Customer Reviews

Saul Williams

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hey folks just a quick review. For starters, I'm not really a hip hop fan, I primarily listen to alt rock, metal, industrial. I do like a few hip hop and rap artists. I was flipping through the channels the other day and came across Saul Williams performing 2 songs live on MTV2. I was very very impressed. I listened to the samples of his album on his website, was again very impressed. I picked up the album on iTunes a few days ago, its great....any music lover with a bit of an open mind that is open to many different styles of music should definately give this a listen, its a nice mix of several different sounds. Anyone who wants to hear something new and fresh sounding, with a good message, pick this one up, I highly recommend it.

If you REALLY love and know Hiphop, I suggest that you challenge yourself to accept and discover the beauty that this album contains. Because there really are some gems offered here that are enlightening and that raise consciousness if you pay attention. Saul is an afrocentric poet and actor and this is his second full-length musical cd. I took a chance on this cd, and needless to say, I'm glad I did. Whatever expectations you have going in to this album, I guarantee Saul will come at you with something totally different. Saul started out as an MC, but now he prides himself as a poet before all else. I actually found this cd in the Rock/Pop section at the store...
The first track is a spoken-word poem over a sharp piano beat and starts the album off with a bang. This is the best spoken word to be found on the cd. From here he moves into rock and more rock for the majority of the album. That's right, Saul has a taste for rock! Apparently his influence comes mainly from Jimi Hendrix and most recently Rage Against The Machine(whose front man Zach De La Rocha appears on track 4). Whether Saul has a live band behind him or not, most of the music sounds pretty good to one who doesn't listen to a whole lot of rock. Saul not only does spoken-word, but also sings, chants, pseudo-raps, moans, screams, does rock singing and anything in between. He comes up with many effective(and some lackluster) ways of presenting his words.
I can't complain about any of the first 8 tracks. Other than the first one, "Grippo" kicks the rock off nicely, and "Telegram" is closer to spoken word over a hard rock beat and addresses the state of Hiphop and MC's. "Act III Scene 2" definitely stands out(with some energy added by Zach) and is one of the best-written tracks here, but almost drags on a little long to be considered classic. "List of Demands" is a standout and maybe my favorite, simply because the music works well for him on this joint. The other favorite is "Black Stacey" which is a deeply personal song with a powerful chorus and a third verse that takes some stabs at modern rappers. "PG" he harmonizes in a very low tone, but is way too short. The last four tracks are no slackers, but not nearly as remarkable as the others, and only "Seaweed" stands out. In fact, the momentum slightly decreases somewhere in the final 1/3rd of this album. The best songs: "Black Stacey" and "List Of Demands," then "Talk to Strangers," "Act III Scene 2," "Telegram," and "Seaweed."
There is even an enthralling poem written on the face of the cd and it will blow your mind if you take the time to read it! I've never seen any artist that has used that space more constructively than what Saul did here. The insert thankfully has lyrics so you can follow along with his words.
Well, Saul is hard to completely describe. He is a Black poet who is undoubtedly from the Hiphop Kulture, yet expresses his work over mainly rock beats while discussing the politics of Hiphop, government, humanity, and well as personal politics. As far as the rock side of him, it reminds me of Mos Def's recent endeavors, but Saul is clearly stronger in this aspect in that he has more to offer lyrically over his rock beats. Not as much spoken-word will be found here as you would expect in an album from Saul. He seems angry over many of these tracks, but it's obvious how much love he has for the mind and others, and he is really offering his best in constructive criticism. Saul particularly speaks somewhat angrily towards Hiphop and his black brethren out there, yet it's done out of a love for the two entities. It's also clear that he has a strong faith, and references God & Jesus aptly throuhgout these tracks. Not a perfect album, but it definitely calls for you to concede your musical biases in order to accept important messages and insight. I think those who have a variety of musical tastes yet love Hiphop first will appreciate Saul's latest effort! Even though it has A LOT of rock, I doubt many rock fans will open their minds and accept what Saul is doing here. Oh well, their loss!!!

I saw Saul in concert with NIN recently at Voodoo Musicfest in NOLA. He was awesome. Of course, he had NIN backing him so his show was great. He performed "List of Demands" and "African Student Movement". I was so impressed that I bought the album. I like both of the songs that I heard performed live as well as "Act III Scene 2(Shakespeare)" with Zach from Rage Against the Machine as a guest. "Telegram" is also a great song.
It's an album that has lots of great beats varying from slow to fast. Saul changes his vocal style on different tracks, it's particularly funny when he does a song in a 50 cent voice. It also has some political messages put forth in a refreshing tone. It never sounds like Saul is trying to hammer you over the head with his ideas.
It's been in my rotation non-stop since I bought it.

..and that comes out of the mouth of a man who used to hate hiphop. Well, I still hate mainstream-hiphop (or better, mainstream in general), but again a hiphop-album blew me away this year. The first one that blew me away was 'Young Dangerous Heart' by Subtitle, wich was released at the beginning of this year. Yet, I find this to be better then Subtitle's album, wich had some flaws..
This is nearly flawless. Overall, this is labeled as 'hiphop', but you can clearly hear the rock- en electro-influences on it. It's a bit Rage At The Machina-esque. From the openingtrack 'Talk To Strangers' I was hooked. The piano is very good, but the lyrics are the real stand-outs. He's a lyrically genuis. On 'Grippo' and especially 'Telegram' you can hear the aggresive rock-style he uses frequently. Also, he seems to have alot of critism on hiphop. On 'Act III Scene 2' you can hear the unmistakeble voice of Zach De La Rocha from RATM. I could go on about each track, but I'm not going to do that. I'll just say 'Black Stacey' is a classic! Very personal and again the piano, that song is worth the price of this album alone. I not only recommending this to hiphop-fans, but also to fans of good music with an open mind. Now if you excuse me, I have some repeated 'Black Stacey'-listening to do.

For someone who has been listening to hip hop and a lot of other music since a teen, there is something on these tracks for everyone. Secondly, the lyrics that Saul has are gripping to the socially conscious. In such a mad world that we live in, Saul has a way of just getting it all out. If you like rage against the machine, public enemy and KRS1, you need to here this. If you like punk rock, you need to hear this as well. I can go on and on about Saul Williams. From the moment I heard this amazing stuff live I knew I had to buy this album. To hear his message is nothing short of a refreashing release for all that is wrong in this world in music, world politics, racism and just life in general. Thank you Saul for representing an honest voice in this ill time we live in. We need more like you.

This was by far and away one of the best CDs, lyrically, I have EVER heard in the history of hip hop. Unlike commercial hip hop, you walk away from this album feelin enlightened. It's MUCH better than Amethyst Rock Star, in that the tracks are shorter, less noisy, and the lyrics are TIGHT. It's a lil heavy for the casual hip hop listener at first, but the more you listen the more enjoyable it becomes. I only wish there were more spoken word tracks and less rock tracks.
I'd give it 10 out of 10 lyrically, 6 out of 6 musically
and an 8 overall.

Saul Williams offers listeners a socially-conscious, honest, musically mature and lyrically transcendent collection of songs. Though the album is primarily defined as hip-hip, and to be sure there are some great hip-hop tracks, what is also found here can more accurately be defined as "a master of spoken-word poetry accompanied by music." Fans of his style and performance will not be disappointed. Furthermore, varying musical influences lift this album above the confines of a strictly hip-hop recording, such as the industrial beats of "List of Demands (Reparations)" or the muted rock performance of "Telegram." It is this pushing of boundaries that makes it readily accessible to listeners whose main musical interest lies outside of hip-hop (myself included) while still carrying the standard of the best of what hip-hop has to offer, and unfortunately has yet to fully embrace.

Williams is poignant in his observations, poetic in his presentation, and optimistic in his outlook. He sees the world through eyes that recognize not only the symptoms but also the afflictions, and a mind that is mature and forward-looking enough to see the solutions and the possibility of something better. He refuses the notion that accepting the current sad state of affairs is "keeping it real," but rather views living up to true human potential as the only "real" worth keeping.

While all the tracks have something valuable to offer, either musically or lyrically, a few standout examples are worth noting here. "List of Demands (Reparations)" is a great explosion of creative energy, and many listeners will certainly want to pound their fist in the air to this one. Perhaps the most moving and memorable piece is the auto-biographical "Black Stacy," which is a personal confession of the insecurities felt due to skin color and the process of finally coming to terms with one's appearance and self-responsibilities. The lyrics are powerful and should be heard by every hip-hop fan, young and old, but especially those impressionable youths who look to materialistic moguls or defeatist gangsters as surrogate role-models. Finally, in Saul Williams, they have an artist worth looking up to.

The most amazing thing about Saul Williams's same title LP, and opposed to its strong rebelling spirit and very political saying, is its honest optimism that lies between bewitched composing and probably the best lyrics I've listen to in years... well, maybe since "Amethyst Rock Star", which I also recommend to own... :)
This "written-word rock" of Williams, if I may, is the best hip-hop style ever, for my humble opinion.
Genius.
AND - no matter what, even if you hate hip-hop or even if you hate music in general... YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE AMAZING "BLACK STACEY"!!!
R.

I personally feel that this album is brilliant. Saul is a rare and important voice that is needed in these times. I Found It To Be A Breath Of Fresh Air. From the first listen my jaw hit the floor. I Love Amethist Rockstar, But I Feel That This Album Shows Saul taking A Much More Song-Structred Approach To His Writing, Where With Amethist It was More Rhythmic Poetry. If you're intrested in unique and poetically progressive music that has a significant political and spiritual message than check this out. plus if you miss rage against the machine check out track 4 for a zack de la rocha appearance plus some other nice guests.

I have been totally excited and anticipating this album. It is not at all what I expected, but that is fine. This album is innovative, energizing, and refreshing, without being all sparkley. While Amethyst Rock Star was very precise and very highly produced, this latest outing is, well, grunge; and not in a bad way. The production, which he did him self, is very gritty, and the vocals a little more fuzzy. The writing is emaculate as always. The album if full of positive angry energy, if that makes sense. I am really liking the album. The album really defies genre classification, so if you're into unconventional music, you just may like this album.