Expensive Shit - Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70

This happens to be studio album number 12 by Fela Kuti, backed by his Afrika 70. This is among a string of albums during the 70's where, essentially, he could do not wrong. Yes there are ones I prefer, but this might be his best album. I've already reviewed Zombie and I plan to review some of his other albums from his discography, but I know how I feel about this (I've heard it a number of times) and cus its a quickie. I still have three more reviews to do before December so I can post this Chicago '78.

1. Expensive Shit: This opens the album, hahahaha its only two tracks. This track opens with clapping of what i think is like a castanet or something and a guitar setting up a grove. Then we get some tasty electric piano that propels the track forward, with drums keeping it sort of grounded. Bass comes in and the grove is set for a solo on the, I wanna say Rhodes. Tension builds until the horns come and and fucking take you there. The horns are truly something else, and the alto sax plays a solo building up this groove with the other horns backing it put. Damn is Fela good at setting up interesting music. The horns stop, and let the alto play a bit of the solo alone (with the groove still in place. Then we get a sort of call back to the head. I also wanna say the percussion on this track is out of this world. I hope I can build something a quarter as good as this. Its very dancable and very rhythmic. Once the vocals come in you get some pidgen where it talks about shit not smelling. This was inspired after he was arrested for drugs, you know just read the album covers sticker. Its a neat story. Once the vocals are over with the call and response the sort of refrain comes in and the instruments come to the for front again. The piano plays for the last three minutes or so and the groove still goes and is going strong. 
2. Water No Get Enemy: The horns start right out of the gate for this darker sounding track. Its more laid back and kinda makes you think. There is a sort of sadness in this track. It isn't as exciting as the title track. The vocals that sing with the horns almost make this sort of Ennio Morricone feeling. I like the solos and the groove here is also great. I really love the textures on this track. This is a solid track. Once Fela comes in it almost feels like he's mournful. I think this did what Mr Follow Follow did wrong. This might be a change of pace, but its still one if the best mellow songs his ever done. Its also one of the best songs his ever done. Its a shame the second side if Zombie want better. I really like the piano at the ending of this track and I don't really know how describe this except a nice ending and darker. He would continue with this type of track, before this album and after it too.

Overall I have to give this album a 8/10. The reason I would go as far as saying this could be his best is usually the records are split into side A track and side B track. This is the only one, in my recollection, that has a solid A and B track. I mean I could be stupid and recalling falsely or lacking something I remember. But from the top of my head this is the most consistent album of his. At least of the 20 or so I've heard. I think next will be either Teacher No Teach Nonsense and Beasts of No Nation.

Zombie - Fela and Afrika 70

So it's about that time where I need a review. And since I've been listening to the fellow over here, why not the big one. This is probably the best known album by Nigerian Afro-beat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He was a whole lot of other things too but he'll always (with some help from Tony Allen) be the inventor of Afro-Beat. Now this album is famous for both the title track and the events following. You can find almost anywhere, when looking up the song or album, Fela had some of the worst legal trouble following. Now legal trouble may imply he was in the wrong, but supposedly the Nigeria government burned his house down and killed his mother (pushing her out a window of some sort). They also ban him, I believe, from the country. I could be remembering wrong, but if you're interested look it up, it's almost always mentioned when someone talks about this album. Also I love this album cover, and the massage here is pretty great.

1. Zombie: Sitting at just under 12 1/2 minutes long. This epic monster is one if those instant things that just clicks. I mean I've heard it a dozen or so times and I cant stop. It instantly makes you want to dance and go crazy. The is really like the epitome of infectious. I can't believe this isn't more sampled in hip-hop. I really would have to go into the details of the awesome little guitars and they great solos on saxophone (I assume it's tenor or alto since Fela plays both on the album). The first five minutes of this is instrumental, the words don't come in until 5:20ish. And when Fela comes in and starts singing with the group in Pidgin English..... so fucking awesome. I really want to join in the recording and make sing along. It's so fun, even thought there actually is a message to the song. It's about the zombie like mentality of the military and how they don't think and just follow orders. Like mindless zombies. But damn, I can't think of a more powerful song in terms of just arrangement and funk and message. I mean yes at first it's hard to make out what he might be saying but with the inevitable multiple listens you start to make it out. After the lyric section, there comes in an electric piano, or analog synth. This is followed by a chorus and then what I believe to the be french national anthem.... I could be wrong :) but I don't know. Just listen to this. It's fucking amazing.
2. Mister Follow Follow: Following up that last track isnt an east task. This is much more laid back and doesn't have the punch of the last track. Obviously that makes sense, it'd be too much of the same, but I don't feel the feeling I get from other laid back tracks of his. I mean it's well arranged and tight, and has a great groove. I'm just not personally getting pulled into it and wanting to jam or dance along. Where the last track builds and you are interested the entire wait up to the lyrics, this isn't holding my interest as much. I have to pay attention or I'll lose focus I guess. And by the way that happened not even five minutes in. The song is much more background music than the predecessor. And I'm not feeling the vocal arrangement on this track. There is a part later in the song where it sounds like a slowed down version of Zombie where it goes Follow Follow. Not feeling it at all bru.

Overall I have to give this album a 7.5/10. The thing I gotta say, is the first side is so strong how could you not want to dance and groove. But its also so good there was no way in hell the second side would come close to it. I still highly recommend this record. I also recommend Open & Close, Expensive Shit, Ikoyi Blindness and Black Men Dey Suffer. I've yet to hear all of the albums, but I got a big chunk down. It's a great opener and the second track ain't terrible. Just listen to this, its 25 minutes long.