Stay Human

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
There aren't many hip-hop artists out there today who give a damn about putting positive messages in their music, but Michael Franti is one of them. Ever since his days with seminal group Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Franti has infused his sounds with insightful and thought-provoking lyricism, and this latest Spearhead joint is no exception. Stay Human tackles, among other things, the subject of capital punishment. Through a make-believe community radio station, Franti tells the tale of Sister Fatima, a healer and activist who is being put to death for a crime that her community believes she didn't commit. The "live" broadcasts act as elaborate skits between Franti's insouciant, soul-rap hybrids and help to expose the arrogant nature of America's judicial system and the brutal finality of the death sentence. Musically, Franti has created a richer, more string-laden backdrop for his tracks, creating some of his best idiosyncratic, feel-good vibes to date. But while the funkadelic edge of "Rock the Nation" and laid-back ballad style of "Do Ya Love" are worthy in their own right, Franti's real genius lies in his ability to weave opinions into compelling narratives so that we don't feel we're being battered over the head with someone else's ideas. Emotive, soulful, and opinionated, Spearhead are almost single-handedly keeping alive a tradition epitomized by Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, and Bill Withers. Don't sleep. --Paul Sullivan

Stay Human,Michael Franti & Spearhead,Six Degrees,Alternative Rap,Pop,Rap,Rock,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban

Stay Human

Tracks:

Oh My God
radio segment
Stay Human (all the freaky people)
radio segment
Rock The Nation
Sometimes
radio segment
Do Ya Love
radio segment
Soulshine
Every Single Soul
radio segment
Love'll Set Me Free
Thank You
radio segment
We Don't Mind
radio segment
Speaking Of Tongues
radio segment
Listener Supported
radio segment
Skin On The Drum

Amazon.com

There aren't many hip-hop artists out there today who give a damn about putting positive messages in their music, but Michael Franti is one of them. Ever since his days with seminal group Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Franti has infused his sounds with insightful and thought-provoking lyricism, and this latest Spearhead joint is no exception. Stay Human tackles, among other things, the subject of capital punishment. Through a make-believe community radio station, Franti tells the tale of Sister Fatima, a healer and activist who is being put to death for a crime that her community believes she didn't commit. The "live" broadcasts act as elaborate skits between Franti's insouciant, soul-rap hybrids and help to expose the arrogant nature of America's judicial system and the brutal finality of the death sentence. Musically, Franti has created a richer, more string-laden backdrop for his tracks, creating some of his best idiosyncratic, feel-good vibes to date. But while the funkadelic edge of "Rock the Nation" and laid-back ballad style of "Do Ya Love" are worthy in their own right, Franti's real genius lies in his ability to weave opinions into compelling narratives so that we don't feel we're being battered over the head with someone else's ideas. Emotive, soulful, and opinionated, Spearhead are almost single-handedly keeping alive a tradition epitomized by Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, and Bill Withers. Don't sleep. --Paul Sullivan

Customer Reviews:

Mostly great.......2006-05-25

The music on this album is amazing, and the message is right-on. In fact this is probably Franti's best ever album when judged from the viewpoint of music, lyrics, and message.

Unfortunately I found the radio broadcast segments to be ill-conceived and intrusive, but they are easily skipped.

The "music fan" who praised Stay Human but only gave it 1 star because of objections to who Franti chooses to give political support to needs to learn more about the Mumia Abu-Jamal case, which is nowhere near as cut & dried as their post suggests. The trial transcripts don't tell the whole story - the whole point is that this was considered an unfair and biased trial. Dig a little deeper and you'll find plenty to question.

So good!.......2005-08-06

Michael Franti and Spearhead has yet to let me down. This album is yet another that not only is a showcase for their amazing musical talent, but it also tells a strong story that spurs the mind to think about the world in which we live. As a long time advocate for abolishing the death penalty, this record tells a tale that I will never forget in my arguments to abolish the death penalty. Yet another record of targeting a specific population, and ignoring white collar crime (which in my opinion effects the population much more than anything other crime).

"Stay Human"--One of my top 10.......2005-05-07

This album has to be the best that Michael Franti & Spearhead has put out so far....

The music: the band is very musical and pulls in lots of different influences that combine together in a completely original way: hip-hop, jazz, african, rock, spoken word, etc. Every time I listen I hear something new.

The lyrics: As I was an English major, lyrics are very important to me. Franti writes great lyrics-- he is an intellectual poet as far as I am concerned, and you can hear his skill in lyricism come through on tracks like "Speaking of Tongues" and "Skin on the Drum."

Political Message: Franti's political message is to spread tolerance and love. Some of the tracks are explicitly political, such as "Oh My God," while others are just a wonderful celebration of life. It's a good balance.

The only thing that gets a little annoying after you listen to the album several times is the radio show that shows up between most of the tracks. It's a great political message, but sometimes you just want to listen to music and not get preached at. That shouldn't deter you from buying this great album, though.

Great CD!!!

Music with heart.......2005-04-25

Although I loved the Disposable Heroes and I think that Home is a fantastic album I stayed away from this album for a long time. I had heard that Michael Franti had lost it - that he had crossed the line from pointed political and social commentary into buttock clenching political correctness and cliché.

Nothing could be further from the truth - this is a wonderful CD. Yes, there is a message but Franti manages to get his point across while making an excellent CD. Great songs in a variety of styles are interspersed with radio segments describing the lead up to and the aftermath of the execution of an innocent woman. There are no duff tracks or off-key moments.

Recommended.

Franti's Great American Opera.......2004-10-20

Stay Human is about as operatic a work as we've heard from any 21st century contemporary artist. Franti lets loose and through the guise of pretense of a dramatic play occuring at a radio station we are introduced to a group of characters including the two radio talk show hosts, Sister Fatima, the "Governor" and a host of listeners - liberal, conservative and brain dead, calling to weigh in on the fate of faith healer Sister Fatima now on death row and facing imminent execution that same night.

Woven between scenes at the radio station Spearhead's songs are brought to life that emphasizes Franti's message in a manner which could only be hinted it without the dramatic structure surrounding it.

The first time I heard this album was late on a hot summer night, on the back deck of a friend's house. He didn't prepare me for what I was about to experience and at the end of "Skin on the drum" I was emotionally exhausted with chills down my back and the hair on the back of my neck standing on edge. I'm not ashamed to say I also cried. This is music presented in such a powerhouse of a theatrical production it should be staged or filmed. As it stands, its effectiveness is not diminished one iota by being "audio only."

While some may eschew the socio/politico commentary embedded into the work, no one who listens and experiences it in its entirety will go unmoved, or turn it off free from thought. For these very reasons "Stay Human" is one of the most important works and deserves a wide audience. A truly remarkable achievement from Franti and Spearhead.

Average customer rating:

Hello. Hello, Hello, Hello
Ian MacDonald
Manufacturer: Leaky Boat Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA3C08
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Tracks:

Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello
Back on the Bay
Drive
Now It's October
Jodi
Me an Michael John
And If I'm
Blue
George Street
Can't We Try?

Average customer rating:

Holding Shadows
Ian MacDonald
Manufacturer: Leaky Boat Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00019PQRM
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Tracks:

Mudflats
I'm Lost
Leaky Boat
Seam
Dogs and Sunsets
Of All the Mistakes
Thirty-Two Memory Lane
I Have to Know
Row Me Home 'E
Hold On
Fall

Average customer rating:

Stay with Me Tonight

Manufacturer: East West
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000E99I1Y

Average customer rating:

Spearhead's Finest Album
amazing... just... amazing...

Stay Human
Spearhead
Manufacturer: Liber
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005LAJJ
Release Date: 2001-06-04

Tracks:

Oh My God (Radio Segment)
Stay Human (All The Freaky People)
Rock The Nation
Sometimes (Radio Segment)
Do Ya Love (Radio Segment)
Soulshine
Every Single Soul (Radio Segment)
Lovell Set Me Free
Thank You (Radio Segment)
We Dont Mind (Radio Segment)
Speaking Of Tongues (Radio Segment)
Listener Supported (Radio Segment)
Skin On The Drum
What Happens Next
Soulshine (Radiant Remix)

Album Description

Aussie exclusive limited edition of the long awaited 2001 album for the ex-member of Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. Includes a five track bonus disc featuring two non-LP tracks, 'What Happens Next', 'Soulshine' (Radiant Remix) & three spoken word messages on capital punishment from Bono, Tom Morello & Amy Ray.

Album Details

Features an Exclusive Australian Bonus Disc.

Customer Reviews:

Spearhead's Finest Album.......2001-09-01

Not only is this the best album Spearhead have brought out, but it has a bonus disc. The songs are beautiful, especially "We Don't Mind" and "Every Single Soul". I am an Aussie and the bonus CD that comes with this version is super - A couple of remixes and some spoken word messages on the death penalty from Bono (U2) and Tom Morello (RATM).

If you've seen their magic live than you need no more of a push, if not - get it! It's the only CD of the year that I would recommend for all tastes. A brilliant Album.

amazing... just... amazing..........2001-08-31

Recognizing the label of 6th degree records, I conclude that this album follows their grand tradition of publishing interesting, thought provoking works. (I don't generally condone judging music by the album cover, or by its label, but 6th degree records has some very interesting stuff. Banco de Gaia, is one such artist that deserves recognition for putting out highly intriguing tunes.) Spearhead stands out to me because I once caught them in concert, they are currently on tour. Looking around in the record stores around town one day I came across this album. Decidedly curious of Franti's published recordings I gave it a review. What ensued was me standing, in awe, for 45 minutes listening to about 3/4 of the album. I was lost within the music, what he had to say and more importantly, how he said it.

The album is construed as a make belief radio show, Stay Human Radio. The show follows an upcoming election and an intriguingly scheduled execution of a supposed murderer... Without giving much more away I can say that this is one shining example of a collection of music that is well paced, well versed yet holds no bars in what it has to say. It is unfortunate that there are few mainstream artists that can hold a candle to the brillance of Stay Human. Wow...

Soul Music:

Soul Music

soul music

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