Customer Reviews

Millennium

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

 

 

This is EWF's second album of the 90's and their best up to this point.The funk tracks (and there are many) are good even if they tend to be very hyperactive but it's the album's more unusual moments that catch fire 'Sunday Morning' and 'Honor The Magic' are the standouts to me,as is the lilting 'Divine'-the latter two have a new slinky sexuallity not even heard on EWF numbers.'Superhero' is penned by Prince and while being very modern and 'new' doesn't try to burry the bands own organic talents in another artists idea-Prince let EWF sound like themselfs and that,even if this is'nt even close to one of their classic albums,is very much worth it to those with more then a casual interest in the group and a MUCH needed improvement on 1990's pandering 'Heritage'.

This is one of my favorite all time albums ....got it in the early 90's. this is one CD that I wore out. every tune is a keeper.
It has a very autobiograpical feel to it. Specially Chicago blues and Blood brothers. A very solid album. I'd buy it again.

Talk about poor marketing! The fault can only be placed on the company that failed to garner widespread attention to the monumental "Millennium." This eight-year-old album should have soared to the top and resuscitated EWF's career. All the trademarks of this unique musical troupe are here: the blaring horns, the driving rhythms so steeped in African and Caribbean sounds, the kalimba, the distinctive vocals of Maurice White and Phillip Bailey, respectively, and the soulful lyrics, just as relevant today as they were at the initial release of this recording.

There is not a wasted effort on this disc; every one is a gem that shows why there is no other group like Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Perhaps, in the year 2001, the rest of us have caught up with EWF, for this one truly heralds in a new dawning.

Yet again, Earth Wind & Fire has done it! This group ceases to amaze me. At 21 years of age, I'm a member of a younger generation of music lovers, and wish that new groups made the same type of music as EWF. This is what music really is: true singing, real instruments (I love the brass and wood horns), and melody. The current groups in the industry need to learn a little from these experts. THEY PROBABLY LISTEN TO THIS EWF THEMSELVES!!!!!

It was 1993 and I was in college when this album came out and it was one of the first they recorded after Maurice had announced his decision to retire from touring and concentrate on just producing, recording and writing songs. The band had returned to Warner Brothers music after a long stint with Columbia Records, the company were they had attained their legendary status beggining in 1974 to the early to mid 1980's.

They had started out, at their inception, with Warner Brothers back in 1971, however due to poor support from the label, they left for Columbia and never looked back. They would, once again, receive poor record label support from Warner for this album and the sales were sub par by Earth, Wind and Fire's standards. That being said, I really enjoyed this ablum and the songs were really fun to listen to. I actually played a couple of them in class one day as I was studying audio production and they were very well received.

The singles released from the LP were "Even If You Wonder"; "Sunday Morning"; "Spend The Night" and "Two Hearts". All of these showed wonderful flashes of the elements in their heyday although the only remaining original members by this time were Maurice, Verdine, Ralph & Philip (I don't believe that Larry was a part of this one but could be wrong).

The songs are fun, funky, soulful and wonderful to enjoy. It sounds like they truly had fun recording this record and it comes across beautifully. There's even a Prince penned jam "Superhero" were he and Philip sing background vocals on. Go out and get this album today and you won't be disappointed.

The Elements get their groove back on this one for sure! After their lowest point on "Electric Universe" and later albums that were better but still not up to EWF standards, this was a triumph! Everything that made EWF the greatest R&B band of all time, the deep lyricism and the top notch musicianship (especially the much missed horn section) in addition to Phillip Bailey & Maurice White's never disappointing vocals are back and as outstanding as ever! You get it all on this one, mellow mid to up tempo (Sunday Morning, Bloodbrothers, L Is The Word), soothing ballads (Spend The Night, Love Across The Wire), and slamming funk (Superhero). It just goes to prove that you can't keep a great band down!

Probably the most definitive collection of EWF's long and distinguished career, Millenium contains some of the group's finest songs. The leadoff cut, "Even If You Wonder", is a hip-hop, jazzy track that sets the tone for what is to come. "Spend the Night" is a melodious ballad, perhaps the finest ballad they have ever written. "Honor the Magic" is a classy rhythm with a tango beat. All in all, "Millenium" is the CD that defines the distinctive Earth, Wind & Fire sound, and is highly recommended.

Yeah, I'm a newly developed Earth, Wind & Fire fan, but even if I was on the edge of my seat in 1993 awaiting this album's release, it would not have necessarily won me over. But, ehh, I'll take it.

The album starts out fairly strong. "Sunday Morning" with its eye-opening horns, echoing voices and cadence reminiscent of "Serpentine Fire", is an obvious winner that flashes the EW&F sound we have all come to love. "Blood Brothers" brings their sound all the way back and deals with ghetto issues on a very refined adult contemporary arrangement that remains true to EW&F. "Spend The Night" is Maurice going straight Celine Dion, similar to "I Need You" back on his 1985 solo album, over a sound vying for limitless commercial acceptance. I can still listen to it, though. "Divine" is a funky R&B creation commandeered by none other than Phillip Bailey, who offers a rare showcasing of his tenor skills. "Honor The Magic" is a short, salsa-flavored work of art. "Super Hero" is one of my personal favorites. It features Prince, who finds a powerful medium between his quirky rock sound and EW&F's elaborate funk. This jam cranks out a message that cries freedom for African-American males from the hood. "Love Across The Wire" and "Chicago Blues" are also noteable cuts.

Even with the strong aforementioned efforts woven into this album, there is also plenty of filler. I can suck up "Love Is The Greatest Story", but "The "L" Word" is the worst song I have ever heard by this group, considering the nauseating lyrics, the dated music and the fact that I have a personal hatred for New Jack Swing. "Even If You Wonder" was hardly the song to choose as track #1, in that it dwells on lackluster synth sounds and lacks attention-getting lyrics. "Wouldn't Change A Thing About You" does not offer much to get excited about. Since Phillip started his solo career in the early '80s, it seems as though he has developed a pop-R&B-based sound that he has been bringing back to EW&F albums since 1987's Touch The World. And, it is seriously hurting the chemistry of Millennium. Even though the album was largely produced by Maurice White, it almost seems like Phillip's songs on the album are intermissions for the rest of the group. Like, "We interrupt this EW&F album to bring you a special Phillip Bailey song..."

Millennium is just as volatile as the cover art for the album. What's right about the album is very right, and what's wrong is very wrong. The royal vocal displays, plethora of topics and spiritual supremacy of EW&F is back, but the flawless production and overall album tightness is not. This albums represents a talented hand extended to the pop world of music, which, despite the Grammy nomination, was swiftly spat on. This album should be recognized for what it is - a successful comeback album for the greatest group of all time. I recommend this album to die-hard EW&F fans (and you can get them REAL cheap right now). If you are only a fan of their hits, this is EW&F choking on the bar they raised twenty years ago.

This cd is so underated,it's unbelievable. Two Hearts is the 90's answer to reasons,and an awesome answer at that. Prince rocks with the group on "SuperHero".This album,just like "Faces" is big,and is well worth the price of admission.

Very good CD and easy listening. Enjoyed it mainly because you can't go wrong wtih an EWF CD....