Reviews (page 2 of 6)
Wow wow. Really loved this. Last track id a gut punch that rings true all these years later. Insane
Loved it. Not to knock Scott-Heron's poetry or whatever but I think the thing I liked *most* was actually Brian Jackson's instrumentals here? Would enjoy this almost as much if it was just a faintly jazzy/soul instrumental album. Best Song: Rivers of my Soul
Unfortunatly I could hear only two songs of this album on my Streaming Platform but these songs are excellent jazz and R&B compositions.
Really interesting album that was a mixture of jazz, soul, and spoken word. The H20 Gate Blues track was especially interesting and will easily remind you not enough has improved in 50 years, socially or politically. I will have to agree with some other reviews that stated the vocal track definitely overpowered the instrumental track, so for that I give this 4.5, instead of a full on 5.
Brilliant
very personal and emotional. it sounds original to gil, which i admire a lot.
One of my favourite artists, beautiful voice, brilliant lyrics
Gil Scott-Heron is still vastly underrated.
Pretty inspirational, powerful, prolific and well produced. I'm not familiar with Heron's work but the name has come in frame time and time again. I'm thoroughly impressed by this piece of work and love the occasional flute that adds supreme cool factor. Poet Gil Scott's words to music is so captivating.
A genius
Wow, so powerful, this album who is love and compassion well still acting as a call to action that still holds true today. Gill’s voice captures your attention immediately. He has this presence to him. You just want to hear what he has to say. It’s like pull up a seat. I think you can talk for eternity and I would just sit and listen. I love the moments where he has these jabs at America and the government at the time a poem about Watergate was incredible. It’s like the writing has been on the wall all along we’re still not learning our lesson. I can’t think of a figure in modern day they can speak with such heart and soul. Outside of the message in the vocals, there’s some amazing electric piano being played throughout this whole entire album that timbre has always been an arrow through my heart. My dream is to own one of these instruments. They sound so beautiful. This album and the German one we heard are definitely must listens before we die. They are thought-provoking and innovative. I only listen to this album once definitely need to give it a couple more lessons so this is a very on the surface review but I’m really curious on what’s next so this is all you get. Howard Stern’s penis Baba Bowie.
Once in a while you find music that you're really sad about not being on Spotify. This is one of those. The opening note of those record had me glued straight away. Having mentioned previously that I have a weak spot for electric pianos, hearing that overdriven e-piano with insane amounts of tremolo was just straight eargasm. I was a bit worried when he started speaking that it was going to be a weird album, but then he starts singing and it's just goes perfect along with the mellow piano playing, and overall dark feel of 'Peace Go With You, Brother (As-Salaam-Alaikum)'. The album continues along those lines for me. It has an overall dark and moody tone throughout the record, which fits me very well. The piano playing is very good, and somehow I'm just completely hooked to the very end (perhaps with the exception of 'H2O Gate Blues' which was interesting and a bit fun, but dragged on way too long). Going to have to be 5 stars for me. I very rarely hear new music that I instantly love, but this definitely did that for me. It's even more impressive that it is in a jazz/blues setting, which can tend to get quite samey for me, and I usually have a hard time finding what makes certain pieces stand out in those genres. But this is just very unique to me, and very good as well. Plus points for never having heard of Gil Scott-Heron either, all the more fun!
Things were not looking bright. The album cover looked boring and the album was not on any streaming services. That is 2 warning signs. The third came with the first electrical piano chord where the sound was vibrating from left to right headphone. I needn’t had worried, after my initial trepidation I was treated to a very good album. It’s just a perfect blend of blues and jazz and funk. Nice piano melodies, even the spoken word worked great. I’m a bit saddened the the political stuff is just a relevant today as back then. There is just enough production to make it nice but still feels very personal. “Song for Bobby Smith” is probably the best example of this. You also just have great funk pieces like “The Bottle” that makes you want to bop your head. This was such a good find and the type of thing I listen to this list for. Now I’m saddened this isn’t on any streaming service. Come to think of it, I gave Joanna Newson a 5 star after hearing her album for the first time on youtube. I will give this album the same treatment.
Only put this off as long as I did because its not on Spotify. Unfortunately I realized after my second listen that the YouTube upload is out of order, but I'm not sure that has a big impact on the overall listen other than missing out on some sequencing decisions. I loved this album and its effortless jazzy/soulful swag. I don't usually give too much attention to lyrics when listening in the background, but thankfully I was able to pay closer attention today. H2Ogate Blues runs with the same characteristic spoken word political poetry that Kanye sampled on Who Will Survive in America. A great piece of political protest music that honestly left me feeling a little bitter that despite our deeply troubled times, we haven't had more artists stepping up to carry this same torch. For me this is a light 5. Rough around the edges, but packaged with care and enjoyable to listen to.
Awesome
Beautiful, human. Jazz/blues/funk/soul - really smooth, exceptional musicianship. Very political and of its time but still feels relevant today. Easy five stars. Wish it wasn’t so hard to find, but glad to have been introduced.
This album is phenomenal. Absolutely singular and timeless and relevant.
What a voice, what a message! Couldn't find the full album but the Winter in America piece was fantastic. I didn't realize his voice was so nice, having read him as a college student. The message never gets old. Especially not right now. Almost comforting to know that there have been trials and tribulations in the past that were made better with community and speaking truth to power like Gil.
Had to listen on YouTube. Overall a banging sound. Transported me away from my four walls. So relaxing but soulful and filled to the brim with jazz language Will need to be relistened to many more times
wow, fantastic. wish it was streaming. 4.5
Fav: The Bottle Least Fav: H2OGate Blues So hard to decide a fav and least fav, consistently good quality
This is not my sort of music. I have never had anything better between my ears. How is this so hard to find?!
Absolutely incredible. Loved this.
Evocative poetry that feels like a time capsule and timeless at the same time. Gil is forever a legend.
Great variety of cool Songs:) thx!
Amazing, just plain simple amazing. The record is lush with jazzy production and full of actually relevant lyrics, timeless lyrics. The combination of jazz and poetic lyrics has been so refined and the two complement eachother so well. The longer insteumental pieces didn't feel like a drag and were soothing and complementary to the tone and mood of the songs. Overal this record was very balanced, an excellent intro and outro dust free songs that are timeless in terms of message and overal amazing production. The only negative thing I can say is that this record might be harder to listen at times, perhaps its not a daily listen, but definitely something to return to from time to time. Favorite song: peace go with you brother. Overall score: 9.2/10
A really great album.
My first 5 of this project. I'm so impressed with the musicianship and lyricism on display - I'm also fascinated by the legacy of this record and it's influence on early rap and hip-hop. I had the stupidest smile on my face for basically the entirety of H20Gate Blues. The only knock for me is the quality GSH's vocals can sometimes be a bit of a distraction from what he's saying. But that's outweighed by all of the above. Playlist adds (if this album were streaming) - The Bottle, A Very Precious Time, Song for Bobby Smith, H20Gate Blues
Loved this album. Perfect combination of laid back/mood jazz accompanied by Gil Scott Heron's sublime poetry. All tracks are outstanding and 5 stars from me.
This is easily one of the best albums I’ve heard for laid-back, smooth, and soulful jazz. The vocals are outstanding, and the raw, minimalistic production adds so much warmth and texture to the overall sound. It’s a perfect blend of simplicity and depth, making the album feel both intimate and timeless.
Album écouté au retour des partys de noël familiaux, sur la route enneigée et sinueuse des Sept-Chutes. Ambiance parfaite et contexte approprié pour ce disque nommé « Winter un America ». Un album qui commence très doux avec piano, sons feutrés très jazz et quelques passages de flûte. Au fil de l’écoute, s’ajoutent des accents R&B et même un peu disco. Et ça revient plus doux avec une pièce qui fait ressortir l’orgue. Puis, l’avant-dernière pièce, qui commence par un petit cours rigolo sur le blues, se transforme en critique acerbe, mais tout de même drolatique, de la société américaine sous le King Richard Nixon. Sous la forme d’un discours scandé présageant ce qui viendra avec le rap, le texte devient une charge à fond de train contre les visées guerrières et interventionnistes des Etats-Unis, contre les scandales politiques (on est l’année du Watergate) et la cupidité des grandes entreprises. On entend les collègues musiciens qui rigolent et encouragent derrière. Un vrai tour de force ce disque. Bien dommage qu’il ne soit pas accessible sur les plateformes pour le réécouter facilement.
Beautiful. This was a fantastic listen, what's really amazing is the equal collaboration effort between these two men. Brian Johnson going crazy on the flute AND the piano, shit was so gorgeous listening to it. Then you got Gil Scott-Heron with the heartfelt, meaningful, and potent poetry across the entire album. Both of them were inspirations to each other and as a result we got Winter In America. Also as a nice bonus I noticed a few songs on here that were sampled. A wonderful listen. Top 3 Favorites: Rivers Of My Fathers, Back Home, and The Bottle NO BAD SONGS 5/5
great album, have heard -you daddy love you- many times on Wclk and never knew the artist.
Class
i'm not too familiar with gil scott-heron's work outside of a few select tracks, so i had an idea what to expect, but not the full picture. i am a bit blown away by this one! very jazzy, very smooth, very soulful. some of these tracks are a little funkier and some are a bit more balladic. the poetry was quite nice and the vocals were really nice. the electric piano on here sounds so great. just a really cool, pleasant album that has great feel and soul.
Solid
General impression: beautiful, pure, human Detailed review: After a bunch of albums that were merely good or interesting, how refreshing to get one that really bowls me over with its artistry. Oddly enough the album this most reminded me of was Songs of Leonard Cohen. Because the arrangements are clean and minimal, the pace is mostly slow, and it’s a space where the words and the human soul can enjoy the spotlight. I really felt this album and many of the songs just made me sit in reflective emotion. Of course Gil Scott-Heron has one of the most striking and memorable voices, and all it needs is some keyboard behind it. Deeper thoughts (context): I want more Score: 5 Number of albums left to review: 947 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 31 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 23
A great album in it's own right but it gets extra credit for the Pieces of a Man omission
Undeniably great. He was a poet. He was a genius. Raw soulful singing, luscious music. Get into it!
Minimaliste, on prend son temps. La voix exsude l'émotion sans affectation aucune. Le message est clair, direct, livré sans complaisance mais avec un sens du rythme qui l'élève et lui confère encore plus de puissance.
Wow!
Winter in America is a studio album by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, originally released in 1974. Oh man, anyone reading this, please check out the other releases under the Strata East label (or even the Strata label). Seriously one of my favorite labels. Anyways, this album is amazing. The songwriting of Scott-Heron combined with the composing of Jackson is total perfection. This is funky but not an in-your-face funk. More of a stoned with the lights turned down at night type of groove. There's lots of jazz in here too. I mean, those opening notes of the Fender Rhodes oscillating through each speaker is just so groovy. Scott-Heron preaches some real stuff on here too, as he always does. I really wish "Pieces of a Man" was included on this list. If you dig this and haven't heard that record yet, do yourself a favor and throw that on next.
Just beautiful. Another album from a genre that I've paid little attention to. That may change now, and this album, for sure, is going into my collection. Five stars from me.
Such a cool album. I liked the paired down jazz at first, it got a little old in the second and third tracks, but then it really started picking up. We start getting incredible flute and piano play which in retrospect sounds like a quintessential sound of the 70s. Then H20-Gate blues comings out the gate with a scathing yet resonating political critique. Then the gloves are off from there. I never thought I would be so into an album like this but I absolutely loved it.
Yes.
Echt goeie
Difficult to find to stream but worth it. H20 Gate Blues is still powerful 50 years later.
Relevant then, equally relevant now. The only thing they got wrong? The revolution WILL be televised.
When I think about this list, this is the kind of albums I hope to get every day. Some far, far away artists I couldn't be able to hear about for the rest of my life. Yet this was so good. The sensual tempo, the clear lyrics, the simple joy and love in the message. Even the 8-minute rant about US politics was enjoyable. At first I thought it's a clear 4 star album, but I can't see the reason to not give it 5 stars.
An excellent blend of spoken word and jazz that mixed thought-provoking and vivid lyrics with a wide spectrum of sound from relaxing to upbeat. What's really sad, is that the messages of this album could easily be repeated today and ring just as true. Top tracks: Peace Go With You, Brother; The Bottle; Song For Bobby Smith; H2O Gate Blues
This was not only an incredible listen, but a lucky one. It was lucky because this album is not on Spotify, which is where I look for new music, and so without this project I probably never would have found this album. I have listened to Gil Scott-Heron before, but this album what honestly *that* good I've reevaluated him and hold him in a much higher respect. This album has honestly raised the bar for me going forward. Disregard any five stars I've given in the past, this is the new standard. Under the YouTube video there is a comment that says: "Gil was a prophet sent from God to deliver a message that nobody was ready for, and all he was doing was delivering the word. He wasn't perfect, but he was God's warrior. He screamed and hollered and I don't think he ever told a lie." And man, I thought that was really something. The Vibe: Sitting in a lounge chair and drinking something brown from a shiny glass after a day that was so long and hard you need to stop and replay the whole thing in your head.
If these did not get added to the great american song book, they should have been. Plus one of the more compelling political slam poems I've heard. And what a wonderful voice.
Thanks to the reviewer who directly linked to the youtube link. After a long stream of pleasant albums, this one felt like what I came here for. mind blowing, beautiful, out of my normal wheel-house. 5 stars.
I love these guys...
Like "What's Going On", this album is as enjoyable to listen to as it is poignant, and as reliable a relisten as any GSH album. Loving this one as much as I ever did.
I have dabbled in some of Gil Scott-Heron's music before, but wow, I need more of this. What an great way to ease into a morning! How could it not be a great day now?
Timely and enjoyable. A great listen.
This album did not have a clear genre for me, but it not only great to listen to it was also compelling. Really terrific and really sad that it isn’t available on my music service - but thankfully in our digital age I found a way. Too bad that such an important album isn’t readily available. Still it really makes me glad to have embarked on this project to discover finds like this.
I had only known samples from 80s rap from him. This album was deep, sonic, and entertaining.
4.5☆/5 07.09.2024
Loved it. Great poetry, great vibe, beautiful music.
I love Bobbi Humphrey's flute playing on "Harlem River Drive" as well as the relaxed feeling of cruising the barrios of 70's Manhattan that the song conveys. Each time I listen to it on YouTube, it is followed by tracks from Gil-Scott Heron. (No brain, not Jill Scott.) The algorithm (algoRHYTHM, anyone??) got it right this time. I couldn't name a single song I heard, but I liked it. Time to dig in with a focused listen. I think Gil is a little loud in the mix; at least, I'd like to hear the backing music a bit more as there are some tasty tidbits in there too. His singing isn't amazing, but he makes do with the art he has. The jazz is smooth but not elevator music, and many of these tracks sound live, at least partially. The playing is phenomenal, especially the piano, flute, and congas. The spoken-word genius delivery of "H2Ogate Blues" reminds us that the good ol' days weren't as rosy-colored as we'd like to remember. Even then, he talks of current stolen elections, stacking the Supreme Court, inflation, war for profit, and politicians "whose ignorance is only surpassed by those that voted for [them]." Mic drop. Sadly, this struggle remains and rings true even today, a persistent winter in America. Peace go with you, brother. This is the jazz music I like with a message that remains fresh and revolutionary. Winter In America just oozes intelligent and soulful art, and the rhythm makes you move. A unique and hip take on jazz, poetry, and spoken-word mastery.
Cool poetry and instrumentation, it’s just what I needed actually. Very good album.
Na moral vai toma no cu, que álbum foda, tá maluco. Estou ouvindo pela quarta vez pra tentar escrever sobre ele, mas não consegui colocar em palavras que descrevam a altura a qualidade dele. Sensibilidade, melancolia, descontentamento, êxtase e humor. É um álbum que tem alma. E vai toma no cu o Spotify também, que é o primeiro álbum dessa lista que não tem na biblioteca e um dos melhores que ouvi até agora.
wasn't on spotify, had to go onto youtube for this one such a good album both poetically and musically, start to finish
I think I'm going to bump this up to a five simply for how concise it is. I'm not sure, I just really liked each of the tracks and the whole sermon of H2OGate Blues.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. I just thought this album felt really encapsulating to me – it had some lulls early on, but I never really felt bored, I just felt like I was always waiting for the instrumentation to take another step up. They kinda broke down that expectation over time, and I think after getting a bit of energy with Back Home and The Bottle, the rest of the album was gliding for me in terms of the soundscape, the vocals, and ultimately, the comforting feel of the album. I really think the last 5 tracks (not counting the reprise of Peace go with You, Brother at the end) are just that damn good – Song for Bobby Smith and Your Daddy Loves You, in particular, gave me the same feeling as say, watching Mr. Rogers or Bob Ross. They just felt reassuring in an authentic way that isn’t often recorded in music, in part because there’s no swirling bombastic instrumental behind them, which helped a lot. H2Ogate Blues is a great critique of the politics of the era, and it’s wild how well I think it’s aged into 2024, especially with the damn Reagan diss about a decade early. I’m just kinda grumpy that this isn’t on streaming, because I’d add every song here if I could. Regardless, it’s a really nice 44 minutes, and I kinda just found a bit of bliss in it. I enjoyed the hell out of it, and I feel good with a 5. It definitely feels like it should be on this list.
Great jazz
Not on Spotify
It's Gil Scott-Heron. Always 5 stars.
Such a shame this isn't on Spotify because it's fantastic. I am going to have to track down a copy on vinyl. Only know Gil from revolution will not be televised and though I knew he had a great voice, I didn't know he had such a great soulful SINGING voice. The electric keyboard is also delicious. Also, The Bottle is a banger, and H20 Blues is an absolutely classic Gil excoriation. Just consistently brilliant. Four more years! Four more years!
Oh shit! So excited for this one. Love this artist. It’s a relief to find this beautiful recording posted on YouTube. Undeniably great. He was a poet. He was a genius. Raw soulful singing, luscious music. Get into it!
Nice.
A really great album by an artist, I must admit, I did not know. A shame that is isn't available on Spotify, but found it on Youtube. Will be dipping into his other records but since I listen either on Spotify or on my stereo I will probably not hear this record again ...
So much fun. So so much fun. I had to explore YouTube to get the full album but on top of really needing something to help me work, it was just a delight.
want on vinyl !!
The man is a legend, the album is not available to stream so I just listened to everything else in his catalogue. I heard The Bottle 42 years ago in a basement club called the honky Tonk, on a Sunday night. It took me 10 years to track it down and I thought I was onto someone special, and I still am.
That was very nice music
Album not in spotify.
Wasn't on Spotify, listened to Pieces of man instead, absolute quality
Really really liked it. Beautiful singing and lyrics and piano
A really good album. As someone else has written, it reminds you that little has changed in politics since the 70s. It's a shame that you can only hear it on YouTube.
Definitely their best
Gil Scott-Heron is severely underrated when it comes to the discussion of 70’s Soul. This album, like a lot of his work, is a masterpiece
This is a difficult album to find on streaming in 2024. That said, its worth looking for as its absolutely outstanding. This is a great "shits all fucked up and someones gotta say something" work of art. 5/5
Incredible Album. A personal favourite of mine.
A glittering jewel of an album, a time capsule of the turmoil of mid-70s America as only Gil Scott-Heron could examine it. Along with the considerable musical gifts of Brian Jackson, they make a formidable team.
Gil Scott-Heron is a genius and this is another great record from him. Loved it
Fantastic
5 sitars.
Deeply moving, raw, and intelligent with slick music to boot. A great album I definitely wouldn’t have found otherwise.
Loved this album straight thru!
Scott-Heron's strength is as a poet. The music on this album is a little too mild for me. On his strength as a poet, however, 10/10.
This was great. A nice snapshot of 1970s Black America. Gil Scott-Heron never held back in his life and he does not disappoint in "H2OGate Blues." Love how he touched upon so many social issues. I can definitely see why this is such an important album.
как же кайфанула
Brilliant, genius, lyrically and musically flawless.
Not on Spotify but The Bottle, the epic H20gate blues and many other great tracks from a youtube clip, make this a great solid four star album.
First time listening to Gil Scott-Heron, amazing work.
Before there was hip hop there was Gil Scott Heron This album is such a wonderful blend of poetry, jazz and soul
I've never heard of Gil Scott-Heron before, but I really enjoyed this album. Musically, it was really fun to listen to; the flute usage throughout, and the piano arrangements really meshed to create a sound that was rooted in soul and blues, but still its own. For an album about such heavy subject matter, it really had some fun grooves, and I caught myself bobbing my head along throughout most of the album. As great as the music was here, the lyrics are the real standout to me. I really enjoyed when spoken word was used in some of the songs, and it felt very apt, since a lot of civil rights leaders used spoken word and poetry when they would orate. "The Bottle" and "H20 Gate Blues" were my two favorite tracks, and their lyrics are still incredibly relevant in today's political discourse (I had never heard of Frank Rizzo before, but wow, that guy sounds like a real piece of shit). Overall, I think this album set out to deliver a message about America in the seventies, and with its great music, it achieves that goal.
such a gosh darn beautiful voice. silky smooth. and that bass omg 😫my one gripe is how out of place H2O gate blues was, great message but i didn’t love the song. every other song blew me away tho 💯
A great disc that everyone should hear. Like Patti Smith, Gil Scott-Heron is a poet first and a musician second. The music is soulful and intimate. While Jackson's piano work is almost improvisational, Gil Scott-Heron's lyrics are direct and almost prophetic. The Bottle is a standout.
Absolutely gorgeous. I was a little wary with the first song, but the album pulled me in extremely quickly and rarely let go. It is an utter travesty that this is unavailable on any steaming services, because I want to listen to this constantly.
ОченьОчень!!!!!!
9/10
This is a fantastic album and artist worthy of being on this list and a 5/5 rating, just for the skill level, poetry, and historic/political importance. I love the jazzy flute solos and GSH's voice is so pained. Brian Jackson's piano playing is amazing. I find it to be a challenging listen, not easy or light at all, but a bit grueling and heavy. It's not one I will reach for when I need a pick-me-up. But of course, that's not the point at all. Like so many really important albums, it is not an easy piece of music, but worth the effort. 5/5
Another insane album that is sadly not on spotify. Jazz, soul, R&B and the blues mixed together to create some great tunes. The bottle is the highlight of the album for me. 9/10
As much as Pieces of a Man gets possibly the most recognition from Gil Scott-Heron's catalogue, Winter in America is, to me, his absolute best.
J'adore le style, très belle voix et tres groové, c'est platte que ca ne soit pas sur spotify. 5
This is exactly type of record I had hoped to encounter when I started this list. Winter in America is completely unique and engaging to my ears. It’s funky and captivating with conscientious, poetic lyrics that paint a vivid picture of American Life that, frankly, isn’t wildly different from the America we live in today, nearly 50 years later. It’s the kind of record that I don’t think anyone else could make or even attempt to recreate. Gil Scott Heron’s talent, his way with words, is incomparable. This record was a breath of fresh air. I loved it. It’s a shame it isn’t easily available for digital purchase or streaming outside of YouTube. I ordered a copy on vinyl after my first listen, that’s how much I loved it.
One of the strongest voices in history
The ideal intersection of jazzy, spacey, and soulful for my rainy afternoon drive home. This was so powerful that I am upset I'd never heard of it before.
Apt, considering the snow outside right now. A cozy record that harkens to home around a fireplace we can barely afford to light. I like it.
like nothing i've heard before, loved
It is criminal that this album is not on any streaming services. This is an awesome album. I'd love to have it on vinyl. I was jamming the entire time. I went into this album expecting to give it a 4 because of its genres, but came out eager to give it a 5. My favourite songs were Rivers of My Fathers, A Very Precious Time, and The Bottle.
Soul filled hammond and a reverence that speaks to the lyrics is how it opens and it is captivating. This piano on Rivers Of My Fathers is wild. Dude what a wholesome and uplifting album. OH THE WATERGATE BLUES IS THE BEST! wow what a great musical expression.
Ok how is Winter in America not on Spotify? It’s fantastic!! I can see how Gil Scott is considered a precursor to hip hop and rap, there’s wonderful poetry here as well as just… good music. Loved The Bottle and H2Ogate Blues, but overall the experience was inspiring. After listening I went straight to Pieces of a Man, which opens with a wonderful poem based on the slogan “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. The rest of the album doesn’t get that political but it’s still a fantastic sou l record. 5/5 for both albums, will revisit a lot.
This was such a wonderful synthesis of blues, R&B, and just that classic 70s Black sound. I loved every one of these tracks, but my jaw dropped during H20Gate Blues. That shit could have been written YESTERDAY it's so sadly relevant. I was on the fence about 4 or 5 here, but I've talked myself into a 5 because I realize I want to listen to this a lot more, and also to the rest of Gil's records.
Every time I hear Gil Scott-Heron I learn a little bit about something.
Really loved the sound of this
Solid album
Good album. Really liked "The Bottle". Listening from a modern perspective, offers a great window into the 70s.
This album is really enjoyable. Interesting to note Kendrick Lamar samples the first song (at 0:50) in Poe Man’s Dream
very cool
Damn I love Gil Scott-Heron. Wish Pieces of a Man was on the list as well. He is socially conscious, calming, uplifting, hilarious, groovy, heartbreaking, smooth, and a hundred other things all in one album and I always find myself wanting more. 10/10
Blown away by this, really incredible.
Extremely soulful stuff. Had a blast with this listen, and I'm certain I'll need to check out more of this stuff. Favorites: "Peace Go With You, Brother", "Rivers of My Fathers", "The Bottle", "Song for Bobby Smith"
I love Gil Scott-Heron but haven't listened to this one. It's fantastic though. The piano playing is incredibly beautiful and really complements his voice. Another for the vinyl list!
SO GOOD. My standout track was The Bottle, and honestly all of side 2 especially . I wish this was on Spotify. For my own note keeping, a blurb I copied from Wikipedia below: Winter in America juxtaposes themes of nostalgic hope to the social problems of the early 1970s, particularly in the African-American community and inner cities.[29][30] Also a prominent theme in Scott-Heron's lyrics is people's faith in their culture in a bleak, impoverished environment.
Those first few songs are some of the most relaxing soul music I've ever heard. I loved how sparse they were and how the singer's voice filled all the empty space. The rest of the album is just some good music. It's Gil Scott-Heron, so it's almost guaranteed to be pretty good, but admittedly I wish they just kept the energy of the really quiet first half.
Still relevant 50 years later.
Niet op Spotify, ik heb deze versie gebruikt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yiTP6QNhf0 Er lijkt bijna een soort disconnect te zijn tussen de muziek, die bijna ambient, jazzy en hoopvol is en de duistere, heftige lyrics en de manier waarop de lyrics gebracht worden? Interessant vind ik ook wel datik niet de grootste fan ben ban Gil zn manier van zingen? Ik krijg bijna het idee dat er 2 verschillende albums in 1 worden afgespeeld ofzoiets. Het is een aparte gewaarwording zo. Ok, de tweede helft van het album klinkt eigenlijk al weer een stuk beter! H20gate blues, zoooo dat is een blauwdruk voor latere Public Enemy zeg! Hele minimale instrumentale stukken en gewoon Gil die minuten lang uitlegt wat er allemaal fout is en gaat. Heel interessant en heftig nummer ook. De politieke boodschap van Gil is sowieso nog steeds relevant, ruim 50 jaar na dato. Deprimerend, en dan nog steeds de soulvolle funky jazzy soundtrack. Indrukwekkend album, ik weet niet of ik het snel vaker zou luisteren, maar het is wel goed om het een keer gehoord te hebben. H20gate blues is, denk ik althans, ontzettend belangrijk geweest voor hiphop. FAVO: Back Home, The bottle, H20gate blues
Just how blind America? The limit does not exist. Was this written in the 70s or yesterday? The names have changed but the atrocities are the same (and we seem to have added a few to the list). This one track makes the album. Thanks, fellow users, for the call out of “Pieces of a Man”, I'll be listening to that next. -- Reporting back: yeah “Pieces of a Man” is a better album. Wow. What an artist. Both of these albums should be on this list.
Зима в Америке без нашего газа холодная
Challenging listen.
Was not expecting to like this so much
4 de 5 Soul, jazz y spoken word componen ésta obra de Gil Scott-Heron, sobresaliente por su instrumentación minimalista y sus letras cargadas de una puntual crónica social, de la comunidad afroamericana durante los años setenta y la desilusión de el país americano en esa misma década, todo contenido en una atmósfera melancólica, íntima y a la vez, cálida. A destacar: Track 3 - A Very Precious Time Track 4 - Back Home Track 5 - The Bottle Track 6 - Song For Bobby Smith Track 7 - Your Daddy Loves You
Ok
Annoyingly not available on AM or Spotify. GSH tries his hand at heartfelt jazz, and does a passably good job. You can feel the lived experience in the lyrics and the way he sings them, and the electric piano makes you feel like you’ve been transported to a 70s lounge bar.
really close to a 5, the chocolate girl song was a bit weird, can't believe I've never listened to this guy before will def get on his other stuff
Yes yes more of this please!
As sharp and soulful as it gets! Favourite tracks: Peace Go With You, Back Home,
4/5
I was unable to listen to this on streaming platforms so I listened to the next album " the revolution will not be televised " funky,smooth and full of soul. I dig it.
You'd almost be thinking that history repeats itself.
Crazy funky. Sticky icky and kind of exactly what I wanted. Well produced, well written, and well compiled.
This is SMOOTH, and overall just really pretty. Awesome jazzy sounds and I love how soothing his voice is. The flutes (for example on "Your Daddy Loves You") sound great on here. "H2Ogate Blues" is my favourite from this album I think. I loved the poignant lyrics and the sort of hiphop vocal delivery. It's a shame that this album isn't on Spotify, otherwise I would return to this often.
I like the part where all of the problems still apply to modern politics and nothing has gotten better. Spoken Word segment is great. Title track is amazing. Title track is also not actually on the album
Really good, more than what I was expecting from this genre / time period. Too bad it isn't on Spotify honestly -- I'd sacrifice 100 albums on this list for it easily.
this is great, i love a lot of the keyboards on here but obviously the main focus is the lyrics. really is sad that this was released in 1974 and virtually nothing has changed since then...
Pieces of a Man isn't in here..... That one is a little less mellow than this but it's just as great so I would recommend it. This album was great. I only knew 'The Bottle' and that song is great. iT'S ALL GREAT.
I was skeptical of this album until he came in hot with the politics at the end. Energy-crises blues continue to this day I’m sorry to report.
This album, is not on Spotify. But I found it on YouTube. I'll listen to a few. I'm a little behind. I do like the sound of his voice. Kind of sad lyrics on this first track. Oh that wasn't the first track it was Winter In America. Rivers of My Fathers is pretty too. Really Jazzy.
8,50/10 Muy buena album, divertido, buenos ritmos, no aburre. Tiene momentos en los que es mas tranquilo pero tambien otros con solos se instrumental que quedan excelentes, te hace mover la cabeza apenas escuchar el ritmo
Muy bueno
Дуже поважаю пана Скотта-Херона. Музично в нього завжди все на топ-рівні. Але коли він починає заходити сильно в споукен ворд, він мене втрачає. Тут теж є такі моменти. Музика дуже стильна.
Гіл Скотт-Херон це моя любов, причому як ранній, так і пізній матеріал. Можливо його останній альбом я люблю найбільше, але і тут клас. Кайфовий джаз\соул, політизовані тексти.
This was a real treat. I had to use Youtube to find this album and listened while attending all day volleyball tournament at Christian high school. This is important because I spent about 4 more hours exploring this artists work once the album was done. I was previously familiar with this artist in name only from Losing My Edge. (I should recognize LCD style in general made the spoken word format of this artist more approachable from get go). I previously thought Whitey on the Moon was a Garett Morris-SNL skit. I did not know some many lines from OBAA were taken from The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. How did I grow up never exposed to something that seems now so culturally relevant? Thanks, dad. So the album was great. I thought the collection of his work was even better. I seem to be a sucker for political and social commentary right now - Public Enemy earlier in the week - likely owing to disaster that is Trump 2.0. We also circled the moon this week making Whitey even more relevant. I needed this yesterday. 4/5
So en Banger eif nöd uf Sporify
Good, good. 3.7
Great listen.
Man what a good album. Loved how stripped down and raw the album felt. I’d only ever heard the revolution will not be televised so was pleasantly surprised at Gil’s singing voice
Loved his voice. Enjoyed the jazzy, occasionally bluesy, soulful politics of this album. The things I liked here have me bumping my rating up a bit so I’ll rate this a 4/5
This is exactly what I signed up for. Something I'd never even been aware of that turns out to be a gem. Just great jazz piano playing with a soulful voice singing great lyrics. Never heard of it before and suddenly it's a favourite.
Favorite Song: Your Daddy Loves You
I've heard some of his spoken word stuff but this is the first time I've heard Gil sing. He's got a very nice, soulful voice and it worked well for this kind of chilled out soul/jazz. This one doesn't appear to be on any of the streaming services but it's easy to find on youtube and worth a listen.
This is really great so far. A bit jazzy but definitely no jazz overload, which can get too much for my philistine ears. This really showcases his wide variety of talents, Gil had an amazing singing voice as well as lyrics/poems that hit to the heart of America, both at the time and present.
Very nice. Sounded great, like the sociopolitical commentary in it. Really don't have any complaints.
I wonder what did ukraine to this dude that he's tracks are blocked on Spotify. Not bad tho
3.8 A very precious time, kinda drags on. Liked almost everything else
Erg cool, zowel de sound als de boodschap. Pijnlijk hoe relevant een nummer als H²ogate nog steeds is
Jazz poetry whose words stand the test if time and could even be more relevant today (2026) than when they were written.
Immediately, I felt like I was in some sort of intimate, smoky cocktail lounge. Everything's just so free-flowing and casual. This is a good display of where jazz was at in the early 70's, given the freer and more avant-garde structure. Scott-Heron's bluesy/jazzy vocals over the mood-setting electric piano played by Jackson make for a great and comforting pairing all throughout. The storytelling and social commentary isn't (and shouldn't be) lost on the listener either, as Scott-Heron is convincing as much as he is charming with his words and delivery. Fun listen when I wasn't sure what to expect going in.
Only could find album title song, but enjoyed listening to it.
not my usual music but overall pleasant!
mellow and groovy, great jazz/blues tracks here. really enjoyed this! favorites: rivers of my fathers, very precious time, h2ogate blues, winter in america
This wasn’t available on my streaming service so ended up looking on YouTube and being unsure which song was which. This was after listening to the song of the same name and liking it a lot, only to find the song is not part of the album. Between a 3 (for the music, a little too plinky plonky jazz) and 4 for the vocals and lyrics. Rounding up to remind me to try again. 3.5
While I didn't love everything equally, but there was a lot to love and he was definitely a singular voice.
Listening to H20gates just makes me tired. & that Scott-Heron was a victim of Reagan's war on drugs - and likely his own demons - is just the icing on the cake. This fucking country.
Really good.
#291/1001. Some of the chiller songs seem to take over, but then there are the bangers, The Bottle (drowning in to it seemed to be the fate of Scott-Heron as well) and h2ogate: has anything changed in 50 years in America? Still looks like a cold cold winter over there.
бля хороший альбом, почему ток нет на спотике
while names like Stevie Wonder and Curtis Mayfield may conjure more excitement, something tells me Gil Scott-Heron is gonna be talked about farther in the future. this is some really beautiful, understated soul with enough lyrical depth to get lost in. love the jazzy flair. definitely gonna come back to this in the future. deserves to be one of the 1001? uh i mean. maybe? why was this chosen over Pieces of a Man? even I'm New Here could be a good oddball pick. this is a fair inclusion! just, why keep it to this one?
Inject the sound of the Rhodes directly into my veins.
Viber med dette. Pianosporene var litt dølle.
Positivt overraska!
Hørt hjemme i stua (og på nach på fredag haha). Drithyggelig!
Its a slow to start but picks up with that 70s funk and groove. Best track is H20Gate Blues! This track alone is so relevant today, as it was 50 years ago!
A little slow musically, but Scott-Heron's voice and message are profound. He should be more universally revered and is one of the truly great musical poets of our time. 4/5 Will listen again
The keyboard playing on this record is really good; Peace Go With You Brother is my favorite example here. Gil Scott-Heron also has a great voice, though it seems like it's more effective when he's doing spoken word rather than singing. Overall, pretty good jazz record that I would for sure come back to. 4/5
I thought it was an awesome album, it's neo-soul it's afro-jazz. It's protest, but it's also grounded in experiences.
Enjoyed this one. What a wild time it was when Gil Scott-Heron wrote these songs. Glad that as a society we’ve sorted out all those problems and learned our lesson….
It's winter in America.
Listened to "The Revolution will not be Televised" instead since this one isn't available (is that cheating? Idk). Soooo good
Nice listen, really liked his style
Really smooth, chill album. Back Home was my song and first listen of the album with The Bottle and A Very Precious Time being my other highlights
This was fantastic but it’s so hard to give a high score to something so inaccessible. And yet
My favourites were Rivers of My Fathers, Back Home and Your Daddy Loves You. It was too bad Gil Scott-Heron didn't sing on H2Ogate Blues.
I hadn't heard this before. I like it!
4.5 stars
Very smooth Nice long song Calming
This wasn’t available on tidal but I was able to listen on YouTube. Love!
she moves with a purpose
It's so cold outside but this warmed me
There were some concepts in this album I thought were quite cool.
It's amazing that this makes the list but not a single entry from Lonny Liston Smith, Mahavishnu, Billy Cobham, nor Stanley Clarke (just to name a few). Perhaps it's the lyrical content that "sets this apart from the pack." So once again Mr. Dimery, why poke around hidden corners in music with blinders on? With that being said, interesting album that finishes strong. Great collaboration between Gil and Brian.
Great sounding voice and piano.
This is one of those albums that I think would probably be a 5/5 on a second or third listen. It has so much of things that I like, it just didn't quite hit the point of clicking for me. Don't get me wrong, this album is fantastic! It's jazzy, chill, carefully arranged, thought-provoking... It's honestly hard to find a real flaw in it, but unfortunately my gut isn't telling me 5, and I have to respect the gut.
It's obviously brilliant, but not something I'd put into rotation. If anything it might be too smooth, and without some more edges it kinda all blends together.
Really very good. I need to have this one in the collection
Nice blend of jazz, smooth singing and political elements.
I thought this was great. It was almost like he was talking about America today in an album that’s over 50 years old. As a girl dad the song Your Daddy Loves You was quite the tearjerker as well.
I only knew his spoken word songs and was excited to learn that he could really sing. This album was smooth! H2Ogate Blues, The Bottle and Your Daddy Loves You were real standouts.
Thoroughly enjoyed this despite only having row-res Youtube audio to listen to. "H2Ogate Blues" is a masterpiece - if you're considering passing over this as it's not on any streaming services *at least* give that one song a listen.
Not on Spotify. gg
Great vocals, great backing. Was that a flute? Count me in.
Really good
I’ve never listed to a full GSH album before and this was a great experience. He’s got a lot to say and it’s all worth listening to. And the music is phenomenal.
I like this album quite a bit. It is relaxing, smooth, and has a lot of beauty in it. At the end, I didn't feel like I heard anything that "new," but it is something I would definitely put on in the fall or winter around the house or to start a day.
Loved this one of course. Curious to hear what else this guy's done
Gil! Scott! Herron! What is a more fitting album for Christmas besides Winter In America? A lot of very calm and pretty songs. I prefer the other Gil Scott Herron album I've heard before though (I'm too lazy yo look up the name but it's the one with The Revolution Will Not Be Televised). Overall a very good album but I would have enjoyed a few more up beat songs. Low 4.
Le gars il a raison, c’est vraiment Winter in America ici! Écoutez cet album en marchant dans une tempête de neige, ça améliore les deux activités drastiquement!
We got There's No Place Like America Today on July 4 and now this on the solstice? And he thought things were bad in 1974? Anyway, cool album. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
3.5 - Good
Soulful and mindful. Love the accompaniments and Scott-Heron's voice is spectacular. Sounded more modern than 70s and its conscious lyrics aren't out of place in 2025.
Beautiful
Righteous and groovy. Love the Rhodes vibes. Late night feel.
Great album, Scott Heron is a one of one
This album really grew on me. At first I found the vocals a little too earnest, but the messages from 1974 are unfortunately still relatable in 2025. It's an interesting mix of jazz, blues and soul with great piano/B3/Rhodes playing. Liked Songs Added: Rivers Of My Fathers H2O Gate Blues
Had to listen on YouTube since it’s not on streaming. Really nice soul record with some spiritual jazz backing. Must add to the collection.
Exceedingly groovy. I enjoyed it, having come to it with no preconceived notions, no knowledge of the artists other than knowing that Gil Scott-Heron is politically active.
Jazz and Poetry seem a lot like peanut-butter and chocolate.
Spotify doesn’t have this. Giving it a four for his poetry.
First song I recognized! Shoutout to Anderson Paak (NxWorries) for Suede The Bottle, Back Home.
Slavery in America was fundamentally an institution of familial destruction - of obliterating the natural bonds between parents and children and spouses and lovers, selling human beings as livestock to highest bidder at any moment, negating all sense of identity those essential bonds create. *For in the last days men shall be lovers of their own selves, blasphemers, without natural affection.* So it is unsurprising that Scott-Heron, prophet that he is, is so preoccupied with the loss of family here. On nearly every track he gropes for something or someone to hold on to - brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins, sons, sisters, first loves - and all elude him. And when he confesses on "The Bottle" - after recounting the tales of covetous winos around him - that he himself is one of the hopeless husks hanging outside the liquor store, we understand that the chains were never really broken but rather just changed form.
Woah. I am in a loss of words. Literally. My bad brochacho.
Not on Spotify
Excellent. Hope it pops up on Spotify one day
Really great album, lyrics and Vocal performance are spectacular, backed by smooth jazz and lovely piano. Just wish it was on streaming, nevertheless, a really worthwhile listen, and one that I would revisit. 4 Stars.
Wonderful. Wish it was on spotify.
A nice jazzy and funky soul album, that's largely melancholy. It was odd I couldn't find this in Spotify so I had to pull it up on YouTube. I think that the sum of the parts is largely good here, though slow for the majority. Big big standouts though, when they decide to pick up the pace, Back Home and The Bottle. If they could've taken that energy and made it a whole album we'd be talking about a 5/5. Piano on this is also exemplary.
I wish it was on streaming services. Excellent album.
Really good album. I hadn't heard it before but have heard other GSH records. I put this one in the library.
Pretty chill and smooth jazz. Lovely and relaxing.
Hard to find but the stripped down soft jazzy blues was precisely what I needed after a tiring day. Watergate blues is excellent and painfully prophetic.
great album
One battle after another
3.5
*Winter In America* I'm actually really surprised this one was picked for the 1001 over *Pieces of A Man* not only do I think that is a better album than this one by a pretty decent margin, but if it wasn't for "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" i probably would have never heard of Gil Scott-Heron. This album though is really good and I do like it's soul groovy Jazz feel. But I think the two tracks that really stand out the most are the ones that really have a bite to them which is "The Bottle" and "H₂Ogate Blues". 8.4 ★★★★
Cool blend of soul and jazz. Nice laid-back atmosphere, with some beautiful vocals. 4.5 stars
How many times have I heard Gil Scott-Heron's name and never listened to a note of his music? Many, many times. This was almost exactly what I expected while also not being quite exactly what I expected. That doesn't make sense but I thought this is what his music sounded like but did not know this is how we got there. Brian Jackson lends a lot more electric piano than I would have anticipated hearing. I use Spotify, so it's a bit annoying this is not on Spotify and I had to listen on YouTube. The songs are well-written and some of them are a bit more sleepy than I had imagined. Maybe the sleepiness is just the fault of the electronic piano. I don't know if I would give this album five stars but it deserves a place in this book. Some of my favorite tracks were: Peace Go With You, Brother A Very Precious Time Back Home The Bottle Your Daddy Loves You
Yess more jazz!! Also some amazing piano on here. I wish I knew more about the political context of this album before listening to it because I feel like that definitely influenced the lyrics a lot. Fav songs: back home, the bottle
I am a fan of the musical passages in this album. It is a nice laid back blues-jazz feel which are a good counterpoint to the political points that Gil echoes throughout this album.
I really enjoyed this one. Gil and Brian Jackson work together really well- I love the mellowness coupled with the poetry. There is just a tiny hint of There’s a Riot Going On here but that’s plenty. The highlight for me has to be “H2OGate Blues.” It’s funny and incisive- and it depresses me to no end that we’ve found ourselves back in this poem again. FOUR STARS
Great album. Soothing instrumentals contrast with a strong political rhetoric which remains valid today. Gil's vocals are outstanding and you believe the message he is presenting. 8/10
What a unique and interesting blend of music! Never heard anything quite like it. He uses subtlety really well with tons of room for the vocals and keys to breath and do their own thing. I also thought the live, spoken word style track toward the end of the album was super cool. This was something brand new to me and I really enjoyed this discovery.
Amazing album. It’s a shame it’s not on Spotify, this is an exciting introduction to Gil Scott Heron for me, I’m excited to hear more from him after this too. Smooth music, intriguing lyrics, it’s crazy to hear this stuff from years ago, a lot of these issues were years ago, some problems seem tog et fixed but others stay the same. Four out of five stars
not on Spotify had to listen to my own album. still sounds great
Pretty good. Nice Watergate Blues throwback
Very nice. I might have to buy on vinyl. 4 *
Sho nuff groovy, now hit the lick one time stick!
Gil Scott-Heron.What a discovery! Liked it. Especially the tracks with more than piano. Those were a bit too intense for my liking. But generally so good! Sad also that politically the world has not improved and Americans find themselves deep in an endless winter.
Musically solid. Good groove.
This one’s not on Spotify but I hope that doesn’t deter anyone from listening to it. I had it on vinyl so I was good but it’s on YouTube if anyone else needs it. Hot damn, when Gil Scott Heron and Brain Jackson get together magic happens and this album is certainly no exception. A gorgeous jazz/r&b album about the tumultuous times for the black community in the midst of the civil rights movement in the 70’s. 8/10 Favorite tracks “The Bottle” “H2Ogate Blues”
Really nice voice, not usually my favourite genre.
One of the most interesting albums on the list so far. Very cool funky/jazzy/blues type sound, and the influences on modern hip hop are cool to see as well. Still feels relevant despite being from ~50 years ago. Very cool and not something I would ever have been aware of prior to starting this project.
great stuff on here. i yearn for a modern revolutionary spirit that can hang with mr scott-heron’s work.
Finally got around to this and I loved it - such a good album. Solid songs, great musicality.
This album was nifty. The keys felt perfect for the albums theme, which was heavy, and strained, almost like they were yelling. It definitely had some great comments on the state of American empire at the time, and I appreciated this as some pretty good jazz. My favorite track was The Bottle. The Bass line is damn good
Extremely cool. Almost beat poetry really, and lyrically absolutely fascinating. I'd heard a lot about GSH, without ever really dipping my toe in the water, but this is a really great introduction. It's not my genre at all, but I can still appreciate it so much.
This album was great! Like I had never heard this before and this is what i listen to the list for!
Ça groove, j'ai beaucoup aimé The Bottle Genre de proto hip-hop? C'était chiant à ecouter sur youtube mais c'est pas leur faute.
Dur à trouver mais j’ai bien aimé. Genre de pré jazz-rap groovy. J’ai connu Gil pour son poème qu’on entend dans « who will survive in America » de Kanye West. Un grand poète américain!
This album feels effortlessly cool. The political stuff at the end I'm not against but it did change the vibe of the album. Really well done and put together. Surprised I've never heard it.
Actually pretty good! Never heard of them.
Even if this is a full band, it still feels pretty stripped down and raw. Clearly political, and pretty discordant between feel and lyrics. A few great tracks, and quite a bit of competent filler.
Maybe a bit too avant garde for me? It was intense
Seriously groovy stuff. Very few albums out there can keep that up as consistently as this one.
The Bottle was a big part of my dissertation. Great, important, influential song. Album gets a bit meandering, but everything remains honest and interesting and purposeful. Wish I had more time to listen to these outside work.
incredibly smooth
Very enjoyable.
A beautiful album. The music is elegant, and the lyrics are raw and real. It’s powerful and poetic, though I’m not sure it’s something I’d find myself returning to often.
Great album for a certain time and a certain mood that remains unfortunately relevant. 4/ 5
What really stands out to me here is Gil’s vocal delivery, whether musical or spoken-word. He really is a master at cadence and tone and it takes boring albeit pleasant track into something much more special. Also obviously he was spitting hard facts in h2ogate blues.
Most of the album alternated between good groovy songs and rambling over jazzy chords that I didn't like. But that ending was incredible and aged shockingly well over 50 years
This was great. Loved the mellow vibe and jazz piano. Then "H2Ogate Blues" came on and took things to the next level. Standout track: H2Ogate Blues
прик, претензий нет.
Very cool
Couldnt find winter in america album but i did find it was a song of the album The Bottle. There was even a joke in the album how people cpuld find his music in record stores. The album felt more like live recordings of a performance. Regardless, solid music
4.5 Had to listen on You Tube
This was a really easy-to-listen-to jazz/blues/soul album. Very good.
"All of your children and all of my children are gonna have to pay for our pay for our mistakes someday" Listened to B4? No Tracks Already Saved on Spotify: None Standout Tracks: Peace Go With You Brother (As-Salaam-Alaikum), The Bottle, Song for Bobby Smith (81/100)
73/100. Winter in America is a subtle but important record, one that balances social commentary with gentle, expressive instrumentation. The album blends soul, jazz, and funk with a relaxed, almost meditative feel. One real downside today is accessibility. Winter in America has had a frustrating digital history, often missing from major streaming platforms or presented in low quality. It’s a shame, because it’s a record that deserves to be heard more widely.
some funk, some jazz, some social commentary
It was definitely something new that I enjoyed exploring, but wouldn’t seek out.
This is probably the second best album relating to an African American community since Houmous & Chutneys infamous and supportive studio album ‘Were With You (All The Way)’ 4.0 5/9 The Bottle
Really cool to listen to. Kind of like the best possible version of slam poetry at times. It's a shame this isn't on Spotify, because it makes it kind of hard to keep track of and return to, but this is definitely a gem. Fave songs: Really hard to do for this one, but special attention to "Very Special Time" and "Song For Bobby Smith"-- man oh man, those are beautiful.
Great sound and meaningful lyrics. The poetry-read style at the end was a nice change of pace and fit the rest of the album well. Really enjoyed this one!
4.5
Should be mandatory listening in civics classes everywhere. Imagine what GS-H would write about today's America, probably nothing because he already wrote it. It is still Winter in America. 4/5