Rising Above Bedlam

After reading the review about the guy from down the hall in college, I felt like that summed it up. Upon reflection I see a commercial outlet for this album. The kid from film school decides to make a combination of Pulp Fiction and Natural Born Killers that will "be this generation's The Omen." The writer/producer/director/star is talking to the assistant he got by falsly promising academic credit for working on a "real film set." "He'll work for a credit and a sandwich? Will he come down on the sandwich? Okay, if Jimmie can't get off from Starbucks, make a PB & J and get him in here."

I don't understand how some albums get on this list. Like the first song was ok and then it just got worse for me from there -- fine, I don't have to like every album on here. But what was this album doing that was new or different or that makes it stand out? And my god, those lyrics "Love conquers fear ... in the arena ... of LIFE!" Bleh

Not as unlistenably awful as a lot of the records I’ve given a 1/5 - I kind of appreciate some of what this is trying to do. I just think its inclusion in this list is such a waste. Trying to be an eclectic ‘world music’ album that just uses the most base level features of the genres and cultures it borrows from over some awfully dated synths. I’d have more leniency if it was a mid 80s album or something but it’s 1991, it should sound cleaner than this

I'm not the type of person to throw this phrase around lightly, but I think this album should have been called Now That's What I Call Cultural Appropriation. I think that Jah Wobble and company (Sinead O'Connor sings on this album, neato!) had some pretty big aspirations in making this album, but unfortunately those aspirations didn't play out very well in practice. This album is pretty much a mess: there's Spanish singing, without elements of latin music, there's political messaging without any teeth or meaning, and there's a lack of overall cohesion from track to track. This album feels pretty empty in all aspects, and it was a chore to get through. Sinead O'Connor's vocals were nice, but overall, her talents are pretty much relegated to the background, which is incredibly unfortunate. I'm glad this is the only Jah Wobble album on this list, but now I'm dreading the Public Image Ltd albums.

WHAT?!?? I kept listening to this without any idea who or where it came from, foolishly thinking the nex song would tell me more about what this is supposed to be. Then I finished the album. I have no idea what this is and maybe that is for the best. Favorite track? "Ungodly Kingdom" I guess. 1/5

Truly a mess of an album. Supposedly lead by a bassist, the bass lines are simplistic. The genre is "world music" while being written and performed by 5 white people from the UK. It's tiring to listen.

just feels fake Okay, I was going to give this a 2, but why? What am I giving it credit for? There’s nothing I enjoyed here, so why not give it a 1?

Not a fan

Visions Of You is a fairly boring song, but Sinead O'Connor's voice elevates it significantly. The rest is pretty terrible.

The first song is probably where Enigma got his inspiration for "Principles of Lust". For crying out loud, what a horrible album.

Got 4 songs in and said nah i'm alright

I can see the talent here and why it’s very popular but I am rating these on my own personal opinion and this just wasn’t for me. Favourite: Wonderful World Least Favourite: Erzulie

This 1991 album still carries many hallmarks of the 1980's production values, which sounds dated and in many ways, unappealing to me. Digital recording was perhaps nascent and synthesizers overused. However the bass lines are excellent, and this album is sonically interesting overall, incorporating various elements of world music (Spanish, African). It flows continuously through various attractive grooves and trance inducing states. It's psychedelic and an interesting listen for sure, but the vocals by Jah are by no means exceptional. Meanwhile the lyrics, when not profound and deep, come off occasionally as trivial and of low caliber. That said, on RISING ABOVE BEDLAM, Jah Wobble is reflective, cheeky, and an extraordinary instrumentalist and this album was an interesting and new experience.

Sucks Cultural appropriation the album

AJ/ wobble my ass

Unorganized collection of random genres and vocals. There were some passages of some songs that were average, but no one track is even good on this. Then you add in the bad vocals on each track and there is nothing positive about this album for me.

Mega ASS

I just couldn't finish this album. This album sounds like someone went backpacking around Asia, went to a few full moon parties and came back "enlightened". It's pretentious and feels like someone is just trying to hard to be deep and worldly. Relight the Flame sound like someone singing bad karaoke of a lesser known Disney tune whilst trying to imitate Leonard Cohen.

Weird album. It took a couple of tracks to learn to ignore the terrible singing. Still not that great once you can. Kind of reminds me of the last record by the Clash, which was terrible.

There wasn’t one part of me that liked this.

I did not like it. Lyrics were gibberish.

• It’s giving “on my gap yah” • The male vocals are a bit unbearable if i’m honest • I would never listen to this album again • Favourite song: Bomba

No

I don't see myself ever listening to this

Ok ish

What on earth was all that about then? Not particularly interesting or enjoyable, as hard as I tried to listen.

It's like someone decided to fuse a load of music together without realising it sounds awful. I found the singing to be especially grating. Couldn't manage to finish it.

Disco desconocido para mí y de los 90 nunca pinta bien. Un pastiche house, chillout con mezclas étnicas y pseudohispanas como en Bomba. Aburridísimo y cero interés para mí.

I wanted this to end so badly. The best of the album feels borrowed. The rest, cringe. There were delightful moments of 90s nostalgia early on but they got swallowed up by the overall awfulness of the rest of the album. Was wavering over 2 stars but song by song, Jah Wobble talked me down to 1.

Some weird Australian stuff? This doesn’t belong on the list.

It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever heard, but I just think it doesn’t deserve to be on the list

2.5/10. parece musica q pondrian en una club scene de una pelicula del 2010 sin presupuesto como el pico. nose me cargo todo excepto la ultima cancion y las primeras maybe.

I liked the diversity of songs on the album. That doesn’t mean I liked it at all. Vocals were unbearable at times and the sound within each song was repetitive.

1.5

E kje så fan av world music egentlig

No good

This did not, in fact, rise above anything for me.

I have no idea what this album was supposed to be. It seemed like a world tour of music that was not entertaining. I don’t think I’ll listen to this one again. 1.7/10

Awful

Just listen to Primal Scream for fuck's sake.

Very cultural and lame

Really very dull. A couple of ok tracks.

musical flatulence

Not a fan!

I know we are told not to judge an album by its cover but since it’s not available on Apple Music I’ll just say I’m glad it’s not available on Apple Music. There is no way in any reality this album belongs in this list.

Shite.

weird stuff

Kedeligt 90’er rock, ikke meget at komme efter

Not my cup of tea

Absolute crap. Unlistenable. You know back in the day when you'd go to HMV and they'd have the listening station pre-loaded with the picks of the week? This is like the random album they had to put in that to meet a genre quota mandated by corporate. It suuuuucks.

I did not care for this album.

Inauthentic crap, trying to slog through it. They really tried to make music.

Only listened to a few, but not something I liked.

Awful

nee, kan ik niets mee

When you think it couldn't get any worse.

Una de las peores mierdas que he escuchado nunca

Escuché algunas rolas de estos weyes de otros discos y están Chidas pero, o no escuchamos el mismo disco o no fumamos de la misma, nomás NE.

i hat this ablum