AKA Grafitti Man

John Trudell

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 17, 1992)
• Original Release Date: 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009OE
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #114,428 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #88 in	Music > Miscellaneous > Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews > Poetry
  #89 in	Music > Indie Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy & Spoken Word

Editorial Reviews

From the Label
John Trudell is a Native American songwriter/poet, and an outspoken activist for human rights and environmental issues. AKA GRAFITTI MAN showcases his remarkable spoken-word brand of rock & roll, praised by musicians such as Peter Garrett, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, and Jackson Browne.

In the mid-80's, Trudell came together with legendary Kiowa Indian guitarist Jesse Ed Davis and formed Grafitti Man; their first cassette, AKA GRAFITTI MAN, was produced in 1985. While the tape was sold only by mail order, a copy reached Bob Dylan, who called it "album of the year" and played it over the PA before concerts. Following Davis' death, Trudell enlisted guitarist Mark Shark as the musical backbone of Grafitti Man; the band spent part of 1988 touring the US with Midnight Oil.

AKA GRAFITTI MAN includes material dating back to Trudell's work with Jesse Ed Davis and the cassette of the same name; as well as more recent material, much of which was co-produced by Jackson Browne, who also serves as the album's Executive Producer.

The album features Trudell's powerful personal and political statements, as well as his method of incorporating indigenous themes and musical traditions into a rock context.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry+Passion+Politics+Rock 'N' Roll=Compelling Listening, October 31, 2002

By	Eric R. Last "misterrockobscurities" (San Bruno, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

John Trudell's music is difficult to categorize. The lyrics are spoken rather than sung, but they are integrated into the music so that they have the feel of songs rather than poems set to music. The musical backing is tough, spare, gritty alt-rock. Trudell's spoken vocals are never less than compelling, and on a few cuts there are choruses sung by members of his band. The main appeal though is clearly the lyrical content. Trudell is an extremely smart, articulate, radical Native-American activist, and his songs lash out at various targets - corporate greed, political corruption, middle-class complacency, sexism, militarism, etc., seldom failing to hit their mark. The stand-out track is "Bombs Over Baghdad", a searing condemnation of the 1992 war with Iraq set to a propulsive rock beat, and listening to it today (October 2002), one cannot help but think that it is even more true now than then. Sample lyric: "New world order is an old world lie. Fighting for peace, see how they die. Dragging in God, as they turn violent. God says nothing, he just remains silent." I also really like "Baby Boom Che", which is about how Elvis Presley first began (unwittingly) to sow seeds of counter-culturalism in the 50's. John Trudell's music will appeal to those who are pre-disposed to respond to his politically-left point of view, to those with a particular interest in Native American culture, and to those who enjoy literate, passionate rock 'n' roll. I'd think that fans of New York junkie poet/rocker Jim Carroll would be likely to like Trudell, as these two artists are actually very similar, although their lyrical concerns are worlds apart.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding work that encompasses passionate message, May 10, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

Trudell has renewed the spirits of social justice concerning the state of Native Americans and all Americans in general. The idea that music should speak to the issues near and dear to all of us---war, poverty, racism, and economic justice---comes alive again with this work. The dream still lives and hope carrys on. Trudell has been there and done that--he has more than earned his due. The musical genious of Trudell is never more apparent than "Graffiti Man." Thanks brother John for the excellent work. Now let's get brother Peltier out of the depths of hell and make President Clinton promise to do better as he promised in 1992

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You're missing out . . ., September 12, 2002

By	randall hollis (St. Simons Island, GA United States) - See all my reviews

If you have not yet listened to John Trudell, you are missing out. If you have any interest in contemporary Native American music you MUST get your hands on some. If you have any interest in powerfull, truthfull, poetry set to well written and played music you NEED to get your hands on some. I got "Blue Indians" by accident (see my review there) and fell in love. This is my second CD by John and the review below is right, I'm on my way to owning them all. It's hard to pick a favorite song, although "Bombs Over Baghdad" grabbed me immediately. This stuff goes beyond its birth as "Native American" to become truth that touches us all.