Customer Reviews

Strangefolk

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This album is fantastic. As somebody already mentioned it Strangefolk shows a mature band doing things right. I like that in this album the Hindu influence is small, and I'm glad about this cause that was something they already explode and was about time to listen something different.

What I really like about this album is the psychedelic approach that heavy 70`s influence in here, the organ, the guitars, the vocals in songs like Dr. Kitt where you can almost hear the doors.

Im being honest here I was not expecting this album to be this good but is like fresh air, its original on its own context without being a novelty.

Get it you wont be dissapointed.

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.

I was visiting London last week and to my surprise I saw this album at the HMV at Gatwick. I never knew the group got back together - what a great surprise! If you were ever a fan, this album will not disappoint you.

Kula Shaker bother me- i love so many of their songs as well as hate the ones i dont like so much that i cant forgive them. They had the two worst album covers until this one which i like. They sometimes would ruin a perfect song with bad lyrics or have good lyrics on a bad song. Live they are fantastic- really even if you dont like them you must admit they are a great performing band with fantastic energy and musical skill. Which leads us to this album. The opener is strong but nothing special as someone else noted. Then "Second sight" appears and its so good and so initally 60s sounding that im in love. Another track follows good but not great- then comes a stinker. "great diktator" is bad on every level- as political commentary it fails as novelty it fails. Damn i think- here we go again. Bu as the album progresses things slow down and get far more pyschedelic and the lyrics rapidly improve. Sure theres a song or two that is forgettable but overall including the us track "persephone" the album finishes very strong- heavily debted to the great organ work and casual but interesting rhythms of the bass and drums. This by far their most 60s sounding record in my opinion and there is little indian infuence left which is for the best as its been done by them in the past. It is also their most natural acoustic sounding work to date and Kula Shaker benefit from it. If this is the new direction then sign me up.

I've just discovered this band recently upon hearing a live rendition of the wonderful track "The Great Hosannah" off the band's 1999 album "Peasants, Pigs, and Astronauts" on a British music show. That performance enticed me to check out more of this band, and boy what have I missed! I'm pleased to hear this band has rebanded as they apparently havn't missed a beat since the 90's.

This album evokes a passion most other bands can only dream about. Granted, the band's sound is heavily derived from 60's influences but they do a hell of a job recreating the sound with a modern rock edge. The quirky, tongue in cheek "Great Dic(k)tator of the Free World" is a fun song that has a chorus that reminds me of the 60's anthem "The Shape of Things to Come" by Max Frost and the Troopers. "Out on the Highway" is a great rocking opening track but nothing terribly special. This song is followed by possibly the album's best track, "Second Sight", an instant classic with great lyrics, harmony, and hard rocking. My favorite track is the marvellous "Song of Love-Narayana", where the band succcessfully combines it's Indian side with awesome melodies and grooves, culminating in a very rewarding climax. My second favorite track is the excellent Doorsish sounding "Dr. Kitt", with more awesome harmony and great musicianship.

The album is at its best when it's rocking. However, it has great slower moments too like the poignent Greatful Dead sounding "Shadowlands". "Ol' Jack Tar" and "Fool that I Am" are lesser songs that weigh the album down just a little bit, but still aren't bad. The title track is a weird experiment, and a waste of time and album space. I hate when bands do this. Just play music, not noise.

This is easily the best album of the year (not saying much) and maybe the decade. It's a shame it won't get recognized in the US, and the band apparently aren't going to waste their time touring in this nation of zombies to promote it. Whatever, keep going guys, music needs you!

I wasn't drawn into this CD immediately, as I was with their previous releases, but it's growing on me. The second half is definitely stronger than the first, and overall I found the slower songs to be stronger than the full-on rockers (this is a major shift from "K" and "Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts"). Fool That I Am, Shadowlands, Persephone, and Ol' Jack Tar are currently standing out for me as the real gems this time around... but if you're a fan, it's still worth the money. Even the weakest tracks are better than most of what's on the radio any given week of the year!

I first heard Kula Shaker live in Philadelphia Pa. about 10 years ago. At the time I thought I was witnessing the rise of a band destined for greatness ... then they broke up. When I saw them back together with a new CD I went out and bought it right away. I think it's the best thing they've done yet. It's my favorite CD of the year so far ( well maybe a tie with Smash Palace's "Everybody Comes and Goes"). Great songs, great musicianship, top notch vocals, creative arrangements and spot on production...how could you go wrong??