Customer Reviews

Road to Freedom

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think this is absolutely the BEST album of the last 15 years!!! I have more than 750 CDs and 300+ LPs and if I had to pick just one piece of music out of my collection to have on a deserted island this would be it. Road To Freedom has a level of depth that you haven't seen in a Soul/R&B album since Stevie Wonder's or Curtis Mayfield's work in the mid to late 70's. The fact that this group is British doubles the amazement for me. Don't get me wrong; there are a lot of great albums out there. It's just that I feel this stands far above anything else. Keep in mind that I bought this album 11 years ago and I still feel the same way about it!! I mean it! This album is that good!!

Outstanding, deep, real, beautiful stands the test of time. I used to own this on tape and I had lost it. I thank God Almighty I found it now. This is what music is all about. Truth and just so amazing!!! My favorite track is "all I have in me" We all need a second chance.

Once upon a time, before ipods, albums were designed to be listened to all the way through. And when they were designed well, not only was the music fabulous, but you went on a musical journey. Some examples are ziggy stardust, dark side of the moon (pink floyd), purple rain (prince), the hurting (tears for fears), houses of the holy (led zeppelin)...you get the picture. And there are certainly more depending on your taste in music (I would certainly add dicovery (elo) and give the people what they want (kinks), but i digress.

Anyway, road to freedom is this kind of album. It is a journey through musical history, but also through black history. A tale from oppression and slavery "handed down through centuries" to the hope for a time when one can "find peace and [is] released into freedom." You're let in on this plan right from the start when Carleen Anderson sings, "We're here on a mission....won't you just listen." The album also moves from the general to the personal, especially when we get to the track "all i have." Each song progresses forward, building on the previous one until the concluding hip-hop track, the "young disciple theme," explodes in a barrage of words. ("Now feel the bass drum pushed to its maximum.") We were brought to the heights only to tumble from the dream of hope into a glare of reality, with M.C. Mell'o rapping that it's "'bout undernourished brethren and sistren, spiritually scarred and mentally blisterin'."

What a fine album.

...along with The Brand New Heavies two first albums, "The Apostles" by the Apostles (not Apostles the rock band), "True Spirit" by Carleen Anderson and "Vivienne McKone" by Vivienne McKone...

I got this cd while browsing & picked it up on a whim. I figured the cover reminded me of the old Blue Note album covers. Buying music this way sometimes gets you a gem or a dud. MAN,WAS I SHOCKED WHEN I GOT HOME. GEM....GEM....GEM! What a GEM! At first i was spellbound by the "Freedom Suite" pt2 & pt3. I just love that upright bass and walkin' groove! The lyrics are smokin' also. Then after awhile i discovered the rest of the cd & felt like i got another gem! My favorites are "All I Have", "Move On", "As We Come(To be)" and "Step Right On". All nice soulful grooves. This ranks up there with the very best of the Acid Jazz genre. By the way, i got this when it was a good 5 or 6 yrs old. I don't know why it took so long to let everyone know how good it is. I guess my eyes opened up to the fact that every so often i kept going back to it.....and still do...and always will!

Sure, I'm here to give Carleen Anderson and the Young Disciples high praise. It's just that I'm not sure what happened to them after this album, "Road To Freedom". I bought this Talkin' Loud release back in March of '97 and it was already around five years old then. During that time, I was a frequent visitor in some of London's finest vinyl record stores. Yes, those were the days! There seemed to be a robust supply of underground, non-commercial UK soul acts back then. Despite the success of Soul II Soul, Caron Wheeler,D-Influence, and Loose Ends, there were many more acts whose talent missed the commercial airwaves. It's all good because this made it even more special to listen to groups like the Young Disciples.

This was a very good album. The tracks flowed very well and Carleen headlines most except for the instrumentals and the rap track "Talkin' What I Feel" feat Masta Ace. The most popular song from the album was an underground smash titled "Apparently Nuthin'" . A disc jockey's delight it has been retouched and remixed many times over. Personally, I think Carleen showed out on As We Come (To Be). She's smooth on this one, reminiscent of a youthful Anita Baker in her heyday! Great stuff, wonderful soul from a serious group of fierce UK musicians. Now, my only wonder is what became of their sophomore effort ? If anyone has any idea, do tell. Until then, enjoy.

DJ COA

Great to see all these positive reviews. Like one of the other reviewers, if I had to keep only one album from my collection (about a thousand CDs, several thousand records), this would be it. I originally bought it in 92, then had to buy a new CD as the old one wore out (really - never seen that on any of my other CDs). Why is it so wicked? Combination of superb musicianship and sampling, tunes that run the full gamut of emotions and feel from lump in the throat soulful and moving ("As We Come To Be") to super funky ("Apparently Nothin'" , "Move On") and amazing vocals from Carleen Anderson . In short, every track is a belter. The tragedy of it is that this is the only album made by the Young Disciples. Add it to your collection!

This album is an almost flawless slice of political rap, acid jazz and funky soul music, so I'd recommend it to fans of those genres. Its grooves are timeless, the lyrics are confrontational, inspirational, and intelligent. Highlights include "Talkin' what I feel", featuring rapper Master Ace, "Apparently Nothin'" (featuring the soulful Carleen Anderson), and "Step Right On (Dub)". The whole album is generally consistent, and the momentum is lost only once (to the excessively long "Freedom Suite"). Road To Freedom is a hidden gem definitely worth seeking out.

I find myself reviewing this masterpiece after having owned it since it was originally released. I am also listening to it at the moment which probably spurred me to review it. Where does one start with music on this level? I wish that this wasn't the only individual project that they did but there again how could they top this effort? The whole album is an absolute joy to listen to and if you have never heard it then you should really give it a listen. On the other side of the pond (in the UK) it is generally acknowledged as a masterpiece.

All roads on this CD lead to the absolute gem that is the 15 minute Freedom Suite. It has everything, powerful lyrics, excellent groove, rap..... But having said that this is a real album to explore that set a standard that hasn't really been surpassed since 1991.

A great album from the beginning til the end. Cop this out if you can find it. Just got myself a copy and i have a feeling its gonna be a quite a resident in my CD changer.