Azadi!

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
benefit compilation CD for the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). A diverse 2-CD set of avant-rock, electronic, world, experimental, jazz, folk, noise, improv, hip-hop, dancefloor, and modern classical music. Featuring 34 artists from the SF Bay Area and other corners of the globe, over 2 hours of music. A co-release with Electro Motive/Qualipy™ Records.

All proceeds from the sale of this CD to benefit RAWA.

Tracks:

Sayonee
Meri Awaaz Suno
Khudi
Yaar Bina
Mukh Gae
Heer
Wahda Hoo
Kyun Parishan
Mahiwal
Kisne Suna
Lal Meri Pat
Dil Nahin Lag Raha
Loishay
Saeein Alaap
Saeein

Customer Reviews:

Simply the best album.......2004-04-15

I have all of the Junoon's albums and this one ranks among the top. This album titled "Azadi", meaning freedom in urdu, came out on the 50th aniversary of Pakistan's independance(1947). I went to see their concert in San Jose in 97 during their Azadi US tour. All I have to say is that they are just brilliant. There were many non urdu speaking fans at the concert but they were enjoying as they understood every word of it, i.e. you do not have know the language in order to enjoy this music.
I do not want to repeat what has already been mentioned below, but I highly recommend that you give this album a try. I can assure you that you will not only love this album but buy their other albums too!

Awesome music, good lyrics.......2002-03-04

The music and rhythm is obviously very good as the other reviewers have mentioned but I also liked the fact that they had used traditional poems by well known poets and combined them with their unique music. Wonderful rendition...

for sure!.......2001-11-28

Oh its a definite asset in your music library
The vocals and the guitar are amazingly rhythmatic

Junoon grows up.......2001-06-13

Don't get me wrong, I liked Junoon's sound even when they were churning out semi-commercial pop-rock. But with Azadi, Junoon emerges with a mature, spiritually- and politically-aware outlook towards their music. (I no longer have to feel that tinge of embarassment when admitting my admiration for them!)

The release of this album not only marks their growth, but also the perfection of an eclectic blend of music styles that has become Junoon's trademark. In this particular album, they opt for a largely acoustic sound, which is, nonetheless, incredibly rich and full. There are, of course, the occasional reversions to electric distortion to satisfy hard-core rockers! Their rythm section relies more heavily on the tabla than before, balancing Salman Ahmad's Western rock guitar sounds with a driving Eastern beat.

The lyrics are as important a part of this album as anything else. Among the playlist - Allama Iqbal's opus "Khudi" set to Junoon's typical Eastern rock background (those familiar with Urdu poetry will know how great that must be), a controversial rendition of Quranic verse ("Wahda Hoo La Shareeka La Hoo"), the double-metaphorical Sufi-style "Mahiwal", and the politically charged "Kis Ney Sunna".

Of course, this album has a lot to offer those who aren't familiar with the language... I have quite a few "non-desi" friends who have become avid "Junoonis" without understanding a word they say! I can quite honestly call this a perfect album in every way - certainly the most frequently played CD among my collection!

Junoon grows up.......2001-06-13

Don't get me wrong, I liked Junoon's sound from the start, even when they were churning out semi-commercial pop-rock. But with the release of Azadi, they finally established themselves as serious, politically- and spiritually-aware musicians (and I no longer feel that tinge of embarassment when stating my admiration for them!).

Azadi marks the perfection of an eclectic blend of music that has become Junoon's trademark. Junoon goes for a sound that is more acoustic than their previous works, but still wonderfully rich and full. Their rythm section relies more heavily on the tabla now, balancing the Western rock sounds of their guitars with a driving, Eastern beat. True to its name, Sufi-rock is one innovation Junoon can be very proud of.

The lyrics in this album are just as important as the music, if not more. Among the playlist - Iqbal's opus, "Khudi", set to music (for those familiar with Urdu poetry, you know how wonderful that must be), a controversial rock rendition of a Quranic verse ("Wahda Hoo La Shareeka La Hoo"), the double-metaphorical Sufi-style "Mahiwal", and the politically charged "Kis Ney Sunna".