This is one of those rare albums where most of what's on it stands up after years and years of listening, nice for an album recorded and released in 1969. Maybe it's because Buffy Sainte-Marie was and is one of those musicians who is just idiosynchratic enough to not fit comfortably into any particular niche and still be interesting. I haven't always enjoyed listening to her very heavy vibrato, but on ILLUMINATIONS it works beautifully with the sparse arrangements, the bizarre subject matter and the production chances she takes with all of the songs. "God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot" is a particular high point, where she mixes an excerpt from a Leonard Cohen novel with processed voice chants and intense recitation, and "The Vampire," "Mary," "Adam" and "Poppies" are similarly arresting. In fact, about the only song I found wanting was "Suffer The Little Children," a "protest" song, if you like, which compared to some of her others in that vein sounds pretty dated now. Everything else is a very-near seamless whole that is often bewildering but ultimately fascinating. ILLUMINATIONS is, along with Judy Henske and Jerry Yester's FAREWELL ALDEBARAN, probably one of the most unique "folk" albums ever released in the Sixties. It's also quite good.
July 21, 2008Completely outstanding, one of the masterpieces of the era. BTW the Cohen track, God is alive, was played over the sound system at the Isle of Wight festival at which Dylan performed, and mesmorized the audience. The words come from his novel Beautiful Losers and it's worth reading the novel just for these verses. If you just buy one BSM album this should be it.
January 25, 2008Illuminations has always been one of my all time favorites from Buffy. I couldn't be happier that the CD issue is sonically satisfying. I still have my original mint LP copy and this CD copy doesn't show the usual cold digital sharpness of many reissues of the classics. This is a must have for every Buffy fan!
Rich
August 29, 2006This album was one of my favorites back in my teen years. I never thought it would get released on CD, but it finally was. Buffy is an aquired taste...you will either love her or hate her. The standout cut on this CD is without a doubt "God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot". The rest of the songs grow on you with the passage of time. A great representation of the end of the 60's that carried forward to the early 70's. A great choice for your collection.
March 1, 2006 |  | Bone Chilling Masterpiece |  |
Hearing this CD now, after all this time, reminds me of why artists like Buffy Sainte-Marie should not be forgotten. Of all the so-called "folk singers," Sainte-Marie was the most adventurous and fearless. No two of her wonderful albums were alike, but this one went the farthest out on a limb, mixing her trembling vocals with electronic backing, searing electric guitars and pulsating rhythms. "Poppies" is a spellbinding trip; Leonard Cohen's "God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot" is a mystic dazzler, beginning and ending with an ocellating loop of Buffy's voice repeating the title line; "Better To Find Out For Yourself" will give you the shivers, especially when she hits that final, angry wail on the fade out; "Suffer The Little Children" is more relevant now than ever. "He's a Keeper Of The Fire," a chanting rocker bristles with energy, and "The Vampire" should be the theme song for a really good horror movie. Ed Freeman's "The Angel," with its echoing bell sounds, is simply sublime, one of the most gorgeous songs Buffy has ever sung. ILLUMINATIONS is a dream-like, captivating record that was way ahead of its time, and still sounds daring today.
October 7, 2005More reviews at Amazon.com ...
