Reviews for Bhakti Seva
Play List Music Reviews by Anne Williams:
Bhakti Seva is a "fun" sacred chant CD with a real laid-back island feel to the arrangements. It's a bit like attending an open-air church, respectful but celebratory at the same time. Bhakti Seva has nine pieces: Asato Ma, He Govinda, Jaya Jagannath, Om Purnam, Hari Haraya, Jaya Hanuman, Harer Nama, Hare Krishna and Bhakti Seva. The Temple Bhajan Band has produced a notable CD, one that is bound to garner much good attention.
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Review from L.A. Yoga:
With the release of Bhakti Seva Service in Love, the Los Angeles-based Temple Bhajan Band is covering new ground and taking their music to another level. Right from the start, with "Asato Ma," lead singer, harmonium player and composer Sura dasa doesn't waste any time presenting what could easily be referred to as the new Temple Bhajan Band (TBB). The most obvious adjustment is Sura's choice of chords. Instead of sticking to the traditional structure of Krishna Bhajans, Sura takes a daring risk and uses a much more western-influenced progression that could have easily been recorded by the Beatles during the Magical Mystery Tour days.
Accompanying Sura on vocals are the harmonic contributions of Deva Deva Dasa, Ardas, Mahalaxmi Dasi, and Sita Priya. Even the way they are singing is different. Each tune has a vibrant new life to it, feeling like a choral anthem that invites us all to sing with them instead of in response to them.
Unlike the other TBB releases, this album is professionally produced and the sound is excellent. You can credit Eddie Young and Marty Lieberman for giving the TBB the sort of mass appeal they just didn't have before. This is especially true on the infectious third cut, "Jaya Jagannath," where Sura and the gand put so much heart and soul into the performances it makes you want to get up and charge the stage like you were at a rock concert.
In short this is by far TBB's best release and deserves good distribution. I recommend this highly devotional but rockin' kirtan album to anyone who loves the bhajan tradition. The Krishnas never sounded better with some tasty sitar and cello licks added in there by Siddhas Lieberman and Young, this album has a lot of appeal and application to anything bhakti-oriented.
L.A. Yoga, Michael R. Mollura
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Bhakti Seva is a "fun" sacred chant CD with a real laid-back island feel to the arrangements. It's a bit like attending an open-air church, respectful but celebratory at the same time. Bhakti Seva has nine pieces: Asato Ma, He Govinda, Jaya Jagannath, Om Purnam, Hari Haraya, Jaya Hanuman, Harer Nama, Hare Krishna and Bhakti Seva. The Temple Bhajan Band has produced a notable CD, one that is bound to garner much good attention.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review from L.A. Yoga:
With the release of Bhakti Seva Service in Love, the Los Angeles-based Temple Bhajan Band is covering new ground and taking their music to another level. Right from the start, with "Asato Ma," lead singer, harmonium player and composer Sura dasa doesn't waste any time presenting what could easily be referred to as the new Temple Bhajan Band (TBB). The most obvious adjustment is Sura's choice of chords. Instead of sticking to the traditional structure of Krishna Bhajans, Sura takes a daring risk and uses a much more western-influenced progression that could have easily been recorded by the Beatles during the Magical Mystery Tour days.
Accompanying Sura on vocals are the harmonic contributions of Deva Deva Dasa, Ardas, Mahalaxmi Dasi, and Sita Priya. Even the way they are singing is different. Each tune has a vibrant new life to it, feeling like a choral anthem that invites us all to sing with them instead of in response to them.
Unlike the other TBB releases, this album is professionally produced and the sound is excellent. You can credit Eddie Young and Marty Lieberman for giving the TBB the sort of mass appeal they just didn't have before. This is especially true on the infectious third cut, "Jaya Jagannath," where Sura and the gand put so much heart and soul into the performances it makes you want to get up and charge the stage like you were at a rock concert.
In short this is by far TBB's best release and deserves good distribution. I recommend this highly devotional but rockin' kirtan album to anyone who loves the bhajan tradition. The Krishnas never sounded better with some tasty sitar and cello licks added in there by Siddhas Lieberman and Young, this album has a lot of appeal and application to anything bhakti-oriented.
L.A. Yoga, Michael R. Mollura
Back to Discography