Search - Cat Stevens :: Buddha & The Chocolate Box (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak)

Buddha & The Chocolate Box (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak)
Cat Stevens
Buddha & The Chocolate Box (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak)
Genres: Folk, International Music, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (9) - Disc #1

If veteran Cat Stevens fans were nervous in the wake of the previous album's (Foreigner) sometimes sketchy experimentalism, they must surely have been gratified by the singer-songwriter's return to form here. Reuniting wit...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Cat Stevens
Title: Buddha & The Chocolate Box (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak)
Members Wishing: 8
Total Copies: 0
Label: Umvd Labels
Release Date: 7/25/2000
Album Type: Limited Edition, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
Genres: Folk, International Music, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: Europe, Britain & Ireland, Singer-Songwriters, Soft Rock, Folk Rock, Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 606949072520

Synopsis

Amazon.com
If veteran Cat Stevens fans were nervous in the wake of the previous album's (Foreigner) sometimes sketchy experimentalism, they must surely have been gratified by the singer-songwriter's return to form here. Reuniting with producer Paul Samwell-Smith, this 1974 collection kicks off with the bracing "Music" and never looks back, managing to be both more adventurous and focused than its predecessor. Though perhaps belied by the preciousness of the hit "Oh, Very Young," there's a muscular determination to songs like "Sun/C79" and "Ready" that serves Stevens well. Lyrically, tracks like "Jesus," "King of Trees," and "Home in the Sky" give early hints of Stevens's spiritual quest, though delivered through Samwell-Smith's eclectic, if still pop-focused production. Even to jaded ears, the album still sounds fresh in 2000 and may well sound like Cat Stevens's best work. --Jerry McCulley

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CD Reviews

The Golden Age Ends
coop1821 | Texas | 07/27/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"On this last record of his own "golden age" [which began with "Tea for the Tillerman"], Stevens returned to a much more consumer-friendly style than the more challenging "Catch Bull at Four" and "Foreigner". Other than the rather weird "Ghost Town," these tracks display the folkish roots of "Tea for the Tillerman" and "Teaser and the Firecat", adapted to Stevens' increased interest in more baroque and synthesized instrumentation. "Home in the Sky" and "Jesus" continue his gentle investigations into spiritual beliefs and practices, while "Sun/C79" takes the cliched rock star and groupie theme and transforms it into the source of a lasting love. None of these tracks has the "classic" heft of "Father & Son" [from "Tea for the Tillerman"] or "Moonshadow" [from "Teaser and the Firecat"], but this is still first-rate singer-songwriter pop, lovingly restored to LP-style graphics, if-- that is-- you buy the limited edition digipak reissue."
Pretty good
William B. Burks | 07/28/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a good album, but not great. There are a few songs that get on my nerves and are hard to listen to after a while, but there are plenty of good ones to make up for it. "Oh Very Young," "Jesus," and "Sun/C79" are among the better songs. Overall it is a good cd; not my favorite by Cat Stevens, but it is still good."
The last realy worthwhile Steven's set.
Steven Thornton | East Bentleigh, Victoria Australia | 10/07/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"After the uninspiring Foreigner, this album proved to be a partial return to form and contains two excellent songs and two or three good ones. Track by track: 1 Music- Of little interest, a strange choice to start the album with, as it is at best filler material. Lyrically vapid. 2 Oh Very Young- A smallish hit. Quite a nice, gentle melody, somewhat let down by sappy lyrics. 3 C79.-One of the few songs of his later years that stand comparison to his earlier output; when he dealt mainly in songs of sublime power and beauty. An acoustic rocker that motors along. 4 Ghost Town- Mentions a lot of famous people but is'nt memorable or impressive otherwise. 5 Jesus- A nice , gentle song that compliments it's spiritual theme. 6 Ready- A good tune but the words are his worst lyric ever-" I love, I love, I'm ready to love, Yeah". 7 King of Trees- This is better, a song complete with a thematic content and a sweet, piano melody. 8 Bad Penny- Another minor gem. This and C79 make the album worth buying. It has a samba tune and uses harpsichord and trumpet.I wish he would write songs like this again. 9 Home in the Sky- A gentle,short song to finish the collection.All in all a good album. Not a great set, but a worthy compliment to the stunning albums- Tillerman, Teaser and Catch Bull."