Customer Reviews

Nectar: Live Kirtan & Pagan Remixes

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

 

 

Inspiring CD of live kirtan and studio kirtan remixes. The feeling of being in a group of people chanting to God is one of the most amazing feelings on earth. I was fortunate to of been present at one of the live kirtans on the CD and I can still feel the magic that was created when I listen to it. Some of the CD is particularly raw compared with the earlier multi-track Pagan releases, but this is very personal side of Jai that he is sharing.
Yet he does go into the studio and play with remixing some of the live tracks. The "Radha Remix" and the "Big Wheel Remix" are groovy.
A beautiful rendition of the song to Shri Hanuman on "Bajarangi".
A taste of Psycedelia on the "Namah Om Remix" that sends me into the sea aboard the Yellow Submarine.
Thanks Jai.

Jai, we really love you and the Pagans, but also desperately need your incredible, unique, pure Kirtan. Thanks for sharing your heart practice with us in this way. More please!!! Radha Ramana Hari Bol, Om Namah Shivaya and Bhajarangi defy description. Worth owning just for the artwork. Also awaiting your new Pagan album with great anticipation.

For anyone who has actually participated in a Kirtan or for those who just love the beauty and joy of music, then "Nectar" will be a deeply moving experience. The call and response of Kirtan is such that even those listening at home will find themselves singing along and joining in- the remixes are quite fine and use the Kirtan chants in a creative fashion. As noted above, the center of the CD is "Om Namah Shivaya" which mere words can not even begin to explain. All in all this is an album not only to listen to, but to grow with.

I was waiting for Nectar with much anticipation. It was a huge let down. Jai Uttal has abandoned his incredible talent in mixing Indian rhythms and melodies and has gone super religious ! If I want to listen to a pure kirtan CD, Id pick up some original kirtanists from India. There are scores of them. What made Jai's earlier work with the Pagan Love Orchestra so great was the mixing of Western instruments with Indian chants..Jai, when will you go back to your roots again ? Please dont disappoint your fans..Nectar does not have a single decent song except perhaps for the last track.

Its time for Jai Uttal to get the Pagans and go back to the Recording Room ! His comparative advantage is in mixing his Western musical roots with Indian music, not in becoming another Indian kirtanist..There are 2 million of them in India and they have an authentic Indian accent ! Although I must say Jai is getting better and better at his Sanskrit..

There are some strong kirtans here with a lot of emotion that really involves the listener. I enjoy singing along with some, while others are more complex but flow and are interesting and easy to listen to. I prefer the 'traditional' arrangements and think the remixes distracted from an otherwise excellent CD. However, the more I listen to the CD the more I'm begining to tolerate the remixes. Overall I'm glad that I purchased the CD.

I echo the reviewers below in saying that if Jai went back to more interesting music and blending east with west, he would be better off. I don't need to buy a cd with an american singing kirtans when i have more beautifully produced cds of authentic kirtans from india (without the american accent). The chanting on this cd is leaning towards a repetitive "hare krishna" type sound and i dont need images of bald hare krishnas dancing around in my mind as i hear this....sorry but his earlier albums are better...it seems as if he put this cd out cause he HAD to and probably took all of maybe a couple of weeks. These are all traditional bhajans so he didn't have to write any lyrics of his own so...then...what's the point?