Customer Reviews

Cajun Conja

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

 

 

I'm surprised that Cajun Conja is not a more popular Beausoleil CD. It's by far my favorite CD from the band. I even have one of their "best of" CD's and I still think this one is far better. Conja is filled with lighthearted and upbeat tunes that you would expect to hear at a Cajun dance. The instruments blend perfectly to create unique and lively rhythms that are not heard in other forms of music, and no other Cajun band can put it all together as well as Beausoleil. There are a couple of "darker" tunes on the CD that I don't enjoy as much, but they are done well and I'm sure others will enjoy them. The band ends the CD with a Celtic reel done Cajun style. Sho'nuff can't get much better than that!

It's an interesting exchange of opinions going on with this series of reviews. Cherie's correct when she tells Stan that BeauSoleil's music is not zydeco. It's Cajun. I heard the band at a double-header a couple years ago. BeauSoleil played first, followed by Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Cha's. Michael said that after listening to the two bands, one would have no problem understanding the difference between zydeco and Cajun.

It was a great remark because I *really* listened after that. Cajun, imo, has an artistry and complexity that rivals any other genre. This album won't disappoint a music affectionado/a. It contains two nirvana-like instrumentals: Vieux Crowley and Tasso/McGee's Reel. And Ti' Monde is delightful, frolicsome fun.

I can agree with Stan that the songs sound the same, but only in the sense that any music from a particular genre sounds the same. The more one listens and learns, the more one appreciates the differences. To a cat, all people look the same, too, Stan.

I read the critical review and you can see my comment back to Stan. He doesn't know what he's talking about. This CD is not zydeco and is not offered cheap because it's cheap, maybe cause it's older. My Beausoleil CD's are worth $100 each to me and this is one of them I adore. "La Nuit de Clifton Chenier-it will make a woman swoon. And Tasso/McGees reel on this CD is musical genius. Don't ever listen to anything critical about Michael Doucet, listen and see how wonderful he is.

This zydeco stuff might be fine if you are piss-drunk, but it barely qualifies as music. I couldn't tell one track from another, so much do they sound alike.

Now, that may be a good quality in zydeco. To my musician's ear this is as bad as the modern whiteboy stuff that masquerades as "dixieland." Which, compared to the way southern jazz has traditionally been played, is at about double the appropriate tempo.

If you are one of those people who abhor silence, this disk might be for you. Otherwise, consider why there are five dozen of them offered here for cheap...