Say What You Mean

Maktub | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 12, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Velour Recordings
• ASIN: B0007X9TQG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,389 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heavier than "Khronos", April 13, 2005

By 

RP (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Say What You Mean (Audio CD)

Since I LOVE Maktub's CD "Khronos" (2003), I bought this one without even listening first. While mildly disappointed, this is still a solid CD.

Compared to "Khronos", this is heavier and darker. Less pop, more hard rock. This CD isn't as fun, and won't be as much of a party crowd-pleaser.

On the upside, Reggie's voice is still wonderfully rich and soulful, and the guitar is smoking.

Minor qualms: short (45 minutes) and no written lyrics (unlike "Khronos").

Bottom line: Maktub fans might want to give this a listen (online, at record store, etc.) before buying. Newbies who aren't hard rock fans might consider "Khronos" instead.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic, refreshing album!, April 22, 2005

By 

Taleatia Vincent-Clark - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Say What You Mean (Audio CD)

I've heard the term "Heavy Soul" thrown around a lot when talking about Maktub, and it seems to fit. This is lush R+B/neo soul with touches of rock guitar and feedback. After wading through dozens of cookie-cutter pop-punk and emo bands, it's great to hear a band just do what they want without trying to fit into one specific genre. The result...it certainly works for me! The band and arrangements are super tight, but the thing that hits me the most are the vocals. You really, really have to be able to sing to pull of a style like this, and luckily Maktub's vocalist is more than up to the task. The production in spots reminds me of some 90s R+B, and while I wasn't a fan of much of that stuff, in this context it works really well. The songs are thick with pumping bass and kick drum and topped off with crunchy guitar and warm-sounding keyboard/organ. I'm very happy I bought this, it's a great album and I listen to it frequently. Highly reccomended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I need my DAILY DOSAGE of Maktub..., May 13, 2005

By 

G. (Silver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Say What You Mean (Audio CD)

If Maktub is a Rock & Soul band, then "Say What You Mean" (SWYM) is a bit heavier on the 'Rock' than "Khronos" was, their previous CD. That said, Reggie "The Voice" Watts' incredibly soulful vocals are probably capable of making Black Sabbath sound like a soul band!

Having seen the band live performing most of the songs from SWYM, I love this CD even more. As with Khronos, SWYM is in heavy rotation in our household. It has (in my humble opinion) fewer instantly likeable songs than "Khronos", but a couple of them - Say What You Mean, Daily Dosage, Right To Breathe - are very infectious after only one listening. As a side note, the beginning of Right To Breathe is almost reminiscent in mood and tone of several Seal songs. Nobody Loves You Like I Do is another great song, and Blown Away is my least favorite tune.

Maktub is a great band to see live. If you have a chance, go see them. Reggie Watt's vocals are even more impressive in person - he is capable of improvising with the best of them. He is truly a musician. The rhythm section is also very, very tight. My wife and I got to chat with all of the guys in the band after their show in Baltimore, and they were all really nice, pleasant, and easy to talk to. No super-inflated egos.

All in all, SWYM is not coming out of my CD player for a while. If I do take it out, it'll be to replace it with "Khronos".