Customer Reviews

Roadsinger

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised by 2006's "An Other Cup," which is a superb album by any standard, but--to my astonishment--"Roadsinger" easily surpasses it, making this new album one of the very finest in Cat Stevens/Yusuf's remarkable canon. At first glance, the musical and cultural range here is not as broad at that of the earlier disc, and the overt references to Yusuf's Islamic faith are certainly considerably toned down, but, in this case, neither of these is a bad thing. What emerges instead is a much more focused and accessible record, whose folky gentility recaptures the Seventies glory days of "Tea For The Tillerman," and "Teaser and the Firecat." Yusuf's acoustic guitar playing, intricate, teasing, and gentle, is sweetly haunting, recalling (and maybe even outdoing) his work on his classic records thirty years ago. This is the true return of the Cat Stevens we knew in our youth, a re-emergence so startling and complete that not even the considerable charms of "An Other Cup" could have prepared us for it. Every single track here is a gem, and "Roadsinger" is nothing short of a full-blown masterpiece. The title track alone, with its beautifully-told tale of an outcast seeker, is well worth the price of the disc.

I was very pleasantly surprised when I heard about this album and even more so when I listened to it.

Its existence shows that the return of Cat Stevens (in his new Yusuf persona) in 2006's "An Other Cup" was no fluke. Listening to it proves something even more wonderful- That the gentle searching and storytelling that was the essence of Cat Stevens' best work is back with a vengeance.

Top Songs on the album are "Welcome Home", "RoadSinger", "All Kinds of Roses" and especially "Everytime I Dream". Listen to it and feel the joy of a master songwriter and performer rediscovering himself and the world around him once again.

Welcome back Peace Train...and please tour in the USA!

I have a strong bias toward Cat Stevens of the Teaser and the Firecat and Tea for the Tillerman era. That music was part of my growing up soundtrack, especially "Morning Has Broken," "Moonshadow," and "Peacetrain."

Listening to this new album made me wish once again that he had not given up popular music after his conversion to Islam. The decades have been kinder to his voice than if he had spent them singing in smoky clubs; his voice is much better than most of the old rockers of his era but is still darker and raspier and doesn't have the effortless ease it used to have. But there are moments on this CD when I hear the old Cat come out to sing.

I have slightly mixed feelings about the CD (do I love it or just like it?): I really like some songs, don't care for a couple, and generally like the rest but am not wild about them (though this could change with extended exposure). My favorite track on this CD is the title track "Roadsinger;" I liked it the first time I heard it. For me it is the closest to what I have always loved about Yusuf's songs, both musically and emotionally. His voice is not the best in "Welcome Home" and this song could have benefitted from another take (I read that this one was done in one take). The message of "All Kinds of Roses" feels a bit ham handed and the music isn't catchy or appealing enough to carry it. The final track is instrumental only and quite lovely. There are some references to Yusuf's faith but they are fairly limited. Overall, I don't like it as much as my oldies but it is good to hear him making music like this again. It had been way too long.

The liner notes are heavy on photos (especially photos that point to his earlier work, I guess for people who don't make the connection) and way too light on content. There are lyrics for only a few of the songs. Given that Yusuf's song often tell stories, the lack of lyrics or commentary on what inspired the songs is unfortunate. This may not be a big deal in the downloading era, but I still like to have liner notes at hand while listening to the music.

If you are a big fan of Yusuf/Cat Stevens (but not as nostalgic as I am for a particular couple of albums), you will probably enjoy this CD. If you aren't sure if you want the whole CD, I definitely recommend you buy the download of the title song "Roadsinger."

I absolutely adore this CD. There isn't a song I don't like--all feel to me like coming home. They are warm, intimate, soulful, and take you on a journey to a peaceful place.

This compilation is one of the best I've ever heard from any artist. He seems very at peace with himself-someone mentioned serene and that's a good way to put it. Like coming home. Listening to his music fills me with this sense of calmness. In particular the title track and Thinking of You are noteworthy. All Kinds of Roses is haunting in its beauty.

I hear blues, jazz, folk, rock, and country all in this album. I read it was recorded live for the most part and it has that feel. This is not the mixed electronic techno tune that you hear today-this is the type of music you would share with your closest friend over a jup of java or just sit back and relax to on a vacation in the mountains. It feels really personal--and I can't say that about much of today's music.

It doesn't sound particularly religous but I did find it spiritual. He is a true artist. This is different than the majority of musicians today who seem more like performers and less like artists (with some exceptions).

Highly highly recommended.

Yusuf, or Cat Stevens as he is formerly known, has always been a thoughtful songwriter. He delivers on this disc of eleven songs that are meant to warm the heart. I really like the lead track "Thinking bout You". It is a pretty love song. "Welcome Home" is a song that makes me good. I love his guitar playing here. The other highlight is the track "Roadsinger". This is a story song about how the power of music can bring people together. "The Rain" is a track about Noah's Ark and the flood. This is a beautiful song. I love the violin playing here. "To Be What You Must" is a song with very deep moving lyrics. This is a very spiritual song. I love piano playing by Martin Terefe on this track. "All Kinds Of Roses" is a song about the beauty of nature and the world around us. "In This Glass World" is a short but lovely song about peace. "World of Darkness" is a pretty bleak sounding song, but I like Yusuf's vocals here. This CD is filled with good reflective songs.

We all know the story -- "Cat Stevens" walks away from the music industry after his conversion to Islam, never to be heard from again until . . .

Stevens resurfaces as Yusuf Islam, and releases the absolutely outstanding CD "An Other Cup". How good is "An Other Cup"? Not quite as good as "Tea for the Tillerman" and "Teaser and the Firecat" (two of the greatest albums of all time by any artist), but on par with such outstanding releases as "Catch a Bull at Four" and "Buddha and the Chocolate Box". "An Other Cup" was not as quiet and contemplative as TFTT and TATF, and was more reminiscent of Cat Stevens' more energetic releases such as CABAF and BATCB.

Now, in 2009, Yusuf delights us with yet another release, "Roadsinger". How good is "Roadsinger"? Like its predecessor, not quiet as good as TFTT and TATF, but, like its predecessor, pretty darn close. "Roadsinger" is a much more acoustic-based album, and, in that sense, is perhaps the closest musical companion to TFTT and TATF than any post "Teaser" LP. For those who long for the more simplistic (although compositionally complex) sounds of Cat Stevens' 2 acoustic masterpieces, this is a worthy edition to his cannon, and one that you will return to time and again. It is every bit as good as any Cat Stevens LP, and, at some moments, on par with TFTT and TATF.

In short, Yusuf Islam's return to music-making has been a resounding success, exceeding the wildest hopes of his substantial fan base. I recommend both "An Other Cup" and the exquisite "Roadsinger" without qualification of any kind. What a thrill to be able to hear, once again, "that voice"!

Yusef sounds magically as fresh and youthful as he did back in his days as Cat, but also as worn and wounded as a man who has lived 60 some odd years, honestly I don't know how old he is.(did I mention that he is magical!) I love the music, the voice, the lyrics; they just grab you by your heart and soul and hold tight.

I am amazed by realizing how much I missed the sound of Yusef's music, even when there is so much wonderful stuff out there, there is just nobody like him.

Thank you, Yusef for sharing the gift of your beautiful voice.
(I do wish it was longer, but love every second of it)

I was thrilled to hear about Cat's new album and I hurried to pre-order one. I received it this week, and it is awesome! I have yearned for the sound of his voice for 30 years and I am delighted with the album. It would be difficult to choose a favorite song. There is something to love in each one. His talent is truly a gift from God and it is such a pleasure to see that his evolution has brought him home again to us, his fans. The familiar sound of his guitar and the warmth of his voice are a gift I thought I'd never receive again. Way to go, Cat, and thank you!

This is, without overstatement, one of the best albums I've heard in a very long, long time. Cat/Yusuf's voice sounds as good as ever, and the songs are all excellent. Not a single wasted moment on the record.

This album is Cat/Yusuf's return to his folk-rock roots, with wonderful songs such as "The Rain", a song about Noah's flood, which he had originally written back in 1968; "Roadsinger", an allegory about an outcast who's misunderstood and has no place to go; "All Kinds of Roses", a simple song about the beauty of life and nature; "Be What You Must", the song's intro is borrowed from Cat's 1972 hit "Sitting", and reinforced by a breathtaking children's choir. The album closes with "Shamsia", a haunting piano instrumental dedicated to a young Afghan girl who defied the Taliban and attended school and was hence blinded by an acid-attack as a punishment.

If you liked "An Other Cup" (Yusuf's previous album), this album will surely blow you away.

God bless you, Yusuf, for sharing your wonderful talent with us again.

While his voice reflects (albeit ever so slightly) that he is not the young Cat of the early 70's, this record presents fantastic new music from an old and trusted friend. The songs are good and the delivery is warm and just fine. He sounds great. Close your eyes and you'll think you're back in this artist's golden era. It is so nice to have music again from Yusef - Welcome Home indeed!

Also, any fan of Yusef / Cat Stevens music should try and catch a repeat of his appearance on Chris Isaak's show on the Biography network. Any thoughts that this man is some radical extremist should be disspelled. He appears to be a kind man and very much an artist. The show is tremendous, as is the music played.