Deserves 50 Stars! It's just that groundbreaking.
931138
Ive been listening to DAngelos BLACK MESSIAH for the last few days and pretty much nothing else. The music. The poetry. Lyrics for soul searching. Rhythms for toe tapping and head nodding. Politics to pillow talk. Love and war. Protest and peace. Before you know it, you're not even listening to the album anymore. Youre participating. Humming, possibly, and singing along with the dope harmonies. Imitating the rugged guitar riffs. Wiggling your fingers to the crisp piano chords and runs. Youre in it nowjust part of the band and in a sensea part of history.
Theres a line in AINT THAT EASY that I think Uncle Snoop would be proud of: Take a toke of smoke from me as you dream inside/ Let your days slip away come with me and ride. I could see him dancing to this, holding up a bag of kush perhaps.  1000 DEATHS starts with this agitated guitar 16th notes that just beat your ears with no rhyme or reason. And I don't know, man, it just works! The lyrics to this joint are so profound, though. Mixed with the beat, it makes a potent potion that stirs youstrengthens the soldier in you. SUGAR DADDY is just plain, ole fun music. That piano riff? Come on, doc! GENIUS!!! I could go on and on about every track. But for brevity, Ill end with the final track: ANOTHER LIFE (which is my favorite on the album). The lyrics on this joint? Im feeling this one. To me, its about a woman youve always been with, even before you knew her, even before you were you and she was she. Your atoms and her atoms were destined to come together and nothing in the universe could prevent it. Because, in fact, the universe was rooting for the union. It needed it just as bad as you.
Its safe to say that BLACK MESSIAH is the work of collective geniuses with lyrics by DAngelo, Kendra Foster, Kamaal Fareed and music by DAngelo, Questlove, Pino Pallidino (A BEAST on Bass) and James Gadson. But please, please, please don't take my word for it. Buy it today and see for yourself. You won't be disappointed.
1580867
All things done decently and in order, this work of literature is bold and groundbreaking in nature! Reverently audacious it stands outside of time and forwards a genuine, detailed, and scholarly narrative of coinciding throughout world history and Biblical prophecies that confirm (both past and present, temporal and spiritual) the conspiracies against the Throne of great King David [which is the Throne of God (Rev 12:5)], against Ethiopia and her Emperor (and Defender of Faith in Christ) His Imperial Majesty Qedemawi Haile Selassie, as well as the Generation that would come in his name the Rastafari!

I must say that I have never before read such a compelling and in depth revelation of not only what is known as Rastafari History but World History that is rarely spoken of.. if ever..and never before so clear and concise; referencing source upon source to verify and correlate the very present and active relevance of Haile Selaasie and His Word in this day in time.

The book covers a wide range of topics including: The Mystery of the birth of Lidj Tafari, The Italy/Ethopian War, Selassie's visits to America: warnings to Eisenhower and Kennedy and waking up of the Israelites, The CIA in Ethiopia, The 1974 Depopulation Plan, the "Bone Lies". the Rise of Reggae (The King's Music), and many more that will keep any reader page turning, note taking, researching and looking forward to the authors next works!

In my humble opinion, and with thanks to the author for the time and attentiveness this work must have take, I do think that it is a very good book and a classic piece in its own right given its perfect reflection on truth in time.  With a right understanding it could begin to be used as a teaching tool and would be a great read for book clubs, study groups, and classrooms as well!
2236837
"Jazz-rock fusion"... a label that has inspired dozens of mediocre recordings! But here it is in its primeval and arguably never to be bettered form - a groundbreaking showcase for the talents of artists at the peak of their skills and an addictive and quite brilliant example of true musical innovation.
Like "Kind of Blue" a decade earlier Miles Davis assembles a stunningly adept peer group - including Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Jo Zawinul, John McLaughlin, Tony Williams, Chick Corea & Dave Holland - and then pushes their and his playing to previously undiscovered heights. The end result?... jazz improvisation at its very best, with nothing detracting from the unstoppable flow of the satisfyingly tight melodic structures, despite the enormous complexity of what is actually going on, and with the complete album merging into a gloriously unified whole.
"In a Silent Way" quickly draws you into its languidly ethereal atmosphere, driving poly-rhythms and wonderful extemporisations and, like all true jazz masterpieces, pays out enormous bonuses from repeat listening. An essential part of any jazz collection!
4905354
Amazing. Vast undertaking, superbly realized. Spiritually moving. Shows the interconnectedness of all people, places, things. If you buy only one DVD this year, make it this one.
My only wish is that the music was available on a recording device other than CD, so that i could purchase it for my sister the luddite who eschews modern technology but would LOVE this!
3763389
One of the 100 best movies ever made! This movie is near perfection -- from the music to the lyrics to the script, set and art decoration, the miracle of technically melding live action with animation, to the heaven-inspired casting and magical costume design -- this film is for everyman, woman and child of all races, creeds and ethnicities from every corner of the globe.  Don't miss it! If you haven't seen it -- or -- even if you've already seen it -- it's worth seeing again and again and again and again!
4784636
This is the only book I have ever actually forced the people around me to read. I don't just recommend it - I preach the word of Michael Marshall Smith!
This book is full of unexpected twists and turns, comedy, action,  tragedy....I could go on. The book is genre-defying, combining a personal  insight into the narrator's mind (and, sometimes maybe even the author's),  a fantastic sci-fi action plot, as well as a deeply personal philosopical  outlook on life in general.
This book touched my heart and I want it to  touch others, so whatever genre you're into - go and buy it now - it will  never leave you.
4653071
It may sound a bit dated now, but it was groundbreaking in its day. I worked at a college radio station when it was released, and I remember sitting in the record library, listening to it over and over!
598838
This is the movie that started it all. The most groundbreaking sci-fi that is truely a landmark of it's time. This is the epic story of good and evil with plenty of special effects and action. Although not the best fim in the  series, it is the mother of them all. Director and creator, George Lukas  does a splended job of telling the story of young, soon to be jed-knight  Luke Skywalker. Truely remarkable! A classic that must be seen to believe!
3358268
Instant classic! It is beautifully written and executed, along with being unapologetically unique. It is a strong and successful comeback after a 14-year hiatus. Well worth the wait!
3532242
If this doesn't win a Pulitzer Prize, I'm scared to imagine what else would.

Excluding religious work, this is the best book I have ever read.  (The book I read just prior to it was written by a Nobel Prize winner on a similar topic, and doesnt even compare.)

Theres a difference between news (anything new) and information (content that informs).  We live in a world flooded with news, but relatively void of clear information. This book is a milestone work that will hopefully help to spark a new genre.

Business optimization involves both cost control and value creation.  Without sweeping change, the current obsession with the former and comparative abandonment of the latter will optimize us right out of being a functional civilization.  Finance ultimately reduces to accounting, and if it does not perform as a service to those who are pioneering functional solutions within their individual areas of expertise, then it operates as a tax that progressively corners the worlds wealth for the elite at the cost of the human potential and social wellbeing otherwise promised by the Enlightenment.

Makers and Takers is an obvious labor of love that is driven by objective logic, informed and materialized by a tour de force of research, and presented with top notch clarity.  It is not a political work, but a policy exploration.  Politics is opacity.  Policies are solutions, grown from seeds of shared understanding.

I implore you to read this to help inform your financial future, and empower your influence on government policies.

If you're a teacher, I implore you to make this required reading for your students.

If you're Rana Foroohar- Congratulations on this masterpiece!!!  I hope that you are involved in the most crucial policy decisions in Washington.  If you're interested, Id like see you as President of the United States at some stage in your career.
951949
The most impressive book I've read in all my life.
2563413
This is without question, one of the top Hard Rock albums of the 21st Century.  Nearly every song on the album is good.  While Three Days Grace's debut album was excellent, this album takes it to a whole new level.  It's taken me about a year and a half to finally write this review, but after all of that time, I can still say without a shadow of a doubt, this album is a classic.  It wouldn't be all that big of a stretch to say it's in the Top 100 Hard Rock albums of all-time.  In fact, if I had a vote, I would definitely put it in.  Perhaps 10 years from now, this album will get the recognition it deserves.  As for now, if you don't own a copy, please do yourself a tremendous favor and pick it up.  My girlfriend, who only likes R&B and Pop music, even thinks this CD is great.  Proof right there! :)
1788929
This is a FIVE STAR book. It's fantastic... but it's beyond that. It's the greatest American novel since Huck Finn. No kidding. It's an American Classic. I can't believe there are people that would give this less than FOUR or FIVE stars. It's obvious that they didn't read or understand the book on any level.

This is one of the greatest books I've ever read. It will change you and open your mind. It's absolutely haunting and beautiful. If you're looking for brilliance give this book your attention.
80126
Every generation has a book that comes to define it. The Bible, the works of Shakespeare, Paradise Lost, War and Peace, The Catcher in the Rye.

This is the defining tome of not just our generation, but of the entire human race. A work that transcends the here and now, and offers a glimpse into a deeper, richer, crustier world we had never thought imaginable. Each sacred page is dripping with world-changing knowledge and wisdom, transcribed from the mouth of the Prophet himself, Papa Franku.

The books effects are instant; you'll get autism, cancer, AIDS, chlamydia and a newfound appreciation for life, the multiverse and everything and that's all just from the first paragraph. I'm only a few dozen pages in and already I feel closer to the ominverse

I cannot say anymore.

Buy it. And never look back. Your life begins for real, on the first page.
4071533
UNBELIEVABLE.
Gut wrenching.
Heart warming.
Anxiety inducing.

I am aghast at the quality of this book. Nothing has so thoroughly renewed my faith in Star Wars.
You'll never see the OT in the same way again.
I am at a general loss of words to review this more thoroughly. It's just that good.

While i'm here though;
Who in their right mind thought this would be good marketed as a Young Adult novel?!?
There is some seriously deep and complex concepts here. The age ratings betray the maturity of this novel.
THIS is the book that deserves the attention and the number of reviews that Aftermath is getting.

Claudia Gray is masterful.
3011997
"Et nos credidimus caritati!"  This is a  Game Changer.
2525999
Wow. What a great book! It's not that often that I feel so at home with a writer. Paul Auster has that power over me. Douglas Kennedy as well, to a lesser extent. I love many others, but more in part, not word after word. Well, I guess Robert J. Duperre has just changed this state of things. It's like he's writing exactly what I wish I had written myself. If I had the talent.
About one-third into the book, I thought: "it's really well-written, and profound, and I like the characters. But I think I know why it's not more famous: it stays too much in one, very domestic, place." I just literally had to turn the page to lose all my bearings. What already was a good book became an amazing one.
Not just for the sake of imagination, because too much of that can result in a childish accumulation of outlandish scenes. Everything that had been mentioned, had been mentioned for a reason and was used again later in a way I would never have imagined. Silas is not only a kick-ass adventure story, it's a truly literary accomplishment. First, it's told from a first-person point of view, by an old man recounting his past, which offers a first post-modernist and metafictional element: he might be lying to us, the reader, or at least altering the facts. I'm not saying this just to sound clever (though I like that too): not to spoil the story, but it does have its importance toward the end when the narrator decides to keep a part of his adventures to "himself" (which means us too...) and tell his wife an edulcorated version. Who is to say he hasn't been doing the same to us all along? (which he has, of course, because this is FICTION).
But enough with this metafictional stuff... Silas is pure pleasure too, not only (but more than it might seem) highbrow stuff. That's something I really like too, when an author combines pop culture and more "difficult" things. Here, Star Wars and Jean-Paul Sartre are mentioned in almost the same breath.  Passages reminded me of Wells's The Time Machine or The island of Dr Moreau. I thought of the series Lost at times, but I won't say why because you need to discover that amazing story for yourself. The book / movie Silence of the Lambs too. There's a "lost children" aspect of things that hit close to Peter Pan too. Many other works come to mind, but I'm not trying to make the longest list of references here, I just want to show why this novel is ambitious and why it's such a more than satisfying read. It really is a modern tale, with real feelings, action that keeps you on the edge of your seat, suspense that does just that much, a good sense of humour, .... It's got everything.
Finally, what about Silas, the narrator's dog, then? Well, his name is the title of the book, right? So it won't surprise anyone if I say he's just key to the whole story. And don't expect a simple buddy / sidekick with the wonder lab Silas. He's much more than that. Let's just say that this tale / adventure - science fiction - thriller - action - suspense story is also (!!!) a picaresque novel of homeric proportions, a coming-of-age novel, a quest in which the narrator finds his true self, a feat he would never have been able to accomplish without his precious animal. Transformation / metamorphosis is indeed one of the main recurring themes throughout the story. As well as evolution, from one state to another, and creation (another metafictional element, as it sends us back to the act of writing in itself). All said and done: great book, highly recommended. Congratulations to its author, Robert J. Duperre, a really great writer.