Letter from the End of the 20th Century

Joy Harjo, Poetic Justice

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: May 20, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mekko Productions, Inc.
• ASIN: B000000PPX
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #130,730 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The opportunity to hear poet Joy Harjo speak her work aloud is the major reason to get this album; hearing her poems and stories gives them a life and dimension beyond what one can glean from the printed word. Harjo is a strong, capable speaker who fits her words to the backing music while at the same time bringing them to the forefront. She is joined on this recording by the other members of the band Poetic Justice, which includes a tantalizing mix of bass, electronic and acoustic guitars, soprano sax, chants and songs, and a variety of percussion instruments including powwow drums and rattles. The music itself draws on several influences, creating a mix of Native American musical traditions along with reggae, jazz, rock, and blues. However, Harjo's poetry remains the focal point here, and in pieces such as "Creation Story," "Fear Poem," and "She Had Some Horses," the strength of her material and of her interpretation of that material shines through. --Genevieve Williams

Product Description
This is the classic contemporary native album first released by Silver Wave Records in 1997. It is newly released in 2006 by Joy Harjo's Mekko Productions, Inc.. This album is a unique blend of poetry, reggae, native musics, jazz and latin. You can dance to it. You can sing, laugh and cry to it. It is still one of the most requested contemporary native albums on native radio.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Post Colonial Tales, May 26, 2000

By	Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is such an excellent CD that everytime I go a record store I look for something new from her. The mixture of "Joy's" poetry and the fusion of Jazz, Raggae and Rock is magical. "Joy" does an excellent job on sax as well, especially her soprano work. The strength of this CD is "Joy" and her incredidible poetry. Once you hear her poetry you will be hooked. She weaves tales like no one I've ever heard, it borders on an otherworldly supernatural experience. Her tales of the Native American experience are biting reminders of the injustices imposed by the ancestors of white America. The music is without a doubt very good but her lyrics are haunting and touch touch your soul. The tales are modern as well with wonderful analogies that reflect the here and now. An example of this would be "Letter From The End of The 20th Century" where someone" must settle the story of his murder before joining his ancestors or he will come back as a ghost". This is a must have album for any serious record collector. Even though it is a contemporary album I already rate it as one of my all time favorites. Do not be put off by the serious nature of most of the themes explored because this is powerful stuff that will help you understand your own fears. This is music that is by far best appreciated with an open mind and as Joy says "I am not afraid to be angry.......I am not afraid to be loved".

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect marriage of word and sound, May 17, 2000

By	M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

My first encounter with the work of Joy Harjo was on PBS - she was reading "She had some horses". I immediately purchased her book of poetry of the same title and decided that I had discovered a major poet.

This CD is an excellent backing of her poetry with music; but the music is not "background atmosphere", the music stands in its own right - especially (but not limited to) Joy Harjo's sax.

I promptly gave copies of this CD to 3 twenty-something family members for Xmas. 2 enjoyed it immensely; the 3rd loved the music but was uncomfortable with the more political poems - the brutality of our treatment of Native Americans was not appreciated. However, I believe that the beauty of the art - words and music - is an appropriate hook to force us to look at our history ... and our current actions.

Harjo's poetry reflects reality - a mixture of pleasant, neutral and unpleasant experience. I appreciate her honesty - an honesty that never lapses into anger or diatribe.

This CD is a must for individuals interested in poetry, social justice and/or Native American cultural experience.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LETTER FROM THE END OF THE 20TH CENTURY...., July 19, 2000

By	Johnson Greene (Kotzebue Ak 99752) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

THIS IS MY SECOND REVIEW OF THIS GREAT COMBINATION POETIC JUSTICE & JOY HARJO HER LYRICS ARE VERY REAL AND TRUE AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF LISTENING TO THIS AWSOME GROUP OF MUSICIANS I HAVE TO SAY I AM VERY IMPRESSED AND OVERWELMED WITH THEIR EFFORTS THEIR WORKING ON A NEW CD AND SHOULD BE OUT BEFORE THIS YEAR 2000 IS OVER SO KEEP YOUR EYE'S OPEN AND TAKE A CHANCE LIKE YOU NEVER DID BUY THIS WITHOUT HESITATION AND LISTEN TO IT WITH AND OPEN MIND/HEART/SOUL MAYBE JUST MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE THE GREATEST CD YOU WILL EVER OWN.....