User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16

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  1. mgsc
    Apr 29, 2006
    4
    In 1981, I ran into John Hiatt in a bar in Indianapolis. He asked to what I was listening, and I told him that I was very intrigued by Bush of Ghosts. He then launched into a diatribe about how the album represented everything that was wrong with music. I disagreed at the time. In retrospect, he might have been right.
  2. davey
    Apr 12, 2006
    10
    Its Good...Its Real Good
  3. cbruce
    Apr 16, 2006
    10
    This album was years ahead of it's time. It blew open a door that had never really been explored and showed us how this kind of recording could be done done properly.
  4. DanJ
    May 11, 2006
    5
    At the time Brian Eno was heavily into Fela Kuti's music. This is a not so bad attempt to capture the magic of one of Fela's creative explosions. Anyone in search of "the bush" would be greatly rewarded by going back to the source. Just get ANY live recording by Fela.
  5. PaulG
    Jun 13, 2006
    10
    I have heard this album for the first time just recently, other than regiment, which does kick an incredible amount of spine tingling ass. I give this album classic status. I don't undertsand the player hating of other commenters. This is genius- the fact it was recorded in 1980 is totally incredible.
  6. TobyK
    Jun 2, 2006
    6
    Aside from "Regiment," which is incredibly kick-ass, this album is pretty lame worldbeat faire from the 80s. Which makes sense, because after 1977 Brian Eno became obsessed with musical "atmospheres" and became mind-numbingly boring.
  7. bryant
    Jun 5, 2006
    10
    I find the work way before it's time too and enjoy each song on it. I wish they would colaborate again. This one goes in my classics selection, good from start to finish. The mixing of samples with politics, spirituality and a kind of tribal influance is short of incredible. I listened to it once on sillyocibins out in a forest and just about left the planet!
  8. Dylan
    Jan 6, 2008
    10
    Everyone from Duran Duran to Blue Man Group and modern electronic music owes this record more than a debt of gratitude.
  9. PeterD
    Nov 24, 2006
    10
    One of my all time favorites even better with the aditional tracks.
  10. [Anonymous]
    Jun 28, 2006
    10
    who cares what john hiatt thought... boring fart

Awards & Rankings

Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. A pioneering work for countless styles connected to electronic, ambient, and third-world music.
  2. Blender
    80
    It's an "important" record... But, more crucially, it's an enduringly entrancing listen. [Apr 2006, p.123]
  3. As an experimental project, it's clever and varied, and a vital chapter in the history of electronic music and sampling. As a pop record, it's tantalising, sensitive and essential; if you don't already own My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts, the reissue's extra tracks make now as good a time as any.