Customer Reviews

Subtle Ways

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Thank God for MP3.Com or else I may have never heard of these skilled musical craftsmen. After all, it's a bit hard for us in Philly to check out the Seattle music scene. Besides, I am a bit tired of the grunge scene. The album is refreshingly well put together. Standouts include 'Intuition', 'Just Can't Make It', 'For Perfection', and the mega crowd pleasing 'Twilight'. But the kicker here is the ultra soulful 'Believe'! This song squeezes so much soul into 7 minutes that you just have to push repeat on the CD player. All in all I rate this album a 4 out of 5 possible stars. The only detraction being the song 'First Time' which seems ever so slightly out of place on this album. A big plus for me was the purchasing process too... I ordered from MaktubMusic.com and received my CD in less than a week with a nice note from Reggie (lead vocals) thanking me for my support. If this is the way we listen to and buy music from now on, I'm all for it! This album is definitely worth adding to your collection!

I got this album thinking I was going to discover something totally different, but also somehow fearing to purchase another average cd...

I am delighted by this cd ! It is very interesting and diverse. At times, you have the impression to listen to music that could be interpreted by Lenny Kravitz or the Christians ("Just can't make it", Track 3). At other, you think of Led Zeppelin or the Doors ("Dichotomy", Track 6), or Alan Parsons on the first part of the tremendous "Internal Light". But doesn't "For perfection" also remind you of "Machine gun" (from the commodores) ? and "Twilight" of Lonnie Liston Smith or Incognito ? And "First time" is a potential favourite on ANY f.m. of the world...

The vocals are excellent all along the way, the rest of the instruments are never overwhelming nor "cheesy". But this is an album you have to listen to various times, it is not a Britney Spears or Coco Lee thing...

These guys have obviously listened to A LOT of music, and have blended it extraordinarily in this album which is probably one of the best albums I got my hands on in a long time. This also tends to prove that the Seattle area probably is at this moment one of the most creative and active from an artistic point of view in the U.S.A.. I will be waiting for their follow-up (the hardest part is to confirm), and see if they can stay away from the commercial factories (major record companies who focus on "fast food" and disdain quality).

Go buy. I usually hate this kind of music, but for some reason Maktub have hit the nail on the head and crafted a staggeringly emotional, funky and hard hitting debut. can't wait for more....

If it wasn't for Amazon and Liquid Audio I would never Of got to hear of this group as they aren't out in the UK as yet, but from the stregnth of this CD I don't think it will be to long before they hit our shores. I bought the Album on the strenth of Believe, great track, great ALbum. This is a must for all Jazz, funk, R&B lovers.

An excellent album that shows off the groove scene in Seattle. Great mix of psychedelia, soul, R&B and rock. Subtle Ways, their first release, is a much better album than Khronos. More passionate and alive. Reggie Watts has an incredible voice. He has some new solo tracks at ... that show his new solo album should be pretty incredible if you're a fan. Davis Martin on drums really keeps things tight and Alex on keyboards is a master of soul. This album is great for both sex and rocking out.

I would have bought this CD on principle alone. These guys have a marketable sound that would sell for any major label but they choose to go the truely independant route. Working their own way through internet and touring they are starting to make a mark. If you want to support musicians and not the music industry here is the album. But it doesn't stop there. It's not just a revolutionary concept. It's an absolutely fantastic album. Form one end to the other, these hooks will be bouncing around in your head for months. Go ahead, buy it here, or at their ever so trusting website.

This is a great album. Wonderful soul, funk, jazz. I've had the opportunity to see these guys live a couple of times and they put on a great show. I own hundreds of cd's and this is one of my favorites. I highly recommend it.

I'm so glad this record exsists! I've been searching for this kind of music for a long time. While I never really considered myself a fan of soul music, I thought this record spoke more to music in general. It Rocks and it Grooves!

If you're a soul music fan the way I am, then you, no doubt, constantly bemoan the fact that much of your favorite music is made by artists who are no longer living, are essentially retired or have moved on to other pursuits (such as sheparding a flock of Christians). You listen to the same Al Green and Marvin Gaye albums over and over and over, lamenting over the lack of new music to sooth your hungry, and perhaps troubled, soul. Sure, that new trip hop sound is good, really good in fact -- you can't deny that those kids in Massive Attack and Portishead have got something special going on. And that Sade has the voice of an angel. But what I love, really love is that groove-oriented soul music from the 70's. And thats why Seattle band Maktub makes me smile from ear to ear and down into the deep recesses of my heart and soul.

The music, which includes a hammond B-3 organ and no guitar, is an infectious blend of 70's soul, contemporary electronica, jungle beats and a little trip hop. The songs are like little sticks of dynamite. Each one detonates on impact, exploding your emotions into fragments. This is due, in no small part, to the intense vocals of Reggie Watts who sings with such passion and intensity that you feel emotionally spent after just listening to the songs (I can only imagine how he must feel.). Suffice it to say, if you're a lover of soul music, or even if you just like it a little, you'll want to check out the debut release from Maktub.

I love this band! I am so impressed with Maktub's first CD after hearing them live in Seattle many times. They are a breath of fresh air on the music scene here. Now is the chance for folks everywhere to check out Maktub. Anyone who appreciates anything "soul" or "funk" inspired should not miss out. The musicianship, the vocals, the writing, the soul - its all there.