Customer Reviews

Illumination

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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....

I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!! I've had it for about 2 weeks and I listen to it at least 3 times per day every day. I am a big fan of EWF and I must say that I am very pleased with this entire album but my favorites in no particular order are Pure Gold, Show Me the Way, The One, Liberation, To You and The Way You Move.

I think real EWF fans will enjoy this album as much as I am!!!

Finally Real Music! Wow what a great CD. I have played this CD at least a half dozen times now and it contintues to sound better everytime I play it. The Lyrics, The Vocals and The Sounds (real instruments)and the positive messages all works on this new CD. They have somehow managed to keep the sound current, even though this is clearly an Earth, Wind and Fire album. Of course I love "Pure Gold" and "Show Me The Way", but I think the big hit on the CD will be the dance tune "This is How I Feel" or the balad "To You". Instrumental "Liberation" is in a class with the great EWF instumentals of the past, and the Outkast remake of "The Way You Move" is the perfect driving song. The tune with Floetry "Elevated" and the dance tune "Love Dance" are also wonderful. EWF was and is still the Baddest Band ever.

Great,
It is so good to hear the classic EWF sound of the 70's transformed into 2005 sytle.It is real music for real people. I hear the horns?? What actually song with real Instruments. Yea.
Maurice White and Phillip Bailey are great. With a little hip-hop and Rap included this is a great album. I am through my second spin and it gets better and better.I love the way you move EWF style blows Outkast out of the water.

What can I say its Earth Wind and Fire? You can never go wrong with this life long classic band. And that's just watch you get in this CD. Great music from a great band. Most groups cant stay alive over the years but EWF just keeps on turning out the great music. They Even worked with with other artist and managed to keep that classic EWF big ban big horn and (smove) ballet sound. I just love this CD and I think you will to.

Earth, Wind, & Fire revisit their era of greatness on Illumination by going back to their sounds of origin. They perfectly blend their old-fashioned powerfully harmonious vocals with their infamous horns and then, if that wasn't enough, they threw in neo soul's Black Eyed Peas' leader Wil I Am, Brian McKnight, and Raphael(of Tone, Tony, Toni fame), all in the mix, to give us the best of the older and newer R&B worlds.
From the first song (Lovely People), you know you are in for a true EWF treat as Wil I Am scats while backed by EWF's horn section and Maurice plays kalimba on this fun-loving tune. Perhaps the most impressive work (in my opnion), is the second song, "Pure Gold", in which EWF recaptures that distinctively soul stirring sound that made them the greatest band in R&B music, if not the world. Shades of "That's the Way of the World" flow throughout it, with the greatest background vocals of all time being reawakened behind Maurice and Phil's earth-shakingly powerful lead vocals. I have not stopped playing this tune since I got this CD from Amazon and if you love EWF, you won't be able to stop listening to it either, and if you don't love EWF, "Illumination" will make you a fan instantaneously. Songs like "The One" are absolutely compelling, while "Love's Dance" will force you to boogie helplessly.
I could go on about this CD, but you have to hear it 4 yourself to know the masterful effort that went into this project that incorporated the producing skills of the R&B dynamic duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This is EWF's best work in decades. I have not been this enthusiastic about an Earth, Wind, and Fire release since "All N All" and "I Am". Just when R&B was getting mondain, EWF brings forth "Illumination", filled with, heart and soul, as only they could have. Make this CD a part of your collection. I dare you to listen to the sample of the tracks and then try to resist the compulsion to order it immediately !

Illumination is by far the best album from the EWF camp since 1982.EWF goes back to the source and in the same vein adds a hint of contemporary creativity(both artist and music)that yields nothing less than musical perfection.

Man THE ELEMENTS NEVER FAIL ME!

I just wish more artists young and old stay true to who they are and what they stand for! So many new artists are so trendy only allowing them to be tolerable for a season.

I love the album and I must live by PURE GOLD just one of the many songs that have stuck with me for LIFE!

KEEP IT COMING!