Koonyum Sun

Xavier Rudd | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: FONTANA NORTH
• ASIN: B003CNNLJO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,980 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2010 release from the Australian singer/songwriter. Bright sunny skies, white sand beaches and rolling turquoise waves is where Rudd recorded Koonyum Sun. Moving away from the heavier edged sound that he pursued on Dark Shades Of Blue, Xavier is back to up his beat, hip-swaying sound that has been his my stay on previous recordings.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprise, Surprise. Took a gamble with this one and love it!!!, April 19, 2010

By 

joegrind "joegrind" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Koonyum Sun (MP3 Download)

I'll admit, I have never heard of this artist before and took a gamble after listening to the Amazon previews. I've been looking for some new music...and I'm a big big fan of Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. The little 30 second previews from Amazon caused my ears to prick up. I'm a HUGE reggae/ ska/ dub fan....(I'm from Jamaica)and this album is great.
Deep rhythmic bass.... characteristic 'one-drop' reggae beat....tracks 1 and 3 are so far my favorite. Track 4 is like a Paul Simon/ Graceland when he linked up with Ladysmith Black Mamboza
I did a simple wiki on Xavier Rudd and amazed to see that he PLAYS ALL THESE INSTRUMENTS HIMSELF. WOW.
I watch his YouTube of Redemption Song....I can honestly say Marley would be proud.
The album itself is more reminiscent of Ben Harper than Jack Johnson....but this is a perfect album to jam to on your patio or deck during the summer. I'm at work and bought it from my phone...but I can't wait to get home and crank this up on my stereo system. This album is well worth it....though I don't know any of his previous work, he's got a new fan. I apologize in advance for not being able to compare it to his previous records...but I'm sure some of his current fans will give a favorable review.
Thanks Amazon!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars X Rudd Koonyum-Sun, July 3, 2010

By 

lro (mass. usa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Koonyum Sun (Audio CD)

Koonyum-Sun is alot differnt than last cd Darker shades of blue but Kooyum- sun is summer music * time to smile * I recommend both cd's

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Return to Form for Xavier, Albeit a Different Form, April 21, 2010

By 

M. C. Tolen "MC Tolen" (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Koonyum Sun (Audio CD)

Good news is that Koonyum Sun is a return to form for Xavier with sunny vibes, great melodys and positive socially conscious songs about life and the world. Bad news is that if you're a fan solely for Xavier's digeradoo playing and amped up rockin' weissenborn licks then there won't be much offered here for you on this release. But HAVE NO FEAR! This album is unique from any of Rudd's previous releases and there is much to love here. Whereas Rudd's previous album "Dark Shades of Blue" was uncharacteristically a dark sludgy turn and despite being his most electrified and hardest rocking album, it largely lacked the great melodies and positive vibe that is most endearing about Xavier's music. Koonyum Sun definitely brings back the bright melodies, good vibes and earthy tone of the old Xavier similar to Solace, Food in the Belly and White Moth but with a new twist. For one, this is definitely more of a group effort with Izintaba, two renouned African musicians on bass and drums. Naturally, this album has a very strong African vibe with reggae undertones to it. Most fans know Rudd's love and influence of Paul Simon's Graceland and it certainly has that feel to it without coming off as a copycat version. The album has a lot of african style beats and back up singing that is beautiful and uplifting in conjunction with Xavier's vocals. The focus on this album seems to be less on Xavier's guitar and didgeradoo abilities and more on his vocals and messages. Which is good because Rudd's vocals and melodies on this album are among his strongest and the songwriting is his most heartfelt and personal yet. Rudd has endured some rough seas lately in his personal life (divorce) and truly bares his soul reflecting on love and loss in a universal way. No doubt,there is much sorrow, regret and soul searching here. However, Rudd maintains that overwhelming "look on the brightside" view he's best at and the music is a warm and breezy mix of upbeat and chillout tunes that would all sound good on a summer patio. Favorite songs so far include "Time to Smile","Sweet Green Freedom" and "Sky to Ground." Yes, the Didj is largely absent except on "Badimo." Sure I miss it, but Rudd has so much other talent and we have to come to expect that he doesn't want to be pigeonholed as a one trick pony. There's also not a lot of weissenborn, but there's alot of other innovative guitar playing that is very unique in the way it subtley marries african polyrhythmic and reggae styles.
Overall, if you're only interested in hearing Rudd jam out on the didgeradoo or fire up the weissenborn you'll be disappointed. However, if you realize Xavier is more than that and you like music with a mix of rock, folk and world music along the lines of Ben Harper, Jack Johnson or even Dave Matthews then you should definitely check this out.