than the acoustic guitar I didn't really hear any fusion of the styles. The second half of the album was more traditional Indian music and was at the least a bit eye opening and I warmed to it. But other than the acoustic guitar I didn't really hear any fusion of the styles.
Lovely music for the Polash Shit for my drive to work
Very chill
Psychonautical
C'était un bon album. Les covers de Jumpin Jack Flash et Light My Fire étaient plutôt surprenante. Un peu unidimensionnel mais j'aimais comment j'avais l'impression de voyager avec les sonorité de cet album. 6/10
Okay. Jeg er på røven over hvor fedt Sitar og synth lyder! Albummet hørt igennem 4 gange, og kun sidste nummer med 30 sekunders vokal som jeg ikke kan lide. Det er messende og forførende.
Min bevidsthed er ikke blevet kemisk udvidet nok til at kunne se storheden i en sitar
Varied and sonically interesting. The re-arrangements of Stones and Doors stuff is very cool
Odd album but I quite enjoyed this. Last heard a sitar at a graduation ceremony at the end of last year and in the right hands it can be very pleasant. Not quite sure how I feel about this being rock and roll covers, and I’m not sure I could ever go to 5 stars here. But it’s OK
This feels like a dream I'd wake up from and be sad I couldn't go back to sleep and keep dreaming it but mostly because of how strange it is. What a weird mix of sounds and such a odd attempt at an album. I don't know if this is great but this 100% should be on the list.
I like the sound of the Sitar, these cover songs don't need to be on this list. A cover of Light My Fire being on this hurt this album Metamorphosis is a cool track
I love indian stuff
A milestone in raga rock. Sagar is great
What a trip. The 'Light My Fire' cover through me for a loop.
Uh ... nah, dawg.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to listen to some sitar music. It has a very unique sound that's able to create a certain mood that traditional Western instruments can't. I found the fusion of sitar with synthesizer very interesting. I'm not generally a fan of putting covers on an album. I love standalone covers when the new artist puts their own unique spin on it. But it feels unoriginal and a bit pandering to put them on albums, which I feel should be representative of the artist's own ideas and personality. In this case they only served to pull me out of that mood that this album otherwise does a good job of creating.
Indian vibes (you know, that one instrument that I always forget the name of). Nice sounds but not my style of music, but would be open to hearing more.
Favourite songs: Metamorphosis, Light My Fire, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Mamata (Affection), Raghupati Least favourite songs: Dance Indra 3/5
This was some weird proggy sitar music, and the covers of Rolling Stones and Doors songs are just downright cheesy. This is not good and I don't think merits inclusion. Way better albums and artists to pull from for Indian Music.
This album's initial appeal was the curiosity factor but it wore out it's welcome before I reached the half way point. One and done for me.
Not enough cow bell…too much sitar.
Usually im a big fan of sitar music. But this is too much
This is a pretty rad blend of rock n’ raga. I dig it.
Somewhere between hindustani classical and psych pop, Ravis nephew leads a fun set.
Obviously talented and like the effort to integrate some of the current hits of the day Just not my thing
Almost a Tonk…liked the covers.
Yeah I would listen to this again. Dang good
"Ananda Shankar" is the debut album by Indian musician Ananda Shankar. Ananda is the son of dance and choreographer Uday Shankar and nephew of classical Indian musician Ravi Shankar. The album's music fuses Indian music with Western rock and electronic music. The two main instruments are the sitar and the moog synthesizer played by collaborator Paul Lewinson. The songs are mainly instrumental. The album had major influences on world music fusions. The album opens with a cover of the Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash." A guitar and bass and the sitar carrying the melody. The moog synth joins in and carries the melody too but mostly stays in the background along with some vocal chanting. Interesting. They also cover the Doors' "Light My Fire." This is a better cover capturing the pyschedelic vibe of the song. The sitar and moog carry the melody again. A pretty standard rock rhythm section with a tabla added to the beat. "Metamorphosis" is more Eastern with the sitar front and center and is a fusion of the long classical musical songs I've heard from his Uncle Ravi and Western jam band songs. The 13-minute epic "Sagar (the Ocean)" begins the second side. Wind blowing with moog deep in the background. This is a sitar jam. The tabla and an acoustic guitar come in halfway. Very chill. The album closer "Raghupati" is an acoustic ballad. The only song with sung vocals. Some more chanting. Acoustic guitar and drums. I guess you couldn't do a Western album at this time without trying to capture the "Summer of Love." This is an interesting album. The fusion works for me. Overall, the music defintely has a more western feel with the Indian instruments, the sitar and tabla, added to standard rock band instruments. There's a nice job too of the capturing the pyschedelic and progressive rock music of the time. If you're interested in checking out Indian music and want to take baby steps, this would be a good place to start. But, overall, this is just a good album to listen to without any intentions.
Very repetitive, some nice vibes but not really for me
I definitely didn’t have version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Light My Fire” with sitars on my bingo card for this project, but here we are. This was good. Entirely my thing? Not really. But good. It’s hard to argue with the musicianship. It goes a little off track at times (Sagar, namely), and while it’s always atmospheric, it also sometimes just lingers a little too long on a specific theme. But hey, for all I know that’s a hallmark of this genre of music. This gets three stars because, for the most part, I don’t necessarily love it but I have to admire the musicianship, effort, and creativity that went into it. Standout tracks: Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Snow Flower, Light my Fire, Metamorphosis
I don’t know what to say about this one. ‘Sagar’ is really long and boring. That’s it.
Några skapliga låtar men det blir otroligt tröttsamt att lyssna på sitarmusik i längden.
The music was good. I enjoyed the covers. But I can’t get over the constant drone behind the sitar. It grains on me.
2.5 sitars is cool
I kind of dig the Moog meets Sitar aspect of this album. The cover was... awful but thankfully was only one track. Overall I think this is alright, if not forgettable. I wouldn't listen to this again and didn't add any of these tracks to my favorites but this is okay overall.
listened on 3/19, 2x - nice mainly instrumental sound 3.1
Loved
this is amazinggg genuinely just a perfect blend of familiarity and an instrument i am not accustomed to it’s so beautiful and so lovely i want to listen again and i’m still listening
It is very gimmicky. Not bad, but "famous songs played with sitar" gets old before the album is done.
Nice covers revisited with indian vibes, I won't have them in 1001 best album ever tho, lack a bit of originality?
Nice to get some non-western representation here. Beautiful music.
Never listened to an album of sitar rock before. I'll do my best to not do it in the future. 2nd half of the album is much more interesting than the 1st.
If you like sitar you’ll love this. If you don’t, like me, you won’t. This was awful.
After two covers (Stones/Doors) annoyed me, the sitar sound deepened this low irritability. I can see how the sound can become meditative, but I'm not high when I listen to these albums. Then, Ain't Misbehavin' comes on with no obvious sitar, and the album leveled out for two songs before returning to provoking liw irritability in me.
fine
Interesting concept, but I was really not feeling it as much as I would have wanted to
What a classic album from the talented Shankar family vaults. I've listened to this album a handful of times and there are several tracks that I like a lot here. Bridging the gap between Indian traditional music and Western music is something that was certainly popularized by the Beatles, but the Shankar family continues doing this work. Just last week, Anoushka Shankar released the beautiful single New Dawn.
Multiple times now I’ve gotten excited for a fusion of western rock and traditional Indian music, and multiple times I’ve been disappointed. “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Light My Fire” were fun, but once the novelty effect wears off it gets boring.
While the album co rains some interesting covers of contemporary tunes, the novelty wore off by the middle of the album. I was annoyed by the later tracks…looking at you Sagar (The Ocean)…and I said “thank goodness” when track 8 was the last one.
The sitar is such a cool instrument. Had a lot of fun listening to this album.
1/5 Why, of all of the music from India, was this album included? Bad sitar covers of popular songs does not make one of the albums you should hear before you die.
Love the guitar on this. Past that... not much else to love I guess.
Speaking purely from a "did-I-enjoy-this-record" standpoint, this was much better than his uncle's The Sounds of India. I appreciated that he covered The Rolling Stones and The Doors, because it's more fun to listen to something you already know. Ananda's originals were pretty cool too. The best way to describe this record is that it's interesting. You get a peek into another culture. My favorite here is Mamata - a very pleasant, ambient song. The rest kind of drag on a bit (especially that 13-minute track), but I could never hate becoming exposed to this stuff.
Hilarious. Covers of 70s songs, like the Stones’s Jumping Jack Flash, with sitar and Indian instruments.
Really interesting. I liked the Western song covers less than the other stuff, they felt a little too gimmicky.
The moment the sitar entered in "Jumpin' Jack Flash", I laughed.
this is the kind of shit i came here for
A rich and engaging fusion of Western music with Indian music. My attention does drift away a little from the longer more improvisational stuff, but there’s a lot of interesting turns there, too. A worthwhile, unique listen. Best song: Mamata (Affection)
I actually enjoyed this
Well that was different….
lol what
3.5/5. OG indie rock.
This is pretty dope. Some fun takes on popular songs like "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Light My Fire". Shankar gets some funky sounds out of the sitar and it's not music I'd normally listen to but I enjoyed it. It couldn't be any more of a 70s-type of music
Very interesting especially given the year it was created. Didn’t love it but found it interesting and fun at points. Don’t know if I’ll revisit it often.
Disappointing entry for this type of music, focused on covers of western songs that didn’t really do it for me. But the original ocean locked me in, and over all love the sound. This illustrates the unspoken requirement of this list to be western music; a version of this instrument/style that wasn’t western covers would’ve been better
Not my thing.
This album provided a different sound to the list. Nothing like a 13 minute sitar jam session. The 2 cover songs (Jumpin' Jack Flash and Light My Fire) were interesting twists on songs I knew.
kuuluisan ravi shankar veljenpoika. helmoilla, hameenhelmilla sortunut länsimaiseen papskaan. covereita, cover - lauluja länsimaista... onneksi tulee vähän india musiikkia loppupäätä kohti, the strongest chord progression mechanisms. in the world... sagar
A sitar cover of "Jumpin' Jack Flash?!" Awesome. I don't know why I associate the sound of a sitar with something mystical or spiritual. Each pluck of the sitar is like words to a song. Really enjoyed listening to this instrumental album Shankar is clearly talented. "Rahupati" was also a great listen.
Not expecting Jumping Jack Flash. Was expecting the following twingy twangy
aside from the 13 minute track, I found this quite pleasant!
interesting stuff and a neat concept for an album. unfortunately i didn't enjoy it as much as i had hoped i would, given the synopsis and message on the front cover. the 13-minute song was particularly not to my taste, and regrettably the only two tracks that really stuck with me were the covers. i did love the use of sitar + moog synthesizer in general though. not sure if I'll come back to the other tracks here honestly. favorites: jumpin' jack flash, light my fire
This was delightful
Although I'm struggling to understand the reasoning for including it on this list, I can't find too many faults with this album. It's a cover-heavy sitar album that might've had George Harrison creaming in his pants, but it's a mood lifter and a welcome blend of popular western and eastern music at the time.
Eastern traditionalism meets Western sensibility in this synth- and sitar-fused raga rock reclamation project.
Sellane 2/5
The first track was disappointing, but I thought the album got better from there. Although it was interesting and pleasant enough, it didn’t leave much of an impression.
A completely new sound for me. I enjoyed the fusion of sounds.
Not my thing
Cool to hear in a new age store, but not for every day listening.
Not for me. I could not finish it. I don't like the sound of the Sitar. I can understand how this was influential to global music being put on the map. I did not finish. 1/5
Not my cup of tea but an interesting listen.
So because this guy did covers of great songs on an Indian instrument this ends up becoming one of the 1001 must hear albums ever made? Seems pretty silly. Just give me the originals. This wasn’t needed to be on the list. Covers were well done too but it’s not a must hear album. 2.0/10
This left me with the same feeling as the first time ordering an omelette in India. Somewhat unsatisfied by the fact that a perfectly good breakfast was ruined by the soapy taste of (too much) coriander. This album is fine, but has a unsatisfactory coriander sauce all over it.
One of the nicer sitar based music I’ve heard
If I ever want to listen to 40 minutes of sitar again I will listen to these 40 minutes of sitar
For the folks who want to get in touch with their spiritual selves but also want to jamn out to light my fire. Could have been worse.
Wow! I'd like to hear more of this :)
Really creative blend of Indian and rock music. Sounds timeless
Interesting listen, have never heard sitar mixed w psychedelic 'rock'. A lil much for me at parts but was a cool listen.
Nice concept, unbearable sound
The sitar is such an exotic instrument. While I probably won’t listen to this album again, that does not mean it was a bad experience.
Man I hate the sound of the sitar. This was not enjoyable
I am familiar with Ravi because of his collaborations with George Harrison. So originally when I saw Shankar I thought this was his music. I didn't realize this was his nephew but at least I knew I would be listening to Sitar music. However, it wasn't really my jam. Extremely talented player and interesting music but not something I will revisit. 2 out of 5 stars.
3/5. Definitely a fun thought experiment. Feels like bardcore with a sitar instead of a lyre. I enjoyed this one, especially the covers and jam session with Sagar. It had a good mix of multiple ideas but still felt like they were trying to stuff out, nothing solidified yet. He can damn sure play that Sitar though, going ham in those solos.
i was excited when i first started listening, but then i realised the first couple of songs were just covers and from therei got less and less interested, to the point where the last couple of songs grated.
Funky, worldly take on some classic hits. Appreciate records like this as they paint songs in a new perspective.
Experimental, but not in my wheelhouse.
A blend of rock, sitar, moogs and go-go backing vocals. Probably the kind of record DJs and crate diggers would cream themselves over. It's ok in small doses - a whole album is a bit much. Best Tracks: Jumpin' Jack Flash; Light My Fire; Mamata (Affection)
🙄
Fun album, but got tired of it quickly.
A DJ played this version of Jumpin’ Jack Flash at Levitation 2022 between the Hooveriii and King Gizzard sets. That was pretty fun.
I don't really get why this belongs in the 1001. It's interesting to hear the sitar used in a contemporary (well, 1970...) setting, but the inclusion of Stones and Doors covers, especially in the opening run, make this feel like a bit of a novelty record. The most entertaining parts are the original works towards the end of the album but overall it doesn't get out of second gear, for me.
That was super interesting and fun.
Wasn’t expecting much as the opening track kicked in, thought it would just be a bunch of sitar cover versions. However, the original tracks are pretty good; Sagar (The Ocean) is pretty epic.
It's an interesting idea to front-load an album of sitar music with covers of favorites, then transition to more standard sitar music. I got Ananda's father, Ravi Shankar, earlier in the list with a similar idea to introduce western audiences to the sitar (though his was more an explanation of what he was playing, which I found to be a great idea). It's fine, and I appreciate the use of western instruments throughout. Favorite tracks: "Metamorphosis", "Sagar (The Ocean)"
Started off a bit 90s winebar lounge music, with its wacky Doors cover, but it got stranger as it progressed and the electronics becoming more prominent really made me warm to this. FUn.
Don't take drugs.
Interesting. Some songs were great and some lolled in. Cool Indian style versions of some songs I know. Idk if I would go out of my way to listen again
Not a favourite but amusing and definitely worth a listen
Gefällt mir nicht.
I've come to listen to this album quite a lot, especially when driving. I never knew sitar could be so funky. Nevertheless, it's very gimmicky. After a couple of songs you're good for a couple of days.
Tiene su gracia y suena bastante moderno incluso hoy en día más de 50 años después de crearse. Aunque se hace algo repetitivo y creo que es algo discutible el que esto sea imprescindible.
It was ok! Something new and different.
Awesome, rock ‘n’ roll and Indian music.
4.25
This is a cool album, but kind of a one-trick pony. That jumpin jack flash cover is something else though. THATS what covers are supposed to be - a different take on an established song that really stands out on its own. Anyway, not bad but nothing youll listen to twice. 3/5
I groaned so loudly when I saw this pop up, but actually it's nice. I like the covers on here unlike some others, particularly Jumpin' Jack Flash. I like all the weird spacey sounds. I'm not sure about the extended 13 minute track, but overall it's a really chill album.
I never knew I needed sitar covers in my life, and now I know I still don't.
Cool mix of genres, the sitar version of Light My Fire was awesome. (3.5/5)
Awful. Just terrible
Another trepidatious listen as the idea sounds horrendous, then I instantly recognised the Jumping Jack Flash cover from the nights at Tiger Lounge where it would regularly drop in amongst northern soul bangers etc. Moog is wonderful. Sitar can be great. Less enamoured with the Light My Fire cover. The other tracks are nice enough listening. Bit like that incredible Bongo Band record it feels like this has been included for one track. Longer it goes on though I think that's unfair. Really like how the long track Sagar developed, feeling that towards the end. Good groove. The last track is banging, dig it.
it's okay ig. wish there was more variety in the instrumentation ig. idk 6.4/10
I like the first half of this one a lot, but the second half is pretty boring. Both of the covers on side one are done really well. I love the general style of mixing the sitar and indian influence with both the Stones and the Doors. It's super unique. Favorites were Light My Fire and Metamorphosis.
Weird one. Covers dragged this down for me 2/5
I really enjoyed this until track 6. It lost me at track 6. I would have rated this 4 stars but since I didn't care for it after track 5 I am going with 3.
There's really nothing I don't like about this album. I like the covers on this album more than the original tracks.
Well, that was different. After the first track I thought I'd end up enjoying this album, but unfortunately it all started to blend together for me. Kudos for coming up with something new and different, but I don't think it ultimately worked all that well even though it wasn't bad. 2.5.
This album is neat and I'm glad it exists, but I doubt I'd revisit it.
light my fire cover really good
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Jumping Jack flash, Snow flower
I'm sure it was cool at the time.now it sounds like Moog backed Sitar that AI made as a B-Film soundtrack from the 60s.
Unusual mix of cultural music styles which invariably never works. I will never be a fan of the sitar, but I did find I could kind of tolerate it for a few of the cover tracks, although the second half of the album was a real struggle and I had to skip it. Not my kind of music.
Such a delight. Jumpin' Jack Flash is certainly a banger. Unfortunately Light My Fire reminded me too much of those baby lullably albums which are basically cover versions of popular songs using instruments like a sitar. The rest of the album is great though especially Sagar (The Ocean)
Hah hah, this was excellent! I love world music fusions, and it appears this album was one of the first to popularize that trend, so very happy to be introduced to it! (If you're also into that kind of thing I heartily recommend checking out Charanjit Singh's "Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat" - dude was a Bollywood session musician who got access to some synths in 1983 and basically invented acid house a few years early!) Fave tracks - "Jumpin' Jack Flash" slaps - that's a great version. I'm also very taken with "Sagar (The Ocean)" - I love a track that builds and builds and builds....
Blind album and artist. I thought this was some crazy cool sounding music and I was intrigued and hooked from start to finish. I loved the long jam Sagar as well as the opening track/cover
Umm. Space sitar psychedelic rock. Interesting. I can't decide whether its better or worse with the 2 covers...
That Jumpin Jack flash obviously slaps. But at the same time, I get exactly what someone else, perhaps Ravi Shankar, said about using traditional instruments like the sitar for pop and jazz, that it sort of undermines its spiritual significance. This blending kinda reminds me of a college party in an uncomfortable way. The illusion of having a multicultural experience, though the difference is only skin-deep. Timbre. At the same time, trying not to see the sitar as a sound that's been smuggled in, being bent over backwards to accommodate scales that it's not really set up for... maybe it's more like a proud ambassador, Ananda showing the world what it can do. I'm sure that's closer to this album's intent. And yes, maybe a rebuke of Indian traditionalists thrown in the mix. After the recognizable pool party cover songs are over, we get some mind-bending fusion jams. Whether Sagar (The Ocean) works for you or not depends entirely on the time of day and the lighting.
I’m sorry, but I really felt no connection with this music. We’ve had something close to Shankar. I think they were related before and same opinion on that. It’s just really something that did not grab my attention. It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever heard I just would never voluntarily listen to it.
While I appreciate and applaud the idea of melding different genres in new ways, I can't help but think this "Jumpin' Jack Flash" cover is an elaborate Austin Powers type joke. Every possible dancing girl, swirly colours, groovy Laugh-In stereotype of the era seems appropriate. I don't hate it but still kind of do. I love me some Moog but I'm not sure it's really featured here and certainly not like the sitar which ... since there's a picture of one on the cover, I suppose one should expect it. Eh nothing in here is that bad - definitely cheesy covers including "Light My Fire" - but it works more for background music than active listening for me. I will say that the last few songs seem more legit and maybe that's more of him not melding as many genres - i.e. Dance Indra has a deep Moog tone going on underneath the sitar that - even if i don't personally get that into it - seems more at ease with itself. Although in the end not being a huge fan of the sitar, i'm pushing it just a little further into the background. 5/10 2 stars
Some of it was ok, but in small doses.
Can't say I'm a fan of this, would much prefer it in its natural form a la Ravi rather than a half assed cover of the doors
What a cool fusion of sounds! Guess I’m a fan of the sitar now. 3.1
Absolutely not something I would reach for, but this fusion of sitar and moog works pretty well, though it can never completely escape the whiff of cheese.
trance inducing, chanting, a solid trip !
It's alright. It's a sitar.
Average at best.
Kind of brilliantly bad? I mean, it's like elevator music, but with sitars? Um. Yeah. I guess it's something that was interesting to listen to once, and it seems to be in earnest, but super out there, and for my taste, not something I'd want to experience again. It does get better. The covers are the worst part, by far.
Nothing really grabbed me here, in fact it got more and more annoying with each passing track.
Fun album I would not have hard otherwise.
I liked to begin with but got kinda sick of as it went on
Ananda Shankar gives us the authentic melding of Western rock and electronic styles that was, and still is, needed desperately in music. Cultural melding into music is not done very often to this day and i couldn't've be happier to have heard this album. Rest easy Ananda Shankar
Hier kan ik weinig zinnigs over zeggen. Robert Dimery had het weer iets te laat gemaakt in de opium den toen 'ie dit bedacht denk ik. Ik zal als huiswerk een alternatieve, betere tracklijst samenstellen met covers waarbij je in ieder geval nog schijtlollige woordgrappen kunt maken. Track 1 "Sitart Me Up" (Stones) Track 2 "Bharat About Dre" (Dr Dre / Eminem) Track 3 "Ganges Paradise" (Coolio) Track 4 "While My Sitar Gently Weeps" (Beatles) Track 5 "Curry On Wayward Son" (Kansas) Track 6 "A Sky Full of Sitars" (Coldplay) Track 7 "Running Up Tamil (A Deal With Shiva)" (Kate Bush) Track 8 "Delhi Watch The Sitars" (Air) Track 9 "Down With The Sikhness" (Disturbed) Track 10 "Vindaloo Child (Slight Return)" met daar aan vast als hidden track "The Sitar-Spangled Banner" (Jimi Hendrix) Bij de Nederlandse release zit als bonustrack nog 'It's Hard To Say Mumbai' van RONDÉ
A novelty cover album that actually works and does its own thing.
Kertakäyttökamaa
Mulle kuin korianteria
The covers felt unnecessary and the originals aren't essential listening either, imo.
Instrumental Sitar music with a cover of Jumpin Jack Flash and Light My Fire. Not for me
"Featuring sitar and Moog synthesizers", så da love jo godt. Men blei diverre litt for mange coverlåta for meg
Jumping jack flash var jævlig bra. Ellers litt ymse
It’s neat and sounds interesting but I don’t think a sitar can carry a whole album
Good effort. Kinda interesting. Wish I could do 2.5
Not some thing, I would typically listen to, but that is the beauty of this app. I felt like the first half of the album was really good, and then unfortunately the second half got a little bit slower. Overall still a really great album, especially as background music while working. Favorite songs - Snowflower, mamata, raghupati
sound is eigentlich cool, aber manchmal a sau anstrengend
I really wanted to give it a 2. It's just covers without any lyrics. But damn, it is definitely better than a 2. Good background/working music.
Good but not great, interesting but very short, unlike anything from the west but repetitive, a mass of contradictions and sitar. The couple of rock covers were very cool, but limited replay value. I liked it, but didn't love it; probably because I don't know enough to appreciate the style and genre.
fun bit not interedting
Dishoom had one of these songs on their album, which is neat. Pretty great sitar jams
Hasn't aged well
Jeg ved ikke om jeg har brug for at høre indiske covers at klassiske rocksange
Interesting. Weird cover of Jumpin' Jack Flash but also some original indian style almost psychedelic music. Felt stuff listening to it but wouldn't really listen again.
I guess The Beatles did it with Ravi Shankar, so why not some Rolling Stones and The Doors! No thanks...
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. Its a really interesting fusion of genres and cultures that I suppose would make some cringe, but I think it worked. I much prefer the Rolling Stones cover to the Doors cover, but I don't really care much for the original Doors song to begin with. Found myself getting fairly meditative during "Sagar". Not sure how often I'll revist this, but I would gladly give it another listen.
Certainly a record from the time.
The Austin Powers of sitar albums, a little too shagadellic for mine. I love Indian rhythms and would have preferred to hear a more authentic set of tunes.
This was lots of fun. A nice mashup of cute, gentle psychedelia, pop and Indian classical. I loved the cover of Light My Fire, super funky.
Pleasantly surprised by this album
Decent.
Another solid entry for this week! The covers were slight but fun; this one really came alive with the epic Sagar (The Ocean.) Really enjoyed this.
I was a bit worried about this one, then read the review in this site and thought maybe I’m right to be. You know, the first few tracks were cool with the electric rhythm guitars and other arrangements. Then it just sort of coasted after that. Not a bad listen, but it didn’t blow me away.
Fun to hear the covers of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Light My Fire" played with sitar. "Sagar (The Ocean)" is a standout track too -- a 13-minute build-up with some nice shredding at the end! A nice, jammy, easy to listen to album of Indian-rock fusion.
This was alright. Didn't really blow me away too much. I think it's fun hearing the classic rock cover in context of traditional indian instruments, and I know there's some mystical music lineage going on here with relation to Ravi Shankar, but I just felt it was alright. Not sure if it's a must-listen.
not a huge sitar fan
It turns out I can enjoy the sitar for 24m33s, at which point my feelings take a rapid nosedive. Sadly this album is 40m:36s long
Innovative Fusion: Ananda Shankar's eponymous album is a groundbreaking work of music that marries the rich traditions of Indian classical music with elements of rock, funk, and jazz. His innovative fusion sound was way ahead of its time and marked the beginning of a new genre that later came to be known as "world music." Instrumentation: The album features a wide array of instruments, including the sitar, tabla, and various traditional Indian instruments, as well as electric guitars, bass, and drums. The interplay between these diverse instruments creates a captivating and dynamic sonic landscape. Diverse Tracks: The album consists of a diverse selection of tracks, each showcasing different aspects of Ananda Shankar's musical prowess. "Streets of Calcutta" is a standout piece, combining traditional Indian melodies with modern rock rhythms, creating a vibrant and evocative composition. "Dancing Drums" is another highlight, featuring intricate tabla rhythms and lively sitar melodies that make the listener want to dance along. Cultural Fusion: Ananda Shankar's ability to seamlessly blend Indian musical elements with Western ones is remarkable. This fusion of cultures and genres results in music that is both engaging and thought-provoking. It bridges the gap between the East and the West, making it accessible to a wide range of listeners. Expressive Sitar Playing: Ananda Shankar's sitar playing is a standout feature of the album. His virtuosity and expressiveness on the instrument are evident throughout, and his ability to convey a wide range of emotions through the sitar is impressive. Timeless Appeal: Despite being released in 1970, the album has a timeless quality that continues to captivate audiences today. The fusion of styles and the innovative approach to music still feel fresh and relevant, making it a classic in the world of world music and fusion. Influence: "Ananda Shankar" has had a significant influence on subsequent generations of musicians and composers. Many contemporary artists have drawn inspiration from Shankar's fusion style and his pioneering efforts in combining Eastern and Western musical traditions. Production Quality: The album's production quality is exceptional, given the era in which it was recorded. The arrangements are well-crafted, and the sound engineering is top-notch, allowing the diverse instruments and elements to shine through. In conclusion, "Ananda Shankar" by Ananda Shankar is a landmark album that remains a shining example of cross-cultural musical exploration and innovation. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in world music, fusion, or the rich tapestry of Indian classical music. The album's ability to transport listeners to a different time and place while simultaneously feeling contemporary is a testament to its enduring appeal.
It's easy to arrive at one door that lends to a tossed off thought that amounts to forgetfulness. It is another to arrive at that door, get inside and find some gems and there are plenty of gems in this self-titled sitar mastery from Ananda Shankar. Surely the 60s and its marriage of Indian and Anglo music was dwindling but it couldn't have been noticed here. Obligatory nods to the best rock bands of the day abound but the album should be best remembered for its beyond beautiful and fascinating Sagar, which is more than worthy of its admission price. Favorites: Jumpin' Jack Flash, Mamata (Affection), Sagar (The Ocean), Dance Indra, Raghupati.