So unique, so singular. There’s a lot of themes of travelling distances in search of something, particularly the ‘going to graceland’, which I interpret to mean he’s trying to connect with the American country, the Earth, Africa, our selves we have lost to the dull complexity of civilization. It’s memorable but I think not quite powerful enough to really hit me like Bridge Over Troubled Water did. Really commendable for its vast, worldly influences. I think they are good, I don’t think it’s wrong to pull from different cultures, and I think more people should
I don’t know why, but I don’t really connect with this album. I like once in a lifetime and the opener, but the scary, funky stuff is not really my vibe. I feel like on most of the songs, the grooves, or not that memorable catchy, and they go on for a very long time. It’s highly creative, but I leave not having enjoyed it
Its a banger. I was tempted to give it a 3 actually because I get bored on some of the b-sides. You know what? I decided I AM going yo give it a 3. Life is too short gotta be daring. Earth move is fantastic though and It’s Too Late is one of my favorite songs. James taylor’s version of You’ve Got a Friend blows hers out of the water, much as I hate to say it
Haha im gonna continue being critical of albums because this list is mostly full of really good ones! I never liked this album but this time when i listened to it i feel like i understood it more. I’m coming around on gothic rock. I like the song with the synth that goes ‘do reee mi, do reee mi, do reeee mi sollll fa mi do’ its one of the first four i think track three its not lovesong
Ok im not gonna lie havent finished it yet bc its christmas day but this is already an easy 5. Im a sucker for these theatrical, angsty, enlightenment/love of life pieces. I just will always chase this rabbit down and I swear to god its the reason I keep wanting to live
This album you know what is funny this album might not even have as many high points as tapestry or disintegration which are the only two other albums i rated lower on here so far but like i do love the ronettes and that whole sound though i do hate phil soector? Idk. I think this actually gets a 3. You can’t just throw it on at a christmas party and expect it to go right front to back like there’s definite skips, you know which ones im talking about it is not marshamallow world i dont care about spelling. Actually it is a three, i already decided that oops forgot im hust repeating myself
Jazz is so hard. Listening to this album and trying to follow the chord progression on guitar and I had to tap out 7 tracks in. Too many failures. I think it’s a shame that like Frank Sinatra had every resource available to make this kind of huge cinematic bombastic music when it rips so hard off black artists, but also I don’t think we can throw out the baby with the bathwater; these songs are incredibly well orchestrated, the songwriting is too notch, and Frank’s voice is so full of mystery and life, everything just sounds so classic.
Interesting listen. I think the lyrics were lacking. The grooves and vibes are pretty great though. I think It could’ve pushed it’s
gothic sound a little harder but I can see why this was a significant release at the time.
Moments into this thing you can just immediately tell these people can see atoms. They are tuned into the rhythm of the universe. Their playing is as natural as the wind in the trees but more beautiful because they let you see what is special about the moment you are in. This music drives, drives you wild. Everything is cooking and eventually cooked to perfection. Everything that’s wrong with music industry is contained in the fact that this album, or Fela Kuti’s other work, is not routinely seen in the top of the top albums lists. This album makes the 1001 albums list look good.
Abrasive, heroic, stylish; but lacks the songwriting to back it up. I prefer their first album. It’s a lot hookier and I think conveys similarly important messages, though perhaps not as directly.
Okay so I know it is really good but it was one of those listens where I wasn’t exactly connecting with it/in the mood. I think it’s probably a 4 but I am noting a 3 because that is reflective of my experience.
I went into this listen not expecting it to be a 5 star, but I find it hard to rationalize giving it anything lower. I can tell that this album, if I choose to let it, will live with me and grow alongside me. The process they took with this album was completely original; it speaks to me now, as someone trying to figure out her own creative process. Each member of the group could easily make an amazing solo record but together they made a true monolith. I'm excited to listen again with headphones or on a decent speaker; a lot of my listening nowadays is confined to my built-in iPhone 8 speakers. For albums like this I can really tell how it shallows the experience.
I like this one! It’s just real fun to listen to. I don’t think it’s an essential because it’s not that popular of a record and there’s other music that fits this bill but it is really nice to listen to I like it and it has a cool back story. I wonder if popularity should matter for rating something? I kind of think it’s important. If I was reviewing this right when it came out I think it wouldn’t matter AS much. Am I rating the amount of advertising that went into it though? What does it mean to rate and factor in popularity?
So beautiful. Total banger. I remember lostening to this so many times when I was getting into Bowie and not getting it. But as you get further into this album it feels less angular and you find yourself seeing whatever the big fish idea was swimming in Iggy and David’s heads when they decided to use early synthesizers and weird funk music and chant. Nothing like it. I think it picks up a good bit in the second half. I’m excited to listen again though it’s so mysterious.
I don’t think one or two listens is enough to accurately review this. It’s cool sounding but I don’t connect strongly with it. A lot of the songs were forgettable and stressful. I was hoping it’d be dancier since that dude from Major Lazer produced it and it was supposed to be a Timbaland thing. I liked Bamboo Banga, Afrikan Boy and Paper Planes (duh)
Stunning. I was listening off my phone speakers in a McDonalds with ny head down, eyes closed, hands cupped over the speakers, soaking it in. It commands your attention that way. I was expecting vibrato and ‘technical prowess’ but what I got was so expressive and adventurous. The harmony and accompaniment parts on this were really sensational too. I felt like I was being transported to a different world, where this ancient song form has adapted to the complexity of the modern world. It’s like a sentient robot running through a field
Listened to this coming back into work after holiday break. It’s amazing how emotional and political this record gets for how relaxed it sounds. Ominous sure, but when I think of how revolutionary Bob Marley was and when I think about revolutionary/political music in general, I think of something much edgier. Not even like this is THAT political a lot of these songs are spiritual. I think it’s that combination that really makes me feel understood by this music. The bass lines and rhythm section should net this album a 5 by themselves, and I think some of Marley’s best songs are on here. But, I know I still have to do some more listening before I can truly understand this to be a 5. I don’t think reviews can be objective. I’m rating it in relation to the experience I had with it today.
