Long Story Short

Long Story Short

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
With its dedication to Amadou Diallo and its poems covering subjects like reparations, slavery, and Mary J. Blige, Sekou Sundiata sets out to make "poems that are African American as bean pies and be-attitudes."

There's a righteous anger that permeates this disc, but its expression comes off more as a burning coal than a blowtorch--that is, instead of using the staccato rhythms and the relatively harsh vocals of the rappers, Sundiata's approach is more down-tempo, almost elegiac, and his voice is mellifluous, intimate, and warm. Not a huge voice like, say, James Earl Jones; rather, he uses a slow, seductive, clearly enunciated delivery to draw you into his words.

His interest is to write popular verse that functions both as dance music and serious spoken poetry. To him, it's not an either/or, you can do both-you can "dance and be still." While most people won't be dancing to this disc, the music-mostly keyboards, bass, and drum-is coolly competent, and his efforts to make poetry accessible are more than commendable. --Wally Shoup

Long Story Short,Sekou Sundiata,Righteous Babe,Jazz-Pop,Pop,Rock/Pop,Spoken / Comedy / Radio Shows,Spoken Word,Urban


Long Story Short
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A master poet
  • Powerful poetry
  • Sundiata tells it like it is
  • Perfect Blend
  • Another unlistenable entry
Long Story Short
Sekou Sundiata
Manufacturer: Righteous Babe
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Spoken WordSpoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Release Date: 2000-02-08

Tracks:

  1. Mandela
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Amazon.com

With its dedication to Amadou Diallo and its poems covering subjects like reparations, slavery, and Mary J. Blige, Sekou Sundiata sets out to make "poems that are African American as bean pies and be-attitudes."

There's a righteous anger that permeates this disc, but its expression comes off more as a burning coal than a blowtorch--that is, instead of using the staccato rhythms and the relatively harsh vocals of the rappers, Sundiata's approach is more down-tempo, almost elegiac, and his voice is mellifluous, intimate, and warm. Not a huge voice like, say, James Earl Jones; rather, he uses a slow, seductive, clearly enunciated delivery to draw you into his words.

His interest is to write popular verse that functions both as dance music and serious spoken poetry. To him, it's not an either/or, you can do both-you can "dance and be still." While most people won't be dancing to this disc, the music-mostly keyboards, bass, and drum-is coolly competent, and his efforts to make poetry accessible are more than commendable. --Wally Shoup

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A master poet.......2007-07-27

With Sekou Sundiata's recent death, America lost perhaps one of our greatest living poets, in his fifties and still in his prime. While some traditionalists rejected his work, or attempted to pigeonhole it with the description "spoken word poetry" -- Sundiata preferred, "ritual poet" -- Sundiata demonstrated that poetry was not only alive but relevant. Sundiata's work covered a range of topics, often cleverly combining the political with the social and even the romantic.

An often heard objection to Sundiata's work was his combination of music with poetry. As with any multi-media art, this effort contains considerable risks. However, Sundiata's work does not do this out of whole cloth but draws on a rich tradition of both African and African American culture and works exquisitely.

Anyone with a love of language should give a listen to this great genius, snuffed out too early. He will be missed.

4 out of 5 stars Powerful poetry.......2003-04-14

This cd has quite an unusual sound to it. Sundiata recites poetry while music --
mostly hip-hop, blues and funk (and a didjeridoo in track 9!) -- plays in the background.
Although a lot of the rhythms are funky, this is definitely not a record to dance or
to sit back and relax to-- the imagery is complicated and actually requires intellectual
concentration. The lyrics are often highly political and provocative, which I find
refreshing, especially since Sundiata is an accomplished poet, who can play with
words to create original and powerful images.

5 out of 5 stars Sundiata tells it like it is.......2001-07-17

Sekou Sundiata describes his work as "rhythm and news"; taking the beats of the street and using them as a backdrop for his poetry. Captivating and engaging songs tell the story of the African American people...

Sundiata's music echoes these sentiments. Whether a poem about slavery of the past or street life of the present, each one holds many striking truths. His style of layering spoken word over R&B and jazz with smooth vocals makes his work appealing accross many age groups and backgrounds. Fans of R&B, jazz, soul, folk rock, and poetry alike will embrace Sudiata's message; we can't live our lives today without remembering how we got here.

5 out of 5 stars Perfect Blend.......2001-06-30

I've read the negative reviews of Sundiata's albums, and I can understand how his art is not for everybody. Nevertheless, if you are looking for something more from today's fairly shallow popular musical scene, the work of Sekou Sundiata is an excellent place to turn. His poetry blends perfectly with the music and draws the listener into the tribal rythm of his voice and the pulsing funk/blues accompaniment. I recently saw Sundiata open at an Ani Difranco show and his live performance is equally strong. An artist in all respects, Sundiata brings his message to the masses in a form that both pleases and inspires. For those who don't readily associate with poetry, the accompaniment offers an alternative in understanding the pieces on this album. I would highly recommend the work, but would suggest that you listen to some other more (but not quite) mainstream artists before attempting this sonic journey into the heart of Black America.

2 out of 5 stars Another unlistenable entry.......2000-07-09

Frought with the same kinds of musical mistakes as his first record. Combining poetry with music is always tricky business. A lot of people think it looks awkward, and more times than not, a lot of poets don't nail down the right music for their messgae. Sundiata continually hits us with stock folk/blues music that doesn't seem to go anywhere on its own, and the poetry suffers for it.
Long Story Short
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A worthy successor to the Scapegoat Wax legacy
  • Whether You're "Up in the Hills" or "Missin Sumthin"...An Album Everyone Can Enjoy
  • Scapegoat wax is dead - but Marty James is back!
  • EXCELLENT!
Long Story Short
One Block Radius
Manufacturer: Avatar
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Gangsta & HardcoreGangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
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Pop RapPop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000A3EJLS
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Tracks:

  1. Look Out Below
  2. Loud & Clear
  3. Black Mercedes
  4. Up In The Hills
  5. I Like Him
  6. Make Believe
  7. Purple & Orange
  8. Wake Up Tomorrow
  9. Alone
  10. World On Fire
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  12. Not Enuff
  13. Excuse Me
  14. Smokescreen
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Product Description

Lead by Marty James (formerly of Scapegoat Wax), this three man group is often described as reminiscent of Black Eyed Peas - when they were GOOD!

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A worthy successor to the Scapegoat Wax legacy.......2005-09-15

For now I imagine most of the buzz around this album is going to center around the fact that this group is made up of members of Scapegoat Wax. Those looking to this album as a followup to what was done with Scapegoat Wax will not be disappointed; it's essentially a rebranding of Scapegoat Wax with rapper Z-man thrown into the fray, and Marty James' musical vision has not changed greatly.

Marty James serves up an appealing mix of pop, rap, and r&b with hip-hop style production. Shades of Jurassic 5 and early Smash Mouth are present, but Marty makes sure to own his sound on every track. Some tracks are pure hip hop, others slower melodic confections centered around Marty's crooning, and most of them shift deftly between the two. Z-man's nimble raps complement the sound nicely.

Long Story Short is a pretty full album with 16 tracks, and some good variety. It's adventurous enough to try alot of different things, and while some work better than others, the whole is better for the experimentation. While I don't think I could say that OBR expands the sound pioneered by Scapegoat Wax in any big ways (although the balance may skew a bit more toward hip-hop thanks to Z-Man's presence), it was diverse enough and fresh enough that it still holds up these 4-5 years later.

Stand out tracks include energetic electronic hip-hop numbers "Look Out Below" and "Champion", the catchy pop number "Black Mercedes", and the album's first single "Loud and Clear", but the real standout track for me has been "Wake Up Tomorrow", which is just very well put together and encompasses so much of the One Block Radius sound in one tight package. This song is worth the price of admission alone.

One Block Radius have proven that they have what it takes at this point, and I hope that they're able to connect with their audience. It's not a CD that will appeal to everyone. It's built on a hip-hop backbone, but it's not likely to appeal to hip-hop purists, nor those that are turned off by the genre. But those looking for something fun and adventurous that dances around genre boundries would do well to at least give this a listen. And for those who were already a fan of Scapegoat Wax, this one's a no brainer.

5 out of 5 stars Whether You're "Up in the Hills" or "Missin Sumthin"...An Album Everyone Can Enjoy.......2005-09-02

The multi-talented group One Block Radius has created a formula that anyone with a neck can bob their head to. From start to finish, this is truly a polished work, it is difficult to find flaws in any of the songs. A classic debut from Z-Man, Marty James, and MDA.

4 out of 5 stars Scapegoat wax is dead - but Marty James is back!.......2005-08-30

Band leader Marty James started a band called Scapegoat Wax a couple of years ago. They had a hit single "Aisle-10", but that was it. Things didnt went to well with there record company, and marty decided to stop and work on something else. And then finally after a few years he is back! His new "band" One block radius is here with there debut album "Long Story short". However, Martys voice directly reminds of his indie group Scapegoat wax. If you like Scapegoat Wax - you will like this for sure. If you like this for sure - you will probably like Scapegoat Wax.

If you have no clue what the hell "Scapegoat Wax" is, and just want to know what kind of music this is: This is brilliant hip hop that actually more sounds like "Pop with a beat". It sounds fresh and more exiting then a lot of uninspired hip-hop/pop cds these days! Its no-nonsense and light that just gets you in the right mood for whatever! Make sure that you discover Marty James great voice and Rap-skills, and same props go for the crew! Chek this album out!

5 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT!.......2005-08-29

One Block Radius comes up big with a debut album that is solid from start to finish. Their sound here is both unique and infectious, delivering an assortment of original beats and clever lyrics that range from heartfelt to humorous. EVERY TRACK IS GOOD! From upbeat tracks like Loud & Clear and Wake Up Tomorrow to mellow tracks like Alone and Smokescreen, the entire album is reflective of real life experiences and sentiments of this generation. This is the best album released so far in 2005 and the kind of album that will easily gain momentum as word of it spreads. A remarkable artistic achievement and a soon to be classic. GET THIS ALBUM!
Long Story Short
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • No Longer Any Trouble
Long Story Short
Clive Gregson
Manufacturer: Gadfly
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

  1. Cornerstone
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Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars No Longer Any Trouble.......2004-11-23

Clive Gregson has very little resemblance to his Any Trouble past with this new recording. This is strong and lyricaly interesting work. It is all acoustic guitar with a piano here and there. But the main attractions are the lyrics and melodies on this well produced recording. You will not be humming these tunes to yourself, but you might very well share them with your friends. Overall, this is a very good recording and I'm more than peased to have purchased it.
Long Story Short
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Long Story Short

    Manufacturer: Oniram Music
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000BVJ7RA

    Product Description

    Lead Vocals - Garth McDermott. 5 Song EP.
    Short Story Long
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Short Story Long
      Ofer
      Manufacturer: Big Wheel Recreation
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
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      Release Date: 2004-07-13

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      Long Story Short
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • This album is tight!
      Long Story Short
      CG
      Manufacturer: Paid in Full Ent
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B00094AR8C
      Release Date: 2005-05-31

      Tracks:

      1. Long Story Short
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      8. Respect
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      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars This album is tight!.......2005-07-29

      I love this album...i can be listening to each track without wanting to skip to the next..every song is great, tight lyrics...CG is smooth...love hearing his sexy voice..
      Long Story Short
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Long Story Short
        Strychnine Wine
        Manufacturer: Bordeaux
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        ASIN: B000JIKXEQ
        Long Story Short
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Long Story Short
          Qualm
          Manufacturer: Not Bad Records
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

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          ASIN: B000PECU7W

          Product Description

          1. Hey Friend 3:15 2. Returning The Favor 2:27 3. Bring Down 3:04 4. Lost In My Hometown 2:52 5. Try Not To Feel So Bad When You Find Out You Really Suck 2:34 6. Temporarily Distracted 3:32 7. Red Devil Woman 3:48 8. Before You Go 2:36 9. Young, Loud, And Scotty 1:56 10. Erase This 3:03
          Short Story Long
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Short Story Long
            Twice Around
            Manufacturer: Twice Around
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

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            ASIN: B000EMSO3E
            Release Date: 2006-02-16

            Tracks:

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            Long Story Short
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Long Story Short
              George Prentice
              ProductGroup: Music
              Binding: Audio CD

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              ASIN: B000FTAXVC
              Release Date: 2005-12-13

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