Customer Reviews

Beautiful World

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

On the first listen, your verdict may be indecisive. That was the case with me three days ago, when I popped this CD into the stereo with great anticipation. Then I played it a second time. And a third. And so on, and so on, etc., etc., etc! And that's what I've been doing each day since the initial release of 'Beautiful World'. Oh, my final verdict? OUTSTANDING!

This latest release from the "Super 6" will blow you away. Try to stop listening; you won't find it easy to do. I guarantee, any true lover of good music, will enjoy some of the most brilliant songwriting, recorded by one of the most gifted vocal ensembles ever. You'll be pressing play, each time Track 13 finishes. And try to pick a favorite song. I'm finding that extremely difficult to do, with each new arrangement being done to perfection. The accompanying artists(Album Producer Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Lalah Hathaway, Kirk Whalum, Michael "Patches" Stewart, Marc Antoine)will have even "a cappella purists" overwhelmed with their silky smooth instrumental flavorings. Once again, a whole new and innovative direction for Take 6, yet always with a very spiritual base.

Now if you'll excuse me, I feel another 'Beautiful World' listening coming on.

Having been a Take 6 fan for years, I recognize I may be biased in this review. Their peppy and at times elevator-music harmonies may not be tolerable for some people for an entire album, but I really enjoyed the fresh perspective that their diverse vocals offered on many of these classics. My favorites are "Don't Give Up," where they take Peter Gabriel's African musical influences to their logical conclusion; "Wade In the Water," where doubling the octave and picking up the tempo helped to underscore a sense of urgency and pleading that is usually not found in most people's versions of this old spiritual; and the beautiful, soaring rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Someday We Will All Be Free," which will give you chills. It's not a perfect album, however. As some other reviewers have mentioned, some numbers that suffer from a lack of originality in the vocal arrangements. I especially didn't care for the phoned-in "Love's In Need Of Love Today," which dragged on far too long, as did their capable but uninspiring version of "Fragile." Still, this is a beautiful album, great for Sunday mornings, and is definitely "ispirational" and very uplifting. It is arguably Take 6's most commercially accessible venture. Maybe that was a weakness in the quality of the overall production, but it ought to be very easy on the ears of just about any listener. Well worth the money.

This talented group can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. On this CD, they have put a fresh spin on songs by various composers---from Peter Gabriel to Thomas Dorsey. It's an eclectic mix of songs that comes together to remind us that it is indeed a "Beautiful World".

I thought they couldn't top themselves? These men continue to get better EVERYTIME they make something new. Where is the fall off artists are 'posed to have? T6, you are unbelievable.

Although the idea sounds great on paper; the world's best singing group redo some well known more or less inspirational numbers, in reality it's all a bit dull and safe.
The harmonies are there, the singing topnotch as usual but the arrangements are safe and uninventive except for an exellent take on Donald Fagen's IGY (here dubbed Beautiful world)
Marcus Miller's productions sound so thin and crisp it's like they were afraid to let a full band do some serious playing which might distract from the singing.
It's not a bad album especially by today's hedious standards but for a group like Take 6 'not bad' is just not good enough.

I recently purchased the new Take 6 CD. This CD is absolutely breath taking. Take 6 set the standard for A-cappella and continue to dominate this category. Every song on this CD is inspiring and upbeat. Some of my favorite songs (which seem impossible to name) are: "Grandma's Hands", "Wade in the Water", "Fragile", and "Lovely Day". Hurry up and purchase this CD, you will not be disappointed. The vocals are tight.

I purchased this CD for one reason only, and that's because I wanted to have the CD that Lalayah Hataway sang her father's song, Some Day We'll all be Free." Of course she is phenomenal, but I'm glad I did purchase this CD because the whole CD is great.

Take 6 is an easy group to pigeonhole. When they try something that strays from the type of material we fans are in love with, a few of us get uncomfortable.

I would respectfully disagree with the reviewer who characterized the interpretations as "safe" and "dull". In the context of their oeuvre, it's a different album, and deserves evaluation as such. These are interpretations, not covers, because they comment on the works they perform, rather than just seeking to imitate them. "Beautiful World" owes as much to the jazz legacy as it does to gospel. As such, it's a thoughtful, expressive work of beauty and power.

The album reaches for your head as well as your heart. If you come at Beautiful World with an open mind and set your expectations aside, you will be rewarded.

I liked their take on Steely Dan's "Beautiful World" too. But there are other treasures. Their intrepretation of Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up" is actually better than the original artist's -- its sentiment is more authentic because of the cultural context that Take 6 brings to it. "Fragile" is both powerful and sensitive. (How do they do that?)

If you've never owned a Take 6 CD before, I would pair this one with "So Cool" or "Feels Good". Then you can get the feel for all the places this legendary group can take you.

"Beautiful World" is destined to be a classic. I hope Take 6 makes a few more like this.

There seems little point in heaping further accolades upon a vocal group already honoured with 11 Grammy award nominations, but this has got to be one of the best devotional albums ever recorded. It is a mixture of original songs and creative arrangements of some of the best spiritually inspiring music ever produced. I particularly appreciated the Donny Hathaway classic Someday We'll All be Free, Stevie's Love's in Need of Love Today, the late great Curtis Mayfield's hymn People Get Ready,and Lovely Day and Wade in the Water. You will find yourself pressing the replay button at the end of these to get some more of that feel-good medicine. A great album!

It's taken me a while to purchase this CD. It wasn't until I heard them sing Grandma's Hands at a concert that I decided to buy the CD. I liked their upbeat remakes of old favorites. It's just a feel good compilation.