Search - Lost Tribe :: Many Lifetimes

Great, but not their best

Robert van Riel | 10/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many Lifetimes is a great CD by an underappreciated band. This CD has different, less urban, rhythms than their previous album, the superb "Soulfish". It lacks the distorted guitar riffs of David Gilmore, however(at least I think he's the one providing them on other Lost Tribe albums), which makes "Many Lifetimes" a beautiful, smooth, but at times predictable album. Nevertheless, a 'must have' for jazz and fusion-fans. Too bad Amazon doesn't deliver the "Soulfish" and "Lost Tribe"-albums."

Changed My Whole Musical Outlook

mike jacobs | Pennsylvania | 11/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Many Lifetimes" was my musical introduction to Lost Tribe and for many reasons, I'm thankful it was this cd and not the others. Don't get me wrong, I love their first album and "Soulfish" may be the most played of their 3 discs, but this one may have changed the way I listen to music.



Having heard the names of the band members dropped with increasing freqency and reverence in musical circles, I decided they were worth a risk of my limited cash. This album, being the most readily available (the others were out-of-print), was picked.



This was not what I had expected. What I had read about Lost Tribe lead me to believe they were a ground-breaking "fusion-type" band (and I mean that in the best possible way). This was...something else. Mildly disappointed, I shelved it until (as is often the case), I gave it another chance after all preconceptions and expectations had faded.



But before that happened, I got a hold of "Soulfish" and my suspicions were indeed confirmed - Lost Tribe rocks! - so to speak.



So, now knowing what the band on "Many Lifetimes" was capable of, I was ready to see this album in a new light.



This was (almost) the same band in a different place - making consciouslly different musical choices. This music is more refined, sonically and compositionally. The instrumentation more spare and, dare I say it, traditional sounding. And with every listening I heard more artistry in what they composed, played and more importantly, didn't play.



"Many Lifetimes" has achieved the status of, not he best Lost Tribe album, but one of the very best and original contemporary jazz albums I own and has opened up the appreciation of many new musical worlds.



Sometimes you don't get what you want - you get what you need.



Highly recommended to those who can listen without prejudice.





Mike Jacobs

"