Customer Reviews

Juju Jubilee

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

 

 

I bought this CD, along with one by King Sunny Ade, to add to my collection of eclectica. This CD has quickly vaulted to near the top. Like most juju music (based on my exposure thus far), the blend of African, Caribbean, and Hawaiian elements is fascinating. But this disc goes beyond that. The vocals are beautiful in an earthy sort of way, and the talking (pitch-changing) drums provide an ear-grabbing underpinning to the melodic lines. All of the tracks are basically fast, yet the perpetual motion of the music is neither frenetic nor repititious. Can music be both energetic and relaxing? Yes!

This record is a fine example of earnest juju music. Other artits have tricked it up some with synths and keyboards. Chief Commander Obe has always managed to offer more traditional representation of juju as it evolved from highlife. Keep in mind, this means amazing percussion work, intertwining guitar lines, loving vocals and long well developed instrumentals. If you're interested, you should buy it. It will make you happy, no matter how you were feeling, and what you're doing.

This is music that washes your soul. After abusing your body and spirit at work or play, find a quiet place, put this on, and let it pour through you. King Sunny has the rep, but the Chief Commander (with his Inter-Reformers) is every bit as good.

I bought this CD expecting to hear full length versions of the original music that make up the collection. Since I am very familiar with several of the songs on the CD, I was dissapointed by the unprofessional editing that was done to these fine songs. Entire guitar solos or other sections are abruptly cut out so that the songs loose their natural progression and rythym. I have been listening to Juju music all my life and the way this CD has been unprofessionally edited to fit under 4 minutes per song is a diservice to the artist and his music.

I have provided a two-star rating out of respect for the artist, otherwise this was a waste of money worth no star. This CD should be pulled from the shelves.

I suppose my rating of three stars isn't really fair, since this is essentially a good album of JuJu. But I was disappointed, because the packaging made me expect an album of earlier JuJu music, and instead it's a collection of material from the early 80's. And it does have that bright 80's sound, which I was hoping to avoid.