The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is a) not actually a song, and b) the whole reason I bought this album. Spoken word doesn't usually appeal to me, but somehow this biting satire of pop-culture and consumerism hits the nail on the head for me.
As for the actual songs on this album... ummm... the lyrics of most songs are really irritating for me, often coming across as elitest jazz-snobs, who take the whole thing way too damn seriously. Worse than that, it's like a self-proclaimed illuminati who apparently decide what is "true jazz" or not, and look down with contempt at the opinions of the uncultured masses. Unfortunately, that's the overwhelming feeling I get from Is That Jazz and Lady Day And John Coltrane.
And, unfortunately there also isn't much musical enjoyment for me here either. The mournful ballad style of Pieces Of A Man and Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues aren't my cup of tea, however I do enjoy the seriously funky groove of Inner City Blues.
But... Jazz flute! Oh, yes. This rare delicacy makes Or Down You Fall an instant hit. It's a bit stop-start at times, but overall the instruments provide a wonderfully rich backing.
Another highlight is the title track, Storm Music (perhaps very predictably, due to the reggae influence...). With enough musical goodness to tune out the elitist lyrics, the groove and layering in the background make this song a treat.
To save me moaning about the rest of the album, I'll end this review here.
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