The Sounds Of India

I took a lot of drugs before listening to this. I was whisked off to a magical land, where a talking frog convinced a boy to kill his father. Then a grumpy emo chick started pestering me, trying to get me to choose between fuckin' a zebra or fuckin' a corpse. I chose zebra. Then an abused orphan watched me peel a verucca sock off a disabled ghost. Then a noseless man raped a singing omelette. What's it all about?

This album comes with a instructions and I still don't get it.

More of an historic curiosity than a listenable album.

One of life's great mysteries has been solved! I couldn't for the life of me understand why a sitar has at least twice as many tuning pegs as it has strings. Now I know! There are strings that run under the strings that are picked and each of these other strings is attached to a particular fret and needs a separate tuning peg. I learned this by clicking on the word sitar on the wiki page for this album. I didn't get it from Ravi's instructional comments before each song. All I can say for Ravi's comments is "sounds good to me". I suppose George Harrison would have understood what Ravi meant but I doubt anyone other than a music scholar could make heads or tails of it. George Harrison is responsible for the western world hearing a sitar for the first time, but Ravi's playing speaks for itself. His sitar playing is exotic and magical. It's no wonder all the hippy rock stars travelled to India to find this music. The influence on 60s music deserves +1. I'm equally interested in the drums, called tabla, played on this album. My disdain for drum solos by no means extends to the tabla. If you never have, dig up some solo tabla music. It's extraordinary. Tabla are also tuned but they have no strings. Another one of life's great mysteries but this one remains unsolved.

While the Sitar is an interesting instrument, this album sounds more like a 50 minute solo on the Sitar which is just not that enjoyable as an album

Legend. He actually teaches you about the music before he shreds face.

This is so not my genre. I can tell that Ravi is hella talented but the constant, repetitive, droning of the sitar absolutely gives me anxiety. There are some really interesting bit in here where Ravi gives short lessons on how Indian music is built and what to listen for which is the only thing saving this from a one-star review.

Honestly appreciated and enjoyed the spoken explanations throughout the album. Like a mini crash course on the rudiments of Indian classical music. I have only really heard this type of music via its pale imitation in 60s psychedelic rock. The real deal is far more dynamic and exciting. Really love the interplay of the percussion, drones, and soloing sitar. Exquisite jams.

I had read some years ago an anecdote about Ravi Shankar and his combo giving a show, can't remember if it was in Europe or North America but this side of the world; as the show started the musicians played for a minute or so and then they stopped, and the audience got up and cheered. Ravi Shankar went to the mic and said something in the lines of "that's very kind of you but we were only tuning our instruments" On the first track of this album, An Introduction To Indian Music, he takes the time to explain the basis to us Occidental people. Actually, these explanations come and go from time to time across the length of the album. All this might sound somehow condescending, in the sense that he might try to school his audience (us, westerners), but it really is helpful if not necessary, as Indian music has rules of its own that doesn't really relate nor translate to the academic approach to European (and its descendants) music. The question presents itself spontaneously: is music really a universal language? I don't want to start myself on the possibilities of other life forms across the whole universe or even the possibility of the existence of music beyond the boundaries of our planet Earth, and if the aliens exists, do they still have ears? Can those ears hear? Can their brains or whatever those ears are connected to (if they exist, of course), decode the sonic signal the way we understand it? Because, you see, we imagine aliens from our human point of view, but they might be something, someone, completely different. Because we conceive that "somewhere else" from here, from the very place we live and always have lived in. "That" is there because "this" is here, but what if we could make abstraction of "this" and "here"? Where would "there" be?  But, yeah, music might as well be a universal language, but still, besides matters related to personal taste, one might lack the tools to really understand and appreciate "all" the music. Or the interest, right? In the same way that, say, a three year old kid might not have the same understanding of the spoken language than a professor in philosophy, even if they both speak the same "language". Or then again, the interest. Please note that I want to stick with the language thing, because a language is nothing else than a means to communication. And communication (I am about to become very technical here) is about coding, transport, and decoding. Therefore, communication is movement. Communication is evolving. The meaning of that last sentence is deliberately ambiguous, and I will leave it at that for you to interpret.  Me bringing up aliens having or not ears was also deliberate. Because when one chooses to be open, the possibilities become endless.  Ravi is a cool dude, his voice has a soothing quality. Or maybe it's just me fulfilling my own need of an Indian musician who speaks in a soothing way. We will never know. But we know that at the end of the aforementioned Introduction, Shankar says "The Western listener will appreciate and enjoy our music more if he listens with an open and relaxed mind" It's all about that. With everything, everywhere. 

One of the more intriguing albums recommended so far. There was no beginning, middle or end. Just sitar, all the way. Lovely.

this was gonna go one of two ways, and luckily for me it was good. turns out i am still a dirty, smelly, hairy hippy deep down.

Not really my cup of tea. I like how he breaks down the various theory of what he's playing, but an hour of this is a lot.

Strange sounds from another part of the world. Must have blown the minds of Westerners in the 50s (and blown them again when George Harrison adopted the instrument himself soon after). Has a quick charming spoken intro where Mr Shankar explains how to listen and then he shoves you right into the deep end into a meditative world of snaking loops, warmly ringing feedback and infinitely catchy ragas plucked out effortlessly at breakneck speed. He occasionally pops in to guide listeners along. Full marks. You can’t avoid getting swept up in it.

There is something so delightful about the simple and friendly presentation of this album while still demonstrating virtuosic and archetypal classic Indian music.

My doctor’s got me on a course of prednisone, a steroid, to help treat an upper respiratory infection (along with an antibiotic). Let me just say, I am shaking like a toothache right now. This thing’s got me more jittery than grandpa’s cellphone with the oversized buttons. I can’t believe people take steroids on a regular basis just so they can appear jacked. Like…what? My skeleton is trying to jump out of my flesh right now and there are people who walk around all day, for long periods of time, like this? I don’t understand people. …or the world for that matter. Sorry, I need a minute. …that’s better. Eating some lunch seems to have helped with the jitters, at least physically. Mentally, I’ve got about 5 different streams of consciousness going at once, but I’m going to see if I can pluck an idea out of one of those streams, focus in on it and deliver something resembling a review. In my current state, the polyrhythms, improvisational busyness and (probably most importantly) the drone of the sitar are coming into hyper focus to create a soothing soundtrack for this weird physiological experience I am undergoing. I actually kind of love this. The resonant drone of the sitar is one the most beautiful sounds on the planet: it undulates, expands and contracts, almost like it is drawing breath…a living musical instrument. A record like this is a reminder that not too long ago the world was a much smaller place. It wasn’t like you could just hop on YouTube, type in Indian Music and get a crash course on its theory. No, in order for this record to exist as presented to us here, a Western record label executive would have to decide it was a worthwhile investment and green-light it. Then, it would have to be recorded, pressed to vinyl and distributed. If you were interested in Indian music, you’d have to hope your local record store carried it or else spend your time tracking the record down. It could take months or even years from the start for it to reach the intended audience’s ears. It’s actually kind of quaint to think about the lengths we used to have to go to acquire knowledge. Now that it’s at our fingertips at all times, however, it sometimes feels like our instant access is taken for granted.

Ravi did a good job of explaining in the intro not to expect harmony in the music. I now know for sure I like harmony in my music. This felt like randomness. As soon as I started to like a cord progression it was gone. Never to be heard again. It just sounds like someone plucking at strings with sometimes aggressive speed. The sitar isn't a pleasing instrument for my unfamiliar ears. It doesn’t work for me. I’m really trying hard to give it a chance but It’s actually aggravating the longer I listen. I want it to be over so bad. That was torture. That was the worst music I’ve heard so far on this list. 1/10

Absolutely wonderful! With this album, Ravi helped introduce the Western world to Indian music, and probably changed the very arc of human history. It's hard to imagine any other musician alive having more impact. It's also truly beautiful music.

I'm not fond of Indian culture, but Ravi Shankar sounds like an exception. First of all, the sole purpose of the album was not only to show but also to explain to the western audience — what is the sounds of India. And personally, I still can't describe the feeling, but there is really something magical that gives a feeling of control over the chaos. Similar to jazz music it requires more time to understand it. I won't lie, I've tried to listen to it the second time and am not able to distinguish one raga from another. But in the end, this album was able to shift my interest towards Indian culture and I'll definitely dig up more similar music

I've always loved the sounds of sitar and tabla. It sounded so "alien" to me as a kid. Later, when I finally heard this album in its entirety, I loved how it explained why it seemed so "alien". I wish there were other explanation albums in other musical genres.

Can genuinely say I learned something today, plus I got to hear some good music.

Ravi’s music is mesmerizing, intricate, soul-stirring, and, for those of us in the western hemisphere, so incredibly unique. Forget 4/4. How about 14? How about 16? In his intros, Ravi tells you he’s going to come at you with some wild stuff. And then he does. Effortlessly. I only only wish I could hear this sound in person.

A fascinating artefact documenting the West’s introduction to Indian classical music. Although Shankar wasn’t the first to implement the album format as a didactic tool of cultural discourse as much as a strictly melodic anchor point, his heightened profile really makes this a significant milestone in the Western canon. The actual music, interspersed with Shankar’s brief monologues explaining the forthcoming musical structures, is a gargantuan slab of exhilarating sitar playing which is undoubtedly captivating at various particular points as opposed to a coherent whole. If you embrace Shankar’s initial plea to an open mind towards this form of music, it is a truly rewarding experience from a legendary player.

I was familiar with this kind of music through well-known collaborations between Indian and western artists, in particular John McLaughlin (Shakti), but I was not familiar with this particular record. Shankar's explanations of the different musical elements are interesting, but it would take more listening and explanation to fully understand it all. However, following the master's advice by listening with an "open and relaxed mind", I was able to enjoy and appreciate this album.

Interesting that he was interested in evangelizing Hindustani classical music. I wonder if he would be so well known if not for George Harrison, but clearly his interest in spreading the music to the west was already in place before the Beatles. I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would, but I did enjoy it. Fun to hear his explanations of the music, but it does take away from this feeling like a real "album" as opposed to an instruction manual.

Really cool...like Indian classical music. Makes for great background listening. I appreciated the lessons that he gave on each song as well. 3.5/5

Great Meditation music. The sitar is such a cool instrument and Shankar is the premier Indian musician for 9 decades. You are probably most familiar with his music from The Beatles when they were experimenting in the sixties with middle eastern philosophy.

I very much enjoyed this. At first I was a little taken aback by his, well I guess I’ll call it instructions. But only at the very beginning. I actually really liked it. I was cooking artichokes while I listened and I was able to shut off my kind and just concentrate on the act of cooking. I really liked that. Everything felt very natural and organic. Will listen again. For tomorrow Jason, it’s a 4. It could go a little over or under depending on the mood, but 4 it is

Can totally see the influence on various bands of the time. Really interesting, actually

Dynamic from front to back the way I find much Indian music is to my novice ear. The explanations were a high point; I didn't expect them after the first track, but can now go back and try to understand each piece a bit better. Whatever the theoretical temptations to relate Indian classical music to jazz, it sounds entirely unique.

An interesting exploration of a type of music and culture that I am not at all familiar with. I enjoy the pauses to explain the music theory behind what makes Indian compositions unique.

Listened to this while playing Pax Pamir solo. I lost in a spectacular finish. I had a roommate in college who really liked Ravi Shankar, but I never really got into it at the time. I also didn't smoke weed at that point in my life. The album was surprisingly educational, which I definitely appreciated as a musician with a degree in music composition and theory! Ravi Shankar is definitely an extremely talented musician with a crazy understanding of theory, polyrhythms, and microtonality. I feel like I should be rating this higher than I am...but it felt more like sitting in on a class, rather than really getting a solidly constructed album. I feel like I would have appreciated a different album more than this, although it does provide some very informative material in how to listen to Indian music.

Really fucking excellent. Ravi shagged the shit out of it, didn't he? If it was a TV show, it'd be Big Break and Jim Davidson would be livid.

If I had to pick my favorite Indian sitar virtuoso,I would always choose the only Indian sitar player I know, Mr. Shankar.

5 x 10 minute / song album, recording in 1958. This guy has so much music released, incredible. Known to be a virtuoso from north of India. Very interesting pick, the first song is an introduction to the theory of Indian music.

I seriously respect what he did and his musicianship is amazing. It’s incredibly difficult to break into the West and his career is worth knowing about. But I simply can’t listen to a 50 minute sitar solo any more than I could a Joe Satriani guitar album. It may sound shallow, but I prefer to listen to the sitar used in a more Western song style. But I would see the traditional sound live 100%.

Love the introduction to Indian music. Different scales leading to different sounds. The sitar is an amazing backing instrument, when its the lead it's chimey and annoying. A talented musician for sure but the sound got old fast

Liked it as my introduction to Indian music. Don't really know what subgenres there are but the sound was cool. The concept of the album was interesting and a great way to introduce a western audience to the genre. Will probably relisten if I want to listen to Indian music, 5/8. Favorite song An Introduction to Indian Music.

I usually like droney music, but this is too much for me.

I appreciate the skill, but I don't like it at all. I wish there was an option to have gifs in your reviews, because this could so much more easily be summed up by a single funny gif of a bored and frustrated looking dog or something. Maybe a dramatic eye-roll from a small child, wise beyond their years. Or maybe I could just include a static image of me lying down flat on the pavement, looking utterly defeated.

Honestly I tried to have an open mind about this album but there’s not much going on in it to keep it interesting. I got an introduction to something I didn’t care much about then had to listen to it for an hour. I can see why it is considered influential but just not something I like at all.

For sure, this is influential music, but I lack the open mind to go for it and just found it unlistenable on this occasion.

Beautiful classical Indian music. It's hard not to give it 5 stars considering Ravi Shanker introduced the Western world to Indian classical music and thus it's one of the most influential albums ever. He may had other better albums but this album's importance beats all the others. Imagine how shocking it must've sounded in 1957 when almost no one in the West heard such music before. On a personal note I love this music because it's relaxing and totally unique.

As informative as it is beautiful and entrancing. Ravi Shankar was a master of the Sitar as Miles Davis was to Trumpet, and Freddie Mercury to vocals. From this record, it is clear to see why he is so influential to the sound of the 20th century. Best Tracks: - Sindhi-Bhairavi Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 9.5/10

The music lesson on track one is great

Different and very good.

Lengthy songs and wildly exotic tones make this legendary

despite ravi's Very Helpful (and v pleasant to listen to) educational spoken interludes, i am not musically literate enough to rly follow the structures here outside of very very broad strokes (sometimes helpfully delineated by the presence/intensity of the percussion). still , tho im not anti-intellectual enough to assume i dont Need to learn more (id love to finally get some musical literacy in me) but i think my proclivities have always been set to hear music more as timbre than as structure (this rly is the explanation for me getting into free/avant garde jazz before i ever got into more accessible jazz lol), and its hard to beat these instruments in a timbre competition. not to downplay ofc the mastery with which theyre played...idk if this record's relatively low rym rating is because this isnt a particularly exemplary performance from shankar or because rym is bizarrely and irrationally allergic to spoken parts/interludes/whatever. but in either case i think everyone involved rips down the house!! tbh who even needs western harmony when everything sounds this rich to begin with. western harmony is a scam invented by composers to sell more chord progressions

taste of india

This is the kind of project that should be put into outer space, for the aliens to find, to prove that humans occasionally did beautiful things. There’s just nothing quite like this.

I love how Shankar is not only a musician on this album, he's also a teacher. His insightful introductions really helped a listener like me. The music is mind-expnading. It's mellow at times and frenetic at others. I loved the pairing and minimalism of the sitar with the tabla. This was so sonically enjoyable.

My opinion: Ravi Shankar is the best musician of any genre ever.

I feel sorry for those dimwits on here who can't manage to listen to an introduction to Indian classical sitar from the acknowledged master.

Ravi Shankarn't do no wrong

La influencia de este disco en la historia de la musica no se puede medir

I recognize that this is excellent representation of sitar music and culture. Great explanations and tutorial. 5 stars for that. But not for me.

A classic from college.

After listening to this once I'm confident that what ever I manage to play on the Sitar is great and deserves to be on a "psychedelic rock" album. -Me in 1967 In reality I need to listen to this again as there's so much going on yet it's so simple but it's definitely not.

Loved him explaining everything and the music was very relaxing.

an informational and detailed introduction to traditional indian music. the album is full of spoken easy-to-grasp knowledge and demonstrations of musical modes, scales, and improvisational techniques that are known across the country of india, and the meaning and feeling what it comes to how it is played, from the sitar to the tabla. i am giving it a high rating not only because of its cultural and historical significance but also its educational value.

What a nice surprise. Although I'm not really a fan of indian music I especially valued the explanations in the beginning coupled with the pieces. For me a discovery and one of the reasons why I am listening to all these albums here.

This stuff hits every bit of my soul just right.

Man is shredding so hard he’s gotta explain it to you so you can try to appreciate it.

I enjoyed the tutorials before each track was performed. Very educational about the differences in approach between Western music and Indian music at the time of this album's release in 1957. I can hear how influential this album was to so many of the artists whose albums would come out in the late 60s and early 70s.

Ravi explains Indian Musical Ragas (mode and rythym) for each improvisation. Very cool

Maybe this is what the Grateful Dead think they sound like? Shankar gives real lessons in the fundamentals of Indian music on this record. It is a wholly unique and highly influential work of art. He taught the entire world during the great cultural exchange of the mid-50s. This is the kind of project that should be put into outer space, for the aliens to find, to prove that humans occasionally did beautiful things. There’s just nothing quite like this.

This guy is a wizard

A foundational work that introduced foreign audiences to the essential sounds of the Indian subcontinent.

So so good!

An awesome introduction to the sitar by the Maestro himself.

Ravi teaches sitar

Отлично. В плейлист ничего не занесу, но отлично

uncle George was good friends with him

I loved the little lessons before each song even if I didn't always understand them very well. (I never thought classical Indian music was kind of like jazz until he told me it wasn't.) I like his willingness to teach to help others appreciate it more. And it's wonderful, timeless music. (It also benefited from being on Apple Music so that I could listen to it more easily and closely than our other recent classical Indian album.)

High art vaikka pikku intiamies vanha taivaltaja kadulle päästelee.. Low elämä.. Ruskeat kadut mutta musiikki viisasta.. Soundi liian länsimaistunut tässä.. huomaa erilaista kun englantia kaveri veisaa.. Ei ihan huippuunsa pääse siis.. Kuitenkin onko utopistista aito intia kaveri.. tämän lähemmäksi ei pääse..kö....?

There's something so sweet and uncynical and almost naive about this, it's like a music lesson and an album in one.

Nope

Wow this is excellent- will be listening to this a lot

Vinyl

Come for the great tunes, stay for the music theory lesson! ✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️

I'm just gonna go ahead and give this a 5.

I always love Indian music when I listen to it, although it is very very complicated and I often felt like I was losing something. The introduction tracks made an excellent addition and were greatly appreciated for this reason! As to be expected, there are loads of inspiring improvisational ideas, and overall a great listen

Magic

muito massa o som indiano, grande mestre de geroge harrison

VERY GOOD!

swesome

Uh? This is unusual? 1957? Should this be counted as 'Classical Music'? World Music? This guy is a legend even now. Weird to think he's Norah's dad. I'm listening to this with an incense burning and chilling. Beautiful music.

5.0 + Ragas for gringos - love it!

Musikaliskt geni, älskar att försöka räkna med men misslyckas, kan lyssna på hans musik hela dagen

Amazing and timeless.

Indian

This album is a beautiful soundbath

I dig this kind of music, will be listening again and again.

Great listen. I would like to listen to it a bit more focused with his guidance in mind from the opening track and middle, but the overall sound is so beautiful.

Ravi alternates giving helpful lessons and absolutely SHREDDING a sitar to within an inch of its life for 45 minutes. First album on this whole list that I feel like is way too short by half.

I really enjoyed this, particularly with the voiceovers Ravi does to provide context to the songs to those unfamiliar with Indian classical music. I listened to some Western classical music on the radio the other day and I was struck by how much work the host was doing to set the stage for the music that was being played - the context really helps me understand and get into the music. Also I've heard sitar before (including live performances) but these were particularly good.

Really good intro to the whole genre. Ravi is a beast

Yes

Loved it

Very Interedting.

Ich hab dreimal Rave geschrieben... Brain... Die Introduction hat mir gefallen. War mal was anderes und hat es für mich aufgewertet. Im Folgenden habe ich versucht auf die angesprochenen Details zu achten und habe festgestellt, dass die Musik mir dabei nach einer Weile geordneter erschien. Kann natürlich auch Einbildung sein. Erforderte jedoch Konzentration. Die Art von Musik hatte mir schon vorher zugesagt, als ich sie mir nur mit Improvisation erklärt habe. Anders als das türkische Klacker-Gedudel. Es wirft aber wieder Fragen auf. Sinnliche Background Noise, die der Künstler mir geholfen hat auf einer neuen Eben wertzuschätzen. Merk ich mir und werd ich erneut hören.