When I Was Born for the 7th Time

Cornershop

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 1997)
• Original Release Date: September 16, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002NF8
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,419 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
For all the talk of this record's blend of South Asian and northern English pop sounds, the music here sounds neither daringly cross-pollinated nor strangely juxtaposed. Rather it sounds like a rather conventional pop record, one that harkens back to the days when pop didn't have to be sonically conservative and genrespecific. Cornershop's willingness to make a pop record, rather than its desire to reconcile its leader's British and Indian heritage, is what makes this a great breakthrough album. --Roni Sarig

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A brimful of exotic delights . . ., August 8, 1999

By A Customer

"Colorful" is the adjective that came to mind while listening to this music. There is a delectable offering of sitar, tabla, flute ("Keep it on the Left Side"), and strings set against the backdrop of sparkling percussion. In terms of popular music, the sitar has come a long way since the Beatles-- simply put, it enhances every piece of music it touches, even when it's the cartoonish tune of "Butter the Soul." Particularly enjoyable is the offering of India that is "We're in Yr Corner."

Cornershop don't go for a powerful Chemical Brothers or Prodigy punch. Taking its precious time, this music invites the listener to relax while tickling the fancy with sweet nuggets of sound. Only later, as "It's Indian Tobacco My Friend" swirled about, did I realize that its tentacles had gradually seduced me into a drone-like submission.

The album's weaknesses can be avoided by programming so as to exclude tracks four, and six through eight. "Chocolat" (4), a brief instrumental, and the corny "Funky Days"(6) have neither fire nor beauty, and "What is Happening" (7) and "When the Light Appears Boy" (8) are bland sound collages.

Cornershop fans will likely enjoy Joi's "One and One is One" (REALWORLD), Transglobal Underground's "rejoice" (MCA), and "Talvin Singh presents Soundz of the Asian Underground."

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brimful of Cornershop in da CD playa...., April 11, 2003

By	Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A cornershop is the British equivalent of a convenience store. It's also the name of Tjinder Singh's Asian-dance-rhythm-scratch-loops group. It's an exotic collection that smells of super hot curry vindaloo, chapatis, popadoms, and chutney.

"Sleep On The Left Side" has a thumping drum and bass, accompanied by a chirpy flute-like synthesizer. Tjinder Singh both sings and has monologues in this piece.

Then comes the catchy innovative single "Brimful Of Asha", with its infectious rhythm guitar, later accompanied by a string section. This is Singh's loving paean to the performers who provided singing for the actors in many a Bollywood cinema. He praises Mohammed Rafi, who was the masked man Enid was dancing to in Ghost World's opening moments, Solid State Radio, Lata Mangeshkhar, the queen of vocalists and record-holder of songs sung, and her sister Asha Bhonsle, the Asha of the song. "Brimful of Asha on the 45" indeed. "She's the one who keeps the dreams alive." I think he speaks for every guy when he says "Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow."

There's a deal of scratching turntable distortion in the instrumental "Butter The Soul" so no, there's nothing wrong with the disc or your player. And there's some sitar music that comes in to give it that special Asian flavour.

"Chocolat" is another instrumental that could be used in a curry western. The Hindustani-sung "We're In Yr Corner" is a wonderful sitar song with a steady drum backbeat. The final minute is instrumental to give the song that extra spicy curry.

"Funky Days Are Back Again" is a mid-paced Asian funk and beat pop. The experimental "What Is Happening?" has various vocal samples set against a tabla and some trippy and weird effects. Not as weird as "Revolution No. 9" but you'll get the idea.

"When The Light Appears Boy" is written and recited by Allen Ginsberg set against Cornershop's brass section, which gets louder once he's done with his poem.

Phat beats and sitars, some looped, constitute the brief "Coming Up," yielding to "Good S---" which has a similar backbeat to "Brimful of Asha." There's a slight western tinge on "Good To Be On The Road Back Home Again," which has a nostalgic tone good for road trips. Paula Frazer, who sounds like Chrissie Hynde, comes in as guest vocalist.

"It's Indian Tobacco My Friend" is another instrumental with drums, looped intoned voices, echoed percussions. "Candyman" is more Asian funk with Hindu singing and English monologues/raps. "State Troopers (Part One)" is low-key funk with pronounced bass, scratching. Their cover of the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" in Hindi, and that sitar really matches the mood of that classic.

An interesting confection cooked up by Cornershop. Nice if you want something with exotic

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of the 90s! 4 and a half, really!, December 11, 2001

By	NOWAY (Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews

I really do think the reason for most of the 1-2 star reviews is because some of these reviwers thought they were getting an album where "all the tracks sound the same(redundance)". They wanted all the tracks to resemble "Brimful of Asha", which has an 'instant cheap hook'(not saying it's a bad song). It's basically what the kids want these days. That's why we have bands such as "Limp Bikit" or "Kid Rock" dominating the charts. It's pitiful, really! The kids don't want to hear an interesing and engaging album like "When I Was Born...", with such artful expression, ecclecticism and groove.

Other reviewers claim the first two tracks (Sleep on the left side, Brimful of Asha) are probably the strongest tracks. Not true! Those two are probably the best tracks, but only when it comes to rock standards, and not the other genres of music they attempt to incorporate into the rest of the album. Some claim the album dies a slow death after the second track. Not true! If people would only stop being close minded for a while; if they would ignore all they know about rock standards and just let loose to allow the music to take them places, they would see that it's not nonesense, it's art! Take "Good to be back on the road", for example. It's a good candidate for 'most creative country music tune'. The vocal delivery is one of a kind! The instrumental tracks like "Butter the Soul", and "Chocolat", are some of the best "Trip Hop"(or whatnot) ive heard. "Funky Days" sounds like a wacky improvisational track, and I still can't stop smiling whenever I hear that song! Songs like "Candyman" qualify as 'interesting hip hop'. Overall, it's a fantastic experience.

Sometimes, albums don't require a "great production" to be considered interesting. They can do alone with soul, charm, an awesome talent for delivery...oh and of course good ideas. "When I was Born..." seems to have it all.

This is the way music should be made. Musicians should not be afraid to experiment, even if they risk being criticized. In this album, Cornershop put a 'whole different spin' on Rock n' Roll by playing around with funk and hip hop standards, among others. This is one of those rare albums that I believe can never be duplicated. For that reason alone, I am not hesitant to claim it as one of the best albums the 90s decade brought us. Beilieve it or not!