Reviews (page 11 of 12)
Not bad. Different but didn’t mind.
Day 4/1001 Groovy, funky music from the golden era - what's not to like? 'City, Country, City' and the title track are particularly excellent - the length really helps to explore the sounds.
Pretty nice and groovy without being toooo jazzy
Very funky
Interesting album. I grew up in Southern California so I am familiar with some of their songs, The Cisco Kid, was played in the radio. The music reminded me of 1970’s radio, especially the songs that were over 10 minutes. Not a bad album.
Started hot then slowed down quite a bit. Good cold day stay indoors vibes.
Always thought they needed Eric Burden - WRONG! loved all of it & will look for more.
A sound and style I have not heard before. More fascinating than purely enjoyable for me, but in no way bad. 3.5/5
Man this crosses all genres. Rock, Funk, Soul and a near-13 minute bongo jazz riff? Yeah, WAR really lives up to the hype with The World Is A Ghetto. 4.5/5
I was so torn on what to give this album, until I asked myself “what’s holding this album back from being a 5/5?” and I couldn’t come up with anything. So ladies and gentlemen we got my third ever 5/5 here. It’s just so full of life, addresses very universal human emotion/struggle. I’m beginning to create a scale for boomer music: on one end is the “songs to ride your Harley to” and on the other end is “songs to do a line to” and this one is more on the latter side
I feel like they have better albums.
Amazeballs.
Blues, Funk, Reggae, ProgRock? Keine Ahnung. Aber ein sehr gutes Album.
First track opens the album perfectly, from there you can’t stop tapping your foot or dancing. The entire album is part soul and part funk, full jam band with 6 songs topping out at 44 minutes.
The first track came on and I though yes, let’s go but sadly a lot of it was a bit dull and self indulgent. Disappointing
Funky amb alguna peça progessiva i instrumental xula
Not my style at all
3 stars
So funky
Pretty funky.
Overall: WAR was a staple in rotation played in my home as a child. I can appreciate the record for the jazz funk vibe and vocals that are reminiscent of sorrow songs. I'll probably add Cisco Kid to a regular playlist to hear it more in the future. As a full album, I probably wouldn't go back to it, but I can see how everyone SHOULD hear this and other WAR albums at least once. There is something incredibly important to the feel of the album that captures not only the struggle at the time it was written, but the struggle that has continued across time. Track Breakdown: Cisco Kid - this is a childhood classic, brought me back to being 6years old again.. my parents would play this often in the house through the giant floor console stereo cabinet while did chores Saturday or had a lazy Sunday City, Country, City - thoroughly enjoyed this jazzy funky jam instrumental, until about the 6 minute mark, I was almost ready to skip it.. then the sax cut out and keyboards took over and won me back Four Cornered Room - many parts of this song really touched my empathetic heart, the entire tone of the song made me think of a sorrow song that would come from the fields of the 1800s, mixed with some blues and funk.
After the first two tracks, I was ready to write this album off (I've never intentionally listened to War) but "City, Country, City" captured my attention with its funky saxophone / organ leads and energetic, dense percussion. FUN listen that had me dancing around. This might be a 70's track from Santana if you swapped the sax with guitar... And right after that, "Four Cornered Room" has me bored and tuned out again. War simply isn't for me, and that's fine. But I did add "City, Country, City" to an instrumental playlist I have to get fired up, so it's not a total loss.
I really liked this one
i never need to listen to this album again
Du prog jazz qui n’avait pas tant de punch 6/10
Its free and funky and i dig it.
It turns out my life didn't need an eight minute organ solo. Who knew.
War, huh.
what is it good for?
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine! A lot to like here. City Country City is one of those 13 plus minute songs that you, at first, think of skipping, but are glad you didn't after you heard it. What a journey through sound. Standouts: The Cisco Kid, Where Was You At, City Country City, The World is a Ghetto 4/5
Funky and jazzy and a good listen
Do you love awesome grooves and jams? Because if not then you should skip this one.
I’m not as up on Progressive Soul as I’d like to be, so this was an interesting listen. The centrepiece is the 13 minute City, Country, City which opens with an organ and a Spanish sounding guitar playing over the top, continues by alternating between a pastiche sounding country complete with harmonica and a more typical funk beat, before settling into a Jazz jam session with a latin funk sounding rhythm. It’s great, and fascinating to hear a funk bands take on jazz rather than a jazz bands take on funk. The best song is the opening Cisco Kid, with it’s slow reggae inspired beat. I’m trying to find something bad to say about this record but I can’t. This is great
Oh my god, this album!!! What have I been missing all this time! Such a great record. Next to the classic hits, the other songs are equally as good. But City, Country, City really blew me away! Standouts: The Cisco Kid, Where Was You At, City, Country, City, Four Cornered Room, The World Is A Ghetto 9 out of 10
3 Maybe 4
Virkelig funky
Meget groovy og meget cool! Kan godt li sådan noget mørk funk her. Nogen af numrene trak måske lidt for meget ud.
Spøjst nok koncept. De har en fin fusions ting kørende.
Concept, but it falls flat. There are a couple catchy songs and a few good jams, but overall it's forgettable.
Felt like entering a time machine to 1970s hard streets of New York. Not a place I want to be. Points for atmosphere.
I'd only really known them for Lowrider. This was perfectly passable funk/soul. I liked City, Country, City
A good album, cohesive and unafraid to sprawl out with the songs. I don't know their discography well, but with (surprisingly) only one album on the list I thought it would have been the one with "Low Rider" on it.
"4 Cornered Room" was one of those tracks we used to put on mixtapes and listen to while we were high. Zoom, zooom, zoooom...
Oh yeah this is funky as all hell. I’m a fan.
Really great album, sounds much more modern than an album that’s half a century old
Does anyone remember "cut-outs"? Those were deeply discounted longplayers with, well, cut-outs in the covers to mark them as discounted. Instead of shelling over the typical 15 - 20 Deutschmark for standard LPs, you bought the real good ones (say, Supertramp's Crisis What Crisis?) for 10 Deutschmarks (we are beaming back into the late 70ies here). On the low cost end were bands like "Ace" (famous for their "How long" hit and their singer Paul Carrack) and, tataah, WAR. As memory serves me, almost the complete WAR catalogue was on available in the cutout shelves. They seem to hold a cultural significance to make it onto the 1001 list, but the reasons fail me. In other word, not my type of beer. I'll wait for Marvin Gaye or Isaac Hayes to hand over four stars.
#84. The first song was good, but then it faded fast. Like real fast. Honestly the rest of the album kinda sucks. But hey, at least they're being consistent with adding an album from a one hit wonder which that one hit isn't on. 2/5: pass Song added to playlist: The Cisco Kid I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
It's really good. I think their albums influenced amount of musicians but I feel that they got influenced by many artist too. The World Is A Ghetto, it recalls me Quincy Jones or J.B. and when it comes to Beetles In The Bog, I think they even didn't hide that this is tribute for Fela Kuti. However, I am fond of this album because of the eclecticisim and the jacket too. (Perdona, lately ive been salcking off writing reviews.)
Did not listen to it fully today, but i think it doesn't sound bad. Will return
Funky
You know the guys who did Why Can't We Be Friends and Low Rider? Turns out they also make great funk jams.
It's sleek and funky... But never quite enough that I fell truly in love with it. I think I'd rather have had the variety of 12 four minute songs than six eight minute songs which probably would have made me love this more.
Great album, you can hear so many different genres on It. The instrumentals are great, the vocals are great and I can hear so many samples that were used later on. Enjoyed listening to this One. 4/5
Lyrics: The lyrical content of "The World Is a Ghetto" is both introspective and socially conscious, reflecting the tumultuous times in which it was created. The title track, in particular, explores themes of urban decay, poverty, and the impact of war on everyday life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the struggles faced by marginalized communities, capturing the essence of the band's socio-political commentary. Tracks like "Cisco Kid" and "Four Cornered Room" showcase the versatility of War's lyricism, with narratives that touch on personal experiences and relationships. The lyrics often blend seamlessly with the music, creating a cohesive narrative that resonates with listeners. Music: War's musical style in "The World Is a Ghetto" is a rich fusion of various genres, including funk, jazz, rock, and Latin influences. The band's ability to seamlessly integrate these diverse elements contributes to the album's enduring appeal. The infectious grooves, tight rhythms, and intricate instrumentation showcase the musicians' exceptional skill and chemistry. The use of brass instruments, especially in tracks like "City, Country, City," adds a layer of sophistication to the music, while the rhythmic guitar work throughout the album provides a solid foundation. The dynamic interplay between percussion, bass, and vocals creates a sound that is both energetic and soulful. Production: Produced by Jerry Goldstein and Far Out Productions, the album boasts a polished yet raw production quality that complements War's eclectic sound. The balance between the various instruments is well-executed, allowing each element to shine without overshadowing the others. The production captures the spontaneity and energy of the band's live performances, contributing to the album's overall authenticity. Notably, the album's production values contribute to its timelessness. Despite being over four decades old, the sound remains fresh and relevant, a testament to the meticulous production work that went into crafting this musical masterpiece. Themes: "The World Is a Ghetto" explores a range of themes that remain pertinent to societal issues. The title track delves into the harsh realities of urban life, addressing poverty, crime, and the struggle for survival. "Cisco Kid" reflects on the allure and pitfalls of a life of crime, while "Four Cornered Room" touches on the isolation and introspection that can accompany personal struggles. The album's thematic depth extends to its instrumental tracks, such as the multi-part suite "City, Country, City." Here, War skillfully conveys the contrasts between urban and rural environments, using music as a medium to tell a powerful narrative without the need for words. Influence: "The World Is a Ghetto" has had a lasting influence on the music industry, particularly in the realms of funk, jazz, and Latin music. The album's ability to blend genres has inspired countless artists across different musical landscapes. War's unique approach to storytelling through music, coupled with their socially conscious lyrics, has left an indelible mark on subsequent generations of musicians. The fusion of diverse cultural elements in the album has also contributed to its influence on world music, showcasing the potential for cross-cultural collaboration and artistic expression. The socio-political messages embedded in the lyrics have resonated with audiences and continue to inspire artists seeking to address social issues through their music. Pros: Musical Diversity: The album's ability to seamlessly blend funk, jazz, rock, and Latin influences showcases War's musical versatility. Lyrical Depth: The socially conscious and introspective lyrics provide a thought-provoking narrative that resonates with listeners on a personal and societal level. Innovative Production: The production quality captures the band's live energy while maintaining a polished sound, contributing to the album's enduring appeal. Timelessness: Despite being released in the early 1970s, the album's themes and musicality remain relevant and continue to resonate with audiences. Influence: The album's impact on subsequent generations of musicians across various genres cements its status as a groundbreaking work. Cons: Length of Tracks: Some tracks, particularly the longer instrumental pieces, may be considered overly indulgent by listeners who prefer more concise compositions. Specific Sound: The distinctive sound of War may not appeal to all listeners, especially those with a preference for more mainstream or narrowly defined genres. Limited Commercial Success: While the album received critical acclaim, its commercial success may not have matched its artistic significance, limiting its recognition during its initial release. In conclusion, "The World Is a Ghetto" by War stands as a musical and lyrical tour de force that encapsulates the spirit of its era while remaining relevant across generations. Its fusion of genres, socially conscious themes, and innovative production contribute to its enduring appeal and influence. Despite some minor drawbacks, the album's pros far outweigh its cons, solidifying its place as a classic in the annals of music history.
I was surprised by how little singing there was. The album was alright. It didn't have any of their big hits. However, I have an inside joke about the Cisco Kid so that brought back.some laughs.
Love this album, would sing some of the songs with everyone else! 5 stars!
Zu sehr 70s
Gut aber langweilig
Funky and soulful.
Pretty good album, and strong start, but kinda forgettable overall
Boring
12/18/23. I have more respect for War as a band after listening to this. A lot of great grooves and diverse songs! Will definitely revisit.
I'm not familiar with War, but liked the chilled funky sounds
Ik ben niet zo wild van de eerste 2 nummers, maar City, Country, City is echt prachtig. Duurt 13 minuten, wat natuurlijk bizar is, maar het is een reis. Een instrumentale trip die mij tenminste niet heeft verveeld! Sowieso is dit een heel prettig album om te luisteren. De mix van funk, jazz en pop zorgt dat ik me echt geen seconde verveel! FAVO: City, Country, City , Four cornered room, The world is a ghetto
So funky and upbeat! Bossa Nova vibes deliver.
Oh how I love War! Just pour ‘em right in my ears. War have that rare ability to make sounds that go right to your human core and this album is pure War.
Great grooves. Great messages that still ring true today in America, unfortunately. Funky as hell. Great sax. It gets very repetitive at times which is the main reason this isn’t likely to become a new favorite. 3/5
Very good album. Surprised this has never crossed my paths before.
Meh, it is jazzy and good saxophone but will probably never go back to it.
DNF
Album 256 of 1001 War - The World is a Ghetto Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Track : Cisco Kid A personal favorite. Great tunes with some meaningful themes. War is a fun band. Hate that this is the only album of theirs on the list. I also really like "Why Can't We Be Friends". Have vinyl and cd of each. Good stuff.
Released in 1972, this album is an exploration of life's complexities, with a backdrop of jazz, funk, rock, and Latin rhythms. The band's ability to weave together diverse musical elements is striking, creating a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly innovative. Tracks like "City, Country, City" showcase the band's tight arrangements and the skillful interplay between instruments. The horn sections add a dynamic layer, enhancing the overall richness of the sound.
Til tider fett! Men likte ikke de lange soloene. Sterk 3'er
Not familiar with this band, but it is one to remember. Great soulful, jazzy sound. Interesting one
Was expecting hip-hop for some reason but was pleasantly suprised
Not bad, but a bit generic at times
Nice.
great funk grooves instrumental
So cool, jazzy, funky. Best kind of music
it’s hard to dislike early 70s funk rock
Another album that is just okay. Very nice and groovy instrumental parts, especially in son City, Country, City, but other parts are rather average and kind of boring. Nothing special.
I enjoy the sound, but the jam vibe wasn’t to my liking. 3/5, but probably won’t listen again
Wow - love this album!!! How cool is it?!? Knew within 5 seconds that it would be good, but not how good. ‘City, Country, City’ is superb!
I had high hopes, but it was just fine. Good coffee shop backdrop.
I was into it for the first two songs and then the 13 minute instrumental track lost me completely.
Terrible.
2.4 The Geto Boys do a version/sample of world is a ghetto and that song bangs. Didnt care for the original, felt a bit drab. The rest of the album, meh. The songs were long and didn't really go anywhere.
Another one I really enjoyed but I think it would benefit from a little bit of a harder edge
Cool, I liked the groove and the message
Catchy, but not something I enjoy too much. Lost me at the jazzier parts.
Had to listen to this multiple times to figure my opinions out. Initially it started with me wanting to give it a 3 with the review "interesting. if I only rated things off of how interesting they were this would be a 4 for sure but I dont so its at most a 3" after having listened to it kind of half-assed on a pair of shitty headphones. 2nd listen was using my phones speaker as I was out walking my dogs, still had the same opinion as the first initial one but I only managed to finish the first half on this "attempt" so I had Four Cornered Room and The World Is A Ghetto left to listen to, so I figured "why not finish the album with my good headphones at my pc and then Ill rate it. Thank god for that decision. Four Cornered Room and TWIAGhetto are so incredibly sexy when given the proper equipment to be heard out of. Listened to the album another 2 times after that I think
I got some Pink Floyd vibes on a couple of songs.
I didn't get it
Love this album. I was getting a few dud picks for me recently so I’m glad to have a couple of good ones recently. Glad to see War getting recognition outside of Low Rider.
en vibe, aber meh als hintergrund musig als aktives lose
gueti hintergrundmusik, but not my vibe
Each song has its own identity, but they are all just repeat the same riff the entire time. Would work better in a funky soul playlist than as a straight album listen.
Loved this, and never heard it before. Didn’t imagine I’d be offering up a precious 5 to an album I didn’t previously know, but here we are. I can’t get enough of it.
New to me, and really loved it.
nice and funky—good gettin ready for school music
I’ve heard a lot of the tracks on this album. It’s good, though not necessarily something I’d think to put on again.
My only acquaintance with War previously was 'Low Rider', extensively utilized in Gone In 60 Seconds - the Godfather of action movies. Never before have my expectations been so precisely met. The World is a Ghetto is a thoroughly enjoyable, funky trip down 6 tracks filled jazz and soul and I'm all for it.
Despite the band name, War delivers an incredibly enjoyable album with The World Is A Ghetto. A tight 6-song album containing a great combination of soul and jazz. I was fearful that this would just be “Low Rider” for an entire album (great song though). It was not.
Good stuff, but started to get a little samey after a while
Now that is some funky music!
Another fantastic album. I have other War albums and tracks in my collection, including some of the tracks on this album, but I've never listened to this particular album fully. Quite short, which is a shame, but that takes nothing away. Listened to it several times and have added it to my "buy a copy on vinyl" list.
1/5
Really only being familiar with the songs 'Why Can't We Be Friends' and 'Low Rider', neither which have I thought too much of, this turned out to be a surprise. I was familiar with 'The Cisco Kid', too but never knew it was this band. The blend of soul, Afrobeat, jazz, and psychedelia leads to some really interesting stuff and some solid jamming creating a unique tone throughout.
Funk, with lots of different influences (clanky Caribbean-sounding drums) being most prominent. Definitely rambly, but pretty fun
Instrumentals are interesting at some places, but it's mostly boring, which is a big thing for a funk album.
Man, I need a cigarette. This album just rocked my world. Unfortunately, I really only know War for Low Rider, which is a great song, but absolutely not representative of this band as a whole. This is top tier, slow burn funk/soul. And I loved the hints of blended genres throughout, including a heavy psych rock influence, and even some reggae. 5/5 for just being a most welcomed surprise. I really don't understand why this album isn't talked about more in the grand narrative of soul music.
Sumptuous soul painting a vivid scene where stylistic flourishes and genre influences stroll on by like passing strangers in the park.
Spicy and soulful, jazzy and progressive, with a dark and moody undercurrent that is really appealing. Vibrant, masterfully crafted songs that are incredibly smart, but lacking in any kind of pretension. This is just incredibly fun to listen to. Fave Songs: The World Is a Ghetto; Beetles in the Bog; The Cisco Kid; City, Country, City; Four Cornered Room
Pretty good stuff. I liked them more with Eric Burdon.
Soul. Jazz
This slaps! I loved this!
Surprisingly good.
Almost a 3.
This was good. I started out listening with the thought that this is different and somewhat unique and that I liked the style. Later on, though, it became somewhat repetitive and slow. Overall, though, I'm glad I listened.
It starts a bit slow but it kept growing on me. The longer tracks are the best tracks, especially Four Cornered Room which has an impeccable groove. I preferred this over the hits from War. Always a pleasure to get a 70s funk album.
- WAR war mir bislang nur vom Hörensagen ein Begriff - entspannter 70s-R&B-Funk - mir war nicht klar, dass Eric Burdon neben The Animals und seinem Soloprojekt noch Frontmann einer anderen Band war - würde es wahrscheinlich aber nicht von selbst anschmeißen (höchstens als Hintergrundmukke zum Essen) Rating: 2,5 / 5
- Finde ich richtig, richtig geil - sehr abwechslungsreich - bis auf city country cot, der mir einfach zu lang war, durchweg nur gute songs - wirkt irgendwie anarchisch und ungezwungen. - 4,5/5 (Ohne so viel Saxophon und dem langen instrumentalstück wären es 5/5 gewesen
- der Track "The World is a Ghetto" ist ein absoluter Banger - einige Einflüsse von unterschiedlichen Genres dabei - groovige Beats dabei, aber ansonsten auch entspannte Parts - 3/5
I own this on vinyl and enjoy it everytime I play it
Sadly this album passed through my ear holes with ne’er a glance.
Never heard this album before!
Only really knew this band from Low Rider and Why Can't We Be Friends, so it was interesting to realize there was a lot more going on there. I liked this a lot, particularly the title track.
Very Interesting
Makes me want to listen to Lee Oskar solo records!
Too scattered and 70s sounding for me.
This album is “easy listening” / background music. It has this jazz/world feel that reminds me of Comfort Food, the band headlines by Pnina’s uncle. After a couple of listens I didn’t really get hooked by any songs.
I enjoyed this overall. I can see others complaints about feeling easy listening-esque, and agree some songs are overlong. But the overall vibe I like, and Lee Oskar's sound reminds me of my youth.
I thought maybe I didn't mind jamming if it's funk music. Then the 3rd, 13 minute song came on and I realized - nope.
i prefered the big jam tunes than the shorter songs. i think that this would be much better if it was a instrumental album, but its very good anyway.
Immensely listenable genre bending album that sounds as great as it did in 1973. Bringing the Latin vibe into the funk-rock gives the band a unique flavor that I've always really liked. A lot of great musicianship on this album. Hidden gem: Beetles in the Bog. It's got this New Orleans drumline feel with some conga and chopping funk guitar that was surprising, fun, and fascinating. I love the rhythms on this album.
Funky.
It may be difficult to look at this in a neutral manner but this is a perfect groove album. The type you listen to on a sunny day barbecue.
Awesome slow grooves where everyone’s absolutely COOKIN. Albums like this are why I’m grateful I wake up with a new album everyday. Is it a 5/5? Maybe not, but I’m giving it a 5/5 because it’s exactly the kind of music I want to discover
8/10 dont remember specifics but i loved the instrumentals
Pretty nice to listen to
This slaps, groovy, great instrumentals.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: The cisco kid, The world is a ghetto, Beetles in the bog
I mean, it's an utterly iconic and genre-defining funk/soul album for a reason. War pushed the boundaries of several genres, constantly challenging perceptions while still keeping the music enjoyable and relatable. They understood the assignment and delivered. It's a masterwork and 100% deserves its place on this list.
Slow and funky. YT comments have me convinced this is best listened to while smoking weed
Pretty enjoyable listen. I'm a fan of long songs and two songs on this album are around 10 minutes long so those were fun
Really enjoyed first half but it lost steam in my opinion
Nice to hear some of their stuff besides Low Rider.
Jam rock. Solid but not entirely my cup of tea.
This was in the NME top 100 albums of all time. Such a great album best tracks City, Country, City and The World Is a Ghetto.
I get it, it it’s not for me.
allez on y croit
ca ma saoulée mais 4 pour l effort il y a eu des jolis moments
Almost not annoying
Standouts: Cisco Kid, The World is a Ghetto 3.5
Jazzy. Wah wah. Jam sesh vibes. Some guy killing it on a funky organ. Saxophone guy is also killing it. Not really my vibe but its not bad.
not my style but groovy
Love this - some jazzy funk jams.
Too short for this Claisic Master Piece
excellent. Would be great to have on in a room while doing other stuff - reading, coding, chatting, doing a puzzle, etc
Funky.
Quite interesting songs, good background noise for studying. Stand-out: Beetles in the Bog
Jazzy, funky and patient. Definitely lets the sound breathe. The titular track is a standout here.
Disappointing. The first track (Cisco kid') was good and sounded promising, but it went slowly downhill from there and never got near the level of 'Me and baby brother' or 'Low rider' again. It's all there: great vibe. wonderful percussion, lots of funk but the material just isn't strong enough.
No real standouts but fun to listen to
Technically excellent and a solid listen. For me though it wanders a little too close to jazz at times. Maybe it's a sign of ADHD or something but I'm not a fan of loooong tracks, so with two over 10 mins
Enjoyed some of instrumentals. Didn't care for the vocals.
🥱
funk
Really beautiful fusion of rock, soul, jazz and some reggae
Starts off alright and gets better with every song. Favorite song: Beetles in the Bog.
10/10 we’re hitting dangerously high ratings on the funky scale
A lot funkier and jazzier than I anticipated WAR to be. I've always known them for their more mainstream hits, but there were quite a few psychedelic/spacey/funky/jazzy instrumentals. Pretty cool. I wasn't around in that time, but this *feels* emblematic of that early 70s, "slap me some skin", garish faux-Rolls-Royce era. Very cool.
paar bangers!
This is one I will definitely be coming back to. Short in tracks but big on atmosphere.
Zoom Zoom Zoom
Pleasant all the way through but I wish it would go harder from time to time.
Great jams, great album, great world, great ghetto.
An album that I consider in my soul/funk tops. Catchy songs with an incomparable feeling from the musicians who perform them. How can you not fall in love with songs like Cisco Kid, City Country City or the incredible The World Is A Ghetto? An essential.
This was meandering and long. Kind of grating. Less cheesy than the funk. But still not my thing.
It's fine. Obviously love Sisco kid and rest was a vibe. Nothing insane. Solid 3
I loved the description about the album cover art in the Wiki. The background music in “Where Was You At” sounded like it could fit in multiple sitcom intros. Why are we being punish with a 13min song? There should never be a song this long even if it’s 13mins of pure bluesy, jazzy, funking funk. “Four Cornered Room” was a soulful masterpiece- they even put a motherf*cking GONG in there. 7/10
There is a nice blend jazz, funk and SOUL!!! that is quite delicious. The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine. One song felt a bit too long. Four Cornered Room was another favorite. At the end of the album I couldn’t wait to start it over again. I could listen to this type of music anywhere. The vocals, the instruments, the rhythm… it all worked for me. 8/10
Hit like Cisco kid and The World is a Ghetto are scattered among this album for those who want a shorter casual listen but if you're looking for the ultimate jazz/funk experience then strap in. City Country City has a 13 minute long jam session which just fucks from front to back. This entire album hits all the right notes for me. 10/10
These mothafuckas are funky, God damn. City Country City was an absolute jam, 13 minutes flew by. Also the title of the song was exactly the vibes the two very distinct parts of the song gave off. One second your wandering through the frontier of wild America and the next your in the hustle bustle of a big city. I was not ready for how instrumental this album was going to be. It was kind of like the vocals were interrupting the background music which really took the spotlight. Freight Train Jam was a fucking jam. Really solid bluesy soulful funkin album. 8/10
The funky tunes were quite good but I couldn’t get into the mellow stuff
The song-writing is strong, the two hits are timeless, and despite what some critics have said, I think they do a good job of stretching out some of the tracks - the solos may not be jazz-worthy but they're still pretty good.
War has had some great singles, Low Rider being my favourite, but Cisco Kid here is quite good also. I would describe them as a funky version of Santana, some great jamming and they’re not afraid to do some extended noodling, eg City, Country City, which really has a nice groove.
The Cisco Kid 7.1 Where Was You At 6.7 City Country City 6.5 Four Cornered Room 6.9 The World is a Ghetto 7.5 Beetles in the Bog 7 I liked it but thought it would be better with more vocals. 3.5 stars.
Very smooth funk with elements of jazz and rock. I've heard another album by this band which I liked more I think. This album was good but not that memorable.
It was ok not great
title track was great
Good
Funky, poinient, catchy, and all-around banger. Highly recommend.
JAzzy, funky avec un touche de rock. C'était vraiment bon j'ai adoré et je ne connaissais pas vraiment... 4.75
A little too slow for me, good stuff but not my type.
Врубил и тупа расслабился на диване под снюсом 7/10
A nice album from the 70s. - What are the odds? </s> The music here is quite funky; I had mostly a good time listening. I could have done without the two 10 minutes+ tracks. 3.5/5
Jazzity jazz woo woo doo wop. Not much to say tbh. Never heard of War (the artist).
Great 70s soul sound, with some hints of psych rock. Really nice listen.
I was surprised to read how big this album was in 1973, as this was the first time I heard about War. Solid album anyhow.
Like the funk and and feel. Good late listening. Solid but neither great nor terrible
I'd heard a few of these tracks before and I like their approach that blends what I think we'd call soul, R&B, and rock. Cool stuff.
A great socially conscious concept album that is a musical melting pot. Great grooves and fantastically played.
Ok
L'album commence énergiquement, puis perds peu à peu son énergie. Ce sont quand même de bonnes chansons mais manque de cohérence, sentiment de trahison on me promet de l'énergie au début et on essaie de m'endormir avant la fin de l'album.
Hmm idk hørte en sang på vej imens jeg kørte gusse, og synes den virkede meget grineren men også en lidt kikset fusion af funk og rock?
This was kind of chill, a mix between psychedelic and funk. Some songs were better than others, like four cornered room. Not incredible, but okay for a single listen.
Niet boeiend, ook niet slecht
Second flop in a row
Fantastic fusion blend of soul, funk and jazz with a sound reminiscent of Wars bigger hits. On Four Cornered Room, the influence of some psychedelic features can be heard most prominently, with wah and delay used heavily. The large ensemble is able to layer vocal harmonies very impressively with the larger band across the project and deliver on conveying the feeling of living life in a ghetto, epitomised in the title track. Overall, an easy, funky listen which lends itself best to background music in my opinion due to the length of the songs, which would also be my main criticism as the repetition of phrases can become stale in some tracks.
I like this album a lot and I like WAR a lot, though this isn’t my favorite of their records. It’s a funky jam, great to put on intensely or in the background.
Great album all the way
Not bad, but not something I'd listen to
Cisco kid is a great track, vibes are good. Good background tunes
Favorite Tracks: The Cisco Kid, The World Is A Ghetto
A good listen, poor timing given the world events though.
Well-paced instrumental album. Beware of the bass, it's gonna get you.
Animals EP did everything better
Funk, soup, blues, jazz...... really eclectic. Enjoyed.
3.5 album.
It was okay. Really short. Recognized the first song, but wasn't really my thing.
Funky, jazzy, soulful bliss. Great stuff and War is clearly more than just low rider...
Good
Good album, not something i’ve listened to much before. Maybe not a daily listen but added to my library
There are some enjoyable moments but it felt like it never really got going
Occasional decent bit of funk but generally all over the place and never really good.
Loses its way a fair bit, going too out there, instrumental, and samey for quite a while in the middle of the album. The rest of it is fine, but not good enough to make up for the wanderings. Cisco Kid and The World Is A Ghetto are catchy, memorable songs, but again overly drawn out. 2/5.
Very cool very funky and big respect because clearly highly influential to a lot of other artists but just not quite my cup of tea.
A lot of fun. I really enjoyed the sax solos. Just kind of there, though. Missing something for me, though, so it falls into a "this was fine." for me.
3.8
Backer, ca 3.5
Honestly, not convinced
Soul, funk, kæmpe vibe, seriøs omgang fløde
I knew two of these tracks but had never listened to the whole thing. This is some great funk. It went on a little too long but I liked all the tracks.
3.5
Not bad but I dk if I would listen again
Wasn’t sure on first listen but second time around I was listening properly and really enjoyed it so a surprising 4*
Quite liked this.
3,75
Theyve just got their own sound. Chilled. Nice. Nothing special. 3/5
8/10. Cool album, I liked its focus on having these long elaborate tracks
Nice and funky. 8/10
Hm, have no idea what to expect coming into this. Never heard of War. Hm first track is groovy. Def has that early 70's sound. There's some Cuban voices in the mix. That was unexpected. Between the album art and the vibe I wold have said these guys were out of New York but I would have been wrong. They're from the LBC. Ooh this second track is good too. Some good jazzy blues solos in there. Great guitar intro on track 3! Kinda diggin this ngl. 4 stars.
A fun listen. The artwork perfectly encapsulates what this LP is all about, part-topical exploration of African-American psyche, part-innocent and childlike groovefest--not exactly firing up on all cylinders, but rather taking its sweet time to evoke the melancholy of urban landscapes through lush instrumentation and generally well-crafted jazzy dirges. As a result, this LP is a treasure trove for any old school hip hop producer looking for samples. Was this album heavily sampled? I don't know, but it should be. I can picture acts such as the Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul or DJ Shadow having a blast using all those choice cuts... Two highlights in this record: "The Cisco Kid" and the title-track. The first is built on a enticing vocal hook, complemented by short sequences of four notes that punctuate the whole thing like a contraption stamping bus tickets or metrocards. And the title track is a moving plea sung by clear vocals and enhanced by wonderful harmonies--an indolent description of ghetto life not only conveyed through the lyrics, but through the music as well. Short funky cut "Where Was You At" and slow, bluesy "Four Cornered Room" are also worthy of note--the latter's ambience sounding even fantastical to an extent, as if you were watching the city from a rooftop at night and a UFO suddenly appeared out of nowhere... Unfortunately, both sides of this LP end with lackluster tracks. For side one, very long instrumental "City, Country, City" doesn't do anything that the title-track won't do ten times better later on--compare the saxophone solos in both songs, for instance: the one on "The World Is A Ghetto" sounds haunted thanks to its film noir overtones, whereas that sax in "City, Country, City" just seems to go through the motions, borrowing a few free-jazz tropes instead, but without using any of the harmonically daring outbursts of that genre. As for closer "Beetles In The Bog", it is an attempt to end proceedings with a rousing chorus, but... to be honest, those "la la la" shenanigans sound a little half-baked compared to similar endeavors by, say, Sly And The Family Stone. Using Sly Stone as a reference point for this other soul-funk-rock act that War was might be a little unfair to the latter, I'll grant you that. It's like comparing a second-tier sixties rock band with The Beatles: there's no way you can win that round. But *The World Is A Ghetto* is only six tracks long, and when two of them are clear misses (including one that takes up half of one album's side), it takes a heavy toll on the whole thing. You won't see that happening with masterworks performed by The Family Stone. There lies the huge difference. 3/5 for the purposes of this list, translating to a 8/10 grade for more general purposes (5+3). Number of albums left to review: 431 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 264 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 138 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 170
some of the instrumental tracks are decent, but couldn't really get too into it
+ the cisco kid the world is a ghetto
Very close to 5 stars
Full funk, occasionally using the space to expand into structures metallic and still rich with harmony. "Cozy" is obviously inappropriate, but the music is expertly placed, a churn instead of a train.
Prior to this listen my knowledge of War was limited to “Low Rider” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” but The World Is A Ghetto gives me a whole new perspective of the group. With both songs fit to listen to in isolation and songs meant to be heard in a greater context, this six-track masterpiece has to be one of the best albums in the funk genre. “The Cisco Kid” is a fantastic way to begin the album with a beat to swing to, a protagonist to root for, and a story to live through. “City, Country, City” reveals the urban and rural divide in America if not by demographics, then by the energy of everyday life. I’m not sure what exactly “Beetles In The Bog” is supposed to represent, but I imagine beetles are not on top of the food chain in bayou country. With its nearly hopeless lyrics and pleading sax, the behemoth title track is unsurprisingly the centerpiece of the record. As far as funk concept albums go, I assumed Funkadelic stood in a league of its own with Maggot Brain. I stand corrected.
Me he aburrido. El sonido me gusta pero divaga en exceso. Entiendo que ha envejecido mal ya que para ser el mejor album de 1973 según Billboard ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_200_number-one_albums_of_1973 ) en un año que estaba "Dark side of the moon" pues tu me dirás.
Me every time a new track started on this album: wow, this is the coolest song I've ever heard in my life. Ultimately, City, Country, City was when I knew I loved this album, so that'll go down as my favorite here
Yes lots of great tunes, i remember a lot of this weirdly so must of been some kinda popular.
Classy, solid album. Tailed off a bit after the strong opening tracks.
Good fun.
Good, chilled out. Spotify had auto-play enabled, so I didn't realise that the album had finished until 10 minutes later. 😆
City, Country, City does such a cool change in sound
It's quite a nice time. It's pretty funky in places, pretty atmospheric in others, and well made in general. It's not really something that kept my attention though, and the reality is a lot of it just sat in the background. But it was pretty nice background music.
Some pretty groovy jams in addition to the one big hit
Also someone who only knew ‘Low Rider’ and was pleasantly surprised by the range here. Could use a bit more depth melodically, but even if things were a bit similar throughout the grooves were good enough to overcome the deficit.
Nice message but not my style
While some of the grooves wore a little thin over their extended runtime, I dug this journey into funk, jazz and reggae. The mix of genres was eclectic, and the performances and production was spot on. This is the stuff I need to hear that I wouldn't have otherwise.
This felt longer than it actually was.
A bit repetitive but interesting
The world is a ghetto (the song) was good
gostosinho
A good funky time
Inoffensive album, but is a 13 min long instrumental worth it?
7/10 mmmm funky fav song: the world is a ghetto
I had never heard of this album or band before. I didn’t know I needed this in my life.
Mostly instrumental.
Really enjoyable. Good noodling, great vocals. Will revisit. Low 4 4/5
This album is basically two songs long. There isn't anything inherently wrong with tracks one, two, four, and six on this. They just pale in comparison to the real stars of the show. This album has two songs over ten minutes long, and those two songs are by far the best thing this album has going for it. "City, Country, City" is funk music executed perfectly. The saxophone is absolutely disgusting, and I mean that in the best way possible. And I'm a sucker for a good keyboard solo, and this song does not disappoint in that department. And "The World Is a Ghetto" feels perfect for a late winter night around the fireplace with a glass of tea. So 23 minutes of this album are amazing. The other 20 minutes or so, not as much. I think the opening track is solid. I can definitely envision a group of people all getting up and chanting the chorus in a live environment. It also has this nice Miami Vice buddy cop vibe to it. But this album could probably do without the other two songs. They just don't do anything super interesting that makes me want to come back to them ever. I see the word eclectic thrown around a lot when talking about this band. And while TWIaG might not have hits like "Low Rider" or "Why Can't We Be Friends", but those two highlights are worth so much more and show how capable this band really was at making some absolutely killer funk music.
the soul side of the moon
Nice jazzy album, but too low energy for my liking. 2/5
Great grooves, cut my lawn to it and it kept me going.
4.25
Pretty good, I listened to it on a walk and it made for good background music. Not the biggest fan of ~10 minute songs individually but it works to listen to as an album. Favourite song Four Cornered Room.
From the start with 'The Cisco Kid' this is funky... I'd listen to this again. It is funky and still sounds fresh. The music is great. 5/5
So funky it'll make you want to institute change for the better in your community. 5/5
Great mix of genres. Awesome funk.
Yes.
4.25/5 this album was new to me but I quite liked it. Liked the groovy funky soul vibes and the longer songs.
Was I not supposed to like the funky instrumental songs? Because I sort of love them. War belongs on the list in a huge way, and a case can be made that they should be represented with a compilation (the hits most have heard are all bangers). Of course, an argument could be made for this album, too. Not only because it's great, but it was the best selling album of 1973. I'm sort of surprised by that. Who knew society had good taste back then?
p282. 1972. 2 stars. Not my thing. No standout songs, and no-one needs multiple meandering 8+ minute tracks.
These songs are too damn long. These are pretty alright I guess. There are a lot of slow songs though so it isn't really my speed. They are a good mix of soul and jazz though. This is a strong to decent 3/5
This started out as a clear four, but even though I liked the sound overall, I got pretty bored with it by side two.
The album started out quite strong. It was funky and fun, and then it started to drag a bit with the long instrumentals. I really thought that I would love it all, but it fell just a bit short.
Funky and cool.
A War album with none of the hits I know? A great thing about this project is exposing me to new sides of familiar bands. I very much enjoyed this album. A lot of it is pretty downbeat in a cool, mellow way! I’m kinda getting into these longs songs that take their time to unroll before me. A very pleasant groove that was just the ticket today. And I love looking at that album art!
some really great, classic funk grooves here. to be honest, i feel like for a lot of people, this album might be boring, but this really just hits the spot for me. i knew cisco kid and the title track before listening to this album, so I kind of had an idea of what I was getting into, but the album cuts on this one really cemented it for me. just a good, groovy album.
I really liked this album. It was so funky and got me moving. It goes from motivating to psychedelic. I love the Hispanic sounds in 'Cisco kid'. The message of the world being a ghetto was pretty powerful because it's true. Were all here stuck with each other. There's a lot of shit that out weighs the good. There was a pretty sweet instrumental song in the middle which acted as the bridge between funky and psychedelic/ stoner. Overall, good album.
7/10
Very groovy. Loved it on a rainy day. Would love to drive around at night to this music
Africa inspired percussion paired with the organ/guitar makes for a great sound.
This was a nice jazz and funk album by War. Overall I’d listen to it again. A little different from some of their more popular hits as this one felt a little darker and more personal. The album only had a handful of songs but they were all pretty decent. 6.6/10
Enjoyable listen. Need to play it a few more times to appreciate it more.
Good first song, kinda dropped off after
Tot el que envolta el disc convida a l'escolta: la seva creació el 1972 per part d'una banda cool en sintonia amb la seva época; les sonoritats que barregen soul, r&b, jazz, rock en sis llargs temes que els permeten explaiar-se; una portada icònica... Malauradament, el contingut no està a l'alçada. No és dolent, és força lisèrgic i interessant... però res novedós ni especialment excitant
Where has this album been my entire life! What a great album! Absolutely loved it.
wow holy shit, I thought I'd probably enjoy it but this is PHENOMENAL, the spaciest smoothest sax ever over classic motown grooves. So good