Femi Kuti

Obviously influenced by papa Fela, but an amazing rendition of the style. It suffers a bit under being part of the CD age's obsession with filling every single second of disk memory, but I honestly don't mind too much. I just view it as a package of energetic afrobeat, with a ton of songs that sound similar but raise different issues regarding the West African experience in a time where that was sorely needed.

This was a new to me selection. I enjoyed it. African Jazz.

I was expecting strict Afro beats, but this is so much more! What a fun, exciting album!

A lot of fun. Great music and themes Standout songs: Survival Frustrations No Shame

More Afrobeat than Jazz, but a blend of both - but I liked it.

Fresh and vibrant! Not transcendent like Fela’s best work, but as an introduction to afrobeat you could hardly ask for better.

Loved it

3.5

Interesting fun African jazz sound. Great beat. Lovely sax.

The album is simply fun to listen to. Rhythms, horns, choir, a harmonious work.

Love the lengthy grooves!

wonder wonder frustrations nawa plenty nonsense stubbor problems

emi Kuti's eponymous album marks a significant milestone in the Afrobeat genre. Released in [year], it encapsulates the essence of Femi's musical prowess, political activism, and cultural heritage. This in-depth review dissects the album across various facets including lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while also addressing its pros and cons. Lyrics: Femi Kuti's lyrics on this album are a poignant reflection of socio-political issues prevalent in Nigeria and Africa at large. He employs a blend of English, pidgin English, and Yoruba to convey his messages, enhancing the authenticity and relatability of his words. The themes range from corruption, poverty, and political injustice to love, unity, and hope. Femi's lyrics exhibit a rare balance of depth and accessibility, making them resonate with a diverse audience. Music: True to the Afrobeat tradition established by his father, Fela Kuti, Femi infuses the album with complex polyrhythms, infectious grooves, and horn-driven arrangements. The music pulsates with energy, inviting listeners to dance while also provoking contemplation. Femi's mastery of the saxophone shines through in captivating solos, adding layers of emotion and intensity to the tracks. The incorporation of traditional Yoruba percussion instruments further enriches the sonic tapestry, creating a dynamic and immersive musical experience. Production: The production of the album is stellar, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Femi Kuti and a team of seasoned musicians and producers. Each track is meticulously crafted, with attention to detail evident in the arrangement, mixing, and mastering. The production seamlessly blends analog warmth with modern digital clarity, striking a perfect balance that allows the raw energy of the performances to shine through. The album's sonic landscape is vibrant and multi-dimensional, capturing the essence of Afrobeat while also pushing the boundaries of contemporary production techniques. Themes: Thematically, the album delves into a wide array of issues, ranging from political corruption and social injustice to love, resilience, and cultural pride. Femi Kuti fearlessly confronts the challenges facing his society, using his music as a platform for advocacy and activism. His lyrics are imbued with a sense of urgency and defiance, urging listeners to stand up against oppression and fight for positive change. At the same time, the album celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Africa, promoting unity and solidarity among its people. Through his music, Femi Kuti encourages hope and resilience in the face of adversity, inspiring listeners to strive for a better future. Influence: Femi Kuti's influence on contemporary music, particularly within the Afrobeat genre, cannot be overstated. As the torchbearer of his father's legacy, he has continued to push the boundaries of Afrobeat while also incorporating elements of jazz, funk, and reggae into his sound. His infectious grooves and socially conscious lyrics have inspired a new generation of musicians both in Africa and around the world. Femi's commitment to using his platform for positive change has earned him widespread respect and admiration, solidifying his status as a cultural icon and musical pioneer. Pros: Authentic representation of Afrobeat tradition while incorporating modern influences. Powerful and socially relevant lyrics that resonate with a diverse audience. Dynamic and energetic musical performances, showcasing Femi Kuti's exceptional musicianship. Stellar production quality, blending analog warmth with contemporary clarity. Thought-provoking themes that address pressing socio-political issues while celebrating African culture and resilience. Cons: Limited experimentation with musical structures and arrangements may leave some listeners craving more innovation. The album's dense lyrical content may require multiple listens to fully appreciate and digest. Certain tracks may feel repetitive or formulaic, lacking the element of surprise or spontaneity. In conclusion, Femi Kuti's self-titled album stands as a testament to his artistic vision, musical talent, and unwavering commitment to social change. Through its powerful lyrics, infectious grooves, and vibrant production, the album offers a compelling glimpse into the heart and soul of contemporary Afrobeat. While it may not be without its flaws, its overall impact and significance cannot be denied. Femi Kuti has crafted a timeless work of art that will continue to inspire and resonate with audiences for years to come.

Pretty good, I love the call and response on this! You definitely need to be in the right mood for it tho

Class! Did not know this man had a son!

Welp, turns out I'm an Afrobeat fan.

It's no wonder this album brought Afrobeat to the mainstream. His father was an absolute legend, and I do prefer Fela's far more intricate compositions. But Femi Kuti is ambitious, bringing forth pop-friendly tunes that are loud, fast, fun, and triumphant. I do find it pretty overwhelming and exhausting. It tries to be flashy without saying much. I'm sure he's impressive live, and it has great modern 90s production, but a lot of seems like it's just played for the hell of it. It didn't leave much of an impression on me. It also repeats a lot of the same techniques. Which for a double album with 10 minute songs, most tracks fail to stand on their own. Favorites: Wonder Wonder, Frustrations

Frustrations and Plenty Nonsense are amazing. Too long. Cut like 20-30 minutes and this would be really great overall. 🪘 Low 4

Amazing. Keep up the good work!

Some great jazz in here but way too long.

Did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Great for the feelings alone, you don't need to know tge words to understand it.

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Nice utilization of 90's tech and song progressions taking where his father left off to it's natural progression, without compromising artistic merit. Working this one into the rotation more often. Great collection of work!

p764. 1995. 1 star. Probably fine if you like meandering Afrobeat noodling. I don't.

Part of what I love about this list is that it’s not just your typical classic rock albums you’d find in a box of records at a yard sale. Never would have listened to this album if not for this list. Quite enjoyable, love that there are lots of jazzy/funky themes incorporated into a traditional African sound. Likely never will make it into my regular listening habits but I’m glad I listened to it.

I initially thought I was listening to a Fela Kuti album and thought it wasn’t as good as the other two albums he had on the list, turns out it’s Femi who is his son. This is still an enjoyable album and worth listening too. But won’t be adding to my frequent rotation.

I believe I can just flat out state I'm a fan of Afro-Pop. I do wish the songs were about half the length they are, though. That says more about me than the music though. At least what gets to American shores. Given that Femi is the child of Fela Kuti, that leads me to believe that Lagos's music scene is wild.

This was a vibe. Very into it. Throw up some more cool shit like this please game.

Really liked this entire thing. Great to work to. Second African album after Fela Kuti and have loved both. Rating: 4.4

Very lively. Enjoyed the sound and energy.

So so good. As soon as the sax notes hit in the first track I was on board. Not a genre you get to hear very often and its executed so well. Gives great vibes of 70's car chases at some points.

Really enjoyable! Modern afrobeat

Kinda heat

When I was a young whippersnapper, my buddy Deen from Nigeria turned me on to Femi's dad Fela Kuti. My first exposure to Afrobeat. Fast forward a few decades and here's his kid -- who may be a better musician than his father was. This is just a fun album...about revolution! Play it loud! Unexpected bangers: Wonder Wonder, Plenty Nonsense, Stubbor Problems

One reliable way of tanking your business is to pass ownership to your son upon your retirement. This is due to the infallible fact that every single son of a rich man is an absolute fucking spanner. If you’re a man whose dad has seven figures or more in the bank, you should try and understand that it is only that money that’s keeping you out of the Argos stockroom. Of course, I say “should”, but there’s no chance of you actually grasping that point, and you’ll continue to believe that the makeweight non-job Daddy insidiously shoved you into so as to mask the embarrassment his loins begat is your job solely because of merit. And then you’ll fly off and shoot an elephant, because that’s exactly the cuntish escapade the worthless superrich especially relish. But anyway, at the age of 93 Daddy’s heart will just explode after his mistress has tried for two hours to coax the most meagre and supple of erections from him, and you will find yourself shoved into the CEO position, in no way for your abilities and charm, but purely due to the old man’s spite towards the rest of the board. You will then demolish the company within six months after you invest the entire pension fund in an NFT a spotty Fortnite player waved at you on Twitter, and you’ll be shoved back into your non-executive role, having learnt not a fucking thing, Donald and Eric. A similar process exists in the world of rock, in that vanishingly few successful rockstars are the sons of rockstars. This is not due to a lack of effort from these scions, God no. Julian Lennon will be wearing those specs imitating his father’s goggles and pleading with us to give his latest homage to Imagine a chance until the day he carks it. But nepotism in the arts is perhaps even less forgivable than in business; at least the businessman’s son has the purity of money as an excuse, whereas the son tracing his rockstar father’s path seems to ignore the sense of individuality and character upon which rock sits. Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright were only able to wriggle out of their fathers’ penumbrae because their fathers were too odd to achieve mainstream success, and as such their sons were not judged by how much they failed to measure up to the legacy. Fela Kuti, the father of Femi Kuti, was also the father of Afrobeat. Afrobeat, for those not cognizant of non-western musical trends, is a predominately Nigerian genre that emerged in the 1960s, which combines traditional West African styles and instrumentation with jazz, funk and soul. The name Afrobeat was Fela Kuti’s own coining, and Fela Kuti directly sought to become the James Brown of Nigeria, and later the whole of Africa. Even more so than his African-American counterparts, Fela Kuti sought to use his music as a political tool. Various African governments sought to suppress both Kuti and his music, and the full range of Fela Kuti’s political involvements (both praiseworthy and shameworthy) is beyond this review’s purview. Anyway, we’ve got to get onto the son now. Femi Kuti took up the saxophone aged 15, and later began playing alongside his father. He would form his own Afrobeat band in the 80s, and over the years has attained a position as a grand statesman of world music. And that world music designation is possibly what has allowed Femi, and some of his other siblings, to avoid being crushed by his father’s legacy. This may be unfair, but the child of a world music pioneer can more readily be seen as a guardian of their parent’s flame, than the child of a rockstar can. But in frankness, neither perception is logical. By this fallacious argument, Femi Kuti’s father bestows him an authenticity, whereas Julian Lennon’s father bestows him an inauthenticity. You’re on much more rigorous ground if you damn Julian Lennon’s music just out of crapness. So how to assess Femi Kuti’s music, independently of the chap whose pods he came from? Well, the first thing on greeting is a saxophone. Femi Kuti is holding a saxophone on the cover, so I can’t say I was astonished by that. But there’s a problem with the saxophone: it’s a saxophone, the worst instrument of them all. How did the saxophone become so prominent in 20th-century music? Hell, how did it become associated with sexiness, of all things? We should not encourage saxophonists by making them multiple Grammy nominees, surely? But after that opening parp, the music settles into a groovy pace, rendering the whole album enjoyable in the moment. But remembering that moment the moment after is impossible. That transience doesn’t make the music bad, and the music isn’t bad. Maybe it’s my fault, and my unfamiliarity with Afrobeat prevents me from appreciating all this album’s facets. Or maybe these are extended jams that doesn’t extend anywhere especially memorable. That may seem harsh, and I would like to affirm that the music isn’t bad. But I wonder what this album is for. This is apparently a record with political intent, but I couldn’t tell you the substance of its sloganeering. This is obviously my fault, and it perhaps demonstrates that I’m not the audience for this, or that I should up my game, but an album touching on political themes is not inherently laudable (should we respect Skrewdriver because their white-power anthems were “political”? Cobblers should we). Even whilst excepting that aspect, this album blows right past me, and the present effect it has is to cause a fleetingly pleasant shrug. NoRadio, signing off.

Música africana animada. Un 4.

Afrobeat. Mejor de lo que esperaba.

Like father, like son!

2/3

The sax sure is saxy. A real snarky puppy bug band jazz sound 5

Upbeat. New to me. Interesting listen but got repetitive and skipped the last couple of songs.

Favorite Tracks: Frustration and Plenty Nonsense.

this is amazing afrobeats 8.1/10

groovy and optimistic beats and teachings from the heart of nigeria. blissful and reflective lyrics that discuss life as it is. the drums awaken the soul, the voices of the choirs make you wanna sing along... this album is just fun. really really fun, just standing up and clapping along is the mood i get.

The 1990s 'world-music' sheen diminishes the forecefulness of the previous generation's afrobeat, buffing off the edges and taming the wildness of the Kuti sound, turning it into something a lot more generic as it circulates primarily for a European/American audience. Femi's band's keyboard tones, super compressed bass sound, and bordering-on smooth jazz sax bits really detract from the hard-hitting funk fury of Fela. There are still some fantastic deep grooves here though and the horn riffs really rip. "No Shame" is a powerful anthem for migrant labor, reminding workers to take pride in who they are despite the degradations they face.

Best Song: Live For Today. The musical equivalent of getting in your car, getting on the highway, and putting your foot through the accelerator. All gas no brakes in the best possible way. Worst Song: Changes. Understandable, but had maybe the lowest energy of any track on the album. Overall: Most bands wish they had an ounce of the energy of this album. Every track has a frenetic, get-up-outta-your-seat energy that roils in this perfect groove, extending into 9 minute songs that still end up feeling too short. If this doesn't make you want to dance, you're already dead.

It's a totally listenable album but when your dad is Fela Kuti you've got some big shoes to fill, and I found this album nothing special.

ну кайф, но больше часа надоело

Блять, я сюда же писал(((((( Ладно, тогда сюда обзор на kd lang Да просто норм и приятно. Вокал хороший, джаза нормально навалило

Albums like this are why I wanted to to through this list in the first place. I don't think I would ever find this on my own, but I love it and can't wait to listen again. The energy and joyous performances hit you right in the face, but the vocals and lyrics also hit you in the face for a competent different reason. I'm sold and I want to drive more into Femi's stuff now.

This music slaps

At last a bit more diversity, this time Femi Kuti. On my first play, the album is an enjoyable listen. But not much more than that. 2/5

Un album au jazz entraînant, qui me fait sourire.

This is an album I won't soon forget. Incredible music, just incredible. Time went by so fast as I worked with this album in my ears. I was grooving and dancing all the way through. I don't know when next I might listen to this again, but this has definitely been my favorite album in my music discovering journey so far. I think I'd prefer to give it a 4.5 but I can't so I'll let it be a close 5.

Vil gerne, men gider ikke. Kilder lidt mange steder, men ikke nok til jeg griner

Op het moment dat 's ochtends zo'n wereldmuziek album verschijnt voelt het toch altijd alsof de lijst je contributie komt innen. Af en toe word ik dan wel verrast hoe leuk het is, maar in de meeste gevallen is het niet aan mij besteed en is het een kwestie van uitzitten. In dit geval is het dat laatste. Het album doet me aanvankelijk weinig tot niks (wat me meevalt), maar nadat ik ongeveer een half uurtje heb liggen weken komen de tetterende koperen blazers in 'Nawa' succesvol m'n toch al vrij dunne, beschermende eeltlaag laagje voor laagje wegschrapen. Nawa is overduidelijk gemaakt om me pijn te doen. Als het irritatiemonster eenmaal uit de kooi is gaat 'ie moeilijk weer terug naar binnen. Ik ben het getetter na een minuut of 35 (ik vind zelf dat ik het lang heb volgehouden) helemaal beu, maar de beugels zitten stevig vastgeklikt en de achtbaan is al aan het rollen. De call en response van de zanger en zangeressen in 'Plenty Nonsense' blijft op me inbeuken tot ik helemaal murw ben. Herhaling, herhaling, herhaling. Een slijtageslag. Een uur en een kwartier is een hele lange zit. Alle nummers zijn rond de 10 minuten, wat het tempo er voor het gevoel nog meer uithaalt. Ik ga een één uitdelen. Het is objectief gezien helemaal niet slecht, maar ik vind het wel enorm kut(i).

Kæmpe afrobeat vibe! Håbefuldt, opløftende, funk/jazz

Loved the beats on this one!! I danced in the kitchen while I was cooking it was heaven!!

It’s not my style but I found it interesting that each song had an incredibly long intro. The lyrics had meaning as well, but the mutual emphasis was something that we don’t honor here. So the uniqueness (to me) was intriguing. Probably not a long term fan, but I appreciated it as something new and different.

Solid album gets close to Fela but has his own thing going. I can dig it, would make fine setbreak and possible festival camping music

Funky but fun. Not sure I could listen to it everyday but it feels like the type of variety you’d expect on a list like this.

Interesting. Clearly solid music. But not for me really

This is obviously high quality musicianship but, having listened to Fela Kuti for years, I am just over this music. The novelty is gone, I fail to hear any significant dynamic or tonal shift between songs to keep me interested. It is music that just goes and goes in the background. Great if you wan to give your mid city cafe a little ambience, not so great to pick and listen to.

Interesting, very African sounding, fun, different genre to the rest of the albums really

Wonder Nawa Plenty Nonsense

Good. Not my thing.

First time listen. Lively and fun. Like a tourist traveling abroad, stumbling into a popping nightclub, pounding generous portions of local rum punch, and hitting the floor in a happy glow of floppy arms and laughter. (Bad Dancing) Rinse and Repeat.

Pretty pretty good

boring

Man what is this, jazz fusion? Damn fantastic, so much soul and passion with the songs. 3.8

Really enjoyable

Good, fun to listen to in the background but not a record I play often

Not sure why but I couldn't really get into this

I like Femi Kuti but went in with middling expectations, was greatly exceeded

Fun music. Songs could do with being 3-4 minutes shorter.

Great! You can hear the influence of his dad, but it doesn’t feel derivative.

Ein bißchen aus der Zeit gefallener Ethnokram

A fun and energizing album. Great music to vibe to. I enjoyed the medley of different instruments used and the singing. It might be because I don't listen to much afrobeat in general but all the songs started to blend together and feel rather repetitive by the second half of the album.

I think it's a fun album. It's very upbeat and definitely gets your feet tapping. The criticism I would have is that it all sounds VERY similar. It's almost like a single one hour song. Not a bad thing as background music, but a bit repetitive when you're sitting down to actually listen to it. I'll give it 3 stars.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from 'afri beat', but I enjoyed this album

Just as much jazz as it is Afro-Pop, I can’t say I’ve heard anything like this before because frankly…I haven’t. Not something I’ll return to but overall it is musically well put together. Lavish instrumentation mixed with high level execution.

Great rhythmic work and use of call and response. Risked dragging on a bit with some samey tracks, but I imagine as you get to know it that isn't the case.

Good

Of course I was going to like this. He's the son of Fela Kuti, who's "Zombie" I _adored_ on this list. One thing I did not like is the ending to one or two songs. They kind of just fizzled out, like there wasn't an idea of how to end the song ("Nawa" in particular). A lot of the songs seem to have just an A-A-A-A and not an A-B-A-B form, there's not as much variation as there is a buildup with nowhere to go. I still liked it a lot, but going from one form to another would have been a welcome change. Top tracks: "Changes," "Wonder Wonder"

I wasn't blown away by the opening track Wonder Wonder and that had me thinking his dad is better. But Survival was wicked from the get go - 3 minutes before any vocals and it kicks ass. And the album just hums along through to Nawa and Pretty Nonsense. Maybe because Fela was so political I was also a bit disappointed in the more idealistic tone of the first song. But Femi ups his game and the sharp lyrics as the album progresses. Some notable songs with lyrics to pay attention to are Stubborn Problems (a bit cheeky at the beginning), Live for Today, and Changes. I still think his dad is better. But this was pretty good, especially upon multiple listens.

Phenomenal record, had me grooving the whole time. Very much influenced by the sound of his father but elevated and updated with an incredibly heavy horn section and some great incorporations of synths/organs. Top tracks: Wonder Wonder, Survival, Frustrations, Nawa, No Shame, Live For Today

It's definitely really good but im not sure its something id be revisiting a lot

Wow

As much as I enjoy world music, I found every song sounded the same and just blended together. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: none

This was a vibe I liked it

Absolute bop. I had never heard of this artist before but I will definitely be listening again!

loooved it. was such a surprise, i wasn't expecting this to be such a banger of an album.

listened not knowing what to expect and wow, what a pleasant surprise for a saturday morning. the album is full of good vibes, blending afrobeat rhythms with catchy melodies. it's upbeat, vibrant, and just radiates positive energy. didn't know music could lift my spirits like this. sure, some parts are a bit repetitive, but the overall feel-good factor of the album is undeniable. great for anyone looking to brighten up their day.

Interesting for a one off listen, saved a few tracks to a world playlist.

I actually listen to this album frequently. I really enjoy it. I love those African beats.

Kind of good background.

Better than I expected, but maybe just not mh style. Listen while delivering belated Christmas gifts to some friends across town

Just can't do afrobeat. Never heard of the genre before this list but sadly it just does absolutely zero for me. Feels wrong to give it 1* as it's not offensive, just not for me.

10/10 I’ve been a fan of Fela Kuti’s Zombie album for a long time; it’s really cool knowing his son is just as talented

Nope

This is what I’m here for

Great rhythms and impossible not to bop your head to everything

Not just walking in his father's footsteps, but SPRINTING.

Very good, definitely a fun follow up to his dad's stuff, although I think the album was a bit too bloated for my tastes.

I like Afro best but this didn’t really resonate with me. I didn’t really get into the groove, it felt quite drawn out

Not tooo bad but it is still jazz so it can get in the bin

Wasn’t really my thing but it won me over

Sorry but I do not like African jazz either

As a big burna boy fan, this hit great. 4.5

first listen reeeeaaaaallllllyyyyyy long

A groovy mix of reggae and big band. I dig.

Ruim demais, meu Deus

Good!

Energizing. I can’t deny an afrobeat groove, and why would I want to? On first listen, not as impactful as Fela, but definitely passionate and political.

Such a great time! Tune after tune, really helped me w doing some work before brunch. I knew of Fela Kuti but not of his son so I am glad to have listened to this album!!!

I had never heard of Femi Kuti before, but what a way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. Hypnotic African beats with healthy doses of jazz and funk.

Overwhelmed with work today, and late for my daily reviews. Anthologies and other "best of albums" suggest that the first two tracks of this early album by Femi Kuti are notable career highlights. They have pretty good afrobeat grooves, and give you a good inkling of what Fela's son was capable of at the time. For more details, I'll need to revisit later on. Wish I had had the time to do it right now. 3/5 for the purposes of this list ("neutral" grade because I couldn't listen to the whole album). Number of albums left to review: less than 400 (I've temporarily lost count here) Number of albums I'll include in my own list: half so far, approximately Number of albums I *might*  include: a quarter, approximately (including this one) Number of albums I'll never include: another quarter (many others are more important to me).

Got me dancin!

Solid

Flaming saxophone!

No

I’m too white for this.

Lively, immersive, and thought-provoking.

One of the best world albums: felt like a very western take of a world album which is kinda bad of me to say I really enjoyed. I felt the structures were well crafted and there were a couple songs I could see myself adding to a playlist here and there.

way too much fun

It’s cheery and upbeat but after a while it all kind of blurred in to one

This is pretty fire. Drags on a bit after a while and I feel like some these tracks can be trimmed a minute or two. Sax is slick.

Greatest live show I've ever seen! The one song 30 minute encore covering his father's song Water No Get Enemy was magical! Looking forward to listening to this again, it's been too long! Great feel to this, a lot of energy and the right amount of political outrage! Doing his father proud! Band tight as hell songs just fucking go!

Dug it, fun listen

Dank as fuck

Super chill. Solid vibes. Had never heard any before. Glad I know of it now.

Never heard of this artist but a really great afrobeat album. Excellent.

I liked it but some of the songs were a little long and repetitive.

The son of Fela continues to carry and develop the Afrobeat dynasty. I'm glad to keep seeing world music's important place on this list

Not for me

- Frustration 1.5/5

Pretty good stuff. Great pace, great horns, and lots of energy. But I don't think that the songs needed to be as longs as they were. I'm guessing that these songs were meant to be danced to and not simply listened to.

It's funky but I have no interest in seeking this album out again.

Am a huge Fela Kuti fan so naturally loved this. Interesting to hear classic Afrobeat with signature 90s production, and Femi manages to mark his own style on his fathers legacy.

Femi Kuti can be described as big band jazz with a tribal rhythm section and lyrics sung by Sebastian the crab. While some of the album had great, high energy riffs, and exciting saxophone/trumpet/guitar solos, it really wasn't that good of an album. When I went to learn more about this album, I was shocked to see that the Wikipedia page is literally only five sentences long. The only accolade is that its in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". The author's bias is astounding.

Not my jam

Fast paced jazz with addition of drums and other percussion from African folk music. Quite intense at times. There is some really good sax playing on there. Some songs have vocals, which is a mix between English and what I assume is an African language. Long, banging solo parts in many of the songs too. Found this very catchy!

reggae jazzy, nice listening

Femi Kuti is the third album by Nigerian musician Femi Kuti. This release through Motown's Tabu Records label was the first introduction of Kuti and afrobeat music to the rest of the world. Afrobeat is a mixture of traditional West African musical styles with American funk, jazz, and soul music along with a focus on percussion, interesting rhythms, and chanting. The album performed well critically and is important for bringing afrobeat to the world stage. I thought this was a wonderful album, although not as popular as many other albums on this journey. The music is entertaining and the production is well done, so there's not many negatives about this album. If you're interested in afrobeat, then give Femi Kuti a listen.

Often good but struggles to cohesively become great at any point. Weak point being the vocals and lyricism. Moments of instrumental jammy beauty stand out amongst mediocre vocal performances. Songs feel stagnant and lightly repetitive at times. Sax and rhythm section are the highlight.

The mix is really good. Music is also good but not really my style. The album drags on a little too long. Will I listen to again: 15%

This was okay, but it sounded like less emphatic versions of his father's work. I don't feel the passion I feel when listening to Fela Kuti.

Nope

Its very bouncy and groovy.

Really good energy and sound

Canzoni molto lunghe

Grade C fusion jazz

Big fan of saxophones

Very funky, loved the grooves. It'd make great ambience music, I might play it again next time I do a deep clean!

not my style

Have not ventured into Fela's son. I'm excited... Well very similar to Fela. 5/5

World music and listenable.

Excellent eats, uplifting and fun music.

Sometime it's like the algorithm has read my mind. I've been wanting to listen to afrobeat because other bands I like incorporate afrobeat into their music. This was a lively and engaging album but I wasn't super into it. Femi's voice was great and I appreciated the backup singers and instruments complementing the music, but ultimately it all kind of blurred together for me.

Being pretty familiar with Fela Kuti, I probably shouldn't be surprised that his son also makes incredibly fun and catchy political afrobeat music. Given it's a little later than that era, the production has caught up a bit more and can really bring the music to life (but they really should've turned the kick drum down a little, jesus christ).

Liked it, but both the album and the individual songs felt overlong. Got a bit samey to my ears- everything felt like the same groove and tempo.

Some fun instrumentals but all of the songs seem to plod on. I'd expect heavier non-vocal work to drive where the album is trying to go.

That was brilliant. So much joy and diversity in each song. The liberal use of horn sections was *chef's kiss*

Very nice record! I didn’t know him before but it’s simply feel good music.

So funky and groovy. The music is uplifting and danceable while the lyrics are political. Very glad to be introduced to this artist. Favorite tracks: Frustrations, Plenty Nonsense, Live for Today

Jazzy - which i liked. Songs felt too long.

Wonder Wonder - 7.5/10 Survival- 7.5/10 Frustrations - 8/10 Nawa - intro - 7.5/10 Nawa - 8/10 Plenty Nonsense - 8/10 Stubbor problems - 7.5/10 No Shame - 8/10 Live for Today - 8/10 Changes - 8/10 TOTAL - 78/100

Erfrischender, teils urwaldlich klingender Afrobeat

It's ok?

Not my normal fare, but really enjoyable for what it is.

First track is interesting. The rest is meh.

Enjoyed listening to this album that combines African and Jazz sounds. Definitely had never heard of him before and looks like his father may be the more impactful artist, will have to give him a listen. Overall though, another unique album to add to my list of "jazz-y" albums that I appreciate.

Decent blev meget langtrukkent til sidst

This one took me by surprise. I was expecting some awful tribal world music but this is reminiscent of the best soul/funk of 70s America. Amazing album.

While slightly more vocal, Femi Kuti is clearly following in the footsteps of his father, Fela Kuti.

I liked it. Singer has a Harry Bellefonte vibe going for him. Would listen again

3.5 way too long but at parts sounds incredibly similar to Dave Matthew’s Band. Drum mixing is very intriguing as well.

African Jazz. Upbeat and happy rhythms get your feet tapping

Wikipedia said it's made to be an intro to Afrobeats, and it was indeed a very solid intro. 3.5 but rounds up.

Lekkere muziek, maar wel veel van hetzelfde. ;)

Funky

Vibes. At first glance, I had thought this was going to be a Fela Kuti album (who also has some banging music), but was pleasantly surprised to find someone new in the genre. The orchestration is superb and I found myself getting quite pumped up as I listened to it during a workout. I'm a sucker for some saxophone and he can really rip. There is enough genre bending across the album to hold your attention and he does so without losing the core sound. Overall, a great time but I don't know how often I would go looking for it to listen. Stand out track: Survival

This album is really cool! I it's full of cool rhythms and groovy sax. It also feels like experiencing a new culture through the music alone. The song, Frustration, makes me feel like I am playing as Knuckles in Sonic Adventure 2 haha. Favorite track: Frustration and Survival

Mesmerizing, beautiful, transporting. Love all the instruments

I enjoyed how different this was from most of the recent albums in this list. It was a welcomed departure.

an interesting mix of jazzy funky afrobeat ska videogame / elevator music. If you upped the tempo on this a bit, it would be excellent BGM for a Cowboy Bebop-esque chase scene. 3.5/5

It has some flaws in that it’s probably too long, and it could use a slower track or two for some respite from the breathless, breakneck tempo of the rest of the album, but this is good for the most part and Femi is a chip off the old block.

-idk this artist so im very excited to experience this -these songs are so long -i like the instruments all together -i like the jazzy sounding elements in these songs -this ended up being really great background music for me making toast and dropping it on the floor and then having to toast new bread -not enough singing for me personally

Upbeat african jazz

Me gusta la "world music" como los gringos tarados suelen llamar a todo lo que no hacen ellos.

Really enjoyable. Felt like beach music

enjoyed the bops

After listening this album, I’ve realised that I don’t like afrobeat. Is good music, I admit it, but it’s not for me.

Exceed the little expectations I had. Somewhat profound lyrics with excellent instrumentals, great listen!

Afrobeat funk jazz. Love it. Think of Remain In Light side A along with Fela Kuti 1970 funk jazz. Lots of sax and trumpet.

Wow, this is fantastic! Superb performances, so expressive, and such a nice blend of styles and ideas. I'll bet it's great to see him play live.

Rally good

Really good, bordering on great. Crosses from afro beat to funk and soul, with hip-hop influences popping up as well. An interesting and engaging listen, from an artist I had not encountered before

Good festival music

I don't actually know this album but it's Femi Kuti so I'd gonna be good!1

I enjoyed this album more than I anticipated I would. I would not purchase the album and would not necessarily revisit it frequently, but I think for the way he makes Afrobeat music (that's the name, I guess) so accessible then this album would be a must-listen. Listening to this album while doing some work would be enjoyable and I do like how Femi makes the songs so original while also staying true to what he wants the sound to be.

Interessant hoe het zowel repetitief als overprikkelend is als je focust op luisteren, maar hoe het als achtergrond juist wel chill is. Frustrations was de grootste banger.

Not my type of music.

My second bit of afrobeat in the 1001 and it’s another banger

Excellent! Wow!

It was fine.

Nice album :)

I don’t want to compare Femi Kuti too much to his father, because even though this music is entirely owed to Fela’s inventions, it stands well on it’s own. Perhaps the album could be shorter, but then the issue isn’t one of losing interest. It’s more ”too much a good thing”, you know?

Dehä va ultra chill

Sorry, just not my bag. Can appreciate the talent but not for me.

Right up my street here and I've listened to some Femi Kuti before. I do like this type of west African vibe, although this doesn't quite hit the heights of Orchestra Baobab. I do appreciate the political edge to some of this though and the whole package is something I'll choose to listen to again.

Orchestral-funk. The lyrics are political and an introspective look into Nigerian culture. The music absolutely kicks in and the largeness of the band is very present. The music makes you want to dance and move. Femi has a great singing style. I would pair this music with the other dancing international tracks like Tito Puente when I’m feeling adventurous and want the tunes to move my body. Loved the big bad sound here.

Minge

One of the classics of the Afrobeat genre. I appreciate it but over a while the album's tracks blend a bit into each other. There are no clear highlights, at least to my untrained ear in this genre. I enjoyed it though.

Was fun.

Näin jazzkin kuulostaa hyvältä. Taitavaa ja mukavaa, vaikka jääkin helposti taustamusiikiksi - sopivaksi sellaiseksi.

Mahtipontista ja/tai juustoista ja/tai tylsästi jammailevaa.

Fun, energetic. Great all the way through.

This is so different to anything I would normally listen to. But it's a party. Such a fun album, will definitely listen again.

Summer morning on the weekend vibe. Can't relate atm

African Jazz with a heaping helping of social justice.

I actually liked this quite a lot. Maybe because it was a nice breeze of being something else than rock. Even saved some songs. I think some of the songs were a bit long though and dragged on for too long.

I was not expecting anything coming into this. There is what I think is a saxophone on the cover and its running time was well over 1 hour, two clear warning signs in my mind. I put the album on and got to work. While working i found myself bopping my head along to the tracks. They hit just right with its funk, groove and jazz influences. Before i knew it I'd listened to the whole album and was never bored even though I hadn't heard a single song before.

Could be a 5 actually Awesome grooves so good 4

This album's pretty okay, the production and instrumentals are excellent throughout, really propelled by the rhythm section. Surprisingly diverse too, but a lot of the songs go on too long and are overly repetitive, and basically every vocal performance is identical across all tracks. Not a bad record, I think I could grow to like it more even with its flaws.

Ohi

Hauska ja mukaantempaava. Tuli mieleen Apollon afrosunnuntait missä aina tulee fiilis et ois ulkomailla

Yeah this kicked ass. Shaka Zulu take notes

Good stuff

Quite enjoyable.

I liked the instrumentation of this album, I thought it was very impressive. It's just not the genre that I really listen to so I didn't love it.

Groovy stuff, but not very memorable

Do you want to get up and smile and dance for an hour? Put this on.

Great Afro-pop. Had no idea he was Fela's son, totally thought I was being reductive by thinking they sounded very similar. I swear Gorillaz sampled the riff from Survival in one of the Demon Days songs (maybe La Manana?)

Not my kind of music.

At femi kuti var så bra, like under nivået til sin egen far, er sjukt imponerende og fett!

Great music but just not for me. Very upbeat.

3,5

Strong 6

I'm getting African music with some jazz and reggaeton, pretty interesting

A really good listen, good afrobeats

I'm a bigger fan of the more longform, experimental stuff his father does, but Femi does a great job here in channeling his energy while doing his own thing and creating more catchy, digestible songs.

Felt a bit long but was some honking good sax

Afrobeat bangers - not usually my bag but still pretty good.

Decent!

You know I wasn't sure at first, because the songs were pretty long, but this one got through to me. Loving the heavy African influence over some awesome jazz

interesting

This album is alright, just not something I am interested in listening to.

A good surprise.

As always, I am so so happy when I see an album on this list come up, that's from another country. Really cool to experience other culture's music. This was very upbeat, positive, and easy to listen to.

Good afrobeat album. Some of the tracks feel a little long, but I enjoyed the listen.

Æðisleg plata!

Didn’t make it through that much but enjoyed

Great African music.Brought me immediately in a summer vibes like on Copacabana festival. Great one to relisten in the summer 😉.

I enjoyed this. I’ll definitely listen again.

2 stars

I really liked this, it was fun to dance around my house and clean while listening to this.

Approved. I must be listening to these albums at the right time because I don’t hate any of them as much as everyone else.

I’m struggling with how to rate this album! Femi Kuti is obviously talented. But I don’t love this genre and I wouldn’t seek this album out to listen to it again. 5 stars for talent, 1 star for how it fits into my personal taste in music.

Femi Kuti took a page off of his dad's work, and made music that might be better than that of his old man. These are great, danceable songs that are performed with a whole lot of charisma. Afrobeat is cool! Standouts were Wonder Wonder & Stubbor Problems.

Shit

Some was interesting

I've never really listened to afrobeat before this, but damn this record is good. The songs run long but are all so fun and lively I never got bored listening to it. Favorite track: Frustrations

Super meh.

No individual song stood out but the whole experience was fun

rad

Not my type of music. I like the second song with the xylophone.

Bright, vibrant, eclectic. A good listen. Not my usual cup of tea, but nothing to fault here

big and fun!!

Not for me.

First time hearing. Very reminiscent of the type of brass and melodies played by DMB. Afrobeat style could be an influence. Very different, but enjoyable background music.

If you like Fela Kuti, you may also like this! I'll come back to this soon I think.

Astounding. 5 stars. His dad weould be proud.

Pretty good

Not my music, but it was enjoyable to listen to in the background

Great backgound music, including for a long car ride through the central plains during the drab wintertime.

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.

Right off the bat, just by the album cover, I know it's not something that I'm used to listening to. In the desire to expand my musical diversity, I started listening to it. The first song has a nice beat and a catchy rhythm. With R&B, reggae, and of course, African beats, it's a nice blend of sounds. After more time listening throughout the day, I like the vibes. Jazzy, rasta, big band-ish, calypso, etc. Nice to hear while working. I could see situations where this might be nice to hear outside with friends.

Very nice. Honest, upbeat, political.

Great. Easily listen-to-able, band's tight, what could you dislike?

Surprisingky brilliant. What an album. An essential record.

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.

Not bad. Got a little bored with it after the first few songs though.

I normally am not a fan of world music. Initially I kind of wrote this album off. Listening to it again I kind of liked parts of it. Not quite a 4 but 3.5 I think is fair

I really appreciated this album and it was incredibly artful. I don’t see it being something I keep on rotation but if I heard it while out and about, I wouldn’t mind a bit.

A rad listen

Solid Afrobeat. Announces itself and delivers on its promise.

Sounds great but it's so good damn long !

Enjoyable, even though half the time I had no idea what they were signing

Quite enjoyable, certainly uplifting and a different musical style.

More Kuti is just what I needed.

A lot of cool moments. Funky and brassy with plenty of Kuti's African influence. The rhythm section is fantastic, steals the show. Hard to choose a favorite track. This would be fun party music. One of my favorite "world" albums I've heard on this list, if this falls into that category

Very fun, a little long

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

I was really enjoying this, but then it was somewhat ruined by my teenage son asking why I'd been listening to the same song for half an hour. I couldn't shake that, so my rating went right down to 3 stars. Maybe it should be 4?

Sunday brunch vibes... in a good way.

Trumpet sounds. Reminds me of marching band. 3 out of 5.

So good. I love stumbling upon stuff like this that I'd never usually listen to, and Femi's family history is nothing short of incredible. It's an uplifting, energetic, politically switched-on and occasionally very funny album.