zombieDave
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Tonight I bought Yusuf's (Cat's) new CD, "An Other Cup". I like it very much and, must admit, was iffy on purchasing it for fear it may be "preachy" or "too spiritual". What does that mean? Well, if you can get a religious message across to the listener without "hitting them on the side of the head with a 2x4" in order to do it, that's fine with me. But, whenever an artist blatantly pushes a religious agenda, political agenda, any agenda through their music, my skeptical/cynical side stops listening. Sorry, I want to be entertained by my music and, like I said, if an artist can get their message through in a subtle manner, I'm not against that.
That said, and I hope I did not offend anybody with the above comments, this is a good CD! Yusuf (Cat) is before my time, but the college folk station I listen to plays his old stuff all the time. That's how I found out about most of the artists I listen to these days because commercial radio sucks so bad! Yusuf's voice is amazing (like other old-timers like McCartney, Dylan, Townshend, Gilmour) and these folk songs are very nice and the CD as a whole leaves you feeling good (and a bit pensive). Yup, there are religious overtones on many of the tracks, but the "most religious" track, "The Beloved" (about Muhammed - although his name is never mentioned) is actually the best-constructed and my fave on the album absolutely contradicting the comments in my first paragraph! Who da' thunk it! There are musical instruments and singing/chanting native to Islamic nations and they work in nicely here (kinda like how George Harrison was successful at incorporating instruments/singing from India into his music).
If you've ever liked Cat Stevens' work I would strongly recommend picking up this CD. He's got such a unique voice and it's wonderful to hear new material from him. My reference to George Harrison's work can be brought up again when I say that, if you are like me and wish for subtlety when it comes to politics or religion in your music, this is so reminiscent of Harrison's work that I think you'll be okay with this CD if you were okay with George's work.
Oh yeah, the SQ on this disc is very, very good. That's always a good thing!
zD
PS - In the < one week I've owned my Ety ER4P's, I have truly fallen in love with these 'phones!!!
That said, and I hope I did not offend anybody with the above comments, this is a good CD! Yusuf (Cat) is before my time, but the college folk station I listen to plays his old stuff all the time. That's how I found out about most of the artists I listen to these days because commercial radio sucks so bad! Yusuf's voice is amazing (like other old-timers like McCartney, Dylan, Townshend, Gilmour) and these folk songs are very nice and the CD as a whole leaves you feeling good (and a bit pensive). Yup, there are religious overtones on many of the tracks, but the "most religious" track, "The Beloved" (about Muhammed - although his name is never mentioned) is actually the best-constructed and my fave on the album absolutely contradicting the comments in my first paragraph! Who da' thunk it! There are musical instruments and singing/chanting native to Islamic nations and they work in nicely here (kinda like how George Harrison was successful at incorporating instruments/singing from India into his music).
If you've ever liked Cat Stevens' work I would strongly recommend picking up this CD. He's got such a unique voice and it's wonderful to hear new material from him. My reference to George Harrison's work can be brought up again when I say that, if you are like me and wish for subtlety when it comes to politics or religion in your music, this is so reminiscent of Harrison's work that I think you'll be okay with this CD if you were okay with George's work.
Oh yeah, the SQ on this disc is very, very good. That's always a good thing!
PS - In the < one week I've owned my Ety ER4P's, I have truly fallen in love with these 'phones!!!
