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- Artist(s): Iyad Ben Abderahmane, Saïd Ag Ayad, Elaga Ag Hamid, Eyadou Ag Leche
- Summary: The first release in five years for the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens was produced by Rick Rubin.
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- Record Label: Legacy
- Genre(s): Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Album Rock, Soft Rock, AM Pop
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Score distribution:
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Positive: 6 out of 13
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Mixed: 7 out of 13
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Negative: 0 out of 13
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Oct 28, 2014It’s Cat Stevens singing rhythm and blues, with a combination of originals and covers that showcase attractive playing (legendary guitarist Richard Thompson helps here) and production (cue Rick Rubin). Best of all, his voice remains intact, providing a familiar and favorable sound.
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Oct 28, 2014The singer-songwriter co-produces with Rick Rubin accentuating immediacy and intimacy. The originals, especially a poppy, introspective “Cat & the Dog Trap” and trenchant “Gold Digger,” are among his finest since resurfacing in 2006.
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Oct 27, 2014His well-documented spiritual quest, prime fodder for his songs even when he was pop-star Cat Stevens, remains his primary subject, but there is a toughness here that we're not used to hearing from the reflective singer-songwriter.
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Oct 27, 2014With Rick Rubin co-producing, there's a bluesy toughness to the anti-capitalist jeremiads "Big Boss Man" and "Gold Digger," while "Cat & the Dog Trap" recalls the simple folky prettiness and direct, easeful messages that made him a Seventies icon.
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Dec 5, 2014This is no modest return, either. It’s produced by Rick Rubin, rock’s very own St Jude, and features Richard Thompson, Charlie Musselwhite, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Tinariwen, so it all sounds rather lovely despite the variety of styles.
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MojoNov 19, 2014A tentative return at best. [Dec 2014, p.89]
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Oct 27, 2014The production and playing are beautiful throughout the album, and Yusuf’s voice remains remarkably preserved, still able to instantly spring from gentle introspection to emphatic eruptions. The record as a whole does suffer, though, from certain cover choices.
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