Reviews (page 6 of 12)
Ive tried listening to thid album no less than 5 times I've finished it no less than 5 times. Theres so good tracks on here for sure but my perception of War has been irreparably damaged due to for some reason every homeless person on every bus I've ever been on blasting different War albums front to back. Idk why homeless people in my area love War so much, but they do. 6/10
Has a slow start with the first two tracks but sticks the landing with the last (lengthy) track. The second side continues in much the same fashion. Something that's meant to be listened to in its entirety. My first exposure to War outside of Low Rider. Fantastic album. Highlights: City, Country, City
It's not my thing but I sure did like it!!
This is exceptional. 53 year old album that I'm hearing for the first time. I have been missing out. City, Country, City is the jam. Back in the day when you had this lp, I wonder long you sat amazed, saying what a way to end side 1. While the sax was wailing during the title track, I was walking out on my back patio with a cuppa joe and the whole thing was slo-mo like a movie scene and the tune was my background music. Surreal and cinematic at the same time. Groovy. I'm wondering why someone didn't lay this album on me 35 years ago. I have been missing out.
Good
bom
Bit average
WAR
Classic War legendary
3/5
1001 Albums Challenge (17/1001) 1. The Cisco Kid (4/5) 2. Where Was You At (5/5) 3. City, Country, City (5/5) 4. Four Cornered Room (3/5) 5. The World Is A Ghetto (5/5) 6. Beetles In The Bog (4/5) Total (4/5)
Very cool
I love how funky this is. I've heard a lot of War, but other than The Cisco Kid, I haven't heard this album. It's so bass driven and it's so good. The percussion is amazing throughout. Liked Songs Added: The Cisco Kid The World Is A Ghetto
people who think this is the best soul album aren't real
Really a 2.5
Åbenbart blevet samplet meget indenfor hiphop verdenen. DE la soul NWA osv. Det er latin rock, funk, soul, jazz fusion af mange forskellige genre. Det er meget groovy og godt passede perfekt på en søndag. Jeg synes det er virkelig godt, men jeg har også en eller anden underlig fornemmelse af jeg lidt for godt kan lide det. Lidt som om at jeg kan lide det bare fordi jeg har en ide om at jeg burde kunne lide det og at jeg tror det er fedt at andre synes jeg ville kunne lide det. Måske lægger jeg for meget vægt i det. Måske kan jeg bare godt lide det. Men det er sådan at jeg kunne lide hvert et nummer for hvad det var, men som om jeg heller ikke rigtig synes at det er sådan super super godt. Sådan som om det virkelig rammer.
Excellent, will listen to again
Interesting.
7/10
Actually great. Low expectations that were proven wrong. This kind of music occasionally withdraws to the background of my attention while playing it, but it’s a nice feel and groove
70s as shit
89/1001 :: War - The World is a Ghetto Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: 5 Listen before you die: No This is a cool funk album with some great instrumentation. That said it’s also missing the highs and lows I’m usually looking for in an album. It’s also just in general not my thing. I’m moving on.
Obsessed w the jazz soul funk vibes
no likey
Decent but not great
OK. Cowboy music vibes - I think it's all the harmonica. There's a lot of harmonica - I'd like a little less. Lots of long tracks too - neither good nor bad.
The funk soul album every white brass band thought they could make but didn’t have the skill or the soul to make. This is a killer record, making expansive jams into exquisite pieces of jazz and funk along with Top 40 bangers. This is a band that can write a massive hit like the “Cisco Kid” and follow it up with a beautiful jazz odyssey like “City, Country, City”. I honestly don’t have anything bad to say about this one, and frankly it might be one of my new favorite records.
Actually liked two songs.
good instrumental, but 13 minutes a SONG???
Tem uma vibe legalzinha, mas não escutaria no meu fone por livre espontânea vontade!
Not a band I know anything about, only really being familiar with the big hit, Low Rider which I’m not a fan of due to over hearing it in the Marmite ad in the 90s. However, I really enjoyed listening to this - I’ll need to go back to it to get under its skin and I’m looking forward to doing so.
Off the cuff remark: it just isnt what I would normally listen to and I struggle with funk(y) stuff. However I enjoyed this and it hasn't even got Low Rider on it. Listen again? I think I will.
Very close to giving it a 4. I liked it
This album is definitely good fun—full of funky grooves and laid-back jams that showcase War’s signature style. The musicianship is tight, and there’s a nice, easygoing vibe throughout. While I can appreciate the funkiness and the positive energy, it’s not really my thing overall. I enjoyed the listen, but I’m not sure I’d come back to it again.
I don't usually love this genre, but this album was pretty damn good. City, Country, City especially. Strong 3.
I did not enjoy this one, however I recognize the talent of the musicians and how they created their different songs with a mix of genres.
The World is War
This list has been really generous to me as far as soul music is concerned ; War is yet another great discovery I wouldn’t have made without it. I had never even heard the name of the band, and even if I had, I wouldn’t have guessed it was a soul-jazz formation (as naming conventions go, I would expect something like « The Fantastic War Ensemble and Their Amazing Cousins »). Anyway. It’s a really convincing mix of jazz, soul and funk, sometimes going into psychedelic territory. The experimental approach is typical of the early 70s funk and free jazz scene, but they also bring strong soul roots to the table. Totally works for me ! On the downside, the jazzy parts were a little weak (the sax was super cheesy), and the album as a whole sometimes sounded too much like a technical exercise, somewhat lacking fire. I’m totally going to listen to the rest of their discog though. A solid 4* for me.
What a nice surprise, jazzy, funky, it' has it all!
This is a very original and very enjoyable album: it blends a lot of sounds and different atmospheres, but all in harmony, and I was surprised to find myself enjoying some of the tracks over time (7 to 10 minutes) but always with the same artistic quality. I'm hesitating between 3 and 4 stars because I'm not sure I'll listen to it again...
I’m discovering the unlikely story of the British singer behind “The House of the Rising Sun” who first teamed up with the L.A. ghetto guys of War. But this album which seems to be their best, came after Burdon had left. It mixes funk, soul, rock and jazz in a way that feels raw, very real and that reflects 70s America street spirit. It may not be as timeless as some other classics from the same era, but it’s totally my thing. I wasn’t aware of this funk-rock period, and I’ll definitely dig deeper into it.
First time I have ever taken War seriously. Low Rider is so ubiquitous it kind of drives me crazy. Funky jazz fusion. 2.5/5
This was good! In the past, I've looked into them because of some off their songs being in the Skate games, but not a proper lsite, or a listen to their album(s). Perhaps I'll find myself revisiting.
This was fantastic the instrumentation and all the funk and jazz elements were addictive
Reminded me a lot of music my dad and uncle would listen to. Felt like I was taking a drive through the city.
Funky. As advertised.
That’s a lot of funk! There is jazz in there and soul sounds too. It’s not my preferred genre of music, and it feels quite long. The album opens well, but I feel like it lost its way after the Cisco Kid. Overall it was fine.
Solid album. Really loved the two mammouth songs and did't connect as well with the five regular length ones. 6/10
3.8/5 not much to say good instrumentals and songs just didn’t spark anything big
I’ve heard of this album, but I haven’t fully listened to it yet. “The Cisco Kid” is a great song and is a good way to kick off the album.
Pretty good but not bending in a way that o thought it might be
Noooooot my thing
WAR are always going to be the Low Rider/Why Can’t Be Friends guys to me, but I am very impressed by this record. I feel that it’s not an over-the-top fusion record but one that hangs out and keeps it cool. It has that California sunset sweetness in its soul. My regards go to George Lopez (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)
I was familiar with the album going in- my dad was a big WAR fab growi g up. This one was very good- beautiful instrumentation filled with a lot of emotion. The hits from the album are both great listens too. Overall- very solid. 3.5/5
Some solid songs but overall not my jam
Great band, The Cisco Kid is a fab track, very groovy. The one thing I will say is that, with just six loooong tracks, there's a lot of jamming - which can get quite noodly.
I've always been aware of War, and have always wanted to like them, but have never really delve into their catalog, and this album gave me a good chance to do so. I can see how it was album of the year. That said, the problem I have with this platform, is that you get a new album each day, so I can't really get in as many listens as I want to. This is another I will revisit when I can sit with it. But for now it is a solid album
Very musical and beautiful with some catchy songs
Yeah I am a bit of a funky car bitch Yeah I'm funking my funking brains out man
Namesake song of the album is incredible but it doesnt reach that 5 mark for me
Has its moments but drags on sometimes.
Pretty good background music - probably won't listen again though
It was a fun and funky album. Elements of jazz. An enjoyable listen.
Instrumentation is incredible. City, Country, City is a great jam out song where everyone is just vibing and having a good time. Fun album, has a lot of good moments. Drummer and bassist were the highlight for me.
Just with the first two songs, I'm ready to give this a five. Let's see how the rest of the album holds up because I dig it so far big time. Loved this whole thing, the second half is a lot more instrumental than the first two tracks but it's great.
-the only thing I had ever heard from War before this album was Low Rider… great song. i think some aspects of this album are even on par with it -this was really catchy and captivating. it kinda lost me with the meandering prog jazz tracks in the middle but i think the shorter songs in particular were all absolute bangers. 3.5 stars -Favorites are The Cisco Kid, Where Was You At, and Beetles In The Bog
Great memories “Cisco kid was a friend of mine…” Some of the songs go on a little long
Funky! I liked "The Cisco Kid". With how many musicians reference the show, I should probably go watch it someday. The rest of the album, while great musically, didn't move the needle much.
Meh.
Excellent grooves, Cisco Kid is a classic, strong 3 ⭐
Funky soul and blues. What more do you need…?
If the tracks were shorter I would give it a mark more, it's a bit too long winded. This might be the style of the genre though.
Very nice and chill, perfect to throw on in the background. Still wasn't for me though.
Jazzy, soulful, meaningful – the type of album your parents are referring to when they say music was better in their day.
This felt like a long jam session at times (especially with the two longer songs). It was a little slow for my preferences, but there was a lot of changes in pace and instrumentation that kept things interesting.
This was ok. Jazzy bits at the end yuh. I’m sick of this list :))))
Really good. Never listened to this War album before but really cool
Very nice.
Apparently this is the band responsible for the iconic Low Rider. They have earned all my respect already just for that, even though unfortunately that song isn’t on this album :(( Also apparently this was the best selling album of 1973 so that’s pretty noteworthy too. Wow this album though! 6 songs in 44 minutes, so the songs are each pretty long but honestly the longest ones were some of my favorites. I especially enjoyed the 13 minute long instrumental and the title track. Groovy soul stuffs. Stopped me doing my homework to focus on it haha.
I love The Cisco Kid! I love that it brought together Method Man Redman and Cypress Hill on the How High soundtrack as well...it's the gift that keeps giving. City, Country, City sounds like the score to Blaxploitation film. And now it sounds like low-rent Santana minus the kick ass guitar parts. It's too jazzy and not funky enough. And as always, artists have to make sure long songs are worth the effort. five ten minute songs on an album is decidedly worse in almost every case than ten five minute songs.
Wasn't ready for this. Funkiness goes hard. Enjoyable stuff.
Nice album to chill to
I feel like this album wanted to be a 4, it was close and had many great elements but for some reason it just seemed to fall a little short. V funky though.
Some of the jams were a little too long winded for my taste, but overall I absolutely love the vibe. I am not the biggest funk fan but I can 100% see why this album is incredibly important in the funk scene.
3/5
3,25
War is a wild ride - never quite settling in but always having fun.
This has been a favorite for decades now. Easy 5 stars for me.
pass
I was surprised how few songs were on it, but it makes sense because there were a few very long songs. I actually enjoyed the long instrumental bits in these songs, and noticed the minimal lyrics. It was definitley a vibe..... which the cover does not fit. It's cute though. The first song was a banger. 6.5/10
70s Funk Jam Band. Avg song length 8 min. 3/5
Found first 2 songs tiring but album settled in with long instrumental that was enjoyable. Last 2 songs were the best. Not something I’d reach for everyday. 3/5
Sounds were too long but it was enjoyable
So i absolutely hated the opening song but im glad I powered through because the rest of the album is thought was really fun and soulful
Funky
Funky and fun - 3/5
This is a nice follow up to Jimmy Smith. Really cool instrumental album. Especially enjoyed City, Country, City.
Good work music. Didn’t love how long the songs were.
alright, not amazing
honestly I listened to this while walking an outdoor mall and I felt like the side character of a chicano comedy. great way to experience it
fy fan vilket bra sväng det är om det här. måste få bli en femma.
Great
War ganz ok
I liked it. Fun, dynamic, without sounding busy.
Another hidden gem i would not have discovered without this. Mixes funk, soul and jazz very well. Like where was you at, city, country, city, four cornered room especially and the title giving track especially. Album flows very well and never drags.
On today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I rolled an album I have simply never heard of before by a band I am only vaguely familiar with, that album and band is War's The World Is a Ghetto. This album feels like a stroll through a neighborhood with all the different long winded tracks and surprisingly atmospheric feeling felt all across the album. It feels like a walk through the sounds of Funk as they continue to express themselves in unique ways as you continue journeying down the block that is this album. It is a very progressive listening experience that doesn't feel like your typical Funk project, which I find to be very fascinating even if it didn't wow me musically. It is a solid project with some very interesting and intriguing compositions that are definitely worth picking apart and diving into. Nuff said.
A great example of why I love this project. I'd never heard of the group or the album. I wouldn't have expected to like the genre. Overall I really, really enjoyed this.
I've been a fringe fan since I was a kid based on the tunes they had on the classic rock stations I grew up listening to. Fun 70's album cover art that made you want to review it from corner to corner, that's just not something you see anymore. That must be the band standing in the alley watching their limo get towed? With only 6 songs it seems like a short album but one song is 13 mins, another is 8.5 mins and another is over 10 mins long. Decent listen counts for a 50+ yr old album but not impressive. "Cisco Kid" is one of those underappreciated classics you enjoy hearing, great percussion, vocals and groove. I couldn't get into the wandering "City, Country, City" and feel that's 13 mins of my life I won't get back. "Four Cornered Room" starts off as a dark stoner dirge then morphs into a spoke word thing before reverting back to a slow burn. It was ok, but not impressive. That rolls into the 10+ min "The World Is A Ghetto" which I got very little enjoyment from. Repetitive and depressing, maybe that's why it's on the T1001 list, they're talking truths from the 1970's but how about some positivity and how to change things?! His screaming vocal the last 2 mins was completely unnecessary. Wrapping up with "Beetles In The Bog"was another group chant sung in a in intelligible way, if you weren't depressed already, you are now. Outside of the uplifting "Cisco Kid" this one's a real stinker. 2 Stars since the musicianship is good, the vocals suck most of the time (they miss Eric Burdon!) and the variance from song to song is minimal after the opening track. Wouldn't listen to it twice.
Groovy, nothing crazy but I liked it.
Has great ideas but takes too long to get to them. Their ten minute instrumental track is so good, but it just keeps going. It's great artistry, but couldn't help but feel it didn't earn all ten of its minutes. Some songs were forgettable, others were good but weren't great. An album close to greatness but just so sorely... Lacking. Some of the bass likes makes me thing it should be 3 stars, but I can't ever see myself coming back to this album. Maybe I'll return to the title track, but not much else.
Soul, funk and jazz mixed together. It’s nice
Blind album, know the artist from Why Can't We Be Friends. Thoroughly impressed and happy with the album. Loved the style and solos
Not bad, but nothing as good as Low Rider
This was nice! Simpsons: No
The songs that are over 10 minutes long here lack justification for their length; they could have made a shorter record and spent the extra time on something more productive. Although I'm sure this is better than a real life war
Great blend of genres to make something that feels great. Gave me Curtis Mayfield vibes. Maybe being generous here.
Väldigt blåsigt, men ganska bra. Troligtvis en 3
Decent but can’t really remember 5/10
good early 70s funk
Look, I love funk, but this kinda missed the mark. Not like bad missed the mark, it just doesn’t have that hook to it to make it be a proper special album. It has its fun moments but it really drags at times.
The elements of a great album, with great elements of jazz, rock, soul and a touch of reggae, with talented musicians. However, this album feels a bit soulless, like it is missing that extra 10% to make it much better. It feels bland and repetitive in places. Seems like an album that influenced a lot of other work, and I commend them for that, just wish it went further.
Listened in a Dallas hotel room. Sublime sounding.
This is the type of album all those live jam band albums want to be. Excellent musicianship and just an overall fun listen!! It went by so quickly, I was jamming and engaged the whole time.
awesome, never heard of war before, usually not my style of music but this was an awesome find!
Great album! First listen. Loved it
War was in the air in the 70s — still sounds like it.
So far I haven't been a big fan of instrumental or jazzy albums, but funk is a horse of a different color. I really enjoyed this one.
Just an incredible funk album. The optimal combination of jazz, blues, rock, Latin, and more. "Four Cornered Room" is my favorite. I could use it as ambient music all day. "The Cisco Kid" continues a tradition of outlaw-on-the-run songs and is another excellent track.
Lately I’ve been getting a lot of soul/funk records from this list, and I wish this one came a little earlier. This feels like a good bridge between early 70s 'hard rock' and funk music, and I could have appreciated Funkadelic and even David Bowie's Young Americans a little more with this context. It’s not wholly surprising that this album sold well, but I’m impressed to find out it was the top selling album of 1973. With a few tweaks to the formula we’ll get “Low Rider” in 1975 and everyone knows that song. It feels mean to call this “training wheels Funk”, but that doesn’t make it not true. War is fun, I liked this.
I loved this. Very smooth and laidback tunes to vibe to
Groupe inconnu. J'ai apprécié les morceaux plus longs comme 'City, Country, City' et 'The World Is a Ghetto' majoritairement instrumentaux avec des chorus très réussis (+1). Les autres morceaux ne sont pas vraiment intéressants à mon gout ('Four Cornered Room' trop lent et long). Pas sur d'y revenir une seconde fois. =>2/5
Drags a bit in the back half but definitely a pleasure
Was chill
Very nice discovery, will listen again
# Album Name: The world is a ghetto # Artist: War # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: This missed the mark for me. It wasnt bad but wasnt good either. # Top Tunes: Cisco kid # Would I listen to it again? Dont think so
Pretty good album tbh. Didn't really fw four cornered room, and the songs were a tiny bit too long for me, for aside from that pretty cool👍
Some great, funk, soul. and R&B, but a three-star rating for the jazz.
Yeah.
cool dub/reggae
I loved city, country, city. The rest was fine, though. The lyrics calling out the nation and it's ghetto acts was a nice listen, but i didn't stick with me to much.
Some great songs, some instrumentals that I didn’t vibe with.
Great album. Almost as good as “Why Can’t We Be Friends “
Cool but also didn’t really do much for me. 3 stars
Good driving tunes
The first two tracks feel slightly out of place because they’re just songs. These are all great, funky jams though. Love it
Good stuff
Not bad. It's got a bit of life to it. The closing track, Beetles in the Bog, is pretty good.
Excellent. It’s a live album without an audience. Great performances and production. Can hear everything. Total vibe record. Probably never played the same way twice. Wants to be political and serious but it’s just exceptional musicians playing together perfectly.
Better than Coldplay
I enjoy War. Cisco Kid is a classic and everything else is typical War which I like. Probably #2 War album
3/5
I really liked how they mix styles, finding a place that's jazzy, psychedelic and soulful. I also liked how political and directed it feels with its lyrics and message. The lyrics are good, the performances are excellent and it's an engaging listen. The basslines were particularly good, and the vocals are great too. My favourite part of the album was the second half, as they flesh out the songs more and they turn into soulful epics. The best songs for me were "City, Country, City", "Four Cornered Room" and "The World Is A Ghetto".
Late 60’s r & b rock
Funk feel
Started pretty weak, to be honest. Got better - some elements of City, Country, City and The World is a Ghetto are actively good! But my god does each song drag on way past it's welcome. I'm sure it would be a lot better if I was stoned, or if the numerous groups they've influenced didn't already exist & surpass them.
Not a band I really knew, happy to be introduced to them. I liked the slow funky feel
Jam forward. Good for a moody drive or a morose dinner party. Long songs, aside from everyone's favorite with Cisco Kid. Probably going to take a few more listens to really hear the lyrics.
I can appreciate how seemlessly the musicians here managed to blend together funk, rock, jazz, and the blues. However, this is very much not my cup of tea, like, at all. There's just too much jam band-type bullshit on here for me to like this. 2/5.
No, it's not.
Certainly a bit unique in its sound for its genre and therefore interesting in its own right, but not amazing
I'm going to need to come back to this. There's a lot of atmosphere, the arranging work is really very good and the end product is highly listenable. It's a slow burn in a lot of places (especially 'Four-Cornered Room') but it drips with an atmosphere that pulls me in. I don't know War very well ('Low Rider' aside, which is a fucking jam), but this has the sounds of a large band that's locked in and yet giving each other space to work. Wikipedia tells me they were/are an R&B and progressive soul band. I don't fully know how to describe soul, but when I wondered "what really is soul music?", I got the impression that this album might also ask that. Anyway, give this one a go. I think I can un-cringe-ily say it's a vibe. I think it'll both reward and invite more listens. 4/5.
Slow - good background music - not too demanding
Starts off pretty cool
I liked this but then not enough, not as much as I thought or hoped to. Side two built up my interest more than side one. Sadly only 3 stars.
First off... i love War... i loved them when Eric Burdon fronted them and they did "Spill The Wine"... one of my all time favorite radio songs... this album is so funky... it starts out with "The Cisco Kid"... which was all over the radio in 1972... the funkiness continues with "Where Was You At"... and then 13 plus minutes of a funky workout in "City Country City"... "Four Cornered Room" is a slow burner for almost nine minutes... then comes the album version of "The World Is A Ghetto" at over 10 minutes long... these guys have the groove and the chops to pull all this off... and then it ends with the funky, fine "Beetles in the Bog"... Five Stars..."
Love the beat, love the rock!
this sounded like a 3 hour improv jam session and it wasnt good 3/10
it was pl
City, Country, City
Grooves strong with this one.
less songs = better album?
Super solid album. Absolute vibes. Fave song: The World is a Ghetto Honorable mention: City, Country, City
I was skeptical at first but it ended up being quite good. Its a nice balance between jazzy and funky. Favourite Song: The World is a Ghetto Honourable Mention: City, Country, City
kind of a banger, just a nice 3. "four cornered rooms" into "the world is a ghetto" was good. after re-listening and some thought i changed my rating to a 4, excellent album!
Pretty nice funk.
First time listening to this and it wasn't what I expected. Great album. There's something really special about this
Fun, but probably wouldn't listen to again.
Hyvä funkkilevy! Aloitusraita on ihan legendaleveliä 4/5
Hyvä jatsahtava funkkislevy. 4/5
Highlight Song/s: Cisco Kid, City, Country, City and The World Is A Ghetto I believe this is America's version of 'Autobahn' by Kraftwerk. I mean what other album would that be, if it isn't this one? Well for one, the album covers give me similar idea, of people living, breathing and moving about. Other similar elements include: epic-lengthed song/s and repetitive beats. Then I'd said this and that and I finally realised War's album 'The World is a Ghetto' came before 'Autobahn' (1972 vs 1974,) and It shocked me! This would've worked so well as America's answer to 'Autobahn' but It can't be that, as it came before it. It's all ruined now. Some say instrumentals have no soul in them because they don't have singing in them, I am confused because 'City Country, City' speaks incredibly loud, it has tremendous amounts of emotion in it. But some people are unfortunately snobby and instantly dismiss instrumentals. This album is stupidly good, just like 'Autobahn.'
Sweet
04/08/2025 It wasn't too bad, I've heard worse.
J - 2/5 Best Track - "Where Was You At"
I love this album.
3.5 Stars
Always loved War!
Incredible stuff. How have I managed not to know this band and this album. Such a great sound. So expressive. So rich in diverse references and textures and feelings. 'City, country city' in particular is such a great piece of art. I feel like this should be required listening / a rite of passage in the same way as dark side of the moon is for example.
'Meh - doesn't suck. Too instrumental for me.
I can listen to this all day.
Fuck yeah
hm, etwas angenehmerer Jazz als zuletzt, aber immer noch nicht der Funke übergesprungen...... 3 Sterne, konnte man nebenbei beim Bürostuhl zusammenbauen anhören.
Einzigarte Musik, nett zu hören, zum Ende hin etwas stressig. Man fühlt aber den Vibe der Zeit und dem Milieu in dem die Künstler aufgewachsen sind.
Ehhh not great.
Kyllä ihan nappaa tämä syvä synkkä funk. Biisit nappaa heti, jumitusta on lähes psykemäisesti, tai ainakin siitä tykkäävään osaan minussa tämä vetoaa.
2/5 no es para mi esto
It sounds great. Totally my vibe. You can hear so many early sketches of funk, soul, r&b, and hip hop in this music, like seedlings of genres that are yet to sprout. I just had trouble getting all the way into it because I didn’t carve out enough space to sit and focus. My fault, not the music’s.
This one just didn’t grab me. Maybe I need to listen more. But I feel like a great album should get me the first time around more than this
Best Song: The Cisco Kid This is really good. And, I as someone who loves Phish, Grateful Dead, and other jam bands, I enjoy some of the longer jams on this album. But, there is always a but, these kinds of jams usually don't translate well to production and are best served spontaneously live. Sadly, this album suffers from that. If they would have shortened the two jam songs down by a few minutes, this would be a 5/5 but instead 4/5.
Interesting bit of funk to hear, I am a little familiar with War’s big hits but nothing here. Wasn’t terribly engaged with this album, a little boring and fell into the background very quickly. 2.25/5 today but may have been higher on a different day
Very tough, of the times and all. The last track particularly was groovy as balls
1. Packt es mich? (2) ➤ die Stimmung an sich war gut aber es hat mich nicht abgeholt 2. Kreativität & Ideen: (2) ➤ gerade bei den längeren Parts fande ich es sehr eintönig, für mich hat nichts rausgestochen 3. Wohlfühlfaktor: (1) ➤ Die Musik hat mich irgendwie genervt 4. Genre & Offenheit: (1) ➤ bin bis jetzt noch kein Fan von Soul gewesen und das konnte es jetzt auch nicht retten 5. Zugänglichkeit: (1) ➤ Ich musste mich zwingen zuende zu hören, einen Song habe ich auch fast komplett übersprungen, sorry aber die 8min konnte ich mir nicht mehr geben. Gesamt: 7 / 25 → ⭐ 1,4 / 5 Sterne Kommentar / Lieblingssong(s): Lieblingssongs gibt es hier nicht. Ich bin mir sicher das das Album seine daseinsberechtigung hat und auch die Message davon gut ist. Aber das wird auch nichts daran ändern das ich diese Songs wahrscheinlich nie wieder hören werde.
Aight
Kind of boring after Cisco
pure funk on funk, great riffs and the aesthetic of the album is really cool and you really get down with the vibe.
This probably needs more listens, as there are a lot of layers to unpack here. The songs are long and complex, but melodically they don't really stand out too much. Very cool mix of genres, though.
War is good
This album is terrific. I didn’t expect this to be as good as it was, but the band is tight, and I can hear a lot of threads that other bands picked up from them. A definite return listen. 7/10
the first couple of songs are pretty good, but after that this album falls off a cliff.
Never liked this shit. Now, I dislike it even more. Why is this here?
Really liked this. I love some super long vocal runny songs with tons of 70s beats. Reminds me in *some* ways of Pink Floyd
Funked me up!
When my wife came home last week and announced "I'm going to be a dungeon master!" a chill ran down my spine. "Perhaps I should have seen this coming," I thought. She had recently been talking about "alternate revenue streams" and I (it seemed naively in that moment) had assumed she meant something like couples crafting or selling items on eBay. I could never have imagined that she was thinking of dipping not only her toe, but her whole self into the murky world of BDSM. "Well, I suppose we could convert one of the rooms in the house..." I said. "But, of course we don't have a basement, so it won't be a real dungeon." She looked at me blankly. "What are you talking about?" she said. "A place for the apparatuses!" "What apparatuses?" "The ones for your clients! You think they'll just want to be spanked here on the couch in front of the cats? A dominatrix dungeon mistress will need a dungeon, for Christs sake! It'll be an investment, but I imagine the returns will offset the expense within the first quarter of operation..." She turned and left. Turns out she was talking about running a game of the collective-imagination RPG "Dungeons and Dragons." I'd have preferred the dominatrix angle. What does this have to do with "The World is a Ghetto" by War? More than you could ever imagine, as it happens. Her group are coming over tomorrow and this might be the perfect distraction music. They'll be about to kill a goblin and then suddenly ask "Wow, is it just me or has this song gone on for fucking ever?!" "It has!" I'll reply, "and so has your game!" Ideally they'll leave. I'll return and report the results. As for the album itself, it's maybe the funkiest thing I've ever listened to in one whole sitting. It does go slightly longer than necessary (especially "City, Country, City", "Four Cornered Room" and "The World is a Ghetto"). This does detract significantly from the funk.
Short and sweet album. This didn’t have the WAR songs I didn’t like
Not my cup of tea but appreciate the exposure to something new to me and different.
Liked. They have a good sound and always enjoyed music with a good horn section.
Good jazzy, funky, r&b album. 6/10
Really cool vibe, only knew these guys from their two famous songs which got annoying from overplay. Love the musicality, jazz feel, the whole thing flows really well
Funky and political and relevant today.
Was not familiar with this album…it is tight, loose, full of world beats and B3. No fluff…just great music. Love the vibe. Also, topped the charts the year I was born.
I had only heard a few tracks from War before, their hits naturally. I thought this album was pretty cool.
I have known this album since it first came out. Great tracks!
The only acceptable War is this band
This was a really enjoyable listen. Long songs, good background music. Four Cornered Room was the stand out.
Solid funk and soul.
Not my flavour, worth it
Slow and funky soul. Perfect to read a book on the beach on a sunny day to. Didnt know this band and happy to discover them. 8/10
Alright album, some nice beats, good, easy listening, but nothing massively appealing to me, felt a bit flat.
Love it 🥰
I was in a bad mood when I listened to this so may warrant another future listen. Not a big funk fan but there were some parts with great jamming that caught my attention. Other parts I just glazed over because I didn’t feel it, even though it was interesting and sounded good.
Curtis Mayfield era funk music, very cool, very chill vibe
Funky and fun. A rich, colourful sound. Feels like summer and sunshine.
Eine Entdeckung - danke dafür. Sehr funky und großartig musiziert.
Loved it.
2.7/i feel like there was an idea here that A) i am not getting or B) is not being realized. whatever i guess
Hmm, this is different
Not really for me.
Fav: The World Is A Ghetto Least Fav: Four Cornered Room Crazy sax soloes AND crazy harmonica soloes? I’m spoiled
The record 100% Summer in 1970's Brooklyn vibes. And that's not a bad thing. My 2 star rating is purely based on relistenabilty. The album is solid, front to back, but its just not my thing, but damn, this has such a strong feeling to it.
Wow this is way more meandering than I expected from the "Low Rider" band! Really wild pacing to go from two tight 3-min songs to a 13-minute jam, an 8-minute jam, and a 10-minute jam, especially when none of them have anything technically dazzling or proggy or exploratory going on. The band itself is tight but overall it's not doing much for me. I'll take "Cisco the Kid" for its Pineapple Express vibes and leave the rest.
Fantastic. Funky grooves.
Kinda a vibe but most of it is not my jam
Hard to tell... awesome and aweful Songs all at once
This one is quite a mix that left me with mixed feelings. Musicianship is undoubtedly great on here and there were parts I really enjoyed, whereas other parts felt very unpleasant. Some of the jazz parts had a very uncomfortable, unsettling offbeat that made me nervous. But then I enjoyed the intense, dark, haunting soul parts and early electric blues parts as well. Four Cornered Room showcased the very worst tendencies of prog rock - a genre I usually enjoy, but not here. Interesting for one spin, but definitely don't want to revisit.
Funk! I love funk! Such a vibey album. I don't like instrumental funk as much as lyric based funk, but this is still such a work of art. Really long, vibey songs that don't ever get monotonous.
Felt weird listening to this while at an active shooter seminar, but would’ve really liked it at as coffee shop ambience
Funky rhythms and fun syncopation. I enjoyed all the different instruments used to create interesting sounds. You know I love a good sax solo like in “City, Country, City” I also already knew the opening track from somewhere so that was fun to have something familiar to start off with. I really enjoyed this one
Definitely some pretty instrumentals but a 43 minute album for 6 songs is so crazy.
I dig War, but was pleasantly surprised by how good this album is and how much I enjoyed it. 5
Enjoyable listen! I have heard Cisco Kid, but the rest of the album was a pleasant surprise! I will be listening to this one again!
Love it. Funky. Different. I think the sound was ahead of its time, and still sounds like something that could be put out today.
I found this fairly monotonous and jammy. Sorta reggae. Sorta funk. Not bad but not something I'll likely return to.
This album is a little too slow for me at times. The percussion pounds, too, creating a tension that reflects the spirit of the album. It’s the first album I would give any “X.5” if the ratings allowed it. It would be 3.5.
Holy crap, that came out of nowhere. Soulful, sinful, absolutely delightful. Beats so heavy I could build on them, lyrics so thoughtful I'm still thinking about them. I'm loving this project so much already - there's so much I never realized I hadn't heard. This was a total revelation. I'll be listening to it again.
chillig
Rythm and Blues with soul. Enjoyable. Good album.
Groove. Sure wish I had an LP cover in my hands to pore over. Cisco engages, then City, Country, City really gets happening. That pulsing rhythm underlying the jazzy horn--and more. Just never quits. Psych-funk ghetto rising.
Had no idea who these guys were if that I would enjoy the funk or the groove so much. A tad too long and my insterest wavered especially on longer tracks but these tunes were super cool.
I was wavering a little bit, I was digging the vibe, I liked that the band didn’t seem tethered to a structural ideas for songs and the album as a whole. So wavering only because I wasn’t always blown away by everything going on, but in the end, there is some really good material and I appreciate where this band is coming from.
Not sure why I never gave these guys much attention. This was a cool listen, and Cisco Kid is such a fantastic groove. I don't know that I loved every song, but these guys are cool and unique and this album made me go and listen to more of their music, which is I guess the point of this exercise.
So good!
The best 70's funk record, EVER. 9/10
Cisco Kid, of course. Worth 3 stars on its own. I was also pleasantly surprised by ‘City, Country, City’ and ‘Four Cornered Room’. Solid grooves all the way ‘round.
wow funky goodness here
Super disco, un deleite sonoro. Un "must" en cualquier colección de discos.
Funky Jazzy old school jam band sound that reminds me of Santana with less guitar. Super cool album.
Good for relaxing to. Some tracks sound like studio jams which works with this type of music.
Never heard of or listened to War before, so I am excited to discover some new music! I like the album cover and the title and am immediately struck by the fact that this album only has 6 songs but somehow adds up to 44 minutes. Makes me sorta nervous. The Cisco Kid: Very good. The man has a pepper grinder voice. Lots of friction. It's good!. Where Was You At: sorta bouncy and flouncy and mostly jaunty i like it. Music for walking down a sunny street in the city and smiling. City, Country, City: It begins with a beautiful duet between .. an organ? and a banjo? and a few bells... It's 13 minutes. OK I've stopped caring much. these songs are too long and not very exciting although I understand they're probably very culturally significant and whatnot.
Good listen and always liked Cisco. Album of the times.
A really nice, jazzy, funky, soulful record. Each song feels pretty unique to all the others and the long-form style of a few of the songs I think fits the bands sound really well. 8/10
Loved this- worth another listen
More musical than lyrical. Still good
Wanted more
Funky and soulful throughout. I was hoping for some "Lowrider" style bangers, but I was happy with what I got.
funkyyyyy. really really like city, country, city. awesome mix between funk and blues. really dig this album
Vibey. To my great and eternal shame, I’m pretty sure I thought “Cisco Kid” was a Steely Dan song. Favorites: “Cisco Kid”; “Beetles in the Bog”
Not my thing tbh but did have some good vibes. Best song was def the first one and the rest were to long and jam bandy for me
Cool stuff, I liked listening to it.
This is true funk, soul, a genre onto itself well worth experiencing.
I liked the instrumental parts of the album
Not for me in the slightest this one. It's not offensively terrible or anything, but it just did nothing for me whatsoever.
I have enjoyed the album and give it five stars I would recommend it to my friends
it's sweet! very good music idk I'm tired. 7/10
Das Album The World Is a Ghetto wurde 1972 von der US-amerikanischen Band War veröffentlicht und in den Crystal Industries Studios in Los Angeles aufgenommen. Die Gruppe, die sich durch eine multinationale Besetzung auszeichnete, verband in ihrer Musik Funk, Soul, Rock und Latin-Elemente. Dieses Album reflektiert diesen hybriden Stil besonders deutlich. Zu den bekanntesten Titeln gehören „The Cisco Kid“, ein funkbetonter Song mit eingängigen Bläserlinien, und der titelgebende Track „The World Is a Ghetto“, der mit seinem langen, atmosphärischen Aufbau auffällt und sozialkritische Untertöne trägt. Auch „City, Country, City“, ein instrumentales Stück, zeigt die improvisatorische Bandbreite der Band und war prägend für den Crossover-Sound jener Zeit. Musikalisch bewegt sich das Album zwischen rhythmischer Dichte und zurückgenommenen Passagen, wobei die Instrumentierung Raum für längere Jam-Segmente lässt. Die Arrangements wirken durchdacht, ohne aufwendig zu wirken, und spiegeln ein hohes Maß an musikalischer Eigenständigkeit wider. Insgesamt bietet das Album eine ausgewogene Mischung aus politischen Themen, tanzbaren Rhythmen und musikalischer Experimentierfreude. Es ist ein sorgfältig produziertes Werk, das den Zeitgeist der frühen 1970er Jahre ebenso abbildet wie die stilistische Offenheit der Band.
incredible soul album
Just felt kinda long. I like other War tracks from other albums more than this one.
Only really know this artist through Low Rider (probably like many). I actually liked this one. I don’t know why I expected gangsta rap, this is too early for that but it ended up being kinda funky. Solid stuff
A but too jazzy and not my style, but I still liked a few songs, especially the first one and the world is a ghetto. Who knows, maybe as time passes my taste will change and I will someday regret this rating.
Some of the songs were a bit repetitive for me, but I was a fan
Ass
Revelation! Nice vibe about this album! Never heard of this group, but liked it!
Rv/g
Was fine, not bad, but not good enough to revisit for fun.
Great 70's funk
Magnificent. Funky, groovy, jammy, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, world-feel but very lived in and local at the same time - not performative but actual - the sound of heat and hope in LA in '72. Will listen to this often.
Funky soul/jazz. Very laid back and definitely sets a mood. Love the gong on Four Cornered Room. This is music you would expect to hear when they go to a bar in a film or TV show set in the 70's. Good album, but overall it is background music. I'd give it 4, but the middle felt very long.
Another album I was just listening to! So this is what I think of as progressive soul/funk. It's got some great longer songs that will change rhythms. City, country, city is interesting to hear. The Cisco Kid is more what people will gravitate to but listen to the entire album. It's well worth the time. It's a great album.
Funky
Quality soul in the vein of what’s going on, the influences are shot thru but doesn’t quite match the imperiousness of Marvin.
What a vibe this was! It's got that humid, sun-baked, late-afternoon-in-the-city feel. Everything moves slow and easy, and it’s chill as hell. I don’t usually swim in this kind of funk-jazz blend, but I might dip a toe more often. Has some early Earth, Wind & Fire energy with more mood. It’s good summer listening. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - The Cisco Kid - Where Was You At - City, Country, City - The World Is A Ghetto - Beetles In The Bog
3.5