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Reviews > CDs

CDs / Shows

Published: 2010/05/14

by Jeff Tamarkin

Fela Kuti: The Best of The Black President

Knitting Factory Records

If there was ever a musician who lived and died for his art, it was Nigeria’s notorious Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Uncompromising, relentless, boisterous, angry, outrageous—those qualities define both his music, Afrobeat, and his controversial, tortured life (among other indignities, he was arrested some 200 times for his political convictions and purported crimes). Fela’s story recently made the transition to Broadway, of all places—exposure that will hopefully make more people aware of this brilliant artist. Meanwhile, Knitting Factory Records has begun to reissue 45 Fela albums, starting with this definitive 13-track compilation spread out over two CDs (Fela liked to stretch)—now, with a bonus documentary DVD ( A Slice of Fela ) tossed in. The selections, while only scratching the surface of his discography, are among Fela’s funkiest, most incendiary jams, while the DVD seals the deal with eye-opening concert footage and biographical context.

Comments

There are 2 comments associated with this post

Ross May 3, 2012, 05:16:56

I just might know someone who can get you some live Arcade Fire. You shuold definitely check out Brightblack Morning Light. They are your kind of band!

Kishore June 16, 2012, 22:51:55

I would like to inject a bit of the doindwse just so folks attending will go with both eyes open do NOT bring your children to this festival. In addition to the wonderful music and yoga, there were also three deaths. I’d stake my next paycheck that, in addition to extreme heat, they were the result of copious amounts of drugs. I’m not just talking a little pot either. I’m talking young people rolling their faces off on Ecstasy and walking around with signs requesting doses’ or shrooms.’ Gone are the days of moderate drug use it’s as much as you can get as often as you can get it and you don’t much care if you don’t make it to the music concerts because you got too high to make the walk down. Though I saw some amazing music, I will be thinking twice about attending next year.