Other Cup

Reseña del editor Yusuf's (formerly Cat Stevens) first album of modern pop songs since 1978's Back to Earth. On his return to music, Yusuf says "I feel right about making music and singing about life in this fragile world again. It is important for me to help bridge the cultural gaps others are sometimes frightened to cross." More Yusuf The Very Best of Cat Stevens Majikat Mona Bone Jakon Tea for the Tillerman Teaser and the Firecat Catch Bull at Four Tienda Three decades after decisively trading fame and his superstar moniker for the spiritual devotion for which his restless '70s songs seemed a perpetual quest, the singer-songwriter born Steven Demetre Georgiou has successfully resurrected Cat Stevens's muse, if not his persona. The musician whose dedicated embrace of Islam embroiled him in controversy frequently sings its praises on An Other Cup, both boldly (the Prophet-lionizing "The Beloved") and with delicate reflection ("Whispers from a Spiritual Garden" reworks Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi.) Given the political and religious misconceptions that have often plagued him, he's mused for years that his theme song should be Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"; here Yusuf makes good on the promise, conjuring a cover steeped in brooding elegance with the assistance of Madonna/Dido/Rod Stewart producer Rick Nowells.Yet, as "Heaven/Where True Love Goes" attests, the musician remains as masterfully adept at blurring distinctions between spiritual and romantic ecstasies as he is at evoking his trademark idealism in the lilting harmonies of "Maybe There's a World." Fans of his vintage catalog will find intriguing riches outside the more spiritually focused works here, too, with the familiar idealism of the previously unrecorded 1968 song "Green Fields, Golden Sands" and muscular "I Think I See the Light" further evoking the glories of Cat past. The production leans towards the spare and shrewdly contemporary, whether casting the effusive opener "Midday" in Paul Simon's spirit of cross-cultural adventure, underscoring the melodic charms of "One Day at a Time," or suffusing "When Butterflies Leave" and his autobiographical cover of Simone with graceful, neo-classical strings. Considering the career time lapse, it's a remarkably strong effort, yet one inspired by a gentility and spiritual inquisitiveness that's comfortably familiar. --Jerry McCulley

Detalles del producto Descatalogado por el fabricante : No Idioma : Inglés Dimensiones del producto : 4,92 x 5,59 x 0,55 pulgadas; 3,53 Onzas Fabricante : ATLANTIC RECORDS Producto en Tienda desde : febrero 17, 2007 Etiqueta : ATLANTIC RECORDS ASIN : B000I5X82O Número de discos : 1 Clasificación en los más vendidos de Amazon: nº68,129 en CDs y Vinilo (Ver el Top 100 en CDs y Vinilo) nº671 en Música Británica nº2,160 en Cantautores de Música Pop nº3,452 en Folk (CDs y Vinilo) Opiniones de clientes: 4.5 4.5 de 5 estrellas 442 calificaciones Descatalogado por el fabricante : No Idioma : Inglés Dimensiones del producto : 4,92 x 5,59 x 0,55 pulgadas; 3,53 Onzas Fabricante : ATLANTIC RECORDS Producto en Tienda desde : febrero 17, 2007 Etiqueta : ATLANTIC RECORDS ASIN : B000I5X82O Número de discos : 1