From the Label
John Trudell is a Native American songwriter/poet, and an outspoken activist for human rights and environmental issues. AKA GRAFITTI MAN showcases his remarkable spoken-word brand of rock & roll, praised by musicians such as Peter Garrett, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, and Jackson Browne.
In the mid-80's, Trudell came together with legendary Kiowa Indian guitarist Jesse Ed Davis and formed Grafitti Man; their first cassette, AKA GRAFITTI MAN, was produced in 1985. While the tape was sold only by mail order, a copy reached Bob Dylan, who called it "album of the year" and played it over the PA before concerts. Following Davis' death, Trudell enlisted guitarist Mark Shark as the musical backbone of Grafitti Man; the band spent part of 1988 touring the US with Midnight Oil.
AKA GRAFITTI MAN includes material dating back to Trudell's work with Jesse Ed Davis and the cassette of the same name; as well as more recent material, much of which was co-produced by Jackson Browne, who also serves as the album's Executive Producer.
The album features Trudell's powerful personal and political statements, as well as his method of incorporating indigenous themes and musical traditions into a rock context.
AKA Grafitti Man,John Trudell,Rykodisc,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop
AKA Grafitti Man
Average customer rating:
- jesse ed: rip
- lou reed
- Poetry+Passion+Politics+Rock 'N' Roll=Compelling Listening
- You're missing out . . .
- A poet's poet.........
|
AKA Grafitti Man
John Trudell
Manufacturer: Rykodisc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
 General
| Folk
| Styles
| Music
Native American
| North America
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
Poetry
| Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
Spoken Word
| Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Comedy & Spoken Word
| Miscellaneous
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
- Bone Days
- Johnny Damas and Me
- Blue Indians
- Incident at Oglala - The Leonard Peltier Story
- Live at Fip
ASIN: B0000009OE
Release Date: 1992-04-17 |
Tracks:
- Rockin The Res
- Grafitti Man
- Restless Situations
- Wildfires
- Baby Boom Che
- Bombs Over Baghdad
- Rich Man's War
- Somebody's Kid
- Never Never Blues
- What He'd Done
- Beauty In A Fade
- Tina Smiled
Customer Reviews:
jesse ed: rip.......2005-01-20
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that this is the last recording made by Jesse Ed Davis before his death. J.E.D.,one of the world's greatest guitarists, and -absolutely- the world's most under-known great rock/country/blues/ guitarist. A must-have.
lou reed.......2004-10-22
john trudell was recommended to me many years ago by a friend when i said i loved lou reed.I've bought everthing since---including some stuff only available on cassette.He NEVER disappoints and should be heard by everybody.
Poetry+Passion+Politics+Rock 'N' Roll=Compelling Listening.......2002-10-31
John Trudell's music is difficult to categorize. The lyrics are spoken rather than sung, but they are integrated into the music so that they have the feel of songs rather than poems set to music. The musical backing is tough, spare, gritty alt-rock. Trudell's spoken vocals are never less than compelling, and on a few cuts there are choruses sung by members of his band. The main appeal though is clearly the lyrical content. Trudell is an extremely smart, articulate, radical Native-American activist, and his songs lash out at various targets - corporate greed, political corruption, middle-class complacency, sexism, militarism, etc., seldom failing to hit their mark. The stand-out track is "Bombs Over Baghdad", a searing condemnation of the 1992 war with Iraq set to a propulsive rock beat, and listening to it today (October 2002), one cannot help but think that it is even more true now than then. Sample lyric: "New world order is an old world lie. Fighting for peace, see how they die. Dragging in God, as they turn violent. God says nothing, he just remains silent." I also really like "Baby Boom Che", which is about how Elvis Presley first began (unwittingly) to sow seeds of counter-culturalism in the 50's. John Trudell's music will appeal to those who are pre-disposed to respond to his politically-left point of view, to those with a particular interest in Native American culture, and to those who enjoy literate, passionate rock 'n' roll. I'd think that fans of New York junkie poet/rocker Jim Carroll would be likely to like Trudell, as these two artists are actually very similar, although their lyrical concerns are worlds apart.
You're missing out . . ........2002-09-13
If you have not yet listened to John Trudell, you are missing out. If you have any interest in contemporary Native American music you MUST get your hands on some. If you have any interest in powerfull, truthfull, poetry set to well written and played music you NEED to get your hands on some. I got "Blue Indians" by accident (see my review there) and fell in love. This is my second CD by John and the review below is right, I'm on my way to owning them all. It's hard to pick a favorite song, although "Bombs Over Baghdad" grabbed me immediately. This stuff goes beyond its birth as "Native American" to become truth that touches us all.
A poet's poet................2001-04-07
One thing all followers and fans of John Trudell have in common is that they do not (and simply cannot) own only one of his albums. They, to a person, have them all. This first commercial release tells you why. The album is, quite simply, 54 minutes and 19 seconds of unadulterated truth, and you will discover, as Rolling Stone Magazine did in their review of this, "the truth rocks"! When Dylan toured with the Grateful Dead back in 1986, this is the album he insisted be played in the arenas prior to the beginning of the show. He told anyone within earshot that Trudell was writing stuff other artists can only dream of doing. This album has NO weak link. All compositions are solid and meaningful. If you need an introduction into Trudell's works, this is it.
Rap Music:
- Amen
- Anything for the Devil [EP]
- Are You Lonesome Tonight [CD-single] [Import]
- Around the Next Dream [Import]
- Axis of Justice: Concert Series Volume 1 (Bonus DVD) [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics] [Live]
- Beneath... Between... Beyond [Explicit Lyrics]
- Best of [Import]
- Best of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
- Birds of Pray
- Bitter Sweet Symphony [CD-single] [Import]
Rap Music
rap music
Recommended Music:
Café del Mar, Vol. 8 [Import]
Goetz: Complete Works for Solo Piano
Les Incontournables [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered] [Import]
Music: Friday Nite Boogie
Lucretia
Licensed to Bass
I Give Up All
Live: Take No Prisoners [Live]
I Successi Di Massimo Ranieri [Import]
Hovhaness:Mysterious Mountain & Lousadzak/Harrison:Elegiac Symphony
Il Libro Degli Eroi
I Love Rock & Roll, Vol. 4
Hot & New [CD-single]
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
Pardon My Doo-Wah/Hefti, Hot, 'n Hearty
