Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Never heard of him. Sitar Pop music. First heard about the Sitar because of George Harrison. Would be interesting for Morrison to sing to.
its just sitar covers?
Well that was an experience, music to induce hypnosis. Covering those two classics was brave, and Jumpin' Jack Flash did have a certain something. But then the second half just tailed away into nothingness.
Odd and insistent on a style that didn't go anywhere. Say it louder for the people in the back - if you're gonna do a cover, it has to be better!
Bah c’est comique les versions indiennes de classiques rock mais c’est pas mal ça. Une écoute c’était suffisant
Not for me
The cover songs at the beginning of the album are a fun novelty. After that, the more traditional sitar music gets tiresome.
great fusion
Dit was wat te ver buiten mijn comfortzone. 2.4
The British Invasion bands broke based on their American R&B and rock and roll influences. Then they toured the other former colonies where they discovered heretofore-unknown-to-a-western-audience rhythms and instruments like the sitar. Which opened the door to the Shankar Sitar Complex. The sitar has remained an important instrument in popular western music.
Appreciate it, but not my jam.
Still not completely understanding why sitar was A Thing. Not unpleasant; the covers are mildly interesting novelties.
Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this
Well the description was more interesting than the content... The covers I recognized were uninteresting and I don't know if other tracks are covers too. Maybe it has to do with production but the sound of sitar is grating here.
I didn't really get it. Didn't enjoy the covers, didn't really get into the new stuff, and prefer his uncle Ravi. Some virtuoso sitar on display there. Here, it is absolutely fine. I'm sure I'm doing him a disservice, but just not for me. Dance Indra was probably my favourite, I liked the breakdowns. Really spooky. I was interested to read about Ananda Shankar's influence on Cornershop (of Brimful of Asha fame).
Didn't think I needed sitar covers of the doors and the stones in my life..... This album confirmed that. I much preferred the original tracks though, it does have an interesting sound, the sitar. Sagar was the best. Can't help but feel there's nepotism involved here but perhaps I'm doing Ananda a disservice Won't be rushing back, especially not for the western covers 2.5
It’s fine
Point: 1001 is a lot, you see. Counterpoint: You are missing So Many.
what my parents think im listening to when I say I like Pink Floyd... lol this was trying to be trippy to hard
I love the sitar sound and I really enjoy it Indian classical music. I like when it’s fused with western pop music (eg, the Beatles) or when guitarists let the sitar influence their sound. There are a few good tunes on this album (Jumpin Jack Flash), but it’s mostly a gimmick. The sitarist is too often simply plucking out the melody note for note. I get that it’s early days of sitar in western music, but it’s boring. Light My Fire is no better here than in its original incarnation (i don’t like the Doors, as a rule). This is a 2 — the artist can do much better.
Oh my God, those covers are atrocious. I guess I can understand a new artist using something like that to get their foot in the door, but they are so terrible. If I never hear the Jumpin Jack Flash sitar cover again, it will be too soon. We now have AI to give us jokes like that, so in that way I guess this version was a half century ahead of its time. Fortunately, covers aside, this one can be pretty decent background music.
Clearly a skilled musician, but man I really do not care for sitar. The covers are certainly interesting, but the best song is the last one.
The sitar can be a fun appetizer but definitely not a full meal. Fun for a moment but it gets overwhelming quick!
The Sitar is at best a complimentary instrument, and even then a little goes a long way. Hard to make it all the way through this one.
interesting at times, but often redundant. the covers were pretty cool, but over all, not for me.
This was fun until it wasn’t. Then it was annoying.
The covers felt pointless and the whole album was very similar. If it was like half the time it wouldn't be so bad. But the same sounds over and over get old
Thought the satar covers were cool, some songs were either originals or I didn’t recognise the song being covered. Some songs were far too frantic and unenjoyable to listen to. Hanna hated it
старая скучная индейская залупа
Whilst the playing was high quality, this was not good. The covers really are one trock ponies that do not stand up at all. The original stuff was better but this is no more than a bad idea.
I wanted to like this more than I did. The cover of Jumping Jack Flash was fun-as was the combination of sitar and electronic instruments. The last (or next to last) piece with the spoken word was not engaging-overall the album has potential but was uneven and-for me, at times-boring. I am glad I listened to it, but probably wouldn’t revisit it. Properly 2.5, but as I cannot see returning to it, will round down for now.
Me suele gustar el sitar en algunas canciones para darle cierto toque exótico, pero escuchar un disco entero basado en este instrumento se me hace bastante duro. No puedo evitar pensar que está en la lista por el viaje que hicieron los Beatles a India a fines de los 60. 2/5
Well, who would have thought that sitar would blend well with western pop music? Certainly not me. Turns out I was proven right, as this is a real stinker. It gets a little better once we've been through the torturous renditions of Rolling Stones and the Doors classics. It doesn't get a lot better though to be fair. I'm going with two stars, which feels a little generous.
Just fine. The covers were meh, and the sitar was good, but not great. Soft 2-2.5 stars.
Kinda fun.
Ideja zvuči interesantno, na papiru volim fuzije naizgled teško spojivih stvari. I sitar je vrlo zanimljiv instrument. Međutim, nakon nekog vremena stvarno počinje ubijati, i shvatam da je sitar bolji u malim dozama.
Not my thing at all
Overall I didn’t really like this.
Some indian dude playong western covers Nah
I wanted to like this but it’s really goofy.
Not really for me. Skilled and talented I’m sure, but largely the music washed over me. The cover versions have some novelty value.
I didn't like this record. I feel like it's technically interesting, and I have no doubts the Sitar playing is pretty good. But it fails to be an entertaining record beyond that, it's monotonous and it felt a bit gimmicky. I didn't enjoy listening to it, and I don't think I'll come back to it.
This is so so so so dated. It's like music in the background of the psychedelic portion of a Monkees biopic. I really don't feel like I NEED to hear sitar covers of Rolling Stones songs.
Nett, aber nervt nach kurzer Zeit.
A couple of good covers
Interesting
One or two sitar songs is fine, but an album gets old.
Not terrible. Just weird
bah
What a dream this was, blending Western and Indian music. It's almost as if he's created a new form of music entirely that has yet to be named. It's both melodious and touching at the same time, the sound produced by combining the most modern electronic devices with the old traditional instrument, the Sitar!
Meh. Some tracks were alright, but that light my fire cover was garbage and kinda ruined the mood
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
# 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
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
Is this a joke?
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 didn't really enjoy this. A lot of it felt the same in a bad way.
wierd but interesting
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.
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.
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!
2.8
Ok
Rating: 4/10 Nah.
Not all that interesting, but I liked the final track.
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
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.
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.
Ihan suht vinkeästi etenki rockista kunnon jumitukseen. Ei vain jaksa aktiivisesti kiinnostaa mua 40 minuuttia.
I preface my remarks by saying I don't like the sitar anyway, but this is just lobby music.
Very good album if you are on LSD, not for listening on a monday morning at work....
Interesting but not great
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
It's not bad, but cover albums do not belong here
2.5/5
Entertaining in small bursts , but really feels like a novelty record. 2.5
eh, not for me
1.5/5
Psychedelic rock with sitar, very soothing and dynamic at the same time.
Just fine
Correcto
Not sure why everyone loved the sitar in the 60s/70s. Can’t even picture myself enjoying this on acid.
A redeeming quality is that this helped moved fusion forward with other projects.
Interesting but no songs that quite stick
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.
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 was alright
Didn't really pay much attention but nothing stood out. 2.5/5
Everything you’d expect Indian covers of psychedelic music to be. 2.0
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
Kinda boring
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.
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.
Not really my jam. But interesting
well, who whould have thought that this instrument could be THAT annoying after only 2 songs?
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.
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.
Ehhhh. Covers of original songs are just that - covers. Even if done in a world music style.
This is on the list for variety and interest rather than how good it is. This is only okay
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.
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
👎
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
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.
I like the sitar, do not like the western psych influence
-1 for the covers
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.
Not really for me
First half was pretty good, and relaxing. Second half was annoying and had to skip.
Yup, it's exactly what you think it's going to be. Interesting, but probably wouldn't revisit.
Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
Is okay
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
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.
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
Interesting idea but the novelty wore off pretty quickly for me.
Not bad
Two plain naan, chicken tikka and coconut rice please.
Not as interesting as it could have been I feel.
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.
Psychedelic
Fine. A lot of sitar songs just sound like a lot of other sitar songs
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).
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.
Every song on this album sounded like the music that would accompany a spooky Mario level.
More fun than I expected, but I didn’t need a whole album‘s worth.
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.
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.
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
typa tunes that play when a hollywood movie enters dubai 2.4/5
Average sitar.
I have a hard time to enjoy the sound of this album, whether it deals with (redundant) covers or original material.
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
It's alright,bit naff in places.
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
Eh!
Not really something I enjoyed listening to, sitar is not my instrument of choice
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.
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
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.
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.
Very repetitive, some nice vibes but not really for me
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
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.
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
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 moment the sitar entered in "Jumpin' Jack Flash", I laughed.
Well that was different….
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.
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.
Sellane 2/5
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.
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.
Nice concept, unbearable sound
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.
Fun album, but got tired of it quickly.
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.
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
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.
I never knew I needed sitar covers in my life, and now I know I still don't.
Weird one. Covers dragged this down for me 2/5
This album is neat and I'm glad it exists, but I doubt I'd revisit it.
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.
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
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.
Kertakäyttökamaa
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
sound is eigentlich cool, aber manchmal a sau anstrengend
fun bit not interedting
Hasn't aged well
I guess The Beatles did it with Ravi Shankar, so why not some Rolling Stones and The Doors! No thanks...
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 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.
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
Not a huge fan. Lots of just noodling on the sitar that never seemed to go anywhere.
You never really want to peak on track 1
This was interesting but not something I'll reach for again. The stones covers were fun the first time but seemed like a novelty act already by the 2nd listen. Def there is cool stuff here and I'm glad it's on the list but it's not something I'll miss now that I'm done listening to it.
Psychedelic, background music. Dragged on, not a big fan.
Would have never guessed he played with Jimi Hendrix.
Versiones con sitar. Se hace rayante
Could do with a little less sitar.
okii!!!!! 6/10
Generic sitar music
This album is billed as an innovative form of Indian-Western Fusion, but it's really just sitar covers. Best track: Snow Flower
I've got to say it, I reeeally didn't care for the covers of the Stones and the Doors. I get the idea behind it, but they're just not good. The other songs on the album fall on the spectrum between intriguing and irritating. I had to check out early on the last song. Fave Songs: Snow Flower, Dance Indra, Metamorphosis, Sagar (The Ocean)
Ik ben geen fan van covers waar de zangpartij door een instrument vervangen is.
The sitar, over the course of an entire album, can get very irritating to listen to. I really only enjoyed a part of one song. I think it was Metamorphosis when the drums kicked in. The covers (Jumpin' Jack Flash and Light My Fire) sounded kind of cheesy. This album seems like more of a curiosity than anything.
Didn't mind some of it but the covers of 'Western' songs were a bit shonky.
I got through it. Didnt hate it or love it. Just some sitar for the morning. Nice mix or culture. Way to Jam it Ananda Skankar
The original songs were better than the covers, but I’m not sure why we needed yet another sitar album in this list
Usually when unusual instruments (sitar, bagpipes, etc) are added to western music it is just added on top of rather than integrated into the music. A few bands/albums/songs do this well, but this is not one of them.
I’m curious about this album. These aren’t original songs so what did this influence?
the sitar is a cool sounding instrument for one maybe two tracks, a full album is like having a shack full of SHACKs.
Better than Lucas Levia
just okay, not my favorite.
As I drove in my hot car from Bend to Redmond I found this more and more annoying.
1970’s curio. Not great
The original songs here are actually pretty good, but the covers of rock songs are unlistenable. Sitar really had a moment in the late 60's / early 70's didn't it. 2.5/5
Weird. Ok I guess. Liked the covers of songs I knew.
Maybe the gimmick of just playing anything on a traditional instrument worked in the 70s, but this album does not hold up today.
It’s okay a full album of this is a bit grating but it’s nice at the start.2/5
Pretty terrible.
Honestamente no se porque recomendaron este álbum.
Interesting album with interesting Indian style covers of 60’s classics. Worthy place on this list? Guess it’s something different, will I listen again probably not.
I doubt that the best sitar album ever is mainly covers of western 70s songs. Feels a bit like a quiz show where one should guess the song based on an instrumental version. I mean it's like saying that the best violin piece ever created is not Vivaldi but an instrumental version of Sk8terboy. That being said instrumental cover albums can be incredible like Brad Mehldau's Beatles album.
I was going to make the pun that Ananda can ‘sitar my face’. It transpires that Ananda Shankar is in fact a balding Indian bloke, so the pun was redacted. The cover of Light My Fire was a pleasant surprise, but the rest was… okay
- very hippy - very trippy - very the beatles when they got high in india but this is the real deal
Meh?
Novelty value only. Unenjoyable. The sitar is unpleasant.
Is this good sitar playing? Who the hell knows? I enjoyed the final track and the rock covers were amusing diversions. I have a feeling Ravi Shankar is way better than this guy.
INT
a couple of fun covers, but otherwise not my thing
enjoyed first half 2.5
Meh.
Meh
I’m sure it was appreciated in its time
Rating: 4/10 Maybe didn’t give it a fair shot, but not a fan.
Didn’t really grab my attention at all.
Seems like kind of a novelty record.
Covers sound like sitar-aoke (karaoke, geddit) and the albums drags. Shame.
The covers of "jumping jack flash" and "light my fire" were interesting. An entire instrumental, except for the final track, album that combines traditional Indian sitar with western rock. A compelling concept if done correctly. This one doesn't quite hit the mark. I found it good for background music
Weird covers, drags on in the middle
Sitar covers of classic rock hits…not something I would choose for myself but I respect the fact that it exists
A little too much sitar for my taste
I get it, but also not sure this works for me. The sitar is just so unique that pairing it with songs like "Light My Fire" just sounds...not great. I appreciate the effort here, but I would have preferred Shankar to take his own spin at it vs, just intro'n the sitar to make it "different". 2 stars
Joah. Nett. Aber nix besonderes
Not much to say here lol. It’s good instrumental stuff but casual sitar isn’t really my jive
2. Not bad. The type of music I would enjoy listening to while on hold or stuck in an elevator.
Westernized Sitar Music. I can't believe of all the amazing world music there is, this album that has been built on the western poppy influences made the list. 'Metamorphosis' is the only real positive on this album. It's the only song where barriers get broken and Shankar dares to take it a bit further.
Am I in an elevator that's stuck? Weird, because I hear no ringing. Very odd. Also why this is one of the 1001 albums I need to listen to. Maybe it's the wait music?
Okay, it was pretty wild to get some familiar covers in a Sitar world-music style. However, can't say i really want to listen to them more than as a curiosity.
Um, no. I love Sitar music but this is just terrible. Sitar covers of Rolling Stones songs and Light My Fire?? I just ... can't. I can get into some music fusion, but why these terrible songs?! In case this didn't come across (lol), this is not my thing AT ALL. But I will acknowledge (barf) that this album might have turned some bland white people onto sitar music. So sad.
Okay Indian music, just not something I Would normally listen to. This album does not change that.
je sais pas ce que ça fout là
Not too much of my thing but I can appreciate the good musicality
The first couple of songs were quite interesting, but I must say that I lost interest quite quickly, and that sitar really got quite dragging on my Western untrained ears. It was a weird experience that worked quite well on some songs because it matched quite well with the fact I was travelling on a train while listening to it, though I don't think this is the usual kind of trip that people listen to this sort of thing on. Favourite: Jumpin' Jack Flash
Enjoyed it but wouldn’t listen regularly
The originals are actually quite beautiful, but the covers (especially "Light My Fire") resemble the most painful of muzak. I'm sure this was an interesting idea in 1970 but it's not very interesting now.