Customer Reviews

The Voice

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

 

 

In his debut US release, Vusi has given us a selection of some truly uplifting and beautiful music. As a veteran of the Apartheid resistance movement, Vusi developed a style of song that at once cried out in anger and, simultaneously, gave hope and courage to the oppressed. Since the election of Nelson Mandela, he has penned songs that urge all the people of South Africa to put the past behind them and get working on the challenging task of rebuiling the "Rainbow Nation," as well as songs that give voice to a nation still struggling with the crises of poverty and inequality. Listening to his music, however, you are struck more by his sense of optimism, hope, and love, than any political message. His guitar playing and entrancing voice are enough to keep you playing this CD again and again. Although there are a few unfortunate omissions from this collection (Kuyobanjani Na?, Khunkhuwane, and Kwa-Zulu among some personal favourites), this is a perfect CD to turn you on to an artist that everyone should know. Kudos to Dave Matthews and the team at ATO for bringing Vusi to American ears!

(P.S. If you like this, keep an ear out for Vusi's friend and collaborator, Louis Mhlanga. They released a wonderful CD together, "Live at the Bassline," which I highly recommend.)

If you love Paul Simon, James Taylor and neighboring performers, you'll naturally enjoy this lovely, slightly overproduced album. Fifteen songs and nearly a full hour of songs that radiate peace, optimism, rebellion and quiet grief. Mahlasela is such a natural, fluid guitarist, I wish the producers had not added as much back-up as they did, even though the highly produced approach works at times. The highlight of the album is the heart-wrenching song, "When You Come Back" from the Sundance -winning film, AMANDLA! but I can't really say there's a clunker on the album. The music is quietly joyous and ambient, and the artist's voice is one of the finest ever to have emerged from South African popular music. A pure pleasure recommended without any serious reservations.

During summer 2004, I saw Vusi perform in New Jersey in front of an audience who had little to no previous knowledge of him, his music or South African music in general. But it only took the 1st strum of his guitar and utterance of his voice to let the audience know that we were in for a treat! By mid-session, he captured the hearts of the audience, and at the end of the performance, no one wanted it to end!! This cd is the same, even if you don't know him or his music, it is pure joy from beginning to end, and then the listener is drawn to hit the repeat button to play the deeply meaningful words set to delightful melodies over and over. He has an amazing way to tell about difficult and bitter days in South Africa with such sweet melodies that seem to mend the wounds of years gone by.

I just saw Vusi perform with the Putamayo Acoustic Africa tour and bought this CD there. Played it twice in a row the next day and almost daily since. This is a compilation of songs from his African releases and I cannot speak highly enough of it. Highly recommended to fans of Habib Koite and similar artists.....hauntingly beautiful, uplifting and full of the musical spirit that makes us all one people. Enjoy.....Kev

His voice is everything that is said about it. Amazing, inspiring, beautiful.
I can't add much to the praise that has been said about this magical CD. I feel sorry for the people that may go their entire life without hearing this CD.

"When You Come Back" has quickly become one of my most listened to songs, and all time favorites.

All the struggle, beauty and hope that is characterized by South African music is embodied in this CD. A rare gem in every sense of the phrase.

I had the pleasure of hearing this entire CD several months ago and thought, "WOW! This stuff's great!", and at that point I would have given it the full 5-Star rating. So what happened? Well, I had the even greater pleasure of seeing Vusi perform in a small music hall last week, by himself (as in no band), and that experience was so great that it has sort of destroyed the pleasure of listening to my new (autographed) CD. :-( In my opinion, the band that accompanies Vusi on most (all?) of the tracks, while good, actually detracts from the soul and emotion of his message. Case in point, Vusi has released two different versions of "When You Come Back", one on the "Amandla!" soundtrack, and one on this CD. The version on Amandla! is a simple acoustic number that to me at least has far more impact than does the highly produced (to use another reviewers phrase) version on this album.

Will I still listen to this CD? You bet! However, every time I hear it, I'll be wishing for an "unplugged" version.

Having been married to a white South African, I knew a little something about the history of South Africa. But these songs really taught me how aparteid was viewed through the eyes of the oppressed. I am in awe of their hopefulness and ability to forgive in the face of such long-standing oppression. I wish we had such poetry and hope in our music instead of the angry rap and otherwise bland lovesongs that come out of the music industry in America. I saw Vusi at Carnegie Hall a few years back and vowed to track down whatever he has recorded. I am never disappointed.

I've heard Josh Grobin's new version of "Weeping" and frankly it seems almost sacreligious to have a white American guy sing it. But I guess he couldn't resist the beauty of it and I'm happy that a wider audience might hear it - but I'm guessing they'll have no idea what it is all about. Pity.

I just watched Vusi live with the Derek Trucks Band and have not even bought the CD yet but intend to as he is INCREDIBLE! A power not felt in popular music (as it should be) since Dylan. Human force will continue to show through ANY oppression. See Vusi live if you do not understand!

Vusi Mahlasela is so sweet, so hot. The lyrics, the licks, the tone of his voice, all get me right where I live!
I want every one of his albums now. Here is the link to his Amazon community:
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I heard one of Vusi's songs on NPR. I liked it enough to buy this CD. There are 3 tracks that I played over and over. If we were still listening on vinyl, I would have worn those songs out. The other songs were good, but my favorite were unbelievable--and that's with me not understanding any of the non-English.

When I looked at the listing here on Amazon, there are 13 tracks. My CD has 14. Amazon is missing "Untitled" in the list of songs (and its one of my special songs).