Customer Reviews

Only Human (Dlx)

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

 

 

This was the last album from AD2 before their several reformations first for Vortex then again in the 90's & to today. It shows a band still capable of recording decent songs but without John Weinzerel's incredible guitar playing it all sounds a little bit flat. While not their best, it certainly doesn't deserve the trashing it's gotten over the years. AD2 at their worst is better than most bands at their best and this album only suffers in comparison to their own earlier albums. The bonus track, while not the strongest song, helps to flesh a sort of short album out a bit. Recomended mostly to fans, but interstingly this is the only AD2 album that I've heard sampled on other artists recordings.

Whoever "remastered" the CD release of this album apparently felt that they needed to add their own 'artistic' stamp to the album by inserting various sound effects into the music that were not there on the original vinyl release, and in so doing rendered an interesting album nearly unlistenable. To be clear, the changes made to the CD release go FAR beyond mere adjustments to the dynamic range, equalization changes or other sound processing. They've actually added inane sound effects to the music which do nothing at all to improve it.... quite the contrary. Don't buy the CD if you're interested in the music; find an original vinyl LP if you can in order to hear the record at its best and the way the music was intended to sound.

That being said, I say THE ORIGINAL VINYL VERSION of Only Human is "interesting" as a die-hard AD2 fan for decades who does not expect a group to produce the exact same sound year after year. If you're someone who wants a group to be stuck in time and married to a specific style throughout their careers and never, ever experiment with new ideas and approaches then you need to stay away from this album and continue listening to the early AD2 catalog. "Only Human" is a pop / dance departure from AD2's roots but several tracks have catchy melodies and are brilliantly crafted for the style they address.

I have 'classic' AD2 as well as a few tracks from "Only Human" on my mp3 player....but in different Genre folders ;-)

First of all, the shock of a PROG ROCK band releasing an album in the DISCO AGE. Freaky. Upon release in 1978, as well as 2005. Freaky too, that it works as well as it does. The prog-kraut-rock experimentation is present, though buried beneath flashes of pop, Spanish and Middle Eastern influenced sounds, as well as the already noted disco influence. BEWARE, however, that these songs are REMIXED, sometimes extensively. Acknowledging that this is not their best effort and perhaps in response to the fact that the album has been sampled by hip hop artists, it was decided to augment the songs. It's a little disorienting to hear Kirk Morgan sped up, Don't Turn Too Stone crowded with extra instrumentation, and Ruby Lane with added effects and sounds. I'll have to take a star away for this -- I'm a bit nolstalgic for the original mix -- but I'll add a star for the bonus tracks, which continue the international flavor of the album.

Anyone who can pull off a psychedelic disco album is okay with me.

I have the original for now, but the "Kirk Morgan" remix on this Inside-Out reissue is actually GOOD. Wouldn't be out of place on an Air album. Don't hate 'til you've at least heard that one track.

Still hate it? Smoke some better _______ and loosen up...try THAT.

I'm a huge fan of Amon Duul II but this album is pure garbage .If you want to listen to the real Amon Duul II buy Yeti,Live in London,Tanz Der Lemmings , Vive le Trance,Carnival of Babylon or Hijack

Originally released in 1978. This is Amon Duul II? Really? Sure doesn't sound like Amon Dull II, not at all. Only two tracks here that I was somewhat impressed with were "Don't Turn To Stone" and "Spaniards And Spacemen". Oh the music isn't bad, just not your traditional AD II. I'd best describe it as second class progressive. Didn't do much for me. Two bonus cuts have been tagged onto this CD reissue. Nice humorous cover, though. As I've actually BEEN in that very position; only my black cat wasn't holding the match...I was blowing smoke in her face when she didn't seem to mind. Ever gotten your cat high? Fun,isn't it? Okay, Beavis that's all for today.