Julie has done us the great service of translating the lyrics from Aaron Razel’s latest CD. Which I just reviewed this morning. G-d willing there will be more songs translated soon.
A New Path, download it here. (It’s a text file)
Where I Played Last Summer, download it here.
If those links don’t work, please let me know. I’ll post more as I get them.
UPDATE: My bright idea didn’t work. I’ll have to figure something else out. I’ll fix this in a few hours.
My review of The Simpson’s Movie.
I’ve always liked Aaron Razel. There has just been a calming fun vibe about his music. Although I wasn’t as die hard of a fan until MoChassid’s U’Shmuel Bekorei Shmo CD. The really funny thing is that at first Aaron’s Yom Shabason was one of my least favorite on that album. As time passed by I found that it had become one of my favorites.
When Aaron’s new CD came out I felt I had to get it right away. I’m never tired of this album and every time I hear it I love it more. There is just something about Aaron’s music that is not only good, but gets better which each listen.
The new CD is called Connected to You. It has 13 songs and flows perfectly from start to finish. I’ve written about this before but I think every CD should have at least 13 songs. When a new album comes out and it has 10 songs I get very upset. It feels like a cop out, like they couldn’t get anything more and 10 songs just doesn’t feel like a lot.
The first song on this album is called Ohr Chayim. When you run a marathon you gotta pace yourself. This song is the perfect opener. It’s slow, has great lyrics, and is easy to get into. I think if you are a first time listener to Aaron’s music you can get a feel for what the album will be from this song.
Next is Leolam. Someone will tell me if I’m wrong, but Aaron is originally American right? His accent is very interesting, it doesn’t sound like its his native tongue , but at the same time he doesn’t sound like a lot of Americans living in Israel. It’s very warm. The music is the first thing that picks up in this song. There is a lot of great guitar work in this song. Some of the things you find musically in this album are so subtle, but just right. I think thats what makes it feel so complete. The music all blends perfectly.
Song #3 is awesome. It’s called A New Path. I want to make a comparison here without taking anything away from Aaron and at the same time not compliment the Artist I’m gonna mention. The sound of this song is very similar to Sheryl Crows Santa Monica Blvd. Now with that said, let me just clarify it’s not that the songs are identical, it’s the style and tempo of that song that I feel is similar. Which is a good thing. Of course any references to Shery Crow disappear halfway through the song when he starts going into the “Learning Torah is a guta Zach” section. It’s a really fun song.
Lecho Dodi is easily on of my top three on this album. What a brilliant song. I don’t want to gush but I think this is one of the most haunting and beautiful pieces of music I’ve heard in a long time. The string work on this song is stunning. Unlike some other album where strings are used like this you sometimes feel they were put in, just to have. Here it feels very important to the song. MoChassid wrote about this thats its a very complicated song and therefore not a song that you’d hear in Shul Friday night. I’d have to agree but just add that thats a shame. This is a very deep song, there is just something in it that when you listen to it you tugs at your very soul. (A bit dramatic, but if you only listen to one song on this album try this one and see what I mean)
Shabbat at Last is a very short but equally touching song. The music has a beautiful piano accompaniment and a duet with a young boy. I don’t think it’s his son, because I didn’t see in the credits the boys last name was the same. If anyone knows please leave the details in the comments. It’s a very short song, but really special.
Song #6 is the title track, Connected. This is another amazing slow song. Aaron’s voice and lyrics and music all come together which almost theatrical results. It’s like listening to a brilliant score or a Broadway musical. You can feel the lyrics, the story, the words and the music all come together.
Count the Stars is a much lighter and faster song than the last few. It has a great chorus and the music is a lot of fun. I love how he blends all these different things lyrically into one song. I like when he sings Ufaratzta the most. It’s just a lighter fun song.
The next song is called “The Krembo Song” and it really is a great represanation of Aaron’s music and this entire CD. It’s a very cute song, with very original and fun lyrics. The music is also musical style, and the chorus will get stuck in your head for days and days. You can watch the music video below.
Song #9 is called To Be One and is another beautiful slow song. The song has a great Piano feel to it, with light strings mixed in. It’s on a song like this that you really finally get that Aaron is just a musical genius. These songs are brilliantly written. The music just reaches out and touches you in a way that a lot of heavier more distracting music fails to. It also features some nice duets with his brothers (I think) Yonason and Yehuda. It’s another slam dunk in my opinion and another one of my top 3.
Yom Shabason is a great song. It was on UShmuel Bekorei Shmo. This is what I wrote then.
The next song is a song that was composed, arranged and sung by Aron Razel. I’m writing that because I had to go back and check to be sure. The song sounds very old school. The arrangements feel very much like a lot of the songs from the 70’s and I like it. It’s a nice change of pace from the other songs and Razel’s style moves the CD along nicely.
I feel the same now only I love it ten times more. It still has an old school edge which I like and it just paces great.
Song # 11, Got Nothing but the Now starts off with a excellent flute piece. I like the music on this song, but the rest of it doesn’t really get me as excited as the other songs on this CD.
Ein Oid Milvado plays right back into that musical/theatrical feel. This could be the third at in a play. The music is serious, serene and very strong. It’s a great song, from start to finish.
The last song is titled Where I Played Last Summer. It’s a nice song, not my favorite on the album, but another good solid song. The last 3 songs on this CD aren’t as strong as the first 9, but hey, they are all very good. If these are the weakest ones on an album then you’ve got nothing to worry about.
My final thoughts are pretty simple. BUY THIS CD. It’s so original and fresh. The music is great and Aaron Razel’s creativity is something very unique and special. This CD is a lot of fun and I’ve already heard it more times than I can count.
Cringe. Read more here.
Flat out. I don’t care what your political leanings are. This is wrong.
Authorities have said they found drugs in Al Gore III’s car after the 24-year-old was pulled over on July 4 for going 100 mph in his Toyota Prius. He pleaded guilty Monday to two felony counts of drug possession, two misdemeanor counts of drug possession without a prescription, and one misdemeanor count of marijuana possession, the district attorney’s office said. Jaime Coulter, senior deputy district attorney, said Gore’s sentencing will be continued until Feb. 7. If he has complied with all the conditions of the diversion program, the sentencing will be continued again for another year, with charges possibly being dropped in 2009.
Al Gore’s son pleaded guilty Monday to possessing marijuana and other drugs, but a judge said the plea could be withdrawn and the charges dropped if he successfully completes a drug diversion program.
He has to complete another drug rehab program, and then when he finishes that he can withdraw his “guilty” plea and then charges could possibly be dropped.
So let’s recap … this is his THIRD offense.
He already completed a comprehensive drub rehab program once in lieu of prison.
He was speeding at 100 miles an hour.
he had an ounce of pot on him.
He had 4 prescription drugs on him, that weren’t prescribed to him.
His father used to be Vice-President.
He could have killed someone wasted and speeding at 100 MPH.
Oh to be rich, powerful and connected. You get 2nd chances and 3rd chances. If he wasn’t Al Gore’s son, he’d be sitting in jail now for up to 8 years.
That’s not frost on your window, hell hasn’t frozen over. The NY Times Op-Ed wrote an piece on the Iraq war that was stunningly glowing. I’ve been hearing more and more over the last month or so that “Bush’s Surge” as the lefties love to remind us, might be working. Now I won’t be as nutty as to suggest all is blue skies, but there is lots of good news.
The most recent reports coming out of Iraq tell a story of progress, especially as far as the Iraqi police and forces securing neighborhoods, shops opening and life getting back to normal.
The Bush administration has over four years lost essentially all credibility. Yet now the administration’s critics, in part as a result, seem unaware of the significant changes taking place.
Here is the most important thing Americans need to understand: We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms. As two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration’s miserable handling of Iraq, we were surprised by the gains we saw and the potential to produce not necessarily “victory” but a sustainable stability that both we and the Iraqis could live with.
After the furnace-like heat, the first thing you notice when you land in Baghdad is the morale of our troops. In previous trips to Iraq we often found American troops angry and frustrated — many sensed they had the wrong strategy, were using the wrong tactics and were risking their lives in pursuit of an approach that could not work.
Today, morale is high. The soldiers and marines told us they feel that they now have a superb commander in Gen. David Petraeus; they are confident in his strategy, they see real results, and they feel now they have the numbers needed to make a real difference.
I don’t think there is a soul left on this world who doesn’t agree that after the initial victory in Iraq the war badly mishandled. They underestimated just how much certain groups (Al Queda for one) don’t want the U.S. to win there. But instead of working together to figure out a better solution, a better plan to win the war. All the President got was negativity, criticism and attacks.
I’m not putting all the blame on one side. I’m just saying if the political climate in this country didn’t suck so badly, maybe both parties could have come up with a plan to fix it. Instead of drag each other into the political mud over it. Still today, faced with all these new positive reports some people are so invested in this loss and sticking it to the President, that they can’t be open minded enough to see the good.
This just goes to prove that we can still get the job done. My greatest hope is that within the next 12 months we can finally hand everything over to a stable Iraq and move on to other problems - like Iran.
I wanted to have my Razel review done by this morning. I still have to finish a couple songs. I’ll have the full review later today. I finally got the 8th Day CD. I just listened one time, but so far it’s amazing. I can’t wait to write that review. There are some songs on that CD just just hit so hard they punch you in the face. (In a good way, lol)
Wow I just got done reading Chana’s post about Moshiach. A very honest, strong and well written post on a very interesting topic.
I don’t want the Messiah.
I know that I should want him. I see other people who glow whenever they mention the Mashiach. They dance and sing and their every action is genuine. I envy them.
I have never wanted the Messiah.
I’ve thought about this before and it reminds me of something a teacher once said to a class I was in.
Did you ever notice how the people who are always screaming for Moshiach the most are usually the ones who are poor, unhappy, struggling and hard lucked? It’s never the happy people or the rick people or the content people.
I have a good job, I have a wonderful family, I have lots of physical things. I think that to want Moshiach you have to understand what it is.
I would recommend to Chana and anyone else who wonders alike, to learn as much as you can about Moshiach. Learn what the Gemara says, learn what Rambam says, learn what the Tzadikim of our generation say.
I myself don’t really understand what Moshiach will mean. But I do know that the world is sick now. It’s spiritually sick. We are living in a world which is lacking in moral, ethical and modest behavior. Everywhere we turn there is sickness, hunger, stealing and pain.
Yes, here in America we are protected and happy. We are living in the greatest country (outside Eretz Yisroel) that has ever existed if you are a Jew today. We don’t face any religious persecution. We are free to live as Yidden. We are free to provide for our families. We live in a land of limitless possibilities.
That may sound like a paradise to some. It is a paradise. But it’s not the one the world was intended for and it’s not a spirutal paradise.
It’s an amazing post, I suggest reading the entire thing and especially the comments.
One last thing, there is a great article on AskMoses.com titled “Why Do We Need Moshiach to Come?” that I would suggest reading. There is also a longer, more detailed article titled “Why Are Jews Obsessed With Moshiach” which is also good.
Y-Love on Jewschool wrote about the Matisyahu story. He doesn’t agree with my thoughts, but thats ok. Debate is healthy right? Over Shabbos and the last week I’ve run into mostly only people who agree. I also got a lot of “I Told You So’s” from people who always thought this way. I responded to his post in the comments section. You can read that here.
Let’s see whats happening with Matisyahu in a year and then reevaluate. I mean, come on, Lubavitch is the most open and accepting group in the frum community.
We were basically the only ones condoning and endorsing the guy. Do you know in Lakewood and Monsey they sell versions of HASC 18 that have Matisyahu CUT OUT of the entire show?
Why is that?
What do you think?
This isn’t a baal teshuvah thing, or a ‘he left lubavitch thing’. This is a big picture thing. It’s about hip hop Judaism and commercialized kiruv. It’s about keeping your principles, standing by what you are and being a devoted religious Jew. It’s about the spirit of the law, hashkafa and worrying that kids who are in midst of “frying out” don’t have gateways to becoming even less frum.
Matisyahu is still young and learning about himself, at least spiritually. I hope he lands on his feet and plants himself somewhere. Anywhere. But the lifestyle he’s leading now is not conducive to a healthy spiritual life.
He needs good advice, real friends and a stable frum environment.
What he doesn’t need is to be lifted up as some infallible music deity.
Wow, I can’t believe another week has come to an end. This summer is really flying by! Before we know it we’ll be having freezing cold weather and latkes and chanukah gelt. I have some music related posts planned for next week (a couple reviews & an interview with a JM producer) but for today here are just some regular links from around the J’Sphere.
Sarah has some great highway shots. I’ve always loved highway pictures.
I’ll be updating a lot of the news and events at Comic Con on The Shtus Blog. (check for updates later today and some news from last night)
Soccer Dad has some thoughts on the very spoilery comments from JK Rowling.
A Simple Jew posts a question and answer with Psychotoddler.
Akiva has a nice post about Divine Providence and the Orchestration of it.
Dave at IsraelyCool has a brand new look, and it looks great!
Anyone know whats going on here? Is this a hack or a deletion?
That’s it for now, and in case I don’t post again today, have a great Shabbos!
I know that header can’t possibly make sense, but I didn’t know what else to call it. You think the AP is being blunt enough with the plethora of images of people rubbing their heads?
R’L how can anyone do this? You never leave a child alone in a car, not even for a second!!
This Matisyahu post has generated a lot of talk. The NY Jewish Week’s Debra Nussbaum Cohen has written an article on the story.
I was quoted for my part in the article.
Some bloggers even expressed fear that the 28-year-old Crown Heights resident and father of two - who last year was crowned Billboard’s top reggae artist and was referenced in the hit film “Knocked Up” would lead young people away from religious life.
“I am and have always been concerned with his effect on frum (religious) teenagers. Especially kids who may already be on a bad derech (path), Matisyahu is something that could lead them further down that wrong path,” writes Chaim Rubin, a blogging father and marketing consultant (life-of-rubin.blogspot.com) who lives in Crown Heights.”
So was Yossi
Perhaps unwittingly, the singer has become a role model for young Lubavitchers who themselves feel “boxed in” by family and community expectations.
“He’s someone who me and hundreds of guys look up to. He’s out there, he’s with it, and it’s a real powerful image of being proud of who you are,” said Yossi B., an 18-year-old Lubavitch blogger with a site called Chablog (chabloglubavitch.blogspot.com), in an interview with The Jewish Week.
On Chablog, Yossi wrote “To me Matisyahu is a shaliach (emissary). Hell, a head shaliach, just without the politics. I have spoken to countless amounts of people who have actually changed their lives for the better after hearing Matisyahu sing.”
“I see that people are scared that he might totally lose it. I would sort of flip out if he decides he doesn’t want to be frum anymore. A lot of guys would flip out,” said Yossi, whose room is decorated with Matisyahu posters.
… and Rabbi Brackman.
Others write that Matisyahu’s comments have brought their support to an end.
“I am admitting that I was wrong to ever promote Matisyahu,” writes Rabbi Levi Brackman of Evergreen, Colo., on his blog (levibrackman.blogspot.com), which was reprinted on a central Lubavitch news site, Shturem.net and later removed.
“It is my hope that he keeps his faith,” continued the rabbi, “and does not go off the deep end and thus take others with him.”
I stand by everything I wrote. In fact last night I spoke with a friend of mine who had never jumped on the Matisyahu bandwagon. Since the beginning him and I argued about Matisyahu’s place in the Frum community. He reminded me that everything that we are talking about today are things he brought up as hypotheticals a year ago.
I didn’t blog about this, but there was recently a very good example of the problem highlighted in my posts. Let’s just say that Matisyahu did something that was very questionable, at least Hashkaficly.
It’s not so simple, and there are good points on both sides. But when it comes to keeping kids away from things that could make matters worse, I say we should take that seriously.
The most important thing I guess is that these guys and girls remember that they should be responsible for their own spiritual journeys. Don’t get caught up in the wrong culture or influences. Don’t just blindly follow someone like Matisyahu. yes he has some good messages, but he isn’t a Mashpia, or Rav, or Rebbe or spiritual leader. He’s just a guy who loves making music.
