Reviews (page 6 of 12)
"Billy Jack"
The funky soulful sorta music you'd hear at your grandma's house or your favorite coffee shop. It speaks volumes how the themes illustrated in the music and album cover remain so relevant today
Beautiful soul album
I don't think I've heard anything from this album before. Early 1970's is Curtis' prime, so I'm excited. The album was a solid listen. There wasn't a song that really stood out on this album. All of the horns sounded really good, you can tell D'Angelo was influenced by them.
Prachtig album, heerlijk soulful op de brakke zondag Maakt mijn dag goed
7/10 slay not usually my style but its good on a nice long walk
Deliciously funky with some cool groovy slap bass intertwined throughout
Ultra Gut, würde 4 Sterne geben
The Curtis Mayfield album was a solid first recommendation from this list. The opening song had a great baseline, and several songs were good representations of '70s funk. Great use of wah pedals on the guitars. I really enjoyed the album, and I think several songs could be mixed in to regular play, especially for parties.
Awesome album, very funky. Would play in cocktail bars, at the start of a party, during dinner with friends.
So many great Curtis Mayfield tunes but "Billy Jack" is my favourite. Any/everything else that follows is just smooth gravy. Overall I'm a little more preferential towards "Superfly" as this one brings it all down a bit more than I like for the long haul - would have liked a bit more funk/groove/slightly uptempo. It's a bit of nitpicking though, as it's a very nice album with Curtis' classic falsetto carrying through catchy melodic tunes, even if a bit too laid back. Best tracks: "Billy Jack" (put it on repeat) and "Love to the People" 7/10 4 stars.
Fantastic album. Would listen to again
Good album
Great album, not much upbeat
nice, chill. cool. idk what to say
Good listen! really enjoyable
Great album, very chill and relaxing
I really apperciate the vocals, that is probably the strongest part of the album. Curtis Mayfield can sing. The first half of the album did not captivate me as much as the mid to endpoint. I was about to give up on in until I heard So In Love, and that song alone pulled me back in. It gave me the strength to finish the album, and i am glad i did.
Enjoyed
Not my style but I could see myself cruising to this in the 70's.
quality funk. you can definitely hear his influence on modern day acts such as black pumas.
Heard before: some I just love Curtis Mayfield. That’s it really. And along with these sweet pure soul tracks is one of the best album covers so far. Reading up on the history, it’s a recreation of a photo from the 30s, even though it feels so 1975. Which begs the question : despite all the nominal progress, has anything really changed for the Black community in 40 years? These songs tell the stories of folks like the ones in line on the cover, difficult lives in the city with no prospect for change. But unlike some other songs and stories like this, it doesn’t feel hopeless. It’s a challenge, but Mayfield’s narrators are not giving up; they are looking for ways to keep the faith. Things that should change just won’t, so these people are looking for way to spread love and light nonetheless. Also, he’s one of my favorite singers, from his soulful tenor to his lilting falsetto. I really love this record; I just wish there were more than seven songs! Top tracks: Blue Monday People, Hard Times, So In Love
Smooth! My dad loves Curtis Mayfield but I've never gotten around to listening to him myself until today
Oooh yeah, du doux funk dans mes oreilles ça me met bien
Solid tracks and had a nice funky vibe. Felt poignant to today with its message about America
Listened in the yard on my koss headphones, sounds great
Initially I liked it. The first few tracks were very pleasing, and the funky R&B with social overtones in the lyrics were well done. As the album continued, I lost general interest. The vocals of Curtis Mayfield (although excellent) became repetitive to my ears. Glad I listened, but probably won't listen to the full album again. Granted I didn't give dedicated attention to the lyrics that I would upon a third or fourth listen through.
N2l
Considering this is a genre I would never set out to listen to I actually enjoyed this
Fuck me this is great. Unexpectedly so.
Beautiful album! I love this guy's music. While it's just a smidge beneath Superfly, still very good music! 8 out of 10
In just the right mood for that! Nice
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this. Funky and catchy. High pitched voice sounds a little gospel/soul at times. Standout is "Jesus".
Mayfield was a master. This is smooth and funky and I will return to it.
Good. Wouldn't buy. Pusherman amazing.
Superfly!
Heel nice
Heerlijk! Funky!
8/10
I really wished I didn't hate Mayfield's singing voice so much, because the funky instruments & lyrics are absolutely phenomenal. Favorite track: Hard Times
The perfect length for an album.
Fanger tidsånden fra 70-tallet NYC. Cool!
Another moody and depressing soul album by Curtis Mayfield. Great p-funk inspired grooves between the bass lines, squeeling guitar, and consistent drum beats. His vocals are high-noted and pessimistic, putting a lot of emotion into the topics of race and religion. He's done better in Superfly, but he's strong here. It's straight soul. There aren't any catchy choruses, but I can groove to all of it. Very short, which I appreciate. With just 7 tracks, they all fly by, especially since they aren't too loud either. "When Seasons Change" sometimes strays away for seconds but goes back to the original formula. A lot of these tracks feel like jam improvisation with how consistent the tracks are around central themes but go off the grid to maintain interest. I can't say anything blew me away like his other albums, probably due to the lack of hooks. Only lame track is "Jesus", but it's not bad either. I hate soul tracks that try to be a sermon. Everything else was enjoyable. No crazy instrumental solos or hard-hitting moments, but it does what it does well.
Thoughtprovoking R&B Funk album "Billy Jack" (black man being gunned down) "Jesus" "Hard Times" "Love To The People"
I loved this album! Not sure if there was a song I didn’t like. Ended up listening three times.
Mi canción favorita es Billy Jack.
A very good album with some great funk and heartfelt singing. I particularly liked the first and last songs.
This one kept my attention. I like the funkiness and the coolness.
I really thought I was going to love this one but then it was a lot of falsetto singing about Jesus? Good but maybe not great.
Not his best album but damn good
3.5/5 nice jazz/funk for background
Beautiful album. Really enjoyed Jesus and So in Love. 4/5
I have so much fondness for Curtis Mayfield. He's truly underrated and not lauded nearly enough for his funky cool creative genius. He's the kind of artist I mention in passing that people shrug off in a "I don't know him" way that is so unfortunate to see because he's a treasure trove of emotive funk soul and OG R&B music with a deeper message. And that album cover! It perfectly conveys how artificial and ethically bankrupt the "American Dream" actually is and says so much about the disenfranchisement experienced by Black Americans. Whitey is thriving and doing so off the backs of hardworking immigrants and minorities struggling to eek out a base level existence, ah yes, that American Dream! What a wonder it is!
Curtis slows it down a little here to address societal issues that still exist almost fifty years later. Thanks for trying, Curtis. The music here is as lovely as ever. His voice is smooth as butter, the instrumentation soulful and funky. And his lyrics are as beautiful as they are poignant -- tales of coping with the world you find yourself. Sex and drugs, love and hate.
Psychedelic soul done to perfection. I don't even mind the falsetto singing. Favorite song: blue monday people
This is my first album and it's a nice start. It's not the most astonishing album I've ever listened to but it a solid album
Smooooooth, very smooth - I like this slowcore soul! I think more listens could possibly bump this to a five. Fave track - "Billy Jack" is a fantastic intro track, and I dug "Love to the People" as a closer, too!
A very good album yields depths with repeated listens.
Nao conhecia as musicas desse album mas Pursherman e Superfly sao excelentes.
A pleasant listen throughout, no standouts but doesn't get dull. Good job Curtis.
I must have a soft spot for anything vaguely Motown. Another great record.
Re@l S0lid Stuff
Evident reggae (and jazz?) influence (good). Instanteously excellent with first song 'Billy Jack'. This is about a black man being shot. First impressions: 4 stars.
Really starting to get into more Curtis mayfield and this album is a very good introduction. Not quite like the other songs I’ve heard such as Superfly and Pusherman, this album had more of a spiritual feel to it. Nether the less, I enjoyed it very much
Great vocals
Think I got pregnant listening to this
entré emboladísima pensando que iba a ser algo completamente distinto y quedé FASCINADA. preciocísima música, 9/10
4.25
Smooth. don't mind this. 4 stars.
tropppppp smooth, j'aime ce style et je vais le faire jouer plus souvent que je peux y penser en backgroudn probablement. 4.25
cozy. sometimes I extra remember that i almost never really listen to the lyrics. I wonder what he's saying
Beautiful intersection of gospel, funk, and R&B. Curtis's soft voice is silky and soft as a cloud. I especially like the groovy tunes with the fat bass and guitar riffs. A tad too slow and Jesusy for a 5 though.
First song is great. The lyrics remind me of "I Can't Die" by PAO, a commentary on African American death in America. It sounds like the modern band Blank Pumas draws inspiration from Curtis Mayfield as well. A few songs in and it's been filled with emotion the entire time. I'm feeling it. After a while the constant falsetto started to get old, but it was at least done well.
Those first few moments of the album - I thought we were going to reggae land. This was a good listen, but i got tired of the nonstop high falsetto vocal. I needed a break and a grounding that never came. But the instrumentation was dope.
Smooth n groovin. Plus incisive lyrics, a little humour, a lotta character. Didn't feel a huge distinction between the tracks but that was almost a plus for the easy flow of it all. Will definitely be coming back. Fave track: So in Love
I think my mood depended on my listen of this. First listen through I was walking through the park on a sunny afternoon and really vibing with it. Next morning I re-listened in the car with some bad weather in some heavy traffic and found it a bit tedious at times. I was a fan of Mayfield before hearing of this but this particular record was new to me - there’s an undeniable groove you get hooked into, and he has pipes. A pretty to very good album here - Three and a half. Fave track: Jesus
dope
Mellifluous, smooth voice. Nice groove. Admirable political slant. Not digging the ‘Jesus’ track but a decent album overall. Great ending on ‘Love to the People’. We should all subscribe to that: Little bit of brotherhood Guarantee it can be good for the soul
The timing of this album title with today’s mass shooting.. Curtis Mayfield’s whole vibe always hits hard and smoothe.
Nice solid listen. Enjoyed my time with this smooth pretty album
This was a great album that sent me down a path of terrific songs.
4.5 - “Subtle” is not a word I’d often use to describe funk music but Mayfield pulls off that sound with his blend of signature falsetto and aching guitar voicing. I especially love the thee back-to-back tracks “When Seasons Change”, “So In Love” and “Jesus.”
So In Love is just straight up panty soup. One of the loveliest songs I had ever heard. Billy Jack and Jesus were also good songs IMO. I actually enjoyed this album more than Superfly. This album was closer to a 3.5 out of 5 for me but I rounded up just because of So In Love.
me ha gustado mucho ... algo había escuchado de Curtis , pero desde luego ahora ha tomado otra dimensión
honestly the beats and the lyrics are really good; but the tempo,something about it makes me kinda want to strive for more. I like the songs except for one which is the usual. I think I'll give it an 8/10
A voice that is strong and fragile at the same time - I've always loved Curtis, but hadn't come across this album before.
Some nice funk and soul. 8/10
Never listened to. Curtis Mayfield before but I quite enjoyed this. Good mix of funk and soul.
first listen fantastic funk
I’ve never heard funk that’s this laidback and relaxed. The music has some funky licks and beats but it’s closer to the soul of Marvin Gaye or Al Green then Curtis Mayfield’s own “Superfly.” The music is beautiful and puts a spotlight on Mayfield’s voice.
Very good! Smooth as. Really liked So in Love especially
Pleasant
Na blue monday people se baš osjeti utjecaj na lambchop iz nixon faze
Curtis
ritmo y melancolía soothing flow
not bad, pretty chill, I liked it
I'm a sucker for a good falsetto and the music is nice too.
Funky, soulful - a good nice dose of Curtis Mayfield without too much fanfare and straight to the point. A lot of record in this list should take a page out of this album’s book.
this album is a masterclass in funk minimalism; does so much with so little when it wants to and then switches it up and fills the mix. no matter what , it works. Best tracks: Jesus, so in love, love to the people
great sound. seems like it also could've been recorded much later. a sound that seemed to define the music industry.
Not,my style of music but I can see the reason it’s on this list.
Very cool soul!!
Curtis Mayfield may not be the flashiest singer out there, he may not be the most memorable, or the most awe-inspiring, or the most emotional. But what he brings to the table, is consistently great music. You know what you're getting with a CM record, it's gonna be groovy, it's gonna be chill, and it's gonna have an insightful and honest sociopolitical message, but it'll never be heavy-handed or sanctimonious. Curtis Mayfield is reliable. He's the Toyota Corolla of music. He's the Nokia phone of music. He's gravity personified. 4 rolls of duct tape out of 5
Everything from Curtis Mayfield I love and this album just makes me love him more. I was first introduced to him with Superfly (highly recommend listening) so this is just more of a reason for me to like him.
nice album
This album is beautiful.
Great album, beautiful crisp sounds.
m'ha sorpres gratamente. es freshhh i mola el rollo per ser del 75
Baby making music. I'm now pregnant.
Ok
Great record! I liked the social commentary and instrumentation. I didn't like the random song about jesus
Soulful, impassioned. 4.5
Sounds a lot like Al Green.
HL: “When Seasons Change”, “So In Love”, “Jesus” A serious but (I think) somewhat optimistic album which leans into gospel. I’m in a grey area where I don’t have much tolerance for evangelism but I love gospel music, so ultimately the spiritualism in Mayfield’s lyrics added to, rather than detracted from, the album’s calls for action. November 20, 2022
Cool stuff.
I didn’t realize I’m as much of a Curtis Mayfield fan as I am. That’s the best song about Jesus I ever heard.
Love that voice, the funky music and the overall vibe. Nice album.
Not something I’m familiar with but really liked it. Sounded more modern than I’d expect from 1975
Smooth with a capital S. Felt seducted with its velvet quality music, only to be told stories about discrimination, poverty and hard times. I didn't find a particular track I liked on its own, but its a good experience overall.
Very nice :)
Kinda love Curtis. He's so authentic and deeply groovy. This album was meditative in its soulfulness
Good soul album. First couple songs were hot.
Damn that was dope. Did not expect that (new to me).
Jesus!
Well executed soulful tunes with a well defined atmosphere. Just very solid
Bra!
I love some Curtis Mayfield. I didn't find this album to be as fun as Superfly, but then again I don't think that it was supposed to be fun. Overall another great album by Curtis Mayfield 4/5
curtis is a king
Curtis hefur eitthvað sem vermir sálina mína. Góð kósí-plata.
A lot of soul in this
When Seasons Change puts the blues into rhythm and blues! So In Love throws back to Stax in the mid-'60s. After an outstanding start it did tail off.
Super smooth and super cool. Not normally a style of music that I seek out but I really liked this. 4 stars.
Not bad but I prefer the funkier Superfly more
Easy listening and groovy
This mf groovy asf
While not as loud or a as bombastic as you would think an album like this would be given the subject matter, the anger is still prevalent. The recording is subline, masterfully recorded and mixed that allows every instrument and voice space to breathe.
I didn't know much about Curtis Mayfield other than People Get Ready.
Some good tunes on there - loved So in love - Love to the peiplet
Nice mix of funk, soul and blues. I think it might grow on me.
Review #1 of 1001 Grooves 5/5 Vocals 3/5 Lyrics 5/5 Motown, 1970s Mayfield sheds light on a persistent struggle for people of color and the working class in general. Content as relevant nearly 50 years later as when this album originally released in the 70s. Impeccable instrumental funk vibes, the vocal style isn't my favorite, but has some high points. Favorite song was Blue Monday People. The album grew on me as it progressed, overall enjoyable listen. 3.5/5 Album art is very evocative, elevates the album as a whole to a solid 4/5 for me. Looking forward to hearing more in the soul/funk genre.
Loved it!
Yeah really liked this. Just some chill funky times
18/08/2022 Curtis Mayfield – There’s No Place Like America Today This album is a great surprise. R&B, funk and soul are styles I don’t listen to too often, but I’m going to start doing it if I can listen to great albums like this one. What a vibe! Everything sounds super smooth, sentimental, and made from the heart. The album is also lyric heavy, so it is worth it to listen and read. A note: as I said, I’m not well versed in these styles, so the review is only based on what I have feel with the songs (not that I’m a professional with the rest, but at least I have something to compare them). Billy Jack – 4.5/5 Incredible way to start the album. Great vibes and feelings, contrasting in a way with lyrics about the (probably violent) assassination of a man. When Seasons Change – 4/5 Again, a song with great sentiment put into it. I maybe like it a little less than the previous one. So in Love – 3/5 This song musically transmit so perfectly being in love. But (if I’m not wrong) the singer is trying to apologize for an affair? I don’t know, I feel like it violates the meaning and feelings of the song a bit. Jesus – 3/5 The song sounds great, but I’m not really into religious preaching. Blue Monday People – 4.5/5 This song does lyrically what So in Love does not, in terms of loving someone. Additionally, talks about the working class and depression. Its music is great too. My favourite of the album. Hard Times – 4/5 Great song with a great message, without frills, very simple. Love to the People – 4/5 Great conclusion to the album too. Great music, great vibes, great lyrics, great message.
Not being familiar with that particular album, i expected something more "funky-psychadelic". Outstanding sonics and musicianship tho.
Sequência envolvente e muito satisfatória.
Billy Jack - Very funky opening riff. Melody reminds me of Pink Floyd for some reason.
Great to listen to such an influential artist who kept making music after his accident that left him paralyzed.
Best Song: Billy Jack. A real soulful introduction to the album, with this current of funk that is disappointingly less-prominent in the rest of the album. Worst Song: Jesus. I love me some gospel music, but the falsetto became a bit too much, and the guitar solo in the middle just felt like Eric Clapton was trying to butt himself into the track, uninvited. Overall: A lovely soul/funk/R&B album. I don't know if I'd heard Curtis Mayfield before, but he has a beautiful voice. I also appreciate that the album is short; at 37 minutes it doesn't overstay its welcome. Perfect for relaxed settings. Music to cook and eat to.
Gillar! Funkigt och souligt. Bandet är otroligt med sina tighta riffs. Curtis Mayfields sång är ljuvligt sexig, men i vissa låtar hamnar rösten faktiskt lite för mycket i fokus, och instrumenten hamnar tyvärr i skymundan. Gillar kanske därför de lite "hårdare" låtarna, med tyngre riffs och mindre skönsång, som 'Billy Jack' och 'Hard Times', medan t.ex. en låt som 'Jesus' är lättare att glömma. Bästa låt: Billy Jack
Great Soul vibes
I didn’t have time for a proper listen but what I heard was Heartfelt, passionate and soul baring. Billy Jack and So I love were great. First impression is 3 stars but I think when I listen to it more carefully I might find it to be as good as Superfly so I’ll bump the score up another point now.
This is great, I'd only ever heard his hits before this.
Prefs: Billy Jack, Jesus, Blue Monday People, Hard Times, Love To The People Moins pref: When Seasons Change
glad i listened!
Frábær plata.
You understand that you're getting old when soul music doesn't sound embarrassing anymore. Sweet! I'm in, deeply.
The world is a smooth and terrible place.
Beautiful soulful and funky record. Love the bass tones and the guitar. Great arrangements. Slower than his other stuff I've heard.
Worth a second listen …
Yup.
"Billy Jack" - tune, "When Seasons Change" - silky Honest great Sunday album, gives off such autumn energy, love.
A real discovery, a brilliant album and none of his big hits.
god its so smooth
the soul
-pretty nice groovy stuff, but nothing to go crazy over -i like the high-pitched backing vocals -not as strong as his "Pusherman" album
Curtis sure was one funky guy
I feel like Curtis Mayfield had THE definitive soul sound of the 70s. His aesthetic was infectious and caught on like wildfire. Listening to this, you can tell Marvin and Curtis were listening to/influencing each other. This one just got better and better with repeated listens.
Was totally unfamiliar with this album and really enjoyed it, despite it being quite short. I hadn't realized that Mayfield penned Baby Huey's "Hard Times" until I heard it on this album. Good listen worth another round.
Dig it. Funky stuff with a unique voice.
Very soothing and enjoyable listen.
I didn't get the meaning of all songs from this album, but it's one of that cases where a classical is easily recognizable.
Nice mix of wah-wah funky bass and horns, if a little slow. Standout tracks: Billy Jack Hard Times Love to the People
Some funky songs, some chilled out ballads. Short album. Bit God Squaddy on some songs
listened to some of it...vibes!
I really liked his voice and the songs are impossible to dislike. Very solid album overall!
Even when it got slow, was still very pleasant listening. Soul music, indeed.
Love Curtis Mayfield. Mellow album.
Sounds good, not the biggest fan, but nice for the background.
3.5
Very smooth
my initial impression is hippie vibes it has a slow melody, but works for what the genre is. it is an easy album to listen to, very calming the guitar riffs are really good, it reminds me of some old time blues
Very soulful - lots of similar sounding songs
I already had Superfly in this list, and this doesn’t quite hit the same heights, but still excellent. Adding to the rotation.
Skön, lite roliga melodier/instrument och politisk. Precis vad man tänker om 1975!
Funk and Jesus!
long album as his voice never leaves the same single tone but was good
I've never heard this album but Curtis Mayfield is awesome and this album is too.
Curtis Mayfield is a musical and poetic genius who is not afraid to push a few buttons.
I don't know where Mr. Mayfield got his information, but Jesus definitely did drink that wine, drink that wine, drink that wine. Anyway, this was smooth as hell. Best track: So in Love
So. Good.
It's the same case as with electronic music - it's impossible to make bad RnB/Funk album.
Heartwarming and deep May need a couple of more listens
Clean sound, tenor vocals. It’s not my style, but it’s very interesting soul album
Makes Monday sound like a Sunday.
Another fantastic album! Keeping the streak alive from last week. Curtis Mayfield is probably my all-time favorite R&B voice, his falsetto is pretty unusual but very affecting. I hadn't heard this album before, but I know "So In Love" very well, thanks to GTAV. The politics on here sneak up on you, it's very effective. And it's still just great music to listen to, some undeniable grooves and melodies. I hope we also get the Superfly soundtrack on here, but I won't hold my breath. Awesome album! Favorite tracks: So In Love, When Seasons Change, Billy Jack, Blue Monday People, Love to the People. Album art: Very telling. The contrast between the American Dream and American Reality. Really like this classic art style too, especially when used ironically. 4.5/5
Some solid conscious soul and funk. I think it falters a little around the middle of the album, but it starts and ends strong enough to make it to four stars for me.
Great lyricism
This funky as hell…. Ultra cool from the super fly!!!
So smooth and mellow. Liked it!
Wheeeewww that SOUL man
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Billy jack, So in love, Love to the people
I like this music but I dont know, the album as a whole was kind of boring. I really liked Billy Jack.
Wow! A dang good mellow album!
nice sound
Really soulful album. So in Love is the best song on the album. 7/10.
4/5 - Great but not memorable in my opinion; not my style perhaps?
some good chill vibes for this one
now that is a opener to an album not what I expected at all "Don't get me wrong, the man is gone But it's a wonder, he lived this long" "Ah! didn't care nothing about being black" the instruments here are outrageous wow this album is throwing me not what I was expecting really enjoying it JESUS! ... JESUS! ... JESUS! "Doin’ crime wastin’ time! Drinkin’ that wine Drinkin’ and drinkin’ and drinkin’ and drinkin’" "Although he be my brother he wants to hold me up" "News is bad on every TV show So I tune in my radio, talkin' 'bout"
Couple of songs on here that didn't really land on me the first time, like Hard Times, but as the album was only 35 mins I went back and relistened to them. I can't really fault any track, great album. And one of the best album covers I've seen.
Very cool. Soulful/funky with great instrumentals and unique falsetto vocals.
interesting title, this is going to be political isn't it lol. nice intro. really nice voice. oh second song's awesome too, this is going to be a 5 easily. 'if you want a good life, best look into yourself'. interesting lyrics, pretty straightforward messages but you could probably tune them out if you're not really paying attention, he sounds so calm all throughout. it's a good balance then i guess. also i love the song lengths, they feel fully realized, hate when songs that sound good end too soon or go on for too long and become diluted, here they're perfect. it was a very satisfying listen all in all. i guess the album could feel a little bit samey but it's just over half an hour long and the variety in song themes makes up for it. first three songs were my favorites but they're all pretty good. it ended it up not being quite a 5 cause 'jesus' did nothing for me but really good otherwise.
Loved it
Nothing like an afternoon grooving to the smooth sounds of Curtis Mayfield.
Really great! Would love on vinyl!
Critical and necessary. My favorite song from this album is: ˝So in love˝ My rating for this album is: 2:90
dark
Fun! “So in Love” and “Love to the People” are solid 70s soul-funk, of course. There are some clichés, too, I’m afraid (e.g., “Jesus”).
Somewhat out of my wheelhouse, but kind of feel like I should listen to R&B / soul / funk more often? Reminds me of the kind of music I'd listen to growing up on oldies. Standouts: - This cover art. - So in Love - such a smooth vibe - Jesus - kind of want to look closer at the lyrics - Hard Times - Love to the People
6.5/10 fun music. Some good lyrics in there
Quand en 1975 l’ex-leader des Impressions et génie de la soul de Chicago décide de balancer son album, on ne pouvait que s’attendre à ce que la foudre frappe à nouveau. Sorti trois piges après le raz-de-marée cinématographique et sonique Superfly, There’s No Place Like America Today est arrivé avec toutes les attentes. Pourtant, disons les choses clairement : quand Superfly a le barreau, cela donne There's No Place. Une sorte de réponse décalée au monumental What's Going On de Marvin Gaye, un disque qui, sous ses faux airs de manifeste politique et de constat social au vitriol, transpire surtout le sexe et la luxure. On se croirait presque face aux obsessions charnelles du Big Chief de South Park, les yeux exorbités et le slip en surchauffe, prêt à tout transformer en sérénade de fond de caleçon. Mais sur la longueur, la sauce prend-elle vraiment ? Pas totalement. Ce septième effort solo de Mayfield est un objet étrange, bancal par moments, qui m'a laissé sur ma faim et qui ne décroche chez moi qu’un très sage 3 sur 5, la moyenne syndicale pour un artiste dont on attend systématiquement l'extase. La pochette, pourtant, annonce la couleur d'un cynisme absolu. En reprenant la photo historique de Margaret Bourke-White montrant des réfugiés afro-américains attendant de la nourriture sous une affiche publicitaire ironique (« There's No Way Like the American Way »), Curtis Mayfield semble vouloir planter un poignard dans le dos de l'Oncle Sam. On s'attend à un disque de révolte, un pavé dans la mare des illusions post-Watergate et de la récession économique du milieu des années 70. Mais dès qu'on appuie sur la touche PLAY, le constat politique se fait vite déborder par une tout autre énergie, bien plus charnelle et perverse. L'engagement politique est là, certes, mais il est comme filtré à travers des draps de satin froissés et des lumières tamisées qui invitent moins à la révolution populaire qu'à des galipettes illégitimes. Curtis ne hurle pas sa rage sur les barricades : il susurre ses doutes à l'oreille, un verre de bourbon dans une main et la main baladeuse de l'autre. C'est cette tension permanente entre le sermon moraliste et la tentation de la chair qui domine tout l'album, le transformant en un drôle de champ de bataille où la sueur du désir prend systématiquement le pas sur les slogans politiques. Sur le plan strictement musical, l'album ne fait pas dans l'esbroufe orchestrale ni dans les cuivres flamboyants d'antan. Ici, Curtis dépouille son propos, ralentit le tempo jusqu'à l'extrême et privilégie une approche minimaliste, presque fantomatique. C’est du funk au ralenti, de la soul qui s'étire en longueur avec des lignes de basse lourdes, répétitives, et une guitare wah-wah qui pleure plus qu'elle ne tranche. Ce refus délibéré du tube immédiat ou de l'hymne fédérateur donne au disque une atmosphère poisseuse, mais qui finit par tourner un peu en rond. Les morceaux s'enchaînent dans une torpeur étrange où le falsetto légendaire de Curtis, d'ordinaire si vibrant et porteur d'espoir, semble ici flotter au-dessus d'une messe noire hédoniste. Tout est lent, étouffé, confinant parfois à une paresse rythmique qui empêche l'album de véritablement décoller. En poussant cette logique de la retenue jusqu’à l’excès, Curtis Mayfield finit par enfermer l’auditeur dans un huis clos sonore. Et là où d'autres galettes du bonhomme savaient faire cohabiter l'urgence de la rue et la souplesse d'un groove imparable, nous sommes ici englué dans un sirop narcotique un poil indigeste. On cherche en vain l'étincelle qui viendrait embraser cette mécanique trop huilée, ce moment de bascule où le discours social cesserait de faire banquette pour véritablement mordre. Au lieu de ça, on a l'impression d'assister à un long monologue chuchoté au fond d'un club enfumé où les clients pensent davantage à finir la nuit accompagnés qu'à refaire le monde. Cette nonchalance permanente, si elle installe une ambiance moite incontestable, finit par user la patience : à force de refuser l'explosion et de brider les montées de sève, Curtis désamorce lui-même la charge subversive qu'il prétendait injecter dans ses pistes. Le problème quand on s'appelle Curtis Mayfield et qu'on a déjà gravé des sommets de la musique noire américaine dans le marbre, c'est que la complaisance ne pardonne pas. Face à la perfection narrative d'un Superfly ou à la grâce aérienne de ses grandes envolées chez les Impressions, cette cuvée 1975 fait pâle figure et sonne un peu comme une redite en demi-teinte. L'album reste néanmoins une curiosité fascinante pour quiconque s'intéresse aux errances sonores du maître, mais il lui manque ce petit quelque chose qui transforme un simple disque d'ambiance en véritable déflagration intemporelle. À l’arrivée, ce There's No Place Like America Today n'est évidemment pas une bouse infâme — le talent de compositeur et d'arrangeur de Curtis Mayfield empêche tout naufrage intégral —, mais il n'a tout simplement pas réussi à me faire monter au rideau. Trop engourdi par ses propres fantasmes, trop tiraillé entre la gravité de son sujet et ses pulsions lubriques de soulman en rut, le disque flotte dans un entre-deux qui frustre autant qu'il intrigue. On est très loin de la clarté incisive de Roots ou du souffle visionnaire de ses premiers chefs-d'œuvre solo. Au final, c’est un disque qui s'écoute d'une oreille distraite un soir de déprime ou lors d'un rencard qui s'éternise sans jamais conclure.
Pretty Funky
I ultimately find this kind of soul a bit too slow and repetitive, though I respect the talent.
Laid back, soulful, and cohesive. A lot of sound that go "wah." the singer using a lot of falsetto is an interesting characteristic. A little too lethargic for my tastes, but I dig it. Some interesting contemplative lyrics as well.
This is a perfectly fine bit of R&B that is nice enough to listen to, but also generally just isn't entirely my thing. Did I think it was good? Sure. Is this something I'd listen to again? Not likely. Not my genre of choice. Also, damn what a fucking album cover.
Very, too easy listening.
Not bad. needs more listens for me. 3/5
Et album å vandre i byen til, men antagelig passer et mørklagt Detroit bedre enn norske forstader. Curtis og kompani har valgt seg ett tempo og endrer ikke noe på det. Blottet for pop-frierier og godt lent bakover på foregående album fra herremannen. Dette når aldri ekstatiske høyder, og jeg vet ikke hvor dype tanker jeg kan klare å få til med tekstlinjer som can’t be no fun / shot with a hand gun Alt etter dagsformen svirrer dette mellom tre og fire, men den institusjonaliserte rasismen gir det en treer i dag.
Solid soul album.
First listen; 3.5; This is an album I want to come back and give more listens to. I really enjoy the sound and production of the music, and the vocals are really enjoyable with the music. It feels light and airy enough while still being punchy, smooth, and interspersed with fun riffs and runs. Feels like there's a lot of happiness under the surface of the songs that's restrained but then allowed to bubble up. Favorite Track: When Season Change
3.9/5
Billy jack So in love Hard times Skip track Jesus
6.5
It was soulful, groovy and deep. I appreciate his guitar skills and blending of jazz and motown into a somewhat different sound all together. It did all feel a little one note and no major highs or lows, just sort of middle.
This was great music to vibe to. I think I’d need multiple listens to connect on a deeper level, but I liked the groovy sounds.
Ihan mukavaa, perus 70-luvun sieluilua.
Kunnollista sialukasta menoa. Ei ehkä itelle uppoa pidemmän päälle, mutta toimii aikansa. Perushyvää soitantaa ja laulantaa, niinku voi odottaa.
not my thing but great for what it is!
This album flew by and I must confess I never really heard a break between songs. Very typical of the other Mayfield albums I've heard. I'll go back to this one for sure.
Funky cool but all the same
Funk…todavía lo entiendo bien pero fluyó
A nice funky album. Pretty good way to start a Monday.
Liked it. Funky
Pretty good, chill
Socially conscious soul - a classic combo but not particularly standout
3/5
Pretty good, soulful and funky and I don't normally listen to this kind of music. Great vocals and great band performances. Solid 3/5.
Timely after just watching Bend it like Beckham! I didn’t realize he was Move On Up! Iconic. His career is incredible wowowow. I don’t usually love a higher voice but this is hitting.
Lettbeint digg funk/soul
An easy album to listen to from beginning to end. It's quiet, but you can feel it.
3 Half of it sounds like what people would be having sex to 50 years ago, and the other half is about Jesus
Fun and enjoyable enough but not particularly memorable. Great album cover though
3.5
6 - so in love is quite good, rest is ok
150726 10:38 3.5
Groovy soul music nice enough
Hele soepele funky plaat van Curtis. Vind de vibe minder sterk als Move On Up, maar dat is dan ook wel één van mijn favo platen. Heb Curtis in die zin wel hoog zitten. There's No Place Likes America heeft is smooth en een goede muzikale ondersteuning van de hoge kopstem waar hij veel in zingt. Hij klinkt dan bijna als een blaasinstrument. Hij blaast mij er niet mee omver, maar lekker is het wel. 7/10 Highlights Blue Monday People
Okay album - may listen again 3 stars
Meek instrumentals and Mayfield sings at too high of a register. 2.5 stars.
Not the best Mayfield, but still really good
This was ok, I enjoyed the overall style, but each song was a bit too long. Also, it just sounds like vintage sex music.
so in love w dis album ...
Nice to have something that isn't rock but I do feel like he hasn't reached his full potential yet, especially when it comes to the vocals
Good R&B. Very iconic vocals from Curtis Mayfield. Good album like too, short and sweet
Ime mi je znano, mogla bi vsaj kak komad poznat? Wiki mi ne pomaga pri tem. Mogoč pa dejansko ne poznam nič. "So In Love" je prou fajn. Ma cel album so far je fajn. "Blue Monday People", "Hard Times", "Love to the People" so mi bli tud vsi fajni, bl se mi pa zdi, da noben komad ni posebej izstopal, na žalost.
I think this is pleasant enough but it does kind of fade into the background after awhile. I'm not crazy about the vocals throughout this record. Sometimes Mayfield's falsetto sounds appropriate for the mood of the song, but he doesn't have much vocal strength in that register and it can often sound faltering and flat as he struggles to hold the notes. It can even get a bit grating, like on "Jesus" where he just keeps hammering this particular note over and over until it kind of gave me a headache (but I was already on edge from being unexpectedly transported to church against my will). That's also the point in the record when I got bored and checked out, although Hard Times almost brought me back on board. I think, unfortunately, the vocals distracts me from the great musicianship going on behind it. The brass section in "So in Love" sounds especially good, and I like the saxophone in Love to the People.
Slow for sure, but I like the funky soul and gospel vibes. Plus its sad, angry, and horny and thats fun too.
Good
Would not buy
Classic sound but the best part is the album cover
Love Curtis but this album was weaker.
Curtis Mayfield’s distinctive voice is outstanding as usual. Really strong message that resonates across time in America. Will there ever be a time when black artists DONT need to keep telling us about what’s going on? Aretha Franklin, Gil Scott-Heron, Stevie, Public Enemy and every hip-hop and rap act that came after (except Eminem, named after a type of candy), UB40, Solange … it just never stops. That being said, interesting music that didn’t really stick with me. Classic soul, well done but not very memorable for me.
I really liked two tracks from this record (Billy Jack, Love to the People) but the other tracks are completely forgetable. 3.5/5
That title...!! more true now than at the time of this album. Not in a positive way though right? Loved the funky opening track and the album closed with a couple of great songs. I got irritated with high pitched voice through the middle of the album though. Therefore only a 3
Pretty good but kinda unremarkable
I enjoyed this. I hear a lot of Prince.
5.5/10 - Kind of a neutral soul/funk album. Nothing really stood out here.
I feel pretty indifferent about this album. It's fine. Light 6/10
Fue una buena escucha (Mucho mejor que lo anterior), pero no sé si para 4 estrellas, queda cerca
3/5. Not one of my personal favorite Curtis Mayfield albums. His singing is still great and the production is smooth but most of the songs on this one have just never stuck with me as much as those found on an album like “Move on Up.” That being said I do at least love the closer “love to the people”.
202. nice
Smooth as peanut butter soul album. A little slow for my taste, but otherwise no complaints
It was just good. Fav tracks: Love to the People, Hard Times, So In Love
This reminds me of tv shows in mid 70s. Funky falsetto didnt pay attention to lyrics. It was good but not great for my first listen. Actually surprised it was released in 75 - I would have guessed earlier.
I had this playing while cleaning my pool and now the whole neighborhood is pregnant, including the men. Never heard a sexy song about Jesus before but what do you know.
Funky
Nice old school music that was enjoyable back ground noise while working, the guy had a nice voice, the A’ing So In Love was my favourite
Not bad, kinda weird
Have I listened to this album before No How familiar am I with this album Unfamiliar How do I feel about this artist? I do not know him Pre-Listen Thoughts: I’m not a big soul fan so we’ll see about this one Favorite track(s): Billy Jack Post-Listen Thoughts: Still not my genre, but a solid album
I love Superfly but haven't really delved into Curtis Mayfield's catalog. This is pretty good funk/soul but I have to admit none of the songs really stand out. It's a bit to mellow for my taste even though I did enjoy it.
I appreciate the talent behind the falsetto, but it didn't make the listening experience better - almost brought it down to a two
I need to check how many of his albums are on this list, because... WHY? This is very middle of the road for him, I mean, it's not bad, but there are better albums (and singles) from Curtis. I'd never listened to this album of his before, but my dad loved the artist. It's... nothing special, nothing great, but a good (not great) example of the genre and his talents. I can listen to it on a technical level, and love what is done in songwriting, recording, and production, but for just casual listening, I'm not fully on board. "Billy Jack" 6:10 Funky, fun, but slow. This isn't exactly my normal jam as an entree, but more a side dish. "When Seasons Change" 5:28 Love the bells to open.another nice slow funky track, but by this point his falsetto is starting to grate on me a little. "So in Love" 5:15 The only single on the album, it's the strongest of the album so far, but very much more of the same, but more upbeat than the previous two. "Jesus" 6:13 Hey a bit of very slow Gospel! A change of pace without feeling out of place on the album. "Blue Monday People" 4:50 Well, a step up from the last track, back up in tempo while still feeling Gospel... At this point I'm grooving, but not enjoying. This album so far is what I would have as background music, not active listening music. "Hard Times" 3:45 Well, this sounds like it was written for Blacksploitation movies (which he did a lot of music for), it's the B-Side for So In Love, so it's more famous, and so far the second strongest track on the album. "Love to the People" 4:07 B Side to a non-album single, and... well... at least it's short. I'm kinda over the album by now. I simply lost interest. I can appreciate the technical sides, the writing, the recording, the mixing, but the results just... not my thing. Favorite Song: So in Love Least Favorite Song: Jesus Album Rating: 65/100 Familiarity Rating: 5/100 Would I listen again?: Nah. I'd let some of his stuff filter in, but I really didn't fully enjoy this.
Oh, hello, political album. So, I’m coming into this completely cold. My normal music sources don’t play soul/funk music, so I’m not familiar with this genre in general. I wish I was. I should be. Hopefully that’s going to change by the end of this thing. I am completely the wrong person to be talking about a lot of the themes here, though. I live in a region that has been predominantly White for as long as I can remember. There were *no* Black kids in my high school, in a town that didn’t crack 5000 population until around the time I was starting college. My entire exposure to non-White/Caucasian/whatever-epithet-you-prefer culture comes through media, and even then, largely through osmosis. Now, all that said, I can at least try to come at this in something resembling empathy. This is probably not the best album to be the first funk album I’ve ever listened to, but there’s still a lot to enjoy here. I love the instrumentation across the board here, and the way that the tracks give the music a lot of time to build up before Curtis Mayfield’s falsetto comes in and establishes the statements that his songs want to make. I came into this with a very different idea of what I was going to encounter than what I got. The A-side opens by giving us a track about senseless urban violence, a brief eulogy that stays away from going anywhere near being a dirge, lyrics even calling out that it’s all too common an event, that it’s hard to truly mourn when it’s been so clear that it was coming. So, like… I know that the Conscious Hip-Hop genre is a thing, but I was not expecting that kind of content in a 1970s funk album. The center of the album, the rest of the A-side and the start of the B-side knows exactly what it wants to say after that. Look after your own, your neighborhood is a community, find strength in togetherness, in shared faith, in the knowledge that everyone is suffering together. But all too soon, it comes back to the darker thesis statement. The stereotypes about Black people are that they’re violent toward each other, that they’re someone to fear, and that’s not right. Practice what the Good Lord preaches, let love defeat fear, and stop destroying community where it should be propping you up. Poverty is everyone’s problem, and climbing on your neighbors’ backs to try to get out instead of working with them to lift everyone is only going to drag everyone down. This is not the album I expected. This is not the album I wanted right now. But all the same, this is an album I’m glad to have heard. I don’t know that it’s an album I would return to, though. I can appreciate the artistry, and the messages, but that’s not a place I often want to go in my listening. 10/10 for artistry – this is an album that knows what it needs to say what it’s trying to say, and has precisely that, no more, no less. 10/10 for messaging, as well. However, I have to rate based on enjoyment and likelihood of returning to this album or my numbers are going to be skewed in a way that doesn’t help to sketch out my musical tastes, so unfortunately I think the most I can give this is a 6/10. Not the score I want to be giving the album, but as a gauge of enjoyment on anything besides a purely intellectual level, it’s probably the most honest
Groovy, sabroso, religioso aguantes Jesús de Nazaret. La voz puede cansa. Es un 3.5
A bit disappointed with this one, seeing how much I've liked other stuff from him. The album isn't bad but the big hitters didn't really do anything for me. Not sure why it's on here.
3.5
Enjoyable
Low key. Unremarkable
Soul/Funk Favorite Tracks: Billy Jack, So In Love, Hard Times Least Favorite Track: Jesus In a way, this album has the slow-soul/funk album where it’s a bunch of protest songs about current events back in the day, such as Billy Jack with gun control (and in fact, it’s actually clear as day with the album cover). While the lyrics and the vocals of Curtis is good, I can’t help but to feel bored about the entirety of the album, and it doesn’t help that the instrumental felt a bit out of place for me. While it’ll be in my music collection and be in my usual rotation, I don’t think that I truly have the urge on wanting to listen to them over some of the other collection that I have; mainly just to use it for when it’s on shuffle. 6/10
In today's world of constant chaos in the news, it's nice to listen to Mayfield's mostly wholesome record about love, Jesus and good will toward man. He recognizes that hardships exist and must be overcome, but also doesn't ever seem too overly stressed about them, which is a great change of pace. I do wish he had a little bit more vocal range in some of these songs, as his higher pitch can be a little bit grating, but what his voice can do within its range is impressive all on its own.
Billy Jack, temón. Después el resto, groovero pero muy pum pa abajo o muy católico