Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Bright, vibrant, eclectic. A good listen. Not my usual cup of tea, but nothing to fault here
big and fun!!
If you like Fela Kuti, you may also like this! I'll come back to this soon I think.
Very familiar with Fela Kuti, but have not really ever listened to Femi Kuti. I made the mistake of reading about this album before listening to it, and was kind of bummed about what I was reading, I was expecting kind of a tamed white washed version of Fela's afrobeat, fortunately that's not what I got. This album is fun, it's clean and tight for sure, but it swings. I get why it was received so well.
Very nice. Honest, upbeat, political.
First time listening. This one is lively and joyous. Afrobeat music mixed with sharp horn sections, making for a lively and colorful journey. The lengthy track times are very necessary to sustain the festive atmosphere. Some sections did come off as easy listening at times, like the intro of "Frustrations." The thing is, would you reach for this over a record of his father's? I will earmark for later. A very enjoyable experience overall.
I saved this to liked albums on spotify and will listen to it in the future, however I started getting tired of it by the end of the album. The first song is an absolute banger, and frustrations is something we all can agree with: "The frustrations of a young man...we get ambition to build house to buy car. Marry wife and and enjoy life.....you gotta borrow borrow beg beg till you die." Frustrations of a young man in Seattle with 900k dump houses. Weak four. I'm a sucker for world music.
Solid Afrobeat. Announces itself and delivers on its promise.
Enjoyable, even though half the time I had no idea what they were signing
I really enjoyed this. Well worth a few listens.
Upbeat insightful and full massive sound.
Enjoyed this, easy to have going on in the background but still worth an active listen too
Good fun afrobeat album by a master. Poignant with a good sense of humour - it's a really fun listen.
This was a lot of fun. I love the beats, I love the jazzy shit. This was great.
Thanks for inviting me to the group! This was a great first album, it has some great jazz influence. “Frustrations” was the highlight of the album. Real emotion in Femi’s voice.
Non stop African dance party. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this album. 4.5 stars
What a great surprise! A great middle point between afrobeat, world music and jazz. Loved the colors and textures Femi and his group share in this album. Although the songs are long for regular standards (7 minutes and higher - like an average Jazz song) their structures and how they build tension and release make them exciting. It seems I prefer Femi over Fela Kuti. Great recommendation.
4.5 for me. It's goood. I kept re-listening to it. Survival, Petty Nonsense, & Live for today.
Very interesting album! Nice blend of African rhythms and 90’s production. I’m really curious as to the meaning behind the lyrics, and will have to do some digging on my own.
Not familiar with this artist at all so I had no idea what to expect. Turned out to be a whole lot of fun. Just a lot of talent and energy that is definitely going into my regular rota.
Wow. Incredible. I loved this album. Never heard this band. I've heard a lot of African music but this is way more listenable than most! I'm excited to find this one!!
Bringing the Kuti story full circle on the 1001 is Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti. On the two Fela Kuti albums, I only delved into parts of his story, missing the whole picture. That whole picture saw his son Femi come to live with him at age 15, right around the time those government zombie soldiers raided his compound, right before the father married 27 women (none of whom were Femi’s mother). It is a different culture, but beyond that it had to make for some interesting dynamics as this teenager joined his father’s band (and family). Femi followed in his father’s footsteps (in music, not in polygamy), and that in turn led to this terrific album. The family tradition now carries on in the hands of Femi’s son Made Kuti. I just got done writing in another review that music in other languages often has a ceiling for me, but maybe it’s more of a style thing? Maybe I just like afrobeat more than samba? Chock it up to another musical taste mystery that the 1001 didn’t help me solve.
Fun and spiriting music
Always a fun listen.
This album is great, it’s so funky and Femi gives off such good energy. Not really any bad songs on this album. Last song was a bit out of pocket even for ‘95. My rating: 8.5/10 Need to be on this list: 7/10
Clearly the talent runs in the family. A fantastic album.
Not bad
Sometimes, I wonder what would have been of Femi if Fela hadn't existed. For one thing, he'd be accorded *far* more respect as an artist. The natural, and lazy, thing to do is to think about him as a derivative of his father, rather than (like a million other artistes, most not one-half of him) as influenced by him. I think he is a far more adventurous band leader than his father. I think that he was condemned to singing about social issues by his father. I think that I am doing him a disservice by evoking Abami Eda repeatedly here. This is a fine album. True, some lyrics are just this side of cringe – but, then, this was almost 30 years ago. It has matured well, and deserves your attention.
Pretty good
That was fun!
Wow this kinda slapped. Never listened to Afrobeats, but this was super dope. A lot of the tracks on the front-end especially went crazy.
Incredibly fun album It might not be everyones cup of tea but I really enjoy this and am really happy to get this music recommended Its great musically and the lyrics arent to bad, I can see myself listning to this in the future
Amazing tunes
Made my day!
One is not fully educated on Afrobeat but straight-up musically, what's not to like? Driving beats, sweet rhythms and grooves, pure energy and passion – and such large portions. If you don't like a solo, just wait a beat and more are on the way. One is glad to have heard, plans to hear more.
Fun album
Loved the constant vibe of this album. The instrumentals are great, lyrics don’t have much variation, but overall very good. Wonder wonder was a bop
Groovy, a lot of 70s jazz elements and what seems like a salsa African/Cubano influence. Very busy, but very lively.
Wow what an energetic album! I'm loving the variety on this list so far. I listened to this twice and really enjoyed it, will definitely check out some of his other stuff too. The lyrics address some important themes too, although I'm not sure I agree with everything he says. I thought I caught a few homophobic lyrics in the last song but maybe I misunderstood.
Lovely sound
Wow, I was playing chess while listening to this and wow it was so enjoyable. Never expected I would listen to stuff like this and enjoy it as much.
Very nice album, well structured, well performed and great songwriting. Only downside is that it gets a bit same-y as it goes on (though it does not drag)
Super funky base lines, lots of fun and doesn’t get too jammy or long winded
He’s certainly not his father, but it’s still a solid album that is part of the foundation that led to the current worldwide popularity of Afrobeats, especially those coming out of Nigeria. I’d do 3.75 if I could.
Znači, baš se spominjao Fela Kuti u vezi priče albuma od McCartneya i Wingsa, nije mu nešta štimalo što su došli u Nigeriju snimati album? I eto sad dobijem Femija (sina). Dobar je ovo album, al gledam baš po ocijenama, jebiga - overshadowed je od strane svoga oca i to se vidi, a stvarno je album korektan, samo je dug. 3.5 na rym, ovdje 4.
Very funky - this music is ALIVE! Good stuff, 4.5 stars
Surprising, nice vibes
I have a lot of time for the Kutis. There's some repetition here and some of the songs are overly long, but it always bangs and there's always an interesting story behind the music. The horn section is on fire on this record. Best track: Plenty Nonsense
Nice afrobeat by the son of the creator. Still it does get a little samey after a while since each song is so long you definitely felt a couple songs could be cute and not really lose anything. Nonetheless, the musicianship is fantastic.
funky and dancy, but repetitive
I haven't listened to this genre much, this was surprisingly enjoyable.
Very much his father's son in terms of music. This album sounds so big, the production makes it sound like you are being surrounded by horns, enveloped by the sound. Not really listening to afro eat that often I found it a bit repetitive but by the same token the beat was like a metronome, becoming hypnotic as the album progressed
Listened to on 8/30/22 4/5 Favorite song: wonder wonder I love the African influence on this album - it was so upbeat and joyful. I listened to it all afternoon and would highly recommend
Cool, smooth, really nice. Good album to listen while working
This record apparently introduced Femi Kuti and afrobeat to an international audience. It's easy to see why. It's accessible and melodic with a great energy and socially conscious lyrics. A very enjoyable listen. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Wonder Wonder Date listened: 19/08/22
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Wonder wonder, Frustrations, Nawa, No shame
It is hard to evaluate Femi Kuti without referencing his father, Fela Kuti. Femi's music is more dance oriented, with less jazz elements and shorter songs. To me that takes away some of the awesomeness of afro-beat, but the "mainstreaming" seems inevitable.
I've never listened to Femi Kuti before, but I do like his father and the apple did not fall far from the tree. There were some funky tunes here and it was nice to have on as I worked. Was I as astounded as when I heard Fela's Expensive Shit? No but this was still very good music with some nice political themes.
This is dope. Really great sax playing and I like the arrangements. Electric piano all over the place dates it, but not always negatively. Femi's voice is really great, and I like all afrobeat call and response.
Oh wow, this is pretty new for me. But exciting! The beat is terrific, and it does a decent job of keeping the energy alive during its lengthy run. Should check out more Afrobeat. B
Brilliant beats, lively and entertaining. That polyphonic beat with the stabbing horns is infectious.
J'ai vraiment aimé l'album. Ca commence en feu et ca sonne très bien. La production est super et les chansons aussi avec de bon musiciens. Cependant, j'ai aussi trouvé que l'Album s'étire un peu. 1h15 sa dépasse le temsp pour un album de se genre et on tombe un peu dans la répétition. J'aurais donné un 4 fort ou 5 mais trop long. 4.15
This album was great. Such tight bass and horns and mix overall.
I really enjoyed this!!
Grooves for days
Bags of fun. Super groovy
Very energetic record that keeps the blood pumping throughout. I removed a star due to the long lengths of each track, which can make the album feel like it is dragging in some places. However, great instrumentation and performances keep it a stellar effort.
Enjoyed this, fun and funky, not a close listen today, bit will be returning to it.
Automatically assumed this was Fela Kuti.. Not good... Another classic example of how this project introduces music that you would not normally listen to. Vibrant Afropop. 73 mins is a bit long! You have to being the mood, but it is intoxicating stuff. Multilayered rhythm, brass, guitar and vocal. 3.75
Excellent. Big up the kutis
Ah olipa hyvä! Jatsahtava ja elinvoimainen. 4/5
Like father like son. Femi adds a touch of western songcraft to his fathers Afro agit funk which probably makes this easier for newbies, but the beat and the commitment is still there. Recommended.
It’s hard for me to rate these because I know so little of Nigerian music except Fela Kuti. I loved how the music sounded live, and of course the Afrobeat with full band sounds amazing—energetic, passionate. The lyrics were really moving. Four stars, but I wish I knew more of Nigerian and African music to compare it to.
Great fun afrobeat. I love the way Wonder Wonder kicks off, other faves: Frustrations, Plenty Nonsense, Stubborn Problems.
This reminds me of the great parades during big events in the streets
Muito bom mesmo. World Music com uma vibe muito interessante.
It's a good album and I remember it slightly from when it was popular. It paved the way for a whole swath of immensely talented musicians from the African continent to get some recognition in Western charts and sales. This album by itself is a bit slick, very 80's, even with the afrobeats.
I enjoyed this a lot! I wish I knew more about Nigerian politics so I could understand mate of the anger in there. But he's translated much of that anger into a joyous, danceable afrobeat masterpiece!
Afrika
Riktigt bra rytm speciellt efter de två första låtarna
8/10. Maybe even worth a 9, I was quite enjoying this
Pretty groovy but all the songs were kinda long and not super engaging. 7/10
Very enjoyable continuation of his father's work.
Slay i guess!
Better than awesome. An absolute joy.
really great album, very interesting and cool african jazz
This was pretty cool -- would listen again to have on in the background in the kitchen or outside or something. Approve!
African jazz
Not really my style but quite good.
Never get enough of the rhythm! Love it!
I really enjoyed this entire album. It was really great musically and fun to listen to
Fantastic - a lot of energy. I enjoyed this as much, and perhaps even more than Fela Kuti - though they do sound very similar. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree
Eso es lo chevere de esta página. Sino ¿como conocer a un representante del Afrobeat? Interesante producción!
3.75
A little too long, but it has been a wonderful surprise
I've had some Afro-Cuban Jazz on this list so far, this is my first pure African Jazz. I really enjoyed it, this artist is very talented. It had great energy and it definitely makes you want to dance.
Beautiful.
Muy bueno
1. Africa XD 2. Drums and sax and percussion 3. Rhythmic 4. Chilled beats with light jazz taste
All the african music we've had on this list has been great, should be more of this stuff and less morrissey and wanky britpop
Uplifting and funky as hell. Every musician in the backing band is at the top of their game
Great afropop with a serious political message
Cool Afrobeat textures and sounds. Rock solid groove. Stubbor Problems is a gem.
Love these long songs, layers of instrumentation and vocals that sustain the energy throughout. Really excellent music. A bit pit off by the homophobia(?) In the final song. 4.5/5
Great funky Afrobeat with a pan-African message. Very enjoyable and danceable. The production is very 90s but works well with the music.
The energy never dies. A frantic, funky record. Only one real slow spot, the rest of it has me moving. Favorite track: "Nawa"
Not really thing but a very funky thing it was.
Was pleasantly surprised by this one, for world music it sounded a lot more “European” than I had expected. Hints of ska in the music as well. Was very enjoyable
I really enjoyed the afro beat and jazz fusion from this album. I've never heard something quite like it before. Loved!
Solid sound. I enjoyed it
Energetic, pure, afrobeat, from a classic artist. It's not my favorite genre ever, but it holds a special place in my heart.
African Jazz - Good jam sessions. Was not expecting it to be so good since I have never heard of this album before today.
Pues chido, chill y la verdad no sé qué tanto más puedo decir. Me es muy ajeno este género, pero no es para nada desagradable al oido. Mood: no lo sé Rick
Nice album.
Chilled and interesting. I will listen to this again.
Cracking listen. Hadn't heard of this artist before but really enjoyed this album. One of the best so far
Splendid stuff. Don't usually go for Afrobeat, but really enjoyable.
Yé Yé Yé Yé ! Gut gelaunt und mit virtuosen Einzelplayern innerhalb der ganzen Kombo bläst Kronprinz Kuti selbst die „frustrations of a young man“ positiv geladen in die Welt. Das Album hört sich live eingespielt und dabei extrem harmonisch abgemischt (Drums !!!!) an. Nach der Session muss das Gemeinschaftsgefühl irre stark gewesen sein - ich glaube ihnen jede Note. Eine mit Händen greifbare Qualität, die sich in dieser Bewertung mehr niederschlägt als mein persönlicher Gefallen am Style. 3.6
Schon mächtiges Zeug dabei. War ich bei Wonder Wonder noch skeptisch, wuchs spätestens bei Frustrations das Grinsen wegen der Rhythmik, der Spielfreude und der ganzen gut eingebundenen Wildheit des Orchesters. Und weil sich das zum Ende hin ja auch eher noch gesteigert hat (wobei: am meisten gekriegt haben sie mich direkt mit Nawa) gibt’s gerne 3,9 Punkte. Oder auch 4,1, je nach Laune.
Música africana animada.
I don't know everything he's saying but he speaking facts
Very fun African jazz - great listen and surprised there weren't more listens on Spotify. 7/10.
Given how much I loved the Fela Kuti (Femi's father) album on this list, I had high hopes for this one. I certainly wasn't disappointed by this album, but it had a lot to live up to and couldn't quite get there. Make no mistake, Femi Kuti is a very talented artist and Femi Kuti is a very good album, but it didn't make me feel "definitely five stars, yes sir" like Fela Kuti's Live! did.
No te vas a arrepentir.
I do like a bit of Afrobeat. I'm more familiar with Femi's father, Fela, but this was great too. Fave track "Plenty Nonsense"
New to me. One thing you are not seeing a lot of in the music published for the American market is calls for Aftican unity. I liked this album.
Pretty decent. Could hear this being played on a loop at like an outdoor pizza / pop-up bars food quadrant during the Edinburgh festival or something.
только тексты подкачали, иначе была бы пятерочка
Lively and upbeat
Very upbeat and fun! Nice to listen to something different for a change.
Overall, a solid album. While the comparison is a bit disingenuous, Femi Kuti's solo debut is obviously several tiers below his father's work. The ambition is there, but the build-ups often failed to meet my relatively high expectations. Still, it's enjoyable, just not as transcendent as something like Zombie. Favourite track: Plenty Nonsense
An enjoyable listen. Not normally my cup of tea but reminded me of Buena Vista Social Club as a good vibe music. 3/5.
Femi Kuti brought the music of West Africa to American shores, a genre his father helped pioneer. This is enough to get yourself into the 1001 on its own, but the music is pretty great (I imagine especially live). Unfortunately Femi Kuti doesn't do it for me behind the microphone and his lyrics missed the mark more often than not.
Beautiful fun hot humid morning run. I initially thought this was one of his dad’s records, and only just realized my mistake. Guess I’ve got some more studying to do!
A cleaner, smoother sound than his dad, and not quite as exciting
As a westerner, I appreciate that the list has albums like these that I wouldn't normally listen to, with this album being a perfect example. It's upbeat and repetitive but I am better for hearing it's sound and getting exposed to more. Top tracks: "Wonder Wonder," "Nawa"
My rating 3.3. I enjoyed the first half of the Album but by the end it seemed to get repetitious. Enjoyed the horn section though.
3.8/5
06/23 Was fine, but goes on for way too long
This was an interesting album. I love to hear rhythms from around the world.
So this is afrobeat. Not bad, reminds me of jazz. Smooth.
Afrobeat. Taking music and lyrics out of context of time and place can cause a bit of whiplash. How do you judge? Should you judge? I enjoyed the music and recognized the political here. Nigeria has a really crappy relationship with queer folk. One of the songs, "Changes", talks about homosexuality and probably transness. Looking into what Femi had to say about it is that it is a human right. He also says that there isn't a history of talking about it pre-Christianity or western interference. I don't know what that means. Given all the other people first songs here and the anti government and corruption, I may give him a pass unless it is proven otherwise. In spite of that, this is sometimes fun but always with politics. It is like a lot of music that I really like.
Time to listen a double album whort of african music lets go. Its not a bad album but: 1. Its long as shit, all the songs are 9 minutes long. While song lenght is not a problem for me, it becomes one when im listening to something I enjoy only in small dose. It also becomes a problem when... 2. All the songs sounds the same. Making the 73 minutes runtime feel even longuer than they already are. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD ONLY MAKE A DOUBLE LP IF ITS DIVERSE AND INTERESTING. Nobody, even hardcore fans, wants to listen to 70 minutes of the same shit(only if you do it exeptionaly well ig). 3. I dont have a third point idk man. Overall its an ok listen.
Not my favorite but man I always like getting albums outside the anglosphere There’s something just very satisfying about this music, “tactile” maybe? I like how it’s just a very straightforward expression of feelings, while still having enough to say to make it worth listening deeper. Just fun to dance to I don’t think there’s a whole lot that makes it stand out from other Nigerian/African music I’ve been exposed to, but apparently it sorta led to the spread of the genre outside the continent so that’s pretty cool. Variety’s not great on this one which sucks since it’s such a long album and individual tracks drag a bit Probably won’t listen to this one a bunch more but I will 100% take this over the swath of pretentious mediocre albums that this list seems to love
Funky, with entrancing beats. Although, the song length is a bit too long.
Funky and jazzy with African beats. Perfect for a sunny day.
2.56
This was a good listen. Sometimes I like a bit of 'easy listening'. Definitely fits the 'Elevator music' category. Enjoyable. A hasty listen because I could see that Bowie was the next listen! Sorry Femi.
Fun album that I would listen to again.
Like 30 minutes too long. Not everything “ethnic” needs to be on this list. I’ve now listened to about 20 African albums and I’m just in the 300s.
I liked this album more than I thought I would. Fun listen! 7/10 Top song Plenty nonsense
Actually a pleasant listen. I dug the music side, which was kind of a jazzy-big band combo, and even the vocals were good. I think a lot of that was due to a good amount of the vocals being in English, so I was still engaged. But anyways, a pleasant surprise!
6.5/10
This was boring me - "will africa ever be free?" - Don't care, where's the rawk. Then they got into the instrumentals. Mostly Western instrumentation with African percussion and vocal harmonies. And it kinda grooves.
Well produced, good arrangements, fun music with plenty of thought inspiring lyrics. Very musical, probably going to make your hips wiggle and feet shuffle if you get into it. Pretty sexy throughout.
this album wasnt really for me (i hate really long songs for the most part) but i feel like i could like other songs by him
This funky album sounds like a party. I enjoyed the album but there was just something about it that I thought made it a touch lower than some of the other Afrobeat albums I have listened to. I think the vocals might have been a little too much for me, but it was still an interesting listen. I might not put this album on again, but I'm glad I listened to it.
Upbeat, fun
This is why I like this project
There were some wonderful drums in places but way too much brass for me. A bit too long.
It’s fine, I enjoy the horns and occasional marimba. It’s not really my kind of music, and the songs are samey and too long.
Not an album I’d go for usually, but on a sunny afternoon in the garden, it’s great
Nice album to listen to. I enjoyed Fela Kuti and this sounded somewhat similar. I can’t shake the feeling that this is sort of faux-Africa though, it’s like it’s trying too hard to appeal to a Western audience.
6/10
This is a really good worldbeat album - I have to say though - I can't do so many 9 minute songs. It's a bit laborious, y'all. THREE STARS
Good Sunday morning background music. Not a genre I generally seek out, but I can listen to it.
Tropical vibes
Liked this more than I expected
ja tja
Surprisingly fun world music, still not my jam
It’s a fun listen but doesn’t need to be that long
Quite fun. Lost interest a little toward the end
This had some energy and good sounds. Worth a listen.
Pretty good
high tempo and funny
Femi is not as good as Fela, but still good.
There are some cool sounds here but nothing that makes love it.
It’s decent afrobeats but it goes on a long time and every song is basically same lyrics lol but it’s groovy. His dad did it better, I hope there’s some Fela on this list
I appreciate it but only for a couple songs. It drags on for a casual listen
n tenho mt oq falar sobre é ok it's ok
Guy rocks
Awesome, great playing and beautiful energy. Essential?
Afro Beat with a conscience. Jazz, soul, and some Caribbean in there with the horns. Good upbeat world music, solid grooves and melodies. Some loooong tracks that can be like mantras or refrains.
Yeah why not lets boogie Favorite Song: Survival
Like the previous album before this, the album is really good at not sounding too long. It's a very jubilant record on the surface but discusses a lot of political and social issues in Nigeria and Africa as a whole (3.5).
Afro beats
Afro-folk pop
Wonderful African jazz record that captures the joy in life. A great record that brings a sense of energy and upbeat rhythms to brighten any mood. Femi has a beautiful voice that complements the instrumentation so well. This was a nice one.
6 - groovy Nigerian jazz.
Very rich.
Fine. Not for me.
Pretty cool, but very long.
Since Femi Kuti has already pleasantly surprised me twice with this project, I was really looking forward to this album. Unfortunately, I don’t like it as much as the others, but it is still good. I’ll keep Femi Kuti’s name in mind, even though this album didn’t quite live up to my expectations. 3/5
Femi knows how to party. This was really fun. Enjoyed it all mostly. Not much more to say, just a fun album 3,5
There is a LOT going on in this music. I had never heard of this before today, it's obviously very well crafted but can be very overwhelming at times (most times). Someone buy the mixers/engineers a drink because despite sheer amount of things happening at any given moment it sounds crisp and you can seperate the instruments. I'm glad I listened, I probably won't be revisiting this any time soon.
Pretty good acc afro beats
Hell yeah
album #32 i'd never heard of femi kuti before, and that's on me. this was fun, politically charge, groovy music. musically i do think it's a 4 but personal taste puts it at a 3, i think! also....i was looking up the lyrics to "changes" and felt like i was going insane because why do none of the lyric sheets include the last 2 and a half minutes of the song?! lmfao ꩜ average track rating: 3.0/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): survival, plenty nonsense ꩜ least favourite track(s): nawa ꩜ album rating: ★★★☆☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,057 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 20 (I recounted lol as I wasn't tracking this at the beginning. +1 Femi Kuti) ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 8 ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 24
Starts slowly, more western beats and smooth jazz. Picks up in the second half. Plenty Nonsense has a ska feel, title is fitting. It’s repetitive and a little too long. Would rather listen to Fela.
Not a bad album it flowed pretty well. They had good musicality.
65# Mehhh don't do anything in particular for me but I have to acknowledge the quality of it
Decent as background music, but I got bored pretty quickly if I tried to listen actively. It's not really my favorite genre, but this one is one of the better ones Standouts Nawa 3/5
сложно воспринимать афробит (проще всего те куски которые похожи на джаз)
I can understand the influence this album had in bringing Afrobeat to a wider audience, after his father's work opened the doors. It reminds me of the groove experiments you hear in Talking Heads work on “Fear of Music”. Not because of this album specifically, but because it’s all coming from the same place Fela laid out years earlier. But I didn't fully connect with it. Not especially gripping, but enjoyable, respectable and interesting work all the same.
This was fine. Not as good as the other album by the same artist that we listened to earlier in the project
Better than Fela. Still not my preference though.
African music
Jazz fans like this album very much. I can appreciate it. The musicians and the songs were well executed, though the songs seem to start at one level and stay there, no building up. Recording was OK but fatiguing. Overall a bit of a struggle.
I enjoyed this. Nice background music.
Never would have come across this without this site. Not my favorite, but not too bad.
A ful listen for sure, it's so groovy, polished and well structured. The problem I have is that it lacks the edge to make it engaging enough for the way too long runtime. It's kinda unfair to compare it to his father's work, but Fela's work is so much better. Best song: Frustrations Worst song: Changes Cover check: Great invitation to afrobeat
Fine background music I suppose
21/03/2026 It was a solid "meh" from me. I have no real feelings towards it. Spotify listeners: 63.6k
Great album but a little too long
Thought I would get annoyed with this because of the long songs but actually it was pretty catchy and hard to hate
Definitely a cool change of pace but I don’t understand why every song is an 8+ minute long jam sesh
This was too long. Also wasn't a fan of the vocal style. I loved the instrumental jam sessions but the vocals lowered the score for sure.
Son of Fela Kuti. It was pretty solid! Sounded a bit like Bob Marley
Good. Requires more listening.
-fun vibes and instrumentals -better than the other album of this type so far -not much to say about this one
Super fun album, love the long jams and rhythm section
Ok 3
I was not familiar with this artist. Enjoyable listen. I was hoping it would be more Talking Headsish but it was jazzy.
3⭐️/5 03.04.2026
Fand ich gut, nichts herausragendes.
Fühl ich
The Songs sound really warm and Sunny. They vary in Patterns and vibes, so the Album doesnt get boring. The Songs are partly a little to long for me to enjoy, tho.
High energy, easy listen.
Lots of energy in this one. I didn't think I would be interested, but the rhythm is catchy, with similarities to reggae but with more horns.
This was nice, something on this list that was actually interesting and worth listening to. 3.5/5
This was a fun listen.
ok
this was very high energy for 7am on a sunday morning.
Fine but not my thing
Standouts Wonder Wonder Changes
Album 1056 of 1089 Femi Kuti- Femi Kuti (1995) Rating : 3 / 5 I went into this one with zero expectations. Didn’t really know what direction it would take. What I got was a really enjoyable surprise. I’ve always had a soft spot for horns, and this album brings plenty of them. Big, bold, brassy arrangements mixed with jazzy grooves and world-pop textures that just keep things moving. There’s rhythm everywhere, not just in the percussion, but in the way the entire band locks in together. It’s vibrant without being chaotic. Tight without feeling stiff. The musicianship is strong across the board, and you can feel the energy in the performances. There’s a pulse to it that makes it hard not to nod along. It won’t necessarily change my musical world, but it was absolutely a fun listen. One of those albums that gives you a little unexpected treat when you weren’t even looking for one. Sometimes that’s the best kind.
hmm die erste paar findi etz nöd soo berauschend au wenn message vom erste do und so. das madeitative chani nöd wüüürklich gnüsse. es isch würkli okay aber ich finds easy streng. mues es 3 geh
Afro pop-tastic. Not my bag
Wonder wonder was a track with good vibes! It was something I could jive to while getting ready for bed. Survival was a very good listen. It just shows the colour in this style of music which I appreciate so much! The horns in Frustrations were SO good. Nawa continued with everything just being fun. I love how music, and by extension this list, can bring people together, I would’ve probably never thought to pick up a mid-90s Afro beat album if it hadn’t been given to me today. Plenty nonsense was an enjoyable track. Stubbor Problems was a bit repetitive for me, and unfortunately because it’s 10 minutes long that feeling built. Live for today was so groovy! Loved it. Changes was a nice closer to the album. 3.5/5 ⭐️, 7/10 43/1089
Nice listen.
Likte det! Gøy med ny musikk😍
Plenty Nonsense a highlight. Could have been 30 mins shorter though.
Some great musicianship but too many uninteresting stretches and too long.
Great but way too long. 7.0 Fav track: Plenty Nonsense Least fav: Live For Today
We are still waiting for albums from Fedo, Fere, Fefa, Fesol and Feti Kuti
Pretty fun but the songs are just too long. Not my favorite saxophone sound and some of the mixing especially on the drums/percussion was distracting.
Feels familiar… like I’ve heard it before…. Fun, light uplifting. Not my thing but whatever.
Fun and funky but toooooo long
What do you call a 73 minute album where every song is 10 min? 2 albums The length of the individual songs and the album as a whole took away from the charm. 3
Overall: 6/10 Pretty fun pop music with an african feel! Not much else to say really, it's just a good time. Fav Song: Nawa
3 Stars (8/15) May have rated this higher if it'd ended after 6 songs. Chop off 30 mins and this is a banger. Less is more sometimes.
Meh. Enjoyed at first…and nice change of pace from other music…then got tired. Might be good for getting things done. 3.0
Definitely prefer Fela Kuti’s music. There is some fun funk here, but I don’t think every funk song needs to be 8-9 minutes long
This is one of those albums that has 11 or so tracks, but by track 4 or 5, you’ve basically got the idea. Great rhythms and funky grooves, but not something I would normally seek out.
It was good, but oddly stressful to listen to. I prefer Fela.
I reviewed Femi's father's record 'Live!' earlier in this process, highlighting that Fela's influence on world music could not be overstated. This collection of songs picks up the driving, rhythmic afrobeat jazz sounds of Africa 80 , with some of the 90's smooth jazz production sounds creeping in. He still holds onto the activism of his father as well, but with a less intense pitch.
I thought it was good. My fiancée did not.
Eh. Not for me dawg.
The specific is the universal. THREE!
I kinda like it but none of those songs deserve to drag for so long
Quite good, but way too long for its own good.
2,7* Bom album, just not my style E é mt longo e todo mt parecido, tornou se cansativo 1h15 a ouvir
Macht mich unruhig.
The album generator gave me two worldly albums today, and this one was really good. It’s a mix of Afrobeat, jazz, and funk, with great percussion throughout. Afrobeat and jazz work so well together because both rely on improvisation more than traditional song structures. Once the album gets going, it just jams out until the end, taking you along for the ride.
Very enjoyable afrobeat.
Outstanding work of art. Super talented. (just not my thing)
Femi Kuti’s self-titled album is a sprawling, horn-driven statement that draws deeply from the African diaspora without feeling like a history lesson. Across 10 tracks and a hefty 73 minutes, the emphasis is on muscular percussion, layered brass, and grooves that stretch out but rarely drift. The songs are long, yet they’re tightly played, driven by accomplished musicianship and a sense of purpose rather than indulgence. This isn’t an album that begs for constant repeat listens, but its cool, confident vibe makes it easy to drop into and admire. Highlights include the funky, pan-African call of “Wonder Wonder,” complete with propulsive horns; “Survival,” which sneaks in a surprisingly memorable marimba solo; the gradually hypnotic “Nawa,” where repetition becomes a feature, not a flaw; and “No Shame,” whose organ lines add a welcome new texture to the familiar Afrobeat palette. It’s a solid, rewarding listen that values craft and atmosphere over instant hooks.
Femi was in his bag of tricks with this one! Immaculate vibes and a really fun listening experience, a couple songs were just a tad too jammy and repetitive for my taste. Best Track: Nawa
Artful and daring afrobeat worthy of the Kuti name. “Survival” is a coiled snake of a tune, full of thundering drums, surprising instrumentation and all held down by a sax motif that drives itself deep into your conscience. “Frustrations” starts at a ten and never really backs down, equal parts luxury lounge jazz ala Global Village Coffeehouse and urgent appeal ala, well, Fela Kuti. My appreciation for this record deepens with every spin.
I liked some of the long form jams, but others got a little repetitive. Saved one song.
C'est chouette mais pas mon style
Føles mirakuløst ikke for lang selvom den er pænt lang
Cool album, great change of pace from the random British indie albums
A solid 3.5 i would gladly listen to this again but wouldn't go buy it.
A good album but each track went on a little too long tapping on the same bit of my ear drums.
I like this better than Fela
Quite a passionate albums about the unification of Africa and the struggles in Nigeria. I listened to this album before going to the 2025 holiday party with Uvnie, and Sarah's former colleagues. It brings many different instruments and rhythmic styles to the different records.
It didn’t speak to me, but nicely done
Fela's boy...nice kid.
I liked it. Probably won’t listen to again but good sound
Solid musicianship but it sounds a bit busy and all over the place. I do like afro beat rhythms so that helped keep this long album going. It's decent and I'm fine being exposed to it but not 100% certain it's essential.
This was a pretty relaxing listen overall. The grooves are steady and it is easy to let the album play without needing to focus too hard on it. I also liked the message behind the music. Even when the tracks run a bit long, it feels like there is purpose there, not just repetition for the sake of it. It didn’t fully pull me in, but it was solid and enjoyable while it was on.
90's African Jazz? Ok...let's check it out! I didn't anticipate any vocals. This is great.
Free summer concert series music.
The energy in Femi and Fela's music is really quite something. Love it!
I began listening with no expectations, my only exposure to African music had been National Geographic soundtracks. Instead of “tribal” clichés, I got hypnotic jam-band grooves and music that instantly reminding me of early-’80s King Crimson (the Adrian Belew era).
I enjoyed the jazzy vibe this record had. Some songs felt too long, but I still liked them.
Afrobeats. This album is good music. I felt it was like reggae with jazz. Not so much reggae or jazz. Maybe just a touch of both. My main issue with this album, especially as a first time listen, is the length of the tracks. Every track was 7 to 9 minutes long. For me the length of the tracks hurts my overall impression as it was hard to see any dynamics between songs. I was suffering from afrobeat fatigue.
Album started slow for me - more like smooth jazz. But it really picked up at the song Nawa and I loved it from there.
Really good album
I saw the album cover heard the first few notes and was going to turn it off, but I just couldn't. I kept saying "The next song is the last one" all the way to the end.
Wow, so cool to finally hear a different style again! I’m no expert in Afrobeat but musically this sounds pretty solid to my ears. Great, sexy grooves, a horn section, background vocals, and a whole lot of melody! It’s a bit long but that just means you get to burn more calories from dancing!
More funk jazz to me than world or Nigerian sounding. Songs are long but keep ya moving. Great album to cook or clean the house to
I have to agree with many people with the opinion that Femi Kuti is overshadowed by his fathers work. Or at least this album. I also only listened to one record by Fela Kuti (that would be 'Live!'), but it was incredibly energetic and frenetic, and these feelings are missing, to some degree, in this project. It still manages to be quite uplifting, but not at the same level. What I can say at least is that it is charged with some very heavy political messages. They can be a bit difficult to catch though, as they are buried in broken English, but I think they made quite clear that he is fighting for Africa to be a better place. In the end, it is a great album, but I'm not seeing myself returning to it.
Totally fine, but didn’t capture me like Fela Kuti did.
Didn't know what to expect but it was pretty enjoyable African music
Clearly talented but totally not my thing. 3⭐️
Don’t really listen to this music but enjoyed it for sure. I like the Afrojazz style - very unique.
cool culture, great music, and I love long songs (6+ minutes). however, I can't see myself revisiting anytime soon
fast pace african music