Illumination

Earth Wind & Fire | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B0002WZT8E
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,919 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent, Not Perfect EWF for the '05, September 28, 2005

By 

Chicago Music Fan "jbkprod" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illumination (Audio CD)

Let me start off by saying that I am a mid-30's EWF fan that first got into them back in my college days. I have about 14 of their albums (with no "Greatest Hits" collections included), so I like to think I have a pretty good feel for their type of sound. I am also a fan of most of the collaborators on ILLUMINATION. I just finished my 5th listen to this CD. It didn't pleasantly surprise me as much as THE PROMISE did when I first listened to it, so I thought I would try to let some of the songs grow on me. For the most part, that strategy worked. I think I had to get used to the varied, non-Maurice White type of production styles that were thrown into the pot. Now, the details:

#1- "Lovely People" (9/10): A good opening song. Liked it on listen 1, loved it by listen #5. Excellent groove, with Verdine bringing the solid bass line, and I love the classic horn sound on the chorus (YA-DA-DA-DAT!); not big on raps on an EWF song, but it fit in on this one.

#2- "Pure Gold" (8/10): Didn't hit me on first listen, but appeciated it as i gave it a chance. Decent mid tempo song with nice lyrics sung by 'Reese and PB.

#4- "Love's Dance" (7/10): Decent enough grooving song.

#5- "Show Me The Way" (9/10): Excelent song that bring's "Love's Holiday" to my mind. I have been a Raphael Saadiq fan for years, and this song has him all over it. I would have given it 10/10 if this was a Saadiq album- this is his song with a guest vocal from 'Reese. He basically sings the whole song except for the start of the first 2 verses, and he even plays the BASS! Maybe I'm a purist, but there's not enough EWF contribution for me on this "EWF" song. That said, I still loved it from the first time I heard it, and I love the mellow vocal chant Saadiq sings as the song closes. One of the highlights of the album.

#6- "This Is How I Feel" (6/10): Still has not grown on me. One of the more hip-hop flavored songs. Okay for some, just not one of my favorites on this album.

#7- "Work It Out" (6/10): Another Saadiq song, but without his vocal help. Groove oriented song, just hasnt grown enough on me yet.

#8- "Pass You By" (8/10): Mellow, Saadiq-stamped song that PB does an excellent job on. I like 'Reese's job on the bridge. Another one of my favorites.

#9- "The One" (5/10): Reese's & PB's vocals can't save this one for me, personally. Another hip-hop flavored groove that I can't get with.

#10- "Elevated" (8/10): Another good song with not enough EWF contribution for me. Basically a Floetry song (and I love Floetry) with a guest vocal from PB on the chorus. Grew on me after a few listens.

#11- "Liberation" (10/10): My favorite on the album. I always liked how EWF would throw in a grooving instrumental, and this is how it is done in the '05! Mellow but grooving with a nice melody, with the classic PB vocal chants/scats on the chorus. A modern day "Sun Goddess", with the fitting Ramsey Lewis-like keyboard solo in the second verse section.

#12- "To You" (8/10): Pretty good song; puts "After the Love Is Gone" in my head. Sounds like B. McKnight sings the first verse; again, call me a purist, but even THAT is a little too much vocal contribution for me (and I have absolutely nothing against Mr. McKnight)- let Reese & PB sing it all! Still a song that I grew to like.

#13- "The Way You Move" (4/10): This is a Kenny G version of the Outkast song with a guest vocal from reese & PB. I never really liked Kenny G or most of those "smooth-jazz" sax players like him that have a couple instrumental versions of the latest hits on each of their albums, and thats all this makes me think of. But if that is your thing, you will LOVE this song. Reese & PB's minimal vocals are the best thing about this song, to me.

Those are my humble opinions. This album definitely had a "EWF and Friends" feel to it. The wide range of contributions on every song produced mixed- but mostly positive- results for my taste, and the album would have gotten 3.5 stars if it was an option. If you are an EWF fan, get this, support the band, and find your own personal favorites on their latest offering.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "IllUMINATION" FOR ALL, September 29, 2005

By 

Janine Dotsongraham "Janine" (Newport News, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illumination (Audio CD)

This one was well worth the wait!! The REAL EWF fans know this is a fantastic collection and includes all the ELEMENTS that this long time fan (circa 1971) knows and loves. The funk, the jazz, the spirituality, the love, the peace, the hope, and sensuality are just some of the elements that are all over this album. It is fresh but vintage EWF. The jammed a couple of the songs at the EWF/Chicago concert I caught Aug 6th, I knew then the album would be special and it is all of that!!! EWF was on NPR last night and spoke about the evolution of the band, I am so proud and blessed to have been a fan from the beginning and to STILL have the awesome power of EWF with me on my life's journey. Peace.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hold Up, October 5, 2005

By 

Svocon (World, Planet Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illumination (Audio CD)

When Earth Wind & Fire released their first album it was also recieved with tiny eyes by some critics. Illumination proves to be another "hit". You dont want this album missing in your collection, go get it ! This is music in its purest fashion ; the way it should sound....