Experience...101

Sweet Honey In The Rock | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Appleseed Records
• ASIN: B000U1ZJ14
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,749 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though there's long been an educational component within the socially conscious music of Sweet Honey in the Rock, this release targeted at the children's educational market has the ebullience to capture the ears of young and old alike. Most of the performances are either a cappella (sometimes with handclaps) or with percolating African percussion, as the harmonies and call-and-response arrangements reinforce the joys of learning. From the life's lessons of "4 U 2 Know as U Grow" through the traditional spiritual of "Do What the Spirit Say Do" and the poetry of "Chinese Proverb," the music aims to delight rather than preach. The soulful transcendence of "Right Now" sounds closer to a female version of Earth Wind & Fire than to Sesame Street, while the message of self-empowerment has rarely sounded as sweet as it does on "All I Have to Do." --Don McLeese

Product Description

"I can see the children dancing and singing and laughing when they hear Experience...101. " - Maya Angelou

Sweet Honey in the Rock, the world-renowned, award-winning female African American ensemble, which performs a cappella (except for hand percussion), joins the Appleseed label for a delightfully buoyant and positive new CD aimed at teaching kids some of life's basic lessons in 18 exuberant, non-preachy songs. The joyful sound of six magically interwoven voices and upbeat advice - utilizing folk, gospel, jazz, blues and even rap styles - will appeal to children and parents alike.

The CD's colorful packaging - an eyecatching digipack and a 16-page booklet in the style of a school composition notebook - contributes to the theme of learning through music. Children from the ages of 9 to 12 pose questions about the mysteries of the adult world in print, and the members of Sweet Honey (six vocalists at the time of this recording, now five, not counting their onstage sign language interpreter) respond with songs of about peaceful coexistence, the virtues of education, the nurturing support and reassurance of parents and elders, following one's moral and spiritual compass, and working to better the surrounding world. Emphasizing the group's roots in African culture, the songs are matched up in print to Adinkra symbols used in Ghana, West Africa, to indicate wisdom, strength, unity, good fortune, harmony and other emotions crucial to leading a meaningful life.

The sound of Sweet Honey is almost intoxicating, as they deploy their voices in myriad combinations and styles - call-and-response, scatting, percolating percussive effects, waterfalls of harmonies and counterpoints, rounds, spoken rap-like segments, and just about every other pleasing way the human voice can be utilized.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could Experience 101 have been better?, December 4, 2007

By 

Mary H. Hoffman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Experience...101 (Audio CD)

Could Experience 101 have been better? No. No. No.

Mothers love their children differently, not better.

Experience 101 sings songs differently without its founder. Yet it could not be better.

Listen to "Chinese Proverb." Wouldn't it make a great global anthem?

A blast of "Dog Dog" would make even a cat happy.

Mary

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am recommending this to all mothers, December 13, 2007

By 

Donna Allen-woolfolk "Love to read" (Newark De) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Experience...101 (Audio CD)

I saw Sweet Honey in the Rock when I was in college. I happened to see this CD and just purchased it. I was expecting their usual socially positive message. What I got was a great CD for my children to hear and for me to share with others. I am purchasing for the all the young children in my life and an extra copy for a charter school.

5.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting!, October 25, 2009

By 

Starabovethei - See all my reviews

This review is from: Experience...101 (Audio CD)

I am 27, neither a child or a parent, and I LOVE this album. The message is so empowering! And it applies to each one of us, no matter our age. The tunes and rhythms are so uplifting! The album is so inspirational, I want to buy it for my friends. Such feel-good music!! Highly recommended!!!