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Abadi Al Johar
Aw'adik
Early 1998
posted 03/07/98
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This album is pleasant enough. The songs are nicely composed and many
of the upbeat songs are quite enjoyable. I especially liked the songs
on the second side of the tape, they are the ones that got me liking the
tape as a whole. Unfortunately, one song, Waqaf, was actually painful
to listen to, I felt like I was being dragged through a field of cacti
and then dropped in a slow sinking patch of quicksand, strangely my mom
liked it.
Abadi has a very unique whiny voice, sort of reminiscent of Lebanese
singer George Wassouf. You either like it or it drives you up the wall.
While George drives me up the wall, I found Abadi's crooning rather enjoyable
most of the time.
Mom-meter: my mom (who is cool) really liked my least favorite
song, and thought the album overall was OK...from the three or four songs
she heard while typing on my computer.
Notable songs:  Taali
Aatini Waqat
Arsamni
Recommended if you like: Calm Arabic music, Khaliji music, nice
instrumentation.
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Abd Al Majeed Abdullah
Tayeb Al Kalbe
Late 1997
posted 02/98
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This album starts off like a breath of fresh air with the title track.
The song sways you and moves you with beautiful music and Abd Al Majeed's
soothingly trance like voice. Abd Al Majeed uses a wide range of styles
on his album, from a classical slow Khaliji drawl, to an upbeat jam, to
some ranges in between. It's a rather enjoyable listening experience.
My only complaint is the album isn't long enough.
As one of the most popular Khaliji singers of today, Adb Al Majeed has
always pleased me with his music. His last two albums have especially
done so. One can always say that his songs stand out from other Khaliji
artists.
Mom-meter: my mom (who is cool) liked a few songs but wasn't too
wowed by this album, not like me anyway.
Notable songs: Tayeb
Al Gelb, Min Al Dunya, Raadi
Recommended if you like: Calm Arabic music, Khaliji music, nice
instrumentation.
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Abdul- Karim Abdul- Kadir
Ma Esah Ela El Saheh
Late 1997
posted 05/27/98
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A pretty calm, cool album. Nothing too spectactular or outstanding. But
a very pleasant album to listen to. At times Abdul-Karim sounds a bit
like Kathem El Saher both in musical style and with his voice.In most
songs the music speeds ahead while his voice sort of calmy slows the whole
song down. The back up singers add a nice, much needed punch to the songs
Nothing too wow, but a nice album nonetheless.
Notable songs: Erjah, side 2 - track 3 (last track)? side 1 track
2
Recommended if you like: Kathem El Saher
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Ahlam
Ma Esah Ela El Saheh
Late 1997
posted 03/11/98
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This is a good recovery after last year's quite boring release. At least
this album starts with a very strong song that makes you believe in Ahlam
again. Still not like the release that made her name famous throughout
the middle east back in 1996.
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Ali Bin Mohammad
La Tindem Ala Mafat
Late 1997
posted 02/98
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This album is very calm and dull, and you sort of drag your feet to the
sound of the album. Ali's voice permeates with a deep richness like molasses.
After a while the molasses does sort of loosen and a few of the songs
grow on you after the 50th listen to the tape. Not on my recommended list!!!
Notable songs: Al
Sud Wal Hajron, La Tindem Ala Mafat
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Fatouma
Al Har Takfee Al-Ashara
Summer 1998
posted 08/1/98
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Sporting Fatouma's unique rich voice and strong support music, this is
a very fine and fun album. There is a very smooth beat that transcends
the album and keeps you bobbing your head throughout. Fatouma successfully
mixes a traditional style of song with a modern beat which keeps you coming
back for more listens.Her songs are fun and upbeat.
Mom-meter: my mom (who is cool) likes this album. She thought it
was Ahlam at first. (but we all like Fatouma more than Ahlam).
Notable Songs: La t'salem, Matsaween, Al Har Takfee Al-Ashara
Recommended if you like: Tracy Chapman, Kuwaiti Miami Group
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Mohammad El Mazem
El Mazem
Early 1998
posted 02/98
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A very nice voice croons from song to song ranging from traditional Khaliji
sounds, to more upbeat jazzy styles, to slow thoughtful tunes with pretty
cool lyrics. The romantics out there will really get a lift out of these
songs which contain some pretty stark lyrics.
This album takes you from start to finish with constant satisfaction.
Each song has its own unique sound, making it my car cassette of choice
for the past month. The wide range of musical styles is what makes the
album one which will continue to grow on you and offer you something new
to appreciate during each listen. Songs take samba sounding beats and
other experimental sounds and mesh it with the Khaliji beat. There is
a nice use of horns in Kelak Hallawa, one of the more original
sounding songs on the album which takes a mix of Euro dance style with
traditional Khaliji.
Friend-meter my friends, who range in age and in musical background,
just loved this album. They practically bound me until I made each of
them a copy for their own listening pleasure.
Notable songs: Most of them are exceptional, I usually end up singing
along with Kelak Hallaya, Assi Makhteab, Mushtak, and Ithhar Zaman.
Recommended if you like: Modern Khaliji music
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Salah Hamad Khalifa
Ya Salam
posted 03/12/98
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A very refreshing Khaliji album, - the kind that only comes out once a
year. It is such a quiet, soothing album but not something that even comes
close to putting you to sleep. From the first track you feel uplifted
with the upbeat khaliji beat and a poppy backup chorus chanting with Salah.
Very nice voice on this Kuwaiti man - an unimposing sound which subtly
reflects some passion. Another plus for this guy is his smile which is
so large and happy, making it a welcome change from those sulken looking
singers on the cover of their albums.
I sat listening earlier to this man's voice so intently, knowing I had
heard it before, luckily I had it right on my first guess, he had contributed
a song to the compilation: Ashaar Wa Ghina' a dedication to the
poet Rashid Burselee. When I went back and listened to it, I was impressed
by my connection, as he has greatly improved his musical style since that
album came out back in late 1996.
My only complaint, as I have complained before with albums I have liked
a lot, is the album is quite short - before you know it, the album is
over and its time to start again from the begining. This is not an album
you will put away fast. Run out and buy it now, don't even bother to stop
and put on your shoes, just go. Oh and kudos for his record label "Al-Nazaer"
for being one of the few who put release dates on their albums.
Notable songs:
Bi Einee Shaftkum
Ya
Mistereeh El Bal Ya
Salam
Recommended if you like: Modern Khaliji music
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Various Artists
Carnival Bahraini
Early 1998
posted 05/24/98
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This is a pretty good sampling of Bahraini music. It includes music from
three artists: Jamal Mohammad, Ali Bahar, and Ahmad Sultan. The artists
seems to share a very similar musical style. The album starts off with
a rather amusing song from Jamal Mohammad. The music on this song as well
as others on this album is very modern, sounding like Kuwaiti Miami Group,
and even uses little kids in the chorus as KMG does, and the lyrics are
really funny making mention of beepers, Versace and Moschino. The other
songs on the album are all very pleasant sounding and if you are itching
for new KMG music, this is a good substitute.
Notable songs: Each of the six songs is quite good.
Al Salaam La
Rasaeel Kusat
Hubee and Euhun
Elaa are the best.
Recommended if you like: Modern Khaliji music, Kuwaiti Miami Group
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