Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Japanese Version featuring a Bonus Track

Amethyst Rock Star,Saul Williams,Sony,R&B/Soul

Amethyst Rock Star [Import]

Tracks:

Lalala
Penny For A Thought
Robeson
Tao Of Now
Fearless
Untimely Meditations
Om Nia Merican
1987
Coded Language
Our Father
Wine

Amazon.com

Performed by a raucous sextet made up of beats, bass, guitar, cello, viola, and griot, Saul Williams hip-hop sounds like modern chamber music. It's music informed as much by Hendrix's star-strangled striations and Miles Davis's alchemical electric period as it is the krunk-krunk of contemporary hip-hop. On Amethyst Rock Star Williams exorcises urban music of its self-destructive excess, channeling its rowdy energy into a ritualized raising of consciousness. The single "Penny for a Thought" breaks into jacked-up breakbeats as Williams calls out those who sell their souls into artistic slavery for the same chump change paid to their chained ancestors. He makes like a soothsayer on "Robeson," reeling off a call for the heroic figures of the past to make their presence known in the future. Williams's singing voice is as robust as his words, soaring like a veteran rock croaker; on "Fearless" he attempts to dissolve the influence of an unnameable "she" on his psyche by spontaneously bursting into song. "Coded Language," a linguistic mantra first recorded for the DJ Krust album of the same name, makes a return appearance, sounding not a bit out of place with its warp-speed breaks and nitroglycerin orchestration. Saul breaks out on the epic closer, "Wine," a torch-burning call for collective empowerment that comes off like Purple Rain for the no-age generation. --Chris Campion

Customer Reviews:

Looking for Something Different.......2006-04-15

This man truly has a gift when it comes to word usage. Simply put, I love this CD. It comes off very different(I think thats why I like it so much). Something like a combination of Slam Poetry, Hip Hop, and Rock. If your growing tired of mainstream music and looking for something new, refreshing, and different... look no further.

Not a poetry album.......2006-03-27

This album, despite a lot of people talking about it as a poetry album, is most certainly not a poetry album. It's a hiphop album. Saul himself talks about "Rocking the party" in "1987", a track that leaps from chamber music beginning to electric guitar rock beats with big hihat and cymbal drumming throughout.

Of course, as Saul shows on "Coded Language", his style of "emceeing" is actually quite closer to the role of a traditional concert emcee than the modern hiphop "MC". In other words, he's often announcing, talking in an interesting manner, or yelling over the beats, as opposed to actually "rhyming" as an MC.

At the same time, it works. At other times it doesn't.

One frustration: you almost wish Williams would allow himself to be more of a musician at times and play WITH the band instead of treating it as his backing track and yelling over it all the time.

"Our Father", is a track of poetry (or a speech, really), set over top of music. The music itself seems to serve no purpose. Same goes for other tracks like "Penny for a Thought", more poetry over music with no relationship between the two.

In actuality, his best tracks are those that allow him to play *with* the band:

-"La, la, la", a short traditional-type rap track.
-"Om Nia Merican (I'm the American)" a rock song with ripping heavy guitar chords and slam poetry rockin' on top of it. Almost like something Rage Against the Machine would make, that one.
-When he sings, as on "Fearless", Williams something like a cooler freer version of Lenny Kravitz.
-Williams' poetry slamming down with respect for the drum track and his backing singer (the beautiful ethereal Canadian singer Esthero) on "Tao of Now"

These songs are much more visceral, there, present, pushing, natural-sounding... organic.

Overall, an album that struggles with definition and struggles often with defining itself.

Making Spoken Word Accessible.......2005-08-08

I'm not going to go into great detail although I am tempted to rebut the reviewer who tagged this album with 2 stars. That reviewer is obviously a pure hip-hop fan that is offended by Saul's challenging of the current state of rap and hip-hop music. This album has something for everyone...the rap fan, the rock fan, and the fan of poetry. I just can't believe it has been out this long and I never heard of it.

I happened to go see Saul at a multi-band concert this summer and was so impressd that I swore to buy an album. I thought it would be less impressive than his live performance, but it dramatically exceeded my expectations. Any album that can make pull out my Mars Volta CD has jolted itself to the heights of my playlist.

Probably closer to 4.75 stars.......2005-02-04

Dude from Columbus should have his top 1000 reviewer status stripped. He has no idea what he is talking about. First of all, considering that this an artistic project, I see nothing wrong expressing one's views even if they are didactic or pedantic. What is wrong with saying that the state of affairs have gone bitterly awry? Be honest with you, I angry with him. Secondly, this album has more than few shining moments. I think the entire album is a step above stellar. I beseech the reader to buy this album. This album is an interesting blend of contemporary poetry and hip hop. Like the Last Poets and Gil Scott Heron before him, Saul Williams lyrics have meaning. His use of profanity was a bit strong for me, but once again it is his perogative.

Lyrically wonderful.......2005-02-02

It's funny, because this album belongs to so many genres that i feel a more worldly person just even listening to it. Some songs have a rock feel, some have a more hip hop feel, but overall this CD is meant for those who would like to be enlightened... and go back and listen to it and realize that there is a whole array of verses that you completely missed. Saul's stuff is already being studied at high school and college levels, for a very good reason. It is one of the best albums I have heard in a very long time.

Average customer rating:

Not what he is capable of
Saul Williams is the greatest...besides Kool Keith...
sorry but i'm not impressed
honestly this brotha got it
A new twist to the everyday hip hop and it's about time

Amethyst Rock Star
Saul Williams
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Poetry | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005EBIP
Release Date: 2002-01-01

Tracks:

La La La
Penny for a Thought
Robeson
Tao of Now
Fearless
Untimely Meditations
Om Nia Merican
1987
Coded Language
Our Father
Wine

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

The sheer force of Saul Williams's words puts to shame what most rappers dare to call poetry. It's hard to tell if rap fans will like Williams because while this slam poet is clearly a product of the hip-hop generation, his music is very uneasy listening. Imagine the brutal auditory assault that KRS-One can bring combusted with the imagination of Samuel Delany and political acumen of Amiri Baraka and you get a loose vision of what Williams is capable of. But to truly appreciate him, metaphoric platitudes fall short--simply witness his art. Amethyst Rockstar arms Williams with an electrified backing band capable of pumping out beats as frenetic as the poet's words, including a well-matched duet with DJ Krust on "Coded Language." Cuts like "Om Ni Merican" and "Penny for a Thought" leave lacerations in their wake as Williams pushes the limit of wordplay with cosmos-inspired allegories and machine-gunned verses. His big ideas may be too much for some to take in--clearly, Williams isn't aiming to appeal to the lowest common denominator--but channel surf across the 11 songs on Rockstar and each one has the potential to blow your mind. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews:

Not what he is capable of.......2001-08-23

I have seen Saul Williams play live twice. Both shows rocked and were funky, trippy and mind-expanding. The use of the viola/violin at the shows provided the emotional thrust and the grooves were just funky. This album portrays little of that. Firstly, I don't understand why he decided to sing for this one. The songs just seem too hard rock and annoying, rather than funky filled trippiness, with mind-expanding lyrics. Some of the tracks are alright don't get me wrong, and the lyrical content is top-notch above anyone else. I enjoy his poetry a great deal, and I actually imitate him slightly in my poetry, but musically it didn't come through. I look forward to what comes out next, though.

Saul Williams is the greatest...besides Kool Keith..........2001-08-12

To the guy below me that said "enough about saturn..."-Saturn is the name of his daughter dummy. If you are a fan of life, or you aren't a fan of life, get this album. Get his books, get his movies. Your work is nice. J

sorry but i'm not impressed.......2001-07-04

ok most definitely, this cd is...okay. good even. saul williams is heavy on the mind and i respect him immensely as both a poet and a literary revolutionary. his gift for language and his vocal tone is impressive. i do have some major gripes though. for one, this album is chock-full of recycled saul williams poetry. as talented as he is he should have at least written more new material "Penny For A Thought" is strong both sonically and lyrically(and is a case in-point for a track with no re-used poetry), and i have appreciation for sarcasm in music, but i do have a problem with his line about Mumia Abu-Jamal's freedom and wonder what exactly he was meaning to say by that. i'll let that slide. the problems don't end there. for one: Saul, as a poet you are way ahead of the norm but PLEASE DO NOT SING! I IMPLORE YOU DO NOT SING! i mean, its as if he's attempting to do Jimi justice but it comes out painfully bad. anyone catch his performance on the chris rock show? absolutely shameful. again, DON'T SING. sometimes the music here leans a little to the Rage-ish side of the rock-rap spectrum, and when it does it becomes horribly primitive. the beats are usually solid but the music here needs a lot of work. personally, i would have loved to have found his excellent "Elohim" track on this, or maybe "Twice The First Time." having said that i don't understand why he'd leave those two experimentalist hip-hop treasures off of this album and yet leave on the old poetry put to music with different pacing. Saul has got plenty of skill, heart, and soul, and i do think he has the potential for releasing an impressive album, but sorry folks, this one is not it.

P.S. Saul, enough about saturn and the sun already...sorry had to say it.

honestly this brotha got it.......2001-07-03

i'm a big spokenn word fan and saul williams is the spoke person for this generation of poets. his insights and oversights are real and express the depth of what many view as urban poetry...they forget that the soul of man does not lie in his mansion but in the man himself. saul williams is a nice change to the mediocre and he is really bringing spoken word into the the public eye (an eye that is usually blind). if you diggin all this yo ya all need to peep this cat out he is mad ill....to the fullest extent of the word.

A new twist to the everyday hip hop and it's about time.......2001-06-30

No dout Saul Williams is the man for the job of bringing the truth to light. In his books he talk to us about Amythest Rocks, Ohm, Wind's Song to his last book which included a Cd of his readings. Saul Williams is living proof of Kahlil Gibran's quote " i am a poet who composes what the world prose's and prose's what the world composes " . This Cd is the beggining of a long line of Saul making his own unique style that is hard to follow but easily respected. No dout this Cd is a work of art.

Average customer rating:

genius of poetry

Amethyst Rock Star
Saul Williams
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Poetry | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

R&B | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005HWMN
Release Date: 2001-04-11

Tracks:

La La La
Penny For A Sort
Robeson
Tao Of Now
Fearless
Untimely Meditations
Om Ni Merican
1987
Coded Language
Our Father
Wine
Do You Know?
Fallin Tan (Bonus Track)

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring a Bonus Track

Customer Reviews:

genius of poetry.......2003-04-06

I first heard of Saul Williams while watching HBO presents Def Poetry, and his name stuck in my head. Next, I heard his words on a Blackalicious track (Release) and I decided I couldn't go without hearing more. So I first went in search of his poetry, but instead found an album.
I have found quite a few good poets and rappers from watching Def Poetry, but Saul is the top of them all (which may be why they sample his tracks in all the segues in the show). He stuck out from the cream of the crop as diamond shines in the dirt. The amazing power behind his lyrics, all twisted with socio-political leanings, allow a new avenue into the underside of American society. Following in the footsteps of KRS-One, he gives a highly educated and intelligent veiw of our society that most people are afraid to even look at. The strings and deep base that go along with the 'rap' (poetry) fits perfectly, giving the feeling of a more stripped down, higher brow version of Rage Against the machine. A must have for any fan of 'underground' hiphop or fan of great lyrical art.

R&B Music:

R&B Music

r&b music

Recommended Music:

Badman & Throbin' & Remixes [CD-single]

Haydn: Violin Sonata in G, Debussy: Violin Sonata

Fantaisie Idylle / Choral 1-3

Music CD: Grandes Exitos de Johnny Albino

Life on Planet Eartsnop

Go [Import]

It's in My Heart

It's...Madness Too

Greatest Hits of Johnny Cash, Vol. 2

En Vivo Gira 2005 [Live]

Historical First Recording (1944)