Customer Reviews

new sacred cow

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not many albums in my collection would receive the highest top rating of 5 stars, but New Sacred Cow by Kenna is a great album. It's not only a superb collection of songs, but an album that really flows, connects and engages.

What many may or may not know is that the album was produced by Chad Hugo, one half of the most amazing hip-hop production team yet, The Neptunes. Those who are fans of the Neptunes productions can hear some of their signature instruments used, but the drums and bass aren't as prominent as Hugo is usually at the helm of the electronics, synths, etc. during productions. And this is an album where Hugo can really shine away from his partner Pharrell Williams. He has created an electronic, techno adventure with an alternative sound not heard too often.

But the album is about Kenna. He has one of the best male voices, at least in alternative music, that I have heard. It bends perfectly to the track and drifts in the air almost as if trying to spread into the most minute crevaces of the universe. Not to mention that he is a talented songwriter with cryptic, poetic, but relevant lyrics.

Some of the highlights on this album include "Freetime" which slams like an electronically twisted harsh production you might expect to hear from a member of the Neptunes, not to mention lyrics that are laid down with some of Kenna's best vocals on the album. "Vexed and Glorious" almost comes as a pleasant change of tempo on the album and "Man Fading" shows desperation while keeping it together. But perhaps Kenna's real personal stand-out is "War In Me," which soars with introspective lyrics and Kenna's best vocal effort.

I've had this album for awhile now, but I'm glad to see it finally be released to the public, whose members with growing, adventorus minds, should purchase this album and be set to engage in an musical exploration.

Some of you may remember a super song and video getting airplay on MTV2 over a year ago called "Hell Bent". The song was a soulful, meloncholy tune produced with an electronic tilt. The video was a wonderfully fitting animated movie. The artist was Kenna, but the album never arrived.

Finally, "New Sacred Cow" has arrived on shelves; I'm not sure what caused the delay, but it was worth the wait. The comparisons to Depeche Mode are appropriate given the songwriting and vocals. Kenna's voice definitely channels both the breathy baritone of Dave Gahan ("Man Fading") and the plaintive tunefulness of Martin Gore ("Yeneh Ababa" might have been the long lost b-side of DM's "Somebody"). The production of Chad Hugo (of the Neptunes and NERD) gives the songs a definite right-now feel. Many of the up-tempo songs will remind DM fans of the highlights of "Ultra".

The disc itself is enhanced, containing the video for the current single "Freetime" and links to exclusive web content. Unfortunately, the video for "Hell Bent" was not included.

If you enjoy electronic/big-beat music but long for more (any?)depth in the songwriting, then Kenna's got a treat waiting for you.

Just thought I'd mention that Amazon doesn't have the tracks displayed correctly. There are actually 14 tracks, but due to editing problems when the CD was made, Track 5 "Vexed and Glorious" was not cut from Track 6 "A Better Control" so they are played together as one track. Track 14 would be "Love Hate Sensation", but because of the error it shows as Track 13. When you click to play the music after Track 5 on the Amazon site, it is actually playing the next song down. Just thought I should let anyone know who might be confused when listening to the tracks. :)

Other than that, this CD is great and Kenna has his own sound that can't be put into any category. I would recommend this to anyone.

I was made aware of the existence of Kenna while reading a book titled "Intuition" from Malcolm Gladwell. If you are interested in knowing why Kenna had so much difficulties signing with a music company, you will find out in that book.

Curious, I decided to access Amazon.com and listen to samplers to find out what would be my own reaction listening to his music. After the first 3 songs, I hated it, "not for me, too different, too electronic" was my intuition telling me. I kept on listening however. At some point, I realized the similarities between Kenna and Duran Duran, a group I liked a lot in the past. So I decided to listen again to all songs and been able to appreciate many of the songs despite the 30s sample and decided to purchase the album. Unfortunately radio station and music companies are only basing their decisions on the firt impression which is often mileading when we face something different.

I then read reviews that many of you wrote. A majority are comparing Kenna to Depeche Mode but some noted as well the similarities with Duran Duran. I think the latter comparison is a lot more accurate. I use to be a big fan of DM as well and their music uses a lot more "base" that what creating an "atmosphere" that is not present in Kenna's music.

I wish fans of Kenna, which I am now part of, will be able to expand his popularity and allow him to develop his talent. Today's music does not appeal to me as it did in the 80's and 90's so having a guy like Kenna around reconcialtes me with music.

This album has suffered through two years, one label change, and God-knows-how-many hand-wringings by all concerned. Any lesser album would've simply been skipped, but this album finally sees the light of day today. And it's worth the wait.

Why? Perusing the lyric sheet won't help much. Sure, some of the lines are catchy or clever, but he's not Dylan. And the music is mainly keyboard-n-vocal, with some live drums here and there: not stunningly different from other groups you've heard.

But the difference, as they say, is in the details. Kenna no doubt has plenty of new wave artists in his collection, and has learned at least one thing from them: how to take potentially obscure and/or confusing lyrics and make them sound important, catchy and flat-out wonderful. These are songs that stick with you for days afterwards, and you'll be happy the lyric sheet is included, so you can sing along from the very first time. Kenna and Chase Chad have managed to create a wonderful synthesis of the 1980s and the present that sounds familiar, and yet like nothing else. A CD that crosses generational lines? Hurray!

To those of us who have suffered for two years, waiting for this "potential lost classic" to be issued, the wait is over. To those who haven't heard Kenna's music yet, by all means, give it a try. You'll be happy you did.

This is the most original CD to be put out in the new millennium. With it's syncopated beats and synthesizer base, Kenna has a strong and amazingly talented backing. At times, Kenna's voice is almost entrancing as he goes from fast paced songs like "Free time" "manfading" and "Redman," to the slower, more melodic "hell bent." In "Rose," Kenna shows his vocal range and natural gifts. He has a natural talent for lyrics and music. In this song he is backed by everything from mainly the piano, to the trumpet to a set of violins. This CD has an amazing range of musical instruments, styles, and genres. Kenna is mixing genres and blurring lines. My love for any type of music has never been as great as when I heard the music of Kenna for the first time. I am as critical about my music as any fan of good music and I can find no flaw in this CD. I got this CD in early summer of '03 and now, 6 months later I still can't get it out of my player, as much as I want to listen to my new "Flaming Lips" CD, I just can't take it out long enough to listen to the whole CD. This CD is what is in the future of music, but Kenna got there first. This CD will become a treasured part of your CD collection as it is in mine.

I have been waiting forever and two days for this album to come out. For a while there I never thought it would surface. Fortunate for us, it did. And it's not on Fred Durst's label, either, which brings an even bigger smile to my face.

A long time ago I saw the video for "Hell Bent" and was totally drawn in. I downloaded most of the songs. Then I did some searching online and finally found the website, but dissecting it was like trying to do a Rubix Cube blindfolded, using your toes, and hogtied. It just threw up random links, had ads about bedwetting and pyromaniacs, gave you less information than a telephone operator, and finally connected you to a porn link that would not stop popping up. Needless to say, it was ludicrous. After this traumatic experience I basically gave up on Kenna.

But now that it's out, we can all rejoice. The music is really good, with many influences from different genres. There's some hip hop, a lot of piano, pop, progressive rock, trance, and a very Radiohead/Pink Floyd/The Cure ish feeling to it. Some really good songs besides "Hell Bent" are "Vexed and Glorious", "Love Hate Sensation", "Red Man", and "War in Me".

I really like this album. It has a nice mix of sounds so it never gets boring. Hopefully you can share this experience as well.

I'm not sure why this album received negative reviews...it's fantastic. It's one of my favorite albums, and I have listened to it repeatedly since I bought it. It has great repeat listening value, in my opinion.

I took a chance on the album because I heard and loved the song "Hell Bent", but I was pleasantly surprised that the rest of the album was just as wonderful, if not more so. But don't expect any of the songs to sound like each other. This album ranges all over the map of sound and emotion.

The lyrics are strange and quirky, and not overly cliche. Nor do they rhyme obsessively, as some artists feel inclined to do. I found the lyrics very memorable and vulnerable, and the delivery makes them all the more moving. He croons and accuses/mourns in the same breath. :) The timing of his singing is perfect and synchronizes quite nicely with the music.

The music itself is difficult to describe. Very melodic, but with excellent rhythms and beats. A touch of electronic/synth here and there. But they never completely slide into either of those.

Kenna is not the kind of band that will scream their feelings out. Their weightier tracks are akin to having a conversation with someone that is telling you about a tragedy that happened, or is happening to them, but they're trying to cope with it. They aren't mired in the grief - they're expressing it. The aforementioned tracks would be "Sunday After You", "Red Man", "Vexed and Glorious", "Hell Bent" and "Yeneh Ababa" (in my opinion). Don't think that all of the tracks on the album are 'slow', though. They often come to the gym with me on my mp3 player. I'd say that the only truly slow songs on the album are "Hell Bent" and "Yeneh Ababa", and "Hell Bent" does have parts where it picks up.

More artists/musicians should be like this. I would buy another album from them without a second thought.

Buy it.

I've been following Kenna since the day I heard him in an interview "You Here It 1st" on MTV2. After a month or so the video "Hell Bent" was shown on MTV2 and for a minute I actually thought that Fred Durst had taste. I rushed out to get the album, but to my surprise no one had heard who Kenna was. Thankfully, I was able to get a copy of the album a year or so ago which kept me happy and made the wait a lot easier. Now that the album came out I could hand down my copy to the musically challenged. For me this album became a classic before it came out. If your into cool beats, Radiohead eclectic sounds, smart lyrics and even a little bit of the classic Beatlesque sound ("I'm Gone"), then stop reading this and get the CD. You won't regret and you won't put it down.

This album took years to finally be released, due to troubles with record labels, but it was entirely worth it. Kenna has given us an album that blends passionate vocals with surprisingly heartfelt electronics coupled with heavy drums. I've never heard a style like it.

Throughout this album Kenna tells us of a modern man's struggle for both love and control. His original single, "Hellbent," cries out feelings of being irreversibly powerless. This song will draw you in like no other; it is so beautiful. This is preceded by the very dance-able "Redman," a song about that little devil in us that tries to put us down. "Freetime" and "Man Fading" are hard-edged tracks with unstoppable echoing drumbeats. "Yeneh Ababa" and "Love/Hate Sensation" are more downplayed, relying heavily on the piano to create a lighter, more personal mood. Songs like "Vexed and Glorious," "New Sacred Cow," and "I'm Gone" have an entirely different tone and resemble bouncy '80s pop rock. Take a listen, it feels like breathing fresh air. Then there is my personal favorite, "Siren," the newest song on the album, and definitely the catchiest.

There are a couple weak links on the album: "War In Me" takes far too long to pick up for my liking and "Sunday After You" is fairly unintersting. However, the other amazing tracks more than make up for these and you'll definitely want to play it over and over. "New Sacred Cow" is blissfully fresh and I can't wait for Kenna's next album!