Customer Reviews

Music for Native Americans - O.S.T.

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD is beautiful. Theres a ephemeral, spiritual sound to it, yet at the same time its so very modern. I can't think of a good way to explain it, but the music is wonderful. Someof the songs, such as "Coyote Dance", "Ancestor Song" and "Twistd Hair", call to mind beautiful spiritual images in your head. The sound effects and lyrics on "Twisted Hair" in particular still stand out in my mind. Others, such as "Mahk Jchi", "Cherokee Morning Song" and "Akua Tuta", blend traditional Native American music stylings with modern rhythms for a breath taking effect. Many of these songs incorporate other Native American artists, such as Rita Coolidge and Kashtin.
However, the most interesting songs on this CD are the ones that come from Robbie Robertson himself. The lyrics to "Ghost Dance", "It is a Good Day to Die" and "Skinwalker" are haunting and will almost certain stick in your mind long after you've finished listening to this CD. The sound effects and soft-spoken voices meld perfectly together with the powerful and moving lyrics to create a magnificent effect. This is one of my favorite Native American CDs and I simply can't recommend it enough, esecially for people unfamilar with contemporary Native American music.

I recently purchased this CD and it immediately became an all-time favorite. It has a mix of sounds, with some performances by Pura Fe, Kashtin, and Coolidge, but the entire CD is imbued with a peaceful spirit that transports me to another time and place, a place of simplicity, truth, and so much beauty.

There are tracks that have fabulous guitar work by Robertson (like "The Vanishing Breed"), but the songs that captivate me the most are the ones in which he does the vocals. His voice delights me and the 2 spoken pieces, "Words of Fire, Deeds of Blood" and "Twisted Hair" are riveting.

The arrangements and musicianship are perfection. This is simply one of the most beautiful CDs I've ever heard in any genre, and that covers a lot of territory, as my tastes are varied.

The booklet insert, with poetry and imagery that compliment the CD info and lyrics is a joy...not to be missed are the insightful "tidbits" written by Robertson...(who would have known those were crickets ?)...the entire package is a work of art, exquisite and incredibly moving...and makes me grateful to be alive, and able to listen, learn, and enjoy.

When I first saw the TNT original, The Native Americans back in 1994, I just had to own a copy of the wonderfully haunting soundtrack. I rushed right out and bought this Robbie Robertson CD. Originally, my favorite cut was "Cherokee Morning Song" (Welela/Rita Coolidge & family). Then, I latched onto "Skinwalker" - a huanting pop/jazz offering by Robbie Robertson. This one tells the story of modern day Native American life (read between the lines). One by one, each song will become your favorite. Then, before you realize it, the whole album will grab your heart ... your very soul. Believe me ... it will bring you tears, love and an ethereal wonder (check out the harmony of the cricket song to the Creator in "Twisted Hair"). Mahk Jchi is sure to grow on you until you are humming it all the time. Be sure to devour all of the liner notes and the lyrics. You will be telling all of your friends to listen to this one - forever! Happy listening.

I'm listening to this album, as I've done countless times since
I received it a couple of weeks ago.
From the first bars of Coyote Dance, to the last bars of Twisted
Hair, this is music that must be listened to.
The subjects of the pieces themselves are not always uplifting,
but that doesn't make them any less compelling, in fact more so.

Thank you, Mr. Robertson, for a truly fine body of work.

This album is incredibly rich and beautiful in every regard. Reviewer Epstein (above) needs to get a clue. Robertson's lyrics show the highest honor and respect to the continuing history of Native Americans, and in "Words of Fire, Deeds of Blood" the words are actually Chief Joseph's -- some of the most haunting and soul-stirring words ever put forth, presented with a heart-felt musical arrangement. As on "Contact From the Underworld of Redboy" Robertson uses his unique vocal style effectively and includes many guest vocalists and musicians to add flavor and depth. The songwriting overall is catchy, concise and definitely stays with you. He also plays some mighty tasty guitar, and his production is flawless. I own over 1,000 CDs and this one stands out as THE most artistically brilliant and thematically respectful of all.

I first heard this CD while on a houseboating vacation
at Lake Powell in Northern Arizona. We had beached the
houseboat at dusk in Face Canyon, which is on Navaho
Nation reservation land.

My girlfriend played Robertson's CD, and commented that it was
a bit different, but to give it a listen.
Although I had never heard it before, the music and
the deep canyon surroundings sync'ed, and soon
created a mood the likes of which I had never experienced.

On the roof of the houseboat, under a full moon, we surveyed
this harsh but beautiful canyon land that was once the home of
the disappeared Anastasi people.
With the layered canyon walls rising high around us, deep time
was no longer an abstraction. One can literally see it --
hundreds of millions of years of time -- folded back and
laid open before you in the exposed geologic layers.

Add Robertson's remarkable CD and, as one absorbs such
stunning visual scenery of a lost world, in these
moving songs you can also imagine hearing the sounds
of the long disappeared native peoples who once called
this land home, as if their stories and songs were
rising up from the distant past, echoing off the
canyon walls, whispering: "we were here."

This is especially true of "Coyote Dance" with
its echoing Native American chants.

"The Vanishing Breed" instrumental is an especially
haunting track. For some reason it reminds me of
Bach's classic "Air on a G-string" -- it creates a
similar spiritual sense of poignant longing for
people and places long past.

P.S. -- If you like this CD, also consider his CD "Contact
from the Underworld of Redboy" -- especially the
songs "Unbound" and "In the Blood."

The first time I listened to the wonderful music on this disc I was speechless for the rest of the day. After playing it again and reading the liner notes on the musicians and the historical background, I pulled Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee from the shelf and reread it.
I believe we, as the so-called modern man, have completely lost touch with earth and whatever might be beyond.
When I listen to Ghost Dance (my favorite on this disc) I get the feeling of being reconnected. That to me is magic.
Robbie and the very diverse group of great musicians take you on a journey through your heart. When listening to this you cannot help but feel close to the Native American. It goes deep, much deeper than you would expect.
But it is not just about suffering. There is love and blessing, even forgiveness.
The pureness of Coolidge singing the Cherokee Morning Song, the love in Golden Feather, unchangeable history in Ghost Dance or It Is A Good Day To Die, the haunting guitar in The Vanishing Breed: WOW!
When daily city life with all its insanity pulls me away from my inner self I put this on and find a way back. I hope it will be able to do the same to you.
Maybe if we feel reconnected to all that is around us - earth, nature, the sky, the animals, our brothers and sisters, even those we think of as our enemies - we can find a better way to save it. After all we're all part of the same planet.

This cd is definitely the best cd I have bought in a very long time! The music and text stirs the soul and made me feel that I was back in another time. It also beautifully illustrates parts of the history of the Native American Indians; it is hard not to be deeply touched by some of the texts on this cd; "Ghost Dance" and" It is a Good Day to Die" comes to mind in particular. The mix between modern instruments and drums is very well carried out, and some of the melodies on this cd are just captivatingly beautiful! Buy it or you will regret it!:-)

Seems like most of the negative reviews have more to do with gripes with Robertson's personal life than this album. I don't know much about that. Just judging this album by the music the comes out of my speakers, it is incredibly good. Incredibly, incredibly good.

The hot summer of 1995 saw me on a road trip through upstate New York to see my late grandmother. The trip through the hilly terrain was enshrouded in low lying clouds that partially obscured them and in the midst of this surreal trip would be perhaps among the most life-altering albums that I've ever heard entitled "Music For The Native Americans" by former Band member Robbie Robertson. I cannot stress how surreal and uplifting that Robertson's 1994 masterpiece really is. The album artwork while certainly giving a good example of the mood of this CD, doesn't even do it justice! There's no other Native American-themed music album out there except for "500 Nations" and 1998's "Contact from the Underworld of Red Boy".

The epic adventure takes many turns with incredible diversity yet maintaining a cohesive theme through it's entire playing time. The last track is a strange interlude that contains the sound of crickets toned WAY down. The result is a very ghostly closer to this masterpiece.