Customer Reviews

Who Is This America?

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This disc is a killer from beginning to end. Epic, unstoppable deep-groove funk with pulsating percussion, big fat horns and sharp, perceptive social commentary in the lyrics. Get your mind and feet in motion to this masterpiece, the best of its kind in this century.

let's face it, antibalas can do no wrong. all the way from "liberation..." and "talkatif" to "who is this america?" every album a must have. this album brings political awareness to the forefront along with tight percussion, pulsating horns and thought-provoking lyrics.
but i have to admit, to get the full antibalas experience, i highly recommend going to one of their shows where you can't help but dance until the very end. antibalas deserves respect, not just as musicians, but also as caring citizens of this world who strive to bring issues to the ears of many who are deaf and make this world a more aware and peaceful place to live. with everything going on in the world today, we need more bands like antibalas.

Listening to this cd after watching TV for several hours was like a mind cleanser. Great rhythms and beats, very complex, and very funky. The band is absolutely enormous, but tight like a drum. The artwork on the cover and inside is beautiful and subtle. The lyrics are poetic and simple. I do find myself wishing the songs were a bit shorter at times, but other times I appreciate the endurance quality of their lengths. My two year old loves this stuff.

After a long day of swimming and biking in the sun, I sat last night, listening to reggae station 91.7, take an hour or so out to play classic 1970's & 80's hits. I mentally memorialized a person who recently passed and whom, from childhood, loved reggae as much as I've always loved salsa. I was outside of the North Beach band shell where the Heineken Transatlantic Music Festival was in full swing.

I turned the car radio off because I heard a saxophonist 'go ballistic viking', and pillage, plunder and completely burn down the world music village. I thought "Somebody must've really pissed homie off." because the saxist (or two) was unrelentingly confrontational, and explosive. The band counter-grooved forever, to help that sax satisfy his vendetta! I jumped to attention, as his siren commandeered.

It has been a very long time since music kicked down the dead-bolted door of our quasi-libotomous existence and moved me like this. It was a definate call to action for all within listening distance to ignite your own individual 'revolution', or share one with a friend, like fine pastry and an espresso:)

This is not a band, this is the incendiary catalyst to a long overdue uprising; and the music nothing short of a spiritual awakening.

After many years of anticipation, I saw Antibalas in NYC. Being from LA- and somewhat distant-at least geogrphically- it was a blissful experience.
Antibalas, has become more entrenched in its political ideology. Unabashedly anti establishment, the album is provactively inducive. Despite the instrumental monotony throughout its albums, Antibalas delivers this time. From the graphics of the CD cover to its lyrics, it indeed questioning of our system. Political Economy, Globalization, Racism, philosophy, history; it is all here. Cant wait to see the Antibalas again in LA.

This band truly dedicates themselves to the feel of the groove. Their live show is full of energy that defies you to remain still....truly something to behold.

You can't deny the incredible horn riffs put forth by this album, they're simply amazing. You'll get goosebumps listening to this album for the first time. Although at times some of the songs can become tedious, it is still one of the best jazz albums out there.