Customer Reviews

Subway Stories

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

 

 

This CD, which is titled "Subway stories," which was an HBO special released in 1997. This CD is neither an OST (Original Sound Track) or Score, but occupies some plane between the two.

Although one of the most memorable musical items is "Subway stories" acted by Bill Erwin, but evidently played by Mecca Bodega. It is one of the few that are ON this CD.

If you were expecting the excellent Sax Cantor Riff, sung by Taral Hicks, it is not there, nor is the excellent Jewish tune by Dan Rous as the Jewish Cantor.

Otherwise, the CD is mediocre at best. It could have been better by including some of the other significant music from the movie.

On a whim I borrowed this CD from a friend. These guys are awesome! The first track has vocals by a guy who is a dead ringer for the lead singer from Soul Coughing (maybe it is). The rest is, well, I really can't say more than just listen to a few tracks--you'll probably buy the CD!

While the tracks are original some sound a little too consistant with each other. But the sounds are soothing background for a groovy trance...Some of the sounds are not so much an eastern sound as one review states but more of an outback Australian sound with the Saharan and Arab influences...but definitely the definitive "street style" music that you feel you would find in the NY bohemian underground. Highly recommended to let your mind go.

I own another album (Hammered Dulcimer) by this group, which is not on Amazon, hence I am reviewing this artist under this album. I think Mecca Bodega do an excellent job of fusing eastern and western sounds. The dulcimer sounds vaguely Arab, and at times Indian (without ever sounding tacky), but either way, the music flows smoothly, soothingly, and is completely original. For anyone intersted in world music, or something slightly different that is both uplifting and calming, I'd highly recommend this album. My only crib: that at times when an electric guitar is used, or English vocals (two tracks), the performance begins to sound somewhat ordinary.

Parting note: These people play in the Times Square subway station at times; very, very good to listen to, when they are playing live.

I'VE SEEN MECCA BODEGA PLAYING LIVE AT THE EAST 42ND.ST. SUBWAY STATION IN NEW YORK CITY ONE SUMMER AFTERNOON(98). I WAS FEELING BUMMED OUT AT THE TIME:THE WEATHER WAS VERY HOT,FEELING THE NEGATIVE STRESS IN THE MIDST OF THIS OVER CROWDED CITY,EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING FASTFORWARD WITHOUT THE REWIND OR THE PAUSE BOTTON.AS I WAS WALKING AMONGST THE BUSY BODIES I DISTINCTIVELY WAS LISTENING TO THIS SOUND ECHOINGTHROUGH THE SUBWAY WALLS,SOOTHING MY EAR DRUMS AS I SLOW MYSELF DOWNENOUGH TO HEAR THIS SUBLIME RHYTHM TRANSPORTING ME TO SACRED SPOTS UPON THE EARTH,I'M TRAVELING WITHOUTMOVING AS THE INSTRUMENTS EMANATES A NECTAR OF SOUNDS,REMOVING ME TEMPORARILY AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE THAT IS GOING ON AROUND ME-TRUELY, MECCA BODEGAS MUSIC IS LIKE A COLLAGE OF SOUNDS WOVEN TOGETHER TO UPLIFT YOUR MIND,AND SOOTHYOURSOUL; REMINDING US WITHIN ITS ENTRANCING MELODYS OF THE MAGICAND BEAUTY THAT IS WAITING FOR US IN EVERY MOMENT, IF WE CAN ONLY PRESS PAUSE FOR A FEW AND JUST HAVE A TASTE OF THIS EAR CANDY... >>>MECA BODEGA GETS 5 STARS FROM: OREL-ZENZELL@WEBTV.NET

While these guys are very original - def underground some of the tracks sound a little too alike but are def groovy for soothing background trance music. The sounds are not so Eastern as one reviewer has said but are more Australian outback with Sarahan and Arab influences but are definitely definitive of what you what expect to find in any NY bohemian underground abode. Highly recommended for a cultural opening and release of the mind.