Saul Williams - Saul Williams

Arriving six years after he made a splash with the film Slam and three years after his debut disc Amethyst Rock Star, the second album from spoken-word standout Saul Williams is a knot of contradictions. It challenges hip-hop orthodoxy through the liberal use of heavy rock samples and beats (see especially "Grippo")--not to mention incendiary cameos from rockers Serj Tankian (System of a Down) and Zack De La Rocha (Rage Against the Machine)--but it also gets bogged down at times by repetitive riffs ("List of Demands"). At his best, as on the opener "Talk to Strangers," Williams's measured delivery packs an entrancing power. Elsewhere, however, he sounds like he's just reading, not flowing, and his words fall flat. It doesn't help that Williams occasionally lapses into lecture mode, broadly dissing commercial hip-hop in the spoken-word piece "Telegram." He fares far better when he turns his lyrical lasers on legitimate foes, like the oil-thirsty warmongers in "Act III Scene 2." --Anders Smith Lindall Amazon.com

"Load their guns with songs they haven't sung"

Saul Williams offers listeners a socially-conscious, honest, musically mature and lyrically transcendent collection of songs. Though the album is primarily defined as hip-hip, and to be sure there are some great hip-hop tracks, what is also found here can more accurately be defined as "a master of spoken-word poetry accompanied by music." Fans of his style and performance will not be disappointed. Furthermore, varying musical influences lift this album above the confines of a strictly hip-hop recording, such as the industrial beats of "List of Demands (Reparations)" or the muted rock performance of "Telegram." It is this pushing of boundaries that makes it readily accessible to listeners whose main musical interest lies outside of hip-hop (myself included) while still carrying the standard of the best of what hip-hop has to offer, and unfortunately has yet to fully embrace.

Williams is poignant in his observations, poetic in his presentation, and optimistic in his outlook. He sees the world through eyes that recognize not only the symptoms but also the afflictions, and a mind that is mature and forward-looking enough to see the solutions and the possibility of something better. He refuses the notion that accepting the current sad state of affairs is "keeping it real," but rather views living up to true human potential as the only "real" worth keeping.

While all the tracks have something valuable to offer, either musically or lyrically, a few standout examples are worth noting here. "List of Demands (Reparations)" is a great explosion of creative energy, and many listeners will certainly want to pound their fist in the air to this one. Perhaps the most moving and memorable piece is the auto-biographical "Black Stacy," which is a personal confession of the insecurities felt due to skin color and the process of finally coming to terms with one's appearance and self-responsibilities. The lyrics are powerful and should be heard by every hip-hop fan, young and old, but especially those impressionable youths who look to materialistic moguls or defeatist gangsters as surrogate role-models. Finally, in Saul Williams, they have an artist worth looking up to. March 25, 2008

Disappointing

I really enjoyed Amethyst Rock Star. It really took me aback and made me rethink my take on Hip Hop as a whole. Williams' latest however falls short in my opinion. I find it much less compelling and less musical (for lack of a better term) than his first. Perhaps if you're a big fan of his spoken word this album will be for you, as I find it much more "beat poet" than hip hop. June 7, 2007

Not Just Another MC

There are no "interludes" or "skits", but I would not call all 12 tracks "songs". Saul Williams showcases his talents as a rapper, a singer, and a spoken-word artist (he's also an actor). "List of Demands (Reparations)" and "Grippo" both have crazy beats; the rest of the songs are OK, but not nearly as remarkable. Still, he's deep, so prepare to dig it. Lyrics in booklet.
January 3, 2006

Great discovery...

I saw Saul in concert with NIN recently at Voodoo Musicfest in NOLA. He was awesome. Of course, he had NIN backing him so his show was great. He performed "List of Demands" and "African Student Movement". I was so impressed that I bought the album. I like both of the songs that I heard performed live as well as "Act III Scene 2(Shakespeare)" with Zach from Rage Against the Machine as a guest. "Telegram" is also a great song.
It's an album that has lots of great beats varying from slow to fast. Saul changes his vocal style on different tracks, it's particularly funny when he does a song in a 50 cent voice. It also has some political messages put forth in a refreshing tone. It never sounds like Saul is trying to hammer you over the head with his ideas.
It's been in my rotation non-stop since I bought it. December 10, 2005

BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!

For someone who has been listening to hip hop and a lot of other music since a teen, there is something on these tracks for everyone. Secondly, the lyrics that Saul has are gripping to the socially conscious. In such a mad world that we live in, Saul has a way of just getting it all out. If you like rage against the machine, public enemy and KRS1, you need to here this. If you like punk rock, you need to hear this as well. I can go on and on about Saul Williams. From the moment I heard this amazing stuff live I knew I had to buy this album. To hear his message is nothing short of a refreashing release for all that is wrong in this world in music, world politics, racism and just life in general. Thank you Saul for representing an honest voice in this ill time we live in. We need more like you. August 17, 2005

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