Strangefolk [Import]

Kula Shaker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 27, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Strangefolk
• ASIN: B000RGUHCS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,618 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Out on the Highway

2. Second Sight

3. Die for Love

4. Great Dictator (Of the Free World)

5. Strangefolk

6. Song of Love/Narayana

7. Shadowlands

8. Fool That I Am

9. Hurricane Season

10. Ol' Jack Tar

11. 6Ft Down Blues

12. Dr Kitt

13. Persephone [*]

Editorial Reviews

2008 album (released in Japan and the UK in '07) from the Psychedelic Britpoppers, their third album overall and their first in eight years! Still led by Crispian Mills (son of British actress Haley Mills) Kula Shaker's long awaited album features 13 tracks including the single 'Second Sight'. Cooking Vinyl. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Offering from Kula Shaker., July 11, 2007

By 

Thomas Dopko "Fitcharoo" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strangefolk (Audio CD)

After purchasing the "Freedom Lovin' People EP" and listening to some of the newest cuts from a beloved band I had thought gone forever, I was a little worried. The sound was a bit earthier and lacked the over-blown production values that made "K" and "Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts" so amazing.

Then my pre-ordered "Strangefolk" arrived and I found that my fears were not to be realized. It is an outstanding release and is a welcome addition to the other two full-length studio releases. It is not "K" or "Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts", either in style or approach (though it is closer to their 1999 efforts than the earlier material).

1. Out on the Highway - 9/10
This one is a very solid song. It has multilayered instrument tracks that are balanced with softer verses to create a near perfect blend of wall-of-sound with moments of calm and quiet.

2. Second Sight - 10/10
There is a reason this one is the first single. It has all of the elements that make Kula Shaker such a phenomena in this age of mediocre artist offerings. An amazing 60's vibe is embedded in this song. The vocals, harmonies, organ, beat and guitars are all outstanding.

3. Die For Love - 6/10
A slow, plodder of a song. I like it well enough, but compared to the others it is neither fun nor particularly catchy. It has a heavy beat and a great lead, and is not bad for the style employed. "Mystical Machine Gun" was slow, but it was freakin' amazing in its scope and depth. This one is just ok.

4. Great Dictator - 9/10
Great tambourine-laced beat and terrific backing vocals. This track is not only a great rocker, but the lyrics are a hoot. I won't spoil the punch line, but the vocals are perfect for the message. I like this one a lot.

5. Strangefolk - N/A
Strange music with a David Lynch-like voice track over the top. One of those weird read in reverse and then played in reverse so that it sounds a bit off types of things. Kind of cool, but not really a "song" if you get my drift.

6. Song of Love/Narayana - 10/10
A bit of the Middle East (chanting) with a 60's Bond-theme horn section thrown in and populated with traditional Crispian vocals and the trademark harmonies. The song is a complex collection of styles that has to be heard to be understood. Great beat too!

7. Shadowlands - 7/10
Slow, strolling tempo with great atmosphere. A nice song in general, but a bit tame on the whole. I know that not every song needs a steady, driving beat and lots of layered effects/instruments, but those are the songs that appeal to me the most. Again, the song rolls along and is quite enjoyable. It does calm things down after the preceding track.

8. Fool that I Am - 7/10
Kind of Doors-like musically, with verse lyrics kind of Peter, Paul and Mary-ish. This one is another mid-tempo, lower-level offering that is good (not great). It has many VERY 60's sounding elements, but again is oceans away from the heavier stuff.

9. Hurricane Season - 9/10
This one has what can be identified as a jazz beat, though the music and style continue on with the 60's vibe established with "Fool..." Starts quiet with a crossroads-y lyrical style that is blown away by the time we hit the middle of the song. The instruments come on hard and heavy and are just amazing. Then it calms back down for the final minute or two.

10. O'l Jack Tar- 9/10
Quiet and the music reminds me a bit of "Flying" from Magical Mystery Tour. I like it, even though it is fairly soft. The vocals have a nice reverb, echo-y quality that I find appealing.

11. 6Ft Down Blues - 10/10
Kind of a departure from the rest of the styles. A nice heavy beat throughout most of the song with Crispian retaining the bluegrass singing style used throughout most of the songs. It isn't the same approach as the other high-ranked songs, but it is still a great tune. Darker in its tone and generally heavier in the overal tone.

12. Dr. Kitt - 8/10
This one is another with the keyboards lifted right from a Doors song of your choice. This final track is another mid-tempo with lots of 60's vibes. Harps, flutes and the weird "Strangefolk" voice at the end of the song make this one a surreal experience.

13 Super CB Operator (Bonus Track) - 9/10
When I heard this one on "Freedom Lovin' People EP" I was not super impressed. I'll be honest though, and let you in on a secret. It is actually a fun and extremely catchy song. I'm enjoying it much more now than previously. If I hadn't given the song a middling review on the EP, I'd bump it up to a 10, though it is not standard Kula fare.

14. Wannabe Famous (Bonus Track) - 8/10
The final listed tune is a faster tempo song with a non-traditional Kula Shaker approach to the architecture of the transitions. The chorus has some Who-like qualities, and on the whole it is a somewhat unconventional track.

15. Persephone (Hidden Track) - 7/10
This hidden track is quiet and acoustic for the most part. I could almost imagine Andy Sturmer writing something like this after "Spilt Milk" in the same vein as "Russian Hill". It is a nice, if not too memorable closer.

Summary: I loved the release overall, and would recommend it to both Kula Shaker fans and interested parties alike. It does not have the cohesion of "Peasants..." and may not have radio friendly songs like Tattva or Hey Dude from "K", but it is a new sound for the band and it is one of the best releases of 2007. It may take a few listens, but once it has become intgrated into your mind, you will agree that it is quite good indeed. They have not simply rehashed their previous sounds and as a result may not please everyone, but think that it is a stunning release and well worthy of a listen.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A triumphant return for a band that was missed..., February 25, 2008

By 

Rick H (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strangefolk (Audio CD)

At first listen, I wasn't sure what to make of this record. It seemed to be going in various directions. And after the bombast and wall of noise in previous album tracks like Tattva, Hey Dude, Govinda, and Mystical Machine Gun, well, I was expecting more of the same.

After giving it a second and third listen, I "got it". I didn't need to hear more of the same - but what I heard I fell in love with.

Make no mistake - this is Mills and Bevan at their swirling, powerful, 60's/70's fueled musical soundscape creating best. But this is an older, wiser, smarter band - a band that spent 7 months on the road learning how to play together again - a band that learned what it means to kick back and jam (and like few can do, make it SOUND like you're sitting down, sipping a top-shelf drink, and _feeling_ the groove in a nice, comfortable dark bar).

Mills still can snarl and seduce - sometimes in back to back verses. But while he still throws a few political barbs in, he does it with a sense of humor and a laid-back attitude. He isn't taking it so seriously anymore - and to great effect. Some critics (like the perception-first rag NME) tossed this album off as an also-ran band, making fun of Great Dictator -- but they've missed the point. It's meant to be silly, it's meant to be tongue in cheek. And fun. It has a point, but we're not going to lose sleep over it.

The influences are all over the place. McCartney. Lennon. Dylan. Floyd. 90's Britrock. And, Old Kula Shaker. But they pull it off - they don't sound like they're copying anyone's sound. And the album gets stronger as it goes on.

The only real 'miss' is the title track; but it's more of an intermission than a song.

Highlights:

Out on the Highway - 2nd UK single - nice beat to get your feet tapping and head bobbing.

Second Sight - lead UK single - produced by Sam Williams (who has produced much by Supergrass), I sort of hear a bit of The Animalhouse here; great power track.

Song Of Love / Narayana - What can I say - this is Kula Shaker - the Indian instruments blend in nicely; the Indian chorus is quite trippy. Well put together. A major highlight.

Shadowlands - This one has a Lennon-esque feel. Nice, soft, melodic track.

Fool That I Am - oh, this one is neat. Nice classic rock poppy vibe, with a real neat hard organ that sounds like The Doors.

Also fantastic Hurricane Season (evokes a bit of Dylan and Folk), and 6ft Down Blues (great groove and superlative bass line).

Overall - *****. Highly recommended. A return to form. A tight band. The production is fantastic and well balanced, and the recording's clean.

Give it a listen or three - I guarantee you'll fall in love with it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still hazy after all these years, September 6, 2007

By 

Mervis Twitch (Backwoods of Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strangefolk (Audio CD)

Wow, I thought I would never hear a new Kula Shaker album! This is easily my favorite album of 2007. The music remains relevant, but woefully, some of the lyrics are politically misguided. After the swastika debacle, one might think Crispian would tone it down. Still, it's a great incense-and-lavalamp piece of work. Light the Barry Gibb candles and warm up the hi-fi, Mama... they're letting me come home soon.