New Sacred Cow [ENHANCED]

Kenna

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 10, 2003)
• Original Release Date: May 27, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Sony
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B00009MGQ1
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,237 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Electronic Pop

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Alternative Masterpiece, June 20, 2003

By	ClayTheScribe "ClayTheScribe" (Thornton, Colorado) - See all my reviews

Not many albums in my collection would receive the highest top rating of 5 stars, but New Sacred Cow by Kenna is a great album. It's not only a superb collection of songs, but an album that really flows, connects and engages.

What many may or may not know is that the album was produced by Chad Hugo, one half of the most amazing hip-hop production team yet, The Neptunes. Those who are fans of the Neptunes productions can hear some of their signature instruments used, but the drums and bass aren't as prominent as Hugo is usually at the helm of the electronics, synths, etc. during productions. And this is an album where Hugo can really shine away from his partner Pharrell Williams. He has created an electronic, techno adventure with an alternative sound not heard too often.

But the album is about Kenna. He has one of the best male voices, at least in alternative music, that I have heard. It bends perfectly to the track and drifts in the air almost as if trying to spread into the most minute crevaces of the universe. Not to mention that he is a talented songwriter with cryptic, poetic, but relevant lyrics.

Some of the highlights on this album include "Freetime" which slams like an electronically twisted harsh production you might expect to hear from a member of the Neptunes, not to mention lyrics that are laid down with some of Kenna's best vocals on the album. "Vexed and Glorious" almost comes as a pleasant change of tempo on the album and "Man Fading" shows desperation while keeping it together. But perhaps Kenna's real personal stand-out is "War In Me," which soars with introspective lyrics and Kenna's best vocal effort.

I've had this album for awhile now, but I'm glad to see it finally be released to the public, whose members with growing, adventorus minds, should purchase this album and be set to engage in an musical exploration.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally. . . And Worth the Wait, August 9, 2003

By	D. R. Jeanclerc "Reader, Listener & Obsessive... (Brunswick, OH USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Some of you may remember a super song and video getting airplay on MTV2 over a year ago called "Hell Bent". The song was a soulful, meloncholy tune produced with an electronic tilt. The video was a wonderfully fitting animated movie. The artist was Kenna, but the album never arrived.

Finally, "New Sacred Cow" has arrived on shelves; I'm not sure what caused the delay, but it was worth the wait. The comparisons to Depeche Mode are appropriate given the songwriting and vocals. Kenna's voice definitely channels both the breathy baritone of Dave Gahan ("Man Fading") and the plaintive tunefulness of Martin Gore ("Yeneh Ababa" might have been the long lost b-side of DM's "Somebody"). The production of Chad Hugo (of the Neptunes and NERD) gives the songs a definite right-now feel. Many of the up-tempo songs will remind DM fans of the highlights of "Ultra".

The disc itself is enhanced, containing the video for the current single "Freetime" and links to exclusive web content. Unfortunately, the video for "Hell Bent" was not included.

If you enjoy electronic/big-beat music but long for more (any?)depth in the songwriting, then Kenna's got a treat waiting for you.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just thought I would mention..., September 21, 2005

By	Amy Gilmartin (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just thought I'd mention that Amazon doesn't have the tracks displayed correctly. There are actually 14 tracks, but due to editing problems when the CD was made, Track 5 "Vexed and Glorious" was not cut from Track 6 "A Better Control" so they are played together as one track. Track 14 would be "Love Hate Sensation", but because of the error it shows as Track 13. When you click to play the music after Track 5 on the Amazon site, it is actually playing the next song down. Just thought I should let anyone know who might be confused when listening to the tracks. :)

Other than that, this CD is great and Kenna has his own sound that can't be put into any category. I would recommend this to anyone.