Yes, I'm a Witch

Yoko Ono

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: February 6, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B000LC520K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,740 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

At first glance, this looks like it might be yet another one of those records where an older cult artist is paired with a bunch of younger/ supposedly hipper musicians in efforts to add legitimacy to the younguns and street cred to said cult figure. Such is not the case with Ono's version of a collaborative hipster album, Yes, I'm A Witch. Yoko chose all the artists herself, and her choices range from predictable (Cat Power, Antony, Flaming Lips) to not (Le Tigre, Porcupine Tree, Hank Shocklee). The musicians were asked to pick elements of songs from Ono's back catalog and rework them. Most chose her distinctive vocals and created new songs using them (surprisingly, no one chose to work with "Mind Train" off her daring 1971 LP Fly). Unsurprisingly, Peaches chose to rework "Kiss Kiss Kiss," the infamous Double Fantasy song wherein Ono appears to achieve orgasm. Jason Pierce from Spiritualized turns the dance-y 1981 number "Walking on Thin Ice" into a powerful drone/ guitar workout percolating with a drum machine's pulse. The awesomest song is the Flaming Lips' take on Lennon/ Ono's "Cambridge 1969," carving a marvelous krautrock-ish groove that cradles Ono's unique vocal talents and Lennon's feedback and makes it something new, and better. The results overall are surprisingly great, though it's a bit disorienting given the eclectic array of artists. Ono fans, of course, will not likely be bothered by that. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

The voice of Yoko Ono with colloborations from Cat Power, The Flaming Lips, Anotno (of Antony & The Johnsons, The Apples in Stereo, Jason Pierce of Spiritualized, Peaches and many more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bennett, February 6, 2007

By	Bennett G. Jackson "Bennett Jackson" (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Always having struggled with Ono's music (namely her contributions to Lennon/Ono albums like "Double Fantasy"), I was excited to her of this album of collaborations, figuring it was something I would definitely enjoy, or at the very least appreciate. At first listen I was moved more than any other time I had listened to her music. It's an outstanding album. Although quite avante-garde at time, there is more musical substance on these songs than the original versions, making them much more palatable. Although very diverse in styles, there is a cohesiveness to the album that can only be understood after listening to it. The album is a bit lengthy, but this glorious return of one of the world's most enigmatic artists is truly greater than the sum of its parts...and that's quite an accolmplishment considering how many parts there are. I look forward to the upcoming Ono release (remixes) coming out this year on the Astralwerks label as well. Rock on Yoko!

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love It!, February 10, 2007

By	Jokie X Wilson "jokiex" (San Francisco, California United States) - See all my reviews

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This CD is a lot of fun. The styles of the songs are diverse musically and topically. A broad range of emotions are covered. What really struck me is how the musicians hear Yoko's voice as revealed by how they handled its quality. Sometimes, it is light, almost whispery, other times femininely sonorous. The "Yes, I'm a Witch" track is incredible and inspiring. If you feel down and disenfranchised, this CD will really pick you up! If you're feeling good, it will make you feel that much stronger. Yay!

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Radical, February 10, 2007

By	Mrhappysad (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

At first, it was a bit 'awkward' to listen to since most of the tracks are so extremely re-mixed, eg. Jason's On Thin Ice, but after a few listens, I've fallen in love - again. Some of the tracks are simply amazing, I especially love The Sleepy Jackson's I'm Moving On, The Apples In Stereo's No One Can See Me Like You Do and of course, Cat Power's Revelations. Yoko's voice is undeniable and relentless even after all these years.

I love you, too.