Customer Reviews

From Hare Krishna With Love (an ocean of mercy is flooding the earth)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This CD is well-intentioned, and many people seem to love it and benefit from it. Sankarshan Das's voice does sound somewhat like Roy Orbison's. Many of the lyrics are sung in English, which some new listeners may find more accessible than Hindu. The general feel of the music is similar to that found on Christian radio, so this music may be sufficiently "familiar' to serve as a bridge for traditional Christians seeking a broader spiritual practice. Finally, for those interested in the Krishna Consciousness movement (Hare Krishnas), this CD appears to be a very pious and doctrinaire expression of the Krishna beliefs.

But oh lord is this music exasperating. Robert Frost once wrote: "I should not want to silence any song." He obviously had not listened to this CD. If you are not a fan, chances are you WILL want to silence these songs, perhaps by throwing your CD player off a tall building. Most of this CD has almost no musicality (Track 3 is a lovely song). The background instrumentation is cheesy -- there's a sort of electronic harpsichord that sets my teeth on edge, and a synthetic keyboard that sounds like plastic Zamfir. The songs are generally insipid, syrupy, and monotonous, enlivened only by occasional quirks such as a bizarre chord change or awkward rhythm change. Sankarshan's voice is very inconsistent in technique -- or rather, in lack of technique, as he appears to have had no training in either Eastern or Western singing: the voice wavers up and down his narrow range, thickening and thinning, going in and out of vibrato, occasionally off key, sometimes verging into a sort of nasal whine (the pleasant Roy Orbison moments notwithstanding). To my ear, it also appears that Sankarshan's voice was not always recorded very skillfully; there are moments when you can just see those little meter needles skittering over into the red zone as he pumps up the volume. With cheesy instrumentation and haphazard vocals, this CD generally conveys (to me) only an utterly hapless sincerity, not joy or transcendence.

I must admit that I have kept this CD. Somehow I just cannot bring myself to reject an offering of love, which this work undoubtedly is. The CD's homeliness is almost endearing. But unless your path to enlightenment is one of masochism, don't put yourself in my predicament. Instead, buy JAI UTTAL's stunning CD "NECTAR," or anything by KRISHNA DAS (both available on Amazon). Those two artists are every bit as spiritual and sincere as Sankarshan Das, and they produce beautiful music.

Having been into Indian spirituality since the 60's with a jump start from Ram Dass, I've really come to deeply appreciate the music of Krishna Das. But now thanks to Amazon.com I've discovered Sankarshan Das.

Although Sankarshan's premier CD, "From Hare Krishna With Love", presents traditional bhajans in a non-traditional way I simply love them. Krishna Das also does this on Pilgrim Heart in a song where Sita asks Hanuman "Where did you get that ring?" Somehow my Western musical roots run very deep within my pschye and I really enjoy getting bhakti in style that reminds me more of the Beatles than Ravi Shankar. After all, didn't George Harrison do that on My Sweet Lord?

So the bottom line as far as I'm concerned is, "Get your Bhakti any way you can." And if Sankarshan Das does that for you the way he's done it for me, then this CD is worth far more than Amazon's asking price. Proceed. Enjoy.

Bye for now.

The bhajan (devotional songs) collection "From Hare Krishna With Love" by Sankarshan Das is very inspiring and emotionally uplifting. It features two enchanting, original melodies of the Hare Krishna Mantra as well as the songs of fully enlightened spiritual masters beautifully sung in English and Bengali. Sankarshan has skillfully arranged traditional devotional songs in a novel and unique way to make them appealing to the general public while at the same time keeping them wholly consistent with the great spiritual heritage they represent.

He soars to great heights of devotional bliss (taking us with him) while singing his original melody for the poem "Adore Adore Ye All" written in the 1936 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Sankarshan was the first to put this classic poem to music. Although it was originally recorded by the Murari Band, now in its enhanced and complete rendition it is even more satisfying.

The mystical Sanskrit mantras of the ancient Brahma Samhita, composed by Lord Brahma at the beginning of the creation, are sung captivatingly with obvious devotion in "Govinda, the Original Person". And last but not least, the track "Vrindavan" transports the listener directly to the forests of Vraja, the sublime realm which exists far, far beyond the confines of time and space.

Sankarshan's all-auspicious offering of love and devotion to his guru, to Lord Krishna, and to his listeners is I am sure a great boon for the upliftment of a suffering humanity.

I am an afficianado of all types of spiritual music and I was more annoyed than uplifted by this album. I found the backgrounds to be quite trite (of the same quality as the muzac pop in a lot of Chinese restaurants) and this man's voice is terrible.

His half chanting, half singing - is neither, and is not pretty nor uplifting.

I much prefer real chant like Krishana Das music. I'm sorry I bought this.

This CD (From Hare Krsna with Love) is an amazing achievement in music history. It is songs from devotees of the Lord from ages past and present done in a beautiful way for the upliftment of all who hear.

I would recommend anyone who is in love with God or who would want to- BUY this CD. It is truely and inspiring work and the more it is heard the more you can feel it's depth of loving prayers and powerful wisdom for all.

5 STARS FOR SURE!

Sincerly, Walter D.

It sounds DIVINE. I feel chills and rushes of joyous energy run thru my body when I hear Sankarshan Das chant so nicely and sing the other songs translated into English. Although I may never meet him along life's road in this incarnation, I am so happy to be absorbing the nectar of his dear and sweet songs of Love to the Lord Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani, the Pure Divine Mataji (mother) of us all.
My favorite song is the fourth tune on this CD..WHEN WILL THAT DAY BE MINE? This CD was a good investment because it is bringing me so much joy! I know that my words of appreciation are just one offering out of many, and I trust that they will not go to Sankarshan's head, so to say. I like to share my joyous ecstasy! I am suffering from several physical diseases, but the nectar overwhelms the pain and this is a very wonderful thing. I bow down to Sankarshan Das' love of God. Jai!

Sankarshan Das, whom I used to hear when he was a young folksinger in the coffee house scene of Houston back in the 60's, has come a long way with his music. Many of us from that era have philosophized about a marriage of East and West. Sankarshan, however, has achieved it. This CD is spiritual brain candy.

"From Hare Krishna With Love" is food for the soul. It's wonderful to listen to and remember. I am blessed to have this CD from Sankarshan Das. He is lightening the burden of the earth. My favorite songs are "When Oh When Will That Day Be Mine?", "Uselessly", "Govinda, the Original Person", and of course all the ecstatic Hare Krishna chanting!

I think everyone of some devotional persuasion will enjoy this music. The tunes are relaxing to listen to, and soothing to tired souls. The music is offered as loving service to Krishna, a frame of mind that devotees of Krishna of all types will appreciate. It contains moments of loveliness which can engender evocation of Krishna. I think my favorite track is number nine--Govinda, the Original Person, but the one called Uselessly is growing on me. Devotees will appreciate the words and the sentiment in these songs, as well as the background music

This much awaited album is Sankarshan's first in 30 years, and his experience and maturity shows. The album is carefully orchestrated and each track flows with a fresh and vibrant mood. The music is a combination of original tunes, ancient Sanskrit prayers, and English adaptations of sacred mantras. "From Hare Krishna With Love" will certainly capture the heart of any soul wandering within the confines of this material world.