Marley and tosh are singing french lyrics in heaven
08/06/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I haven't heard a non african ("as long as you're a black man, you're an african") catching the essense of reggae the way Gainsbourg does, the groove is a mix of Tosh, Israel Vibration and Alpha Blondy, and the lyrics are hilarious and rebel as reggae on it's peak lyricism. One of the best reggae album of history, and I love true reggae music (not its clones), and it shows gainsbourg's versatility and musical wisdom to dive in all musical styles. if you love reggae buy it, if you love gainsbourg's music buy it, if you love yourself buy it, if you love your woman buy it, if you...buy it!"
A french Reggae Masterpiece, by a major French artist
lmeillon@qvstech.com | Toulouse, France & Chicago, USA | 06/16/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Did you know half of the Africas are French speaking ? Contacts between France and Africa have always been tight, and musical influences strong. In this Album, Gainsbourg plays with some of the best international and underground Reggae musicians to produce another masterpiece. Rooted in French and African culture, provocative humour, and graphic metaphors, this album is a major contribution to both Reggae and French music. The title song "Aux Armes etc" ridicules the warrior-like French Antheme, which makes a lot of sense coming from a Polish Jew who's parents died in concentration camps waiting for the French deliverance that never came, or for Francophone African reggaemen who where colonised by France. It received an exceptional welcome when it came out, and most French people between 20 and 40 have this album at home. Older French conservatists hated it, of course.For Americans, this might be the easiest album to get introduced to Gainsbourg, because the sound is more reggae than French. But entertain no illusion: if you don't speak French, you'll only get skin deep into "Gainsbar"'s genius."
