Music: Fela Kuti

[Hippasus]

On first listen, Gentleman I give 425 out of this scale:

200: distasteful and pathetic
300: mediocre or subpar
400: average, but decent
500: very good
600: superb
700: transcendental

I like the jams and think they show high technical ability, but wonder if they have enough to pull me in even deeper. I went from really liking it to growing a bit disinterested as the album wore on.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

On first listen, Gentleman I give 425 out of this scale:

200: distasteful and pathetic
300: mediocre or subpar
400: average, but decent
500: very good
600: superb
700: transcendental

I like the jams and think they show high technical ability, but wonder if they have enough to pull me in even deeper. I went from really liking it to growing a bit disinterested as the album wore on.

Is music that plays on a basic vamp for 15+ minutes relatively new to you, or have you listened to a lot of music like that?

 

[Hippasus]

Is music that plays on a basic vamp for 15+ minutes relatively new to you, or have you listened to a lot of music like that?

Yeah, I actually had to look up 'vamp' just now. I would say I listen to such music very little, assuming most of the better-known free jazz from the 60s doesn't count. I like other albums that apparently use that form (A Love Supreme, by John Coltrane) a lot, so I'm not sure what the deal was. Maybe I was just tired. I'll give it another shot later today.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Yeah, I actually had to look up 'vamp' just now. I would say I listen to such music very little, assuming most of the better-known free jazz from the 60s doesn't count. t like other albums that apparently use that form (A Love Supreme, by John Coltrane) a lot, so I'm not sure what the deal was. Maybe I was just tired. I'll give it another shot later today.

My best recommendation is simply to keep listening.

 

[Hippasus]

I tried it again this morning and I'm sticking by my rating. They're good jams, but they're not taking me to that deeper / higher level. I don't know why this is a super-highly praised work, but it's sure not bad. Good summer time music. Overall, 'okay'.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I tried it again this morning and I'm sticking by my rating. They're good jams, but they're not taking me to that deeper / higher level. I don't know why this is a super-highly praised work, but it's sure not bad. Good summer time music. Overall, 'okay'.

Well, you gave 'er a shot anyway.

 

[DJ Spinoza]

Haven't fully dived in, but just wanted to comment and say that I've really been enjoying Gentleman I, Opposite People, and the live album with Ginger Baker a lot recently, thanks to this thread.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Haven't fully dived in, but just wanted to comment and say that I've really been enjoying Gentleman I, Opposite People, and the live album with Ginger Baker a lot recently, thanks to this thread.

 

[Hippasus]

I was trying to check out an hour-long documentary on Fela Kuti, that I heard was good. I was on Youtube and only got through part one (of five or six). The next one was blocked. It looked decent so far. Apparently he was a politician of sorts as well.

 

[Shareefruck]

I never get details right, but apparently he was arrested and beat up after every album release, constantly fought/called out the government, eventually formed his own political party and actually became president or something..... all while he was putting out 3-4 albums a year.

On an unrelated note, after watching Beware of Mr. Baker, I always wonder if that thing Fela says before "Ye Ye De Smell" is an intended subtle shot at Baker's rotten personality or if it's completely an accidental coincidence.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Fela often criticized the government (under a military dictatorship no less) by name, so he took his lumps. And when you set up a compound, surround it with barbed wire, declare it a separate country, marry 27 women, and smoke copious amounts of ______ in full view of the authorities, you're gonna ruffle some feathers too haha.

The doc on Youtube is good. There's a recent one you can download called Finding Fela - it focuses a lot on the Fela broadway play (those parts are a bit grating), but it's also probably the best introduction to the man's life.