Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the great protest records, and avant-garde to boot!, June 13, 2002
This is a unique and forward-thinking collection from the Godfather of Hip-Hop, Gil Scott-Heron. This record, produced by the jazz great Bob Thiele, is provocative, melodic, and urgent at the same time. Many of the tracks are nice, jazzy, hopeful jaunts ("When You Are Who You Are," "I Think I'll Call It Morning"). Many are ahead-of-their-time hip-hop joints (the title track, "Whitey on the Moon," "Brother"). Yet the most powerful tracks are the mournful ballads ("Did You Hear What They Said?," "Home Is Where The Hatred Is"). The entire album evokes all of the joys, pains and petitions of the black community. The work of Common, Mos Def, The Roots and Public Enemy, among others, contain clear echoes of Gil Scott-Heron's impressive work on this record.Imagine "Nation of Millions," "Songs in the Key of Life" and "A Love Supreme" wrapped in one, and this record would fit the bill. Buy it.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Genius. Great track selection. Horrible, low audio., June 4, 2008
This is not a review of Mr. Gil Scott-Heron's work or legacy. I am a believer and own many of his albums on either vinyl or (yes I'm serious) 8 Track. I specifically bought this compilation on CD to finally have a clean sounding, easy-to-play format.
The problem with this CD is that the audio is transferred to the CD at a very, very low volume. Much lower than any of my LPs or carts. At first I thought I received a bad CD and promptly exchanged it. The second one was as bad as the first.
For perspective, an average CD, LP or even 8 Track on my system is decently loud at -27 dB to -19 dB. Rarely do I turn my system up past -15 dB - and I like my music LOUD. This recording has to be turned up to -6 dB before it sounds reasonably listenable. To put it another way, should I take this one out and put in another CD without adjusting the volume, it would be so loud I would possibly ruin my speakers, my eardrums, set off nearby car alarms and drive the neighbors to call the cops.
And believe me, I promptly took the CD out, adjusted my tuner to - 26 dB, popped in the new Gnarls Barkley which sounded just fine.
It's too bad. Great music. Highly gifted artist. Could it be a bad batch? Two in a row? Anyone else experience this?
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!!!, June 27, 2001
"Whitey on the Moon" was the first piece I heard from this album and as it finished I had a rye smile on my face. Herron is not shy about expressing his ill feeling toward "the man" and sticks it to him with a barrage of poetry and soul.This album is more than just a stand, its a celebration of one mans obvious talent for poetry and jazzy soulful music. Lyrically it is one of the most poignant albums I have ever heard. Each song tells a different story about the struggles, triumphs and life of the ghetto. Herons passion is evident throughout and his views are as plain as day. You know how he feels and this comes through in the music, making it irresistible. "The Revolution will not be televised" is an in your face decleration of the hoped uprising of the masses in defiance of authority and sensless following "...the revolution will not go better with coke. The revolution will not fight germs that may cause bad breath..." Its easy to get caught up in the mainly poetry spoken pieces, but it is the soulful and jazzy "Home is Where the Hatred Is" and "Lady Day and John Coltrane" that make me smile and continue to play this album. Herron has a gift as a soul performer and lyricist as can be heard with the meaningful "Save The Children", "Did You Hear What They Said" and "I Think I'll Call It Morning" Gil Scott-Heron is one of those rare, gifted men with the ability to invoke change and revolution...in the musical sense. An essential and brilliant album in every way, shape and form.
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