Reviews (page 10 of 13)
I like this album art. The instrumentals are so good. The vocal style choice and the emotion it conveys feel a little repetitive after a few tracks.
The good songs are really good, but most of the album is just OK. "So in love" was the read standout to me. I'll be returning to that often, but not as often to the full album.
Great listen, uplifting funk that tackles tough subjects.
A lovely sounding album that probably suffers in comparison to yesterday's generational masterpiece. The two are thematically really similar, but Curtis probably allows too much soulfulness to dull the righteous anger that his social commentary deserves. It's all a little too nice I think, although that doesn't stop it being a lovely listen.
Not something I’d listen to everyday, but it definitely has that chill, soulful feel with a message in every song. Listen again: maybe Purchase for my collection: if I found it in a yard sale or something Favourite Song:
Herrlich groovig.
Very different from what I think of Curtis typically but these are some really good songs I love this.4 this could probably pass as a 5 but I’m gonna say 4
I liked SuperFly a lot more.
Meira gott grúv.
I like Curtis a lot. Billy Jack is classic , I think this album really gets going on the last 2 tracks Hard Times and Love to the People . His voice can be a bit monotonous always in falsetto , but the lyrics and musicianship always keep the bar high
Very funky. I've never been a fan of the falsetto, but Curtis makes it work--kind of a proto Prince feel. I could do without the Jesus song
Cool
A couple of good tracks but none of the sparkling brilliance of "Freddy's Dead".
Mayfield has a smooth style that is really disrupted by his falsetto.
Groovy, sexy, and like anything from the time better enjoyed with cocaine.
3/5
Sounds like seven remixes of Superfly but I'm OK with that.
A couple truly great tracks. Short and sweet. Not a lot of tonal variety. Man Hard Times is great though
A nice find
slow
A nice jam- the Jesus funk was interesting.
Love Curtis’ voice and song writing, but none of the tracks on the album rank up there with his best in my opinion
Pretty groovy. I like it. 3.5
6/10
It was decent. Definitely not the right Album to listen to after a bad day on your way home .
All the falsetto loses my attention. Otherwise good.
Smooooooth souuuuuuul. But a little toooooo smooooooth for me.
Funky! Not my favorite Curtis.
Un buen rollo aunque no me encanta, mi favo Jesus, 3 alto
Nice R&B - Sounds like it was recorded in the seventies :-)
Groovy
Pretty enjoyable, but nothing really stood out too much to me.
More of a vibe than anything
Voz bonita. Un poco rollo. Diabetes, accidente que le deja inválido ...
g r o o v y.
Swanky, funky. I enjoy it but it's not one I'd pick up again.
Summary: No track by track reactions today... this album just lulled me into a stupor. That isn't a bad thing. I just rode the vibe and it was pretty consistent throughout. I feel like this similar to Prince's style but more to my liking. Quick album. I could see myself putting it on very very infrequently as something chill.
This is a tough one for me. I can’t deny that I really enjoy the music on each track but not hung really stands out to me either. I could have this album on repeat a couple times before getting stale but I don’t know if the lyrics would ever stick for me.
I want to really like it, but I don't. The music is fantastic, the voice isn't. 3.1.
i'm not sure if there are any other curtis mayfield albums on this list but i wouldn't have put this on as the only one. a good album nonetheless but with none of the ear worms i usually associate with him. favourite song was 'so in love'
so in love is good.
Soul
Fun little album. Just groovin out y’know? It’s stuff like this that I was looking forward to finding in this project. It’s just a nice gem. Not sure it’ll be something I put on often, but I’ll definitely check out Curtis Mayfield.
I really wanted to love Curtis Mayfield. The music is fantastic, the lyrics still timely today. The only problem is his voice. The high pitched voice is annoying after a couple of songs. Still a great musician though.
Pretty groovy
Funky but very slow; not really my jam
Curtis Mayfield is a fine musician. His songs remind me of a light Jazz album I was given a few years ago, a compilation of several artists called "Jazz for a Rainy Day." I'm not a big fan of this type of music, but sometimes it fits just right.
Funky and easy to digest. Strong start and ending tracks, but it gets a little repetitive in the middle.
I liked this. Nice and funky but a relatively lightweight sound. I enjoyed his voice, very agile and nice in the higher registers. I’m in a 3 star rut! This is 3 stars like a bunch of the previous ones..
Best song is first track. Good listen but wouldn’t get me to listen to more. 3 stars isn’t a reflection of the talent/genre, just my interest
Pretty cool, but I don’t know enough jazz and blues for a proper impression.
Just a Album to hear it by the way
Great album. Great sound. Need to listen again to understand the lyrics. But perfect background music for a rainy day.
Cool, laid back, but at the end of the day, not that engaging for me personally.
Good chill out music, elegant songs, didn't find them catchy
I was only familiar with one song from this album. Fine album but no real standouts. Pretty mid throughout. Seems like an odd choice from his discography to include in this list.
Curtis is always a bit of a mixed bag to me
First time actually listening to a full soul album. It was enjoyable, but not a must-listen to me. I am going to rate this a 3 to keep as a baseline for other soul albums I get.
01) Billy Jack - 7,5 02) When Seasons Change - 7,0 03) So in Love - 7,5 04) Jesus - 7,0 05) Blue Monday People - 7,5 06) Hard Times - 7,5 07) Love to the People - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,36 (74/100) There's nothing really wrong with this album, nice music, nice production, nice voice, nice songs but the final result is kind of... boring.
Great instrumentals but not my favorite Mayfield lyrics and vocals, personally 3.5
Gotta love Curtis Mayfield
Smooth Soul
Billy Jack- 3.8/5 When Seasons Change- 3.2/5 So in Love- 3.7/5 Jesus- 2.9/5 Blue Monday People- 3.5/5 Hard Times- 3.1/5 Love to the People- 3.7/5 Total- 3.4/5
Gute Arrangments, funky, mag aber die Fistelstimme nicht.
I double dog dig the vibes! There better be another Curtis Mayfield album coming down the line though - I’ve had him pick me up and spin me all around, but I had my feet tapping on the ground all the way through this one.
I've somehow avoided listening to any Curtis Mayfield since I started recording my stats on Last.FM 11 years ago; it was much to my delight to discover him today. Billy Jack was a pleasantly funky way to start my Monday. The sweetness of So In Love made its way onto my playlist. Although not a genre I'd listen to every day, I give this a strong 3/5 and would be happy for another Mayfield record to appear in the list.
Not his best work but an enjoyable album.
Ehhhhhhh
That wikipedia is bare bones. Never heard of this artist before. Nice wah wah funky sounds in Billy Jack. Overall enjoyable sound, but not breaking into favorite album territory, 3*. Need to dive more into funk and soul though. This led to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, which was a great discovery.
great album, but I don't know how much I will revisit it.
It was an ok album. I only really knew of "Move on up" before. I really love "Hard Times" when sung by Baby Huey, this just didn't have the same edge. I just prefer a bit more rhythm and blues to my funk. Still, some of the songs feels like being dipped in honey ("So in Love" takes the cake in this regard). A weak 3 from me.
Pure 1970s sex music.
Moins stylé que Move on Up mais quand meme cool
Did not know this singer, a really nice discovery!
Fun mix of jazz, blues, and r&b. Unfortunately felt like the second half of the album didn't keep up with the first half. Favorite songs - Billy Jack, So in Love.
"So In Love" is the only Mayfield song I really know and it's one of the better on the album. Some of the others can be a bit sleepy. Can hear flavors of D'Angelo in places. Overall pretty good. Cover based on an actual photograph. 3.7
I've never heard of this album before, never heard the title, or seen the cover, so I was really excited to listen to something new-to-me... I liked it! Having listened to it once I couldn't really tell you any of the songs on it off the top of my head so I think this is going to be one to come back to. But this is more the sort of thing I was hoping to hear from doing this 1001 albums thing.
Like the warm contentment of being inside on a rainy day
Good stuff but not really in my wheelhouse.
Honestly a bit disappointed by this one, I like Curtis Mayfield and there were some great grooves but a lot of it felt the same and didn't really excite my funky soul if you know what I mean.
I thought it was ok
Love it!
Haven't had a Funk LP here in a while so I enjoyed this one. Listened too lightly to take in all the lyrical subtext, but the instrumentals were good enough to keep me cruising through the entire (surprisingly short) album. This one didn't reinvent the wheel or blow me away in any respect, but sometimes you just need a good groove and the sense of where to take it to make a good album.
very jazzy, soul-r&b mix, a bop-your-head record while chilling with your friends, sounds like the exact shade of yellow-gold-green an old lamp shade has, an early autumn record, fun guitar solos
music wise well done but not my vibe
3.2/5 Smooth but melancholy. Pretty good album. Even if it's a little monotone at times.
Smooth and funky. It's very of its time and honestly should probably stay in it's time.
I love the overall sound of the album but none of the individual songs really stand out for me.
This is the first Curtis Mayfield album I’ve ever listened. I generally liked and thought it was a consistently good album with a couple of songs I liked more. Still, overall, it didn’t blow me away on a personal level, which doesn’t detract from the album itself - I’m not super familiar with the genre, so I don’t have a good knowledge basis for comparison.
Now This Guy Fucks. 6/10
Helt okay. Fine låter, men hadde man hørt en hadde man hørt alle. Ikke helt for meg.
Some really nice rhythms and bass lines here but the strong religious and R&B vibes ain't my favorite. Easy listen, though.
Super groovy
This album is a great piece about the struggles of poverty and the falsehoods of the 'American Dream'. It delivers a smooth, soulful sound but falls short in that the melody can feel monotonous at times. 'There is No Place Like America Today' is an album with an impactful message that is beautifully crafted, but is nothing that stands out to be anything iconic or super memorable in my opinion.
Another great album cover. I expected funky and was not disappointed.
Pretty fun but the falsetto singing got tiring near the end of the album
Some good
very chill. i like!
A little too slow for my liking
Smooth and cool. Very easy album to listen to.
Good stuff. Mayfield was the man.
Really enjoyed a little bit of groovy business on a wet Thursday afternoon! ‘Hard Times’ was the standout track for me. The tracks that were funkiest and had the most wah-wah action were the best. When I play it again (and I will) I’ll probably skip a few tracks in search of the magic.
schmoooooove the vocals get a bit old by the end Cool instrumentals though My first introduction to Curtis Mayfield was on the Bran Van track Astounded... also a great track!
If I listened to it more maybe 4 stars.
Certainly recognized the voice, though I've never heard of the album. Powerful album cover.
So in love is brilliant. It has a lot of potential but needs some more listens.
Starts off strong! Quickly slows down and doesn’t really pick back up? “Jesus” is a little on the nose but not unexpected. Has a Marvin type feel to it. Conscious soul. His version of Hard Times (original?) is a different take and makes times feel much harder than Baby Huey does
Really great vibes, but also forgettable
Not a style I particularly enjoy, but I didn't mind it.
Super high voice and slow songs kill the mood after a few songs
First track is great! Then mostly the same throughout the rest of the album. And too many references to Jesus.
Souligt och funkigt men också lite för smörigt
The first song really hooked me and felt very Reggae. It might be that that beat originally came from here but I just associate it with reggae. There were a couple good songs in here I could see listening to again. Would definitely pick up the vinyl if I saw it for a good price. Also *falsesetto* "Jesus"
Love Mayfield, not my favourite. 'Jesus' was a downer for me
Great writing. Not a style I really like but he can put together a complex song.
A good album that stays consistent and sounds good throughout. The cover art is cool too
Pretty quality but also kinda too much of the same at times
Great vibes
So in love = amazing track
Very funky, but also very slow.
Lyrically great. You can definitely understand the message that is being conveyed through the words and feel to each of these songs. The falsetto vocals get a bit too much. And honestly, it hinders my experience with it. As I loved the music and the words... But when they're sung in a way that doesn't land in my ears the right way, it's hard for me to fully appreciate the whole piece. Open to listening to more but probably wouldn't seek any further.
Rooted heavily in 70s funk, sounds and feels very much of the era. It definitely captures a mood and puts you in that place, solid album.
I've been really excited to listen to this album ever since I saw the cover. I've loved the socially conscious albums of the seventies that I've listened to so far, and after enjoying Winter in America, I thought this album would be right up there with it. Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy this album as much as I thought I would. The music and lyrics were good, but I think the slower tempo of the songs wasn't what I expected, and it threw me off. Thankfully though, I was able to listen to it a second time, and I appreciated it more on that second listen. The blend of funk and R&B was really unique and beautiful, and it complimented Mayfield's falsetto singing really well. The political messaging still didn't resonate very strongly with me, even on the second listen, but the album still had a unique and rich sound.
Curtis Mayfield isn't something I typically listen to, but it still sounded familiar in places. That speaks to the influence this album has.
Funky, sexy, interesting
Very, very slow and mellow... Very smooth but not for me. Might be ok for background date music 3/5
3.5/5 soul baby-lyrics ring true today even. Big fan but not a 4/5
Not my normal style of music but was a good listen.
- There's something interesting in the sparseness of this. But, it also has a tendency to drift. Kinda aimless.
Great
It was aight. May revisit someday. No track particularly blew me away, love the album art.
Not into it but the title and album art is satirical
Real funky, I enjoyed
A short but very good album. Love the vibes here. 3/5
Smooth, but I think I liked the instrumentals more than the vocals.
Groovy, but slow
I have heard of Curtis but never listened. I enjoyed the album but was not exactly my cup of tea.
Solid album. Not Curtis Mayfields' best work and personally it is barely top 5 for him because Superfly, Roots, Curtis and New World Order are all better. Still though it is Curtis Mayfield so it is good. It does have some songs I really like "Billy Jack", "So In Love", "Love to the People" and "When Seasons Change". I think my biggest problem with this album is the lack of variation between his vocals in the songs. All the songs feature relatively similar intonation and vocal tone which sort of makes some of the songs feel like copies of each other. Like all other Curtis albums the instrumentation throughout is immaculate and to me it really carries this album especially during some of the more dull tracks. Because of the instrumentation it is still like a 7.5 but his vocal performance on this album is like a 5.5-6 due to the monotony of it.
ok
Rating: 3.0
I do like a bit of Curtis Mayfield, although this album was a much softer chilled sound than the previous Superfly album. Would be happy to let this album play if it was already on.... but I would still be looking to select Superfly on the play queue.
Much slower than I expected. Great lyrics.
3,5
good funky riffs and vibes but with every song sounding a little the same and the average length of 6 mins its got a few good ones. billy jack and hard times stoood out to me
While I'm always down for some Curtis Mayfield, I hadn't heard this record in its entirety before today. It's good, though some songs blended together for me in the mid-to-back half.
Prima vibe, maar een beetje inwisselbaar, al die nummers.
Ik hou enorm van de Curtus-vibe. Heel fijn album!
OK. Not Curtis Mayfield's best work. Not sure why this is on the list. There are better selections.
Didn’t finish it, was fine.
It's a very funky, very 70s album. Not what I usually listen to, but nice enough to have playing in the background.
Brilliant in parts
No standout tracks in particular but I had a good time just basking in the lush sounds. It has the feeling of a protest album but not against anything in particular, just the 70s being a bit shit
Some songs are cool for a chill playlist, some skips
Today's album takes a hard look at the state of America for the African American population in the 70's (rampant racism, poverty, crime) and puts it on display. Sadly, many of the issues brought up on this record still ring true today. Even the album cover tells a story. African Americans standing in a poverty line, being overshadowed by a large billboard which depicts a happy white family. This album is much more stripped down than the Curtis Mayfield that I'm used to. It isn't the fast paced, danceable music that was featured on albums such as Superfly. This is much more reserved, and dark. It is very similar to Marvin Gaye's album What's Going On. This album starts with the song Billy Jack, which has some amazing bass grooves throughout. Overall, a very different, but very culturally important album today. It is super heavy, and hard to digest, so I don't see myself listening to it much in the future, however the message is super important, and I'm glad I listened to it today. Favourite songs: Billy Jack, Jesus, Love to the People Least favourite songs: So In Love 3/5
Good, but nothing up to standards of Hell Below on it
Very groovy, very nice. A little bit repetitive
Listened to There's No Place Like America Today on 8/17/2023. My Top Songs: Billy Jack and So In Love. Underrated Song: Love to the People Overall Album Rating: 3/5 Additional Notes: Curtis Mayfield's voice is amazing and the audio quality was incredible on this album. Great relaxed vibe throughout the album. Toward the end of the album songs can get a little repetitive in terms of pace and tune.
Sounds like it could have been the soundtrack to a 70's XXX film.
This lulled me with its indulgent murk of exquisite sounds, but by the end I’d forgotten what had come before: it’s a mood piece with few hooks, a lapidarist’s perfectly useless object.
It’s got Mayfield’s crisp funky grooves with his signature sultry falsetto, but this album is no Superfly. Strong start kind of goes off the rails with the Jesus song. Not really any standouts here
Good background music
Very chill and groovy. Not something I would purposely put on, but I can see how some would really appreciate this.
It's funky and cool, not a super engaging listen though.
Not my style but decent.
Only track I loved was Hard Times. Mayfield is a great lyricist and that's the highlight of his music The funky/soul is template background music.
Funky. It's alright
Curtis is dope maar dit viel wat tegen eigenlijk, beetje te smooth en niet genoeg groove
Eh I kinda forgettable but it went quite quickly and it was all good 3/5
Familiar with Curtis from his self-titled and Superfly, both great albums that i enjoyed more than this, though there isn't really anything wrong with this either. It's pleasant to listen to, some great grooves, but overall just kind of breezes past me after finishing. Probably worth another listen in the future, but overall just a solid album that i don't regret having to listen to at all. 'So in Love' especially was a good listen.
Nije loše, ali nekako mi ne sjeda koliko sam mislio.
This, on the other hand, is good cooking music.
pretty decent but doesnt stand out
Cooles Album-Cover.
I like the overall sound and message. The songs have a very similar rhythm, which gets repetitive.
Prefer Superfly, sorry but this was a pale imitation. A lot slower and groovier which is good for a while but this is a lot shallower too. However I still like the vibe and the lyrics are still tight and punchy.
6/10. Nice, but didn't exactly drive me wild. Cover art's a solid 10 though.
The ideal time for me to listen to this album is on a Sunday morning during the fall with the windows open while playing this on my vinyl record player.
it's decent enough, chill! but didn't blow me away
It's OK, some songs seem repetitive and bland. Will listen to again in future
Smooth grooves. I like Billy Jack, and So in Love. Jesus sounds like "cheeses" to me, so makes me smile.
This was just okay. It was a little slow for my tastes. I'd never listened to Curtis Mayfield before (other than on "Astounded" by Bran Van 3000) so it was good to do that today.
Much more mellow and soul driven than Superfly, a great listen. There's a lot of character and emotion pushed out through the album. So In Love is a Curtis Mayfield song it turns out. Love finding older originals to newer covers and comparing and contrasting through this project
Solid overall but lacking some dynamics in the arangements.
Alright
He defiantly has a great voice and next level falsetto, the funk is on point and would listen to again if the mood struck.
Funki. Would listen again
Fun! I knew about Mayfield but haven’t dug into it. Might consider raising this with more listens.
Nice, slow-tempo, funky stuff to chill to in the background.
- Love me a horn section - So in Love got me feeling some type of way
I liked this, and may give it another go sometime, but it didn't grab me. He's a fantastic singer, obviously, but there was a groove rather than songs that stood out.
3/5 Prince meets Barry White. This was an odd album for me. Musically it was pretty good, and easy to listen to, but there was something kinda annoying about it. I don't know. Meh.
I'm not sure where to start... I really don't like falsetto singing so this album was probably never going to be my new favourite jam. It was mercifully short but given it's reputation and the "importance" of what's being said, I didn't connect at all. Maybe because I am not a black American living through the 70s. I really hope there aren't many more contributions by this artist, not sure how much more I can listen to someone sounding like their balls are getting constricted the whole album.
Such a funky, easy to listen to album! While it was easy to listen to, Mayfield does not shy away from hard topics here, seemingly unafraid to use his music as a platform to comment on the social issues of the time. I really love the statement of the album art as well -- it is this demonstration of the juxtaposition between the "American Dream" and what Black people were facing at the time. It's a statement that is still relevant today. This album, and Curtis Mayfield in general, is a great inclusion in this project because he's an example of an artist that was really quite gifted in many ways (he wrote all the tracks on this album), but who went largely unrecognized by a wider audience (namely, white people). And yet, his music is still as relevant today. There's no time like the present.
Very funky but slightly repetitive
Funk. Ni fu ni fa.
Voz bonita. Un poco rollo. Diabetes, accidente que le deja inválido ...
I found the music lacking. While it was a solid R&B album, the songs didn't pull me in. Not really sure how to describe why, as I love funk and R&B. Might relisten in a month or two to see if my opinion changes.
Whoa, that bass line from the get go. Ok I see you. Curtis Mayfield has some other bangers, I think this album had some deeper meanings that I did not pay too much attention to, damn work.
kinda finding his feet but some crackers
I liked the rich, warm sound of the horns and strings, with the more staccato guitar/bass/drums. The whole album made sense in the context of the cover.
I thought this was cool, though not great. The grooves were there, but the songwriting didn't quite do it for me. But I look forward to hearing more from this guy.
The album was alright. The songs are consistent in tone and feel. I wouldn't say there is any one song that stood out over the others. I probably wouldn't pick this album to listen to again though. It is better than a 2 not really a 3, but I will round up.
I respect Curtis Mayfield as an artist but I'm not fond of the songs he does in falsetto. This album is interesting but I can't see myself listening to it over and over again.
Classic jams. Glad I listened. Will listen again.
Really like his voice and him the sound I dig.
A classic! It is obviously brilliant but it is never going to be my go to. Total respect for this album and glad to listen.
I can dig it.
Funky and soulful
A strong album, but not as classic as Curtis or Superfly. So in Love is a standout.
Very nice 70's vibe.
I would listen to this in outer space probably
I was really enjoying this album up until the point where I was forced to listen to a gospel song. It was one of the better religious songs I've heard, but still, there is no better way to kill my good than to start singing about Jesus. The rest of the album was phenomenal, not his best work as it did get a little repetitive, but still very enjoyable and I liked listening to it. 3/5
6/10 This is my first album I have listened to by Curtis Mayfield, with this almost being an introduction to the genre soul (apart from a couple of LOVE albums) I thought it was a good record with many pleasant instrumentals however from the Album cover I hoped for a bit more of a social commentary about the harsh reality of life as an Africa American at the time. Hints of this appeared in Hard Times but it didn’t appear to be a continuous theme throughout the album. This isn’t a huge problem but it was disappointing especially when considering that I did feel any song stood out as a stand alone BANGER. Favourite songs: Hard times When seasons change Love to the people Overall, the album was decent but I can’t imagine I will be revisiting it anytime soon unlike other soul albums like LOVE-forever changes
okay sound, reminded me a little of Prince
Really liked it, Funky
Pretty good overall, really love the funk, but I can only listen to so much of that high-pitched singing.
Three. Everything's a three unless I am especially moved (in either direction).
I agree, there's no place like America today. What an album cover. Love the bass guitar on the first track. Song is a bit of a downer though and hit me in one of those "damn im not in the right mood to completely enjoy this" experiences. Unfortunately the second track continued with a similar level of energy than the first. Track 3, "So in Love" was really great though. Lyrics are really incredible, I love the starting lines "So in love You do so many things with that smilin' face". No immediate rhyme necessary, and it's just this wonderful little introductory description of a noted element of the writer's love for someone else. I love it :) The album is only 35 minutes and it really went by quickly. I think I didn't really fully enjoy it as much as the average listener did though so it's a 3/5 for me.
Pretty chill. Didn’t enjoy Blue Monday People.
I feel like I say this a lot but there's just not a ton of artists on this list that I know. I didn't really know what to expect from this but I love the guitar in the first song a lot. I didn't really love the religious song but that's because I'm not religious. The vocals were really good though!
Take em to church, Curt
Just fine. Another fine release from Curtis. Lacks the appeal of Supafly, but I'll give it a 3 as well.
Hearing Prince in this. Dig it.
Really liked 'so in love'
Didn't show curtis talent
Slow paced and smooth soul with a touch of funk. Like many other albums it's not bad but not my taste.
As someone who enjoys Curtis Mayfield but haven’t heard much outside of some of his songs, this was kinda a surprise for me. To be honest I was disappointed that the album wasn’t as dramatic as I expected, but I understood why. This is a pretty intimate record, and I really liked the tenderness on here. There were moments I felt weren’t as moving as they could have been, but when it connects, it really connects. Faves: So in Love, Billy Jack, Jesus
Solid tbh
so funky baby yeah
Favorited “So in Love”.
I wish his voice had more variation, silky as It is
Vraiment sensible au message social. Même la chanson au thème plus religieux m'a rejointe par son parallèle avec la vie de la réalité de la population noire. Belle voix et beaux arrangements funk
While not as immediate and groundbreaking as his prior efforts were, the muse that Curtis Mayfield willfully followed in this album provided him to continue dishing out wallops as hard hitting and rattling today as it did back in the year of its release. From first glimpse to final listen, There's No Place Like America Today remains a indictment of the reality that allows itself to plague hopes and perceptions. It's not for everyone yet, like most bitter pills, it needs to be digested in order to understand. Favorites: Billy Jack, When Seasons Change, Jesus, Hard Times.
Drugi krazek od pana Mayfielda na liscie, a w jedgo dyskografii jest to siodma pozycja z 75, wydaje sie brzmiec o wiele mniej eksperymentalnie niz superfly, nie slychac tutaj cisnacych sie nna uszy sampli, ale nie sposob odmowic czarnego klimatu temu nagraniu, bo jak inaczej okreslic plyte o ktorej jedni pisza, ze w swiadomy sposob porusza problemy czarnej spolecznosci lat 70, a z drugiej strony ktos inny pisze, ze jest to idealna plyta do prokreacji, wiec zdania ekspertow discogowych sa podzielone, ale 35 minut zlecialy przyjemnie, na plejke dodam trak Jesus, bo wychodzi on nawet poza soluwe granie, a dotyka motywow gospelowych
Superbly was better
Some enjoyable funk
This is some really nice funky groovy stuff here. I like it. Smooth as can be.
This album is a thoughtful funk/soul exploration of American social issues particularly poverty and racial tension. It is a worthy entry into this particular brand of conscious funk but unlike other albums like Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Goin’ On,’ this album doesn’t stand out as much. That’s not to take away from this album; I found it incredibly insightful and the music had a great groove, but it didn’t resonate with me as much as other examples of this genre.
Not my style at all but I can appreciate its relevance.
Not something I would likely go back to in a hurry but poignant, social commentary is fascinating and his voice is amazing
Groovy, funky goodness...again the falsetto voice thing isn't my personal preference but this was still a great listen! It amazing how such beautiful music can be speaking to such ugly social issues
Ya'll got any of that chest voice? Instrumentally I like the feel of it but I was completely over the falsetto by about the 3rd song. The parts with out vocals were great, but the falsetto just becomes too much. I'm really torn on this rating because as much as the vocals annoyed me, I still really enjoyed the overall feel of the album.
Too much falsetto, music was good.
Anything soul/funk is usually perfect for me, but this didn't really do anything for me. Hearing the opener made me think I'd be in for a great political album, but it just kinda fell off. Little bit disappointed. Great vocals, which saves the album. No real stand-out songs.
funky but pretty one dimensional didn’t say much
Good stuff. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.
I can appreciate it as very well done, but not to my taste.
Outside of his debut album I find Mayfield's albums fairly uneven. This one has some really great tracks like the opener and Hard Times but also some really weak ones.. So in Love was a hit but not a fan.
Good but a little slow for me. Didn't capture my attention like Super Fly.
This is nowhere near as good as Superfly for me. It's alright, and I do like the funky basslines. But mostly non-offputting, but forgettable.
Voz bonita. Un poco rollo. Diabetes, accidente que le deja inválido ...
Smooth groovin’ tough livin’ Hyvää soulii 3/5
Hemmetti kun eka biisi on kova! Sittenkin ihan hyvää funkkia, mutta ei niiin erityistä. 3,5/5.
En ehkä ihan valtavasti innostunut, olisin kaivannu vähän enemmän joko jatsailua tai menoa. 3/5
Curtis! You got it going on!
Musically, this is nice and smooth background music. Lyrically, this is obviously a very topical album, in keeping with its title and cover art. I've known the original photography for years, by the way, but I didn't know Curtis Mayfield had used it for one of his records. That's quite interesting... That being said, let's address the elephant in the room here: this is no *Superfly* soundtrack. Actually, it's probably two ot three notches under it in terms of sheer impact. And you know what? Even as soundtrack music for a blaxploitation b-movie, *Superfly* could still be pretty topical itself, yet never forgot to slap *hard* in terms of groove or sheer musicality. I understand the intention is obviously different here, and I can still respect it a lot. But if I want to go for smooth and not-so-smooth songs that are addressing topical issues, I'd rather go to Stevie Wonder first. With only ONE track from *Songs In the Key Of Life*, "Village Ghetto Land", or ONE track from *Innervisions*, "Living For The City", Stevie hits a nerve this whole record can't totally hit. At least for me. See also Marvin Gaye's *What's Going On* or Gil Scott-Heron's *Pieces Of A Man* for other musical masterpieces dissecting those "American" themes through laidback instrumentation and songwriting... Number of albums left to review: 748 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 124 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 62 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 67 (including this one)
Doesn't hit the highs of Superfly, but a decent listen nonetheless.
meh
It’s is an ok album.
Short, and sweet
This is a good album that I didn't quite like, as it isn't the style of music I generally listen to. However, I could entertain myself to some of the songs.
Подслушано! Занятно но не более.
Holy crap with the falsetto, dude. Just quit it. I feel as though I'm forced to give this album a 3 and I'm mad about it. The music is just SO good. But the vocals are just SO awful. Not BAD, per se. Just extremely unenjoyable to the point where I was angry at Curtis by the time the (thankfully very short) album was over. What's wrong with having a chorus in your songs? Or maybe just a hook? I'm so tired of these meandering, no-melody vocals from the 70s. But the music! It's cosmically fantastic. And the lyrics are also just so good. Which means that, even as bad as the vocals are, I can't give this lower than a 3-star review. Even though I want to because dammit with that falsetto.
Ganska jees men inte lika bra som Curtis & Superfly. Strong 3
Similar to Teddy, but slower and more same-y. Concept was interesting,
Never heard any Curtis Mayfield before and thought it was pretty good. Nothing in particular stood out but nothing was one I would skip, either
Perfectly listenable. Smooth, funky. But also not really that memorable.
Good groove, a little repetitive.
This album has a great sound, and the only reason I didn't give it a 4 is that it's sooo slooow. There isn't a single uptempo song on the whole record. The opener is at about 90 bpm, which is slow but tolerable for moderate rock, and based on that I expected that'd be about the average, some faster some slower - it turned out to be pretty easily the fastest track. Mayfield's voice is incredible, he projects such power at the top of his range. Although I do wish he would drop out of the falsetto a little more frequently - every time he does it on the record it's to amazing effect, often gives me the chills, but he only does it for a few brief moments. He's clearly the star, and his vocals just make this CD work. The sound is extremely consistent throughout - at times it often feels like a single long song. You've got a fat-and-lazy funk backbeat, heavy wah-wah guitar comping and providing a little color, very light bass, a little organ, a little chorus backing vocals, and the occasional horn. Plus Mayfield's falsetto, and he sticks to roughly the same register on every track. It's a formula that works, but I do kinda wish they'd mixed it up a little more. Overall though I enjoyed it a lot. I don't listen to a lot of soul music, but after this I might.
Strong 3. A good listen, love his sound, but a little too one-note for me. Did not hear any standouts like "Get On Up", but overall fun.
Enjoyed some of it but not enough
Every so often, I wonder why I didn't listen to albums like this in real time. To be fair, I was not of an age to actively choose anything beyond nursery rhymes in the mid-seventies. Still. There was an overlap between Mayfield's active period and my active music listening, and whilst I had head of him and knew a few of his bigger 'hits', I never sought out any of his work until after he died. (this may not be entirely true. Hip Hop sampling opened a magnificently endowed world to me, for which I'll always be greatful). Anyway. Short, dreamlike, with a sharp lyrical undercurrent. Great for Sunday afternoons and the like
Curtisiin voi aina luottaa. Jeesusta voisi toki olla vähemmän.
5/10 swimming in averageness
I love Superfly, but this album didn’t catch me.
I like it but I wish I knew more about the era to understand what makes this one of the greatest albums (compared to Mayfield's other work, or other albums in the same time period/genre). I was excited that the album seemed so short with only 7 songs, but they were long.
6.5/10
GOOD CHILL VIBES
Consistently good, but nothing too special, 3/5 Highlight- "Billy Jack"
Good album and excellent production. I like curtis here and there but an entire album is too much for me. Love the album art
Pretty enjoyable. I liked the smooth somberness of the songwriting and the slick production. Vocals are very emotional and so is the subject matter. Cool mix of styles, from R&B to reggae.
Great voice and an easy listen. Favorite: Love to the People
I very much enjoyed the last Curtis Mayfield the album generated, so I'm quite happy to dive on into this one. That said the album art is awfully grim. Yeah, this is quality funk, as expected, but more downbeat, perfect for an introspective mood. Solid throughout both lyrically and musically, and consistent in tone. Also quite spiritual, which is not really my personal jam. I acknowledge the beauty of the album but it's not the kind of thing I'll reach for all that often though I did let Spotify know I'd be happy to hear So in Love from time to time.
Fairly entertaining nothing truly stood out. One of those albums I’d have to desert to the get the most out of which I don’t have time for. But otherwise good listening.
Funky but a bit repetitive for my ears.
I don't think it's Curtis' greatest work; he very definitely has a style and sticks to it, but it's a perfectly decent listen.
I know this is one of those great, classic albums, but the truth is I don't love it as much as I'm supposed to. There are a lot of important things this album is trying to say--about Black history, about stories that deserve to be told--but I just didn't quite fuse with the style. Fave track: Billy Jack. wonderful vocals here but it's just not an album that resonates with me.
It's obviously cool, but you have to be on board with Curtis' vocals and I'm not really
Curtis Mayfield being Curtis Mayfield. This album has a great funk sound, but what purpose does a generic funk album have on a list of 'Must-Listen-To' Albums?
Lekker relaxed
Definitely a great album, and fantastic recording. However nothing about this justifies a 4 from me, though it is close.
Listened to on 5/9/22 3/5 Favorite song: so in love, Billy Jack Good mo-town vibes but some of it sounded like porno music and I think Curtis was a bit out of his range in a few songs
I'm at least 10% cooler for having heard this.
It was pretty good, if a bit repetitive. I wanted to like it more. Had some high points early on the record and then weaker on the back half.
Bass fader to 10. Wah pedal to max. Sit back and enjoy his soulful voice.
boy if he could see it now
I dug it. Need to give it another round where I’m able to listen to lyrics closer.
I’m scoring this an incomplete. It really defies an opinion on first listen. I was just sort of meh at first, but then i started to write this note and flipped through the beginning of So in Love and Love to the People. And then listened to the whole thing again. So I have to just say I have to score it with an asterisk and come back at some point. I don’t love his constant whiny falsetto, but everything else is so funky, peaceful, pessimistic… all at once? Really brilliant songwriting.
Fun easy to listen to R&B with a solid bassline. Nothing that I personally grasped onto but I still enjoyed it.
Приятный, но не слишком запоминающийся фанк/соул. 5 из 10