Search - Hr :: Human Rights

Bad Brains singer blends styles...

W. Lamar Miles (wlm2@axe.humboldt.e | Arcata, Kalifornia | 09/30/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Viva Azania is the real name of this album by the Bad Brains' incendiary throat, H.R. While most of his other solo albums focus on reggae, there are too many styles (jazz, hip-hip, thrash, world beat...) represented here to list. The album flows with muscial interludes betweeen songs that help to create a relaxed, introspective mood. Never one to hide his message, H.R. preaches on a variety of topics, from love to reincarnaiton and beyond. If you love Bad Brains/Soul Brains, you should definitely check Human Rights."

The birth of punk funk mon...

Conscious Mon | Washington Heights, NYC | 03/16/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was a bit disapointed when I first heard this as a bright eyed shorty. I was expecting ssome serious reggae but Hr's debut as a solo artist with Human rights is a powwow of funk, punk, reggae, rock and whatever. I got real into HR around "Charge" so i was expecting his earlier efforts to be Selah heavy albums, they are lyrically, but his debut is defintely not reggae. I never really liked Hr's first albums, not because it's not reggae, but just because i thought it was really cheesy sounding KNOWING Hr could do better! cmon, it was 1987 the cheese can be forgiven a bit. I can look back and appreciate this album because Hr is to this day one of my favorite singers. When i think of this album, which I believe came out in '84 but it is listed here as '87, i think of styles like Fishbone and 24-7 spyz or even some Cro Mags joints. That is because all those cats were influenced by HR/Bad Brains, MORE SO HR in Bad Brains. I encourage anyone who isn't already familiar to seek out HR's solo albums. Just better start backwards, get his last 3 instead of the first one. Anything he made after this is srikly riddims, as in reggae, but HR always incorporates his unique style into his music. My favorite cut on "Singin in the Heart" is "Now you say" complete with a cheesy 80's drum beat, but I like this song even though i couldn't understand why Hr was doing this typea song. I was a young, snotty punk, not yet open to ish I would later love. One Hr album that is out of print and rare is "Our Faith." When that came out in '92 I believe it became my album of moment. i was amazed that album went so under the radar, even in underground circles, and now is virtually impossible to find. In either case this is a good album but a mediocre debut, and not to every HR's fan tastes. If you can find it, his best album in my eye is the aforementioned "Our Faith" and of course classice like "Charge" and "Singin in the Heart." "Rock of Enoch" is crazy too as an EP and let's hope HR comes back out of his stupor to rock I again!!"