Mother Love Bone

Mother Love Bone

Rate Points :4.5
Binding :Audio CD
Label :Island / Mercury
Manufacturer :Island / Mercury
MPN :512884
ProductGroup :Music
Studio :Island / Mercury
Publisher :Island / Mercury
UPC :731451288425
EAN :0731451288425
Price :$13.98USD
Lowest Price :$9.66USD
Customer ReviewsAndrew Woods Swan Song
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :0
As I think back on all of the musical talent of the Seatlle Sound in the early nineties. I can only ponder on what would have been if the drug of choice, heroin hadnt taken so many of them, especially the vocalists of that era, Layne Staley, Kurt Cobain and particularly Andrew wood.
Although, Malfunkshun was a great band, in which Andrew Woods vocal talents began to gain noteriety, this album truly defines him as a lead singer.
I believe that if Andrew Wood hadnt been taken so early in life, he would have been a mega-star and Mother Love Bone would have been mentioned along w/the great bands of that era such as Soundgarden, Nirvana, Temple of the Dog, The Mudhoneys, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam etc.
Highly recommend if you want to listen to Hardcore, Blues and Anthem Metal combined rock n roll.
In my humble opinion one of the best eras in rock n roll history.

Enjoy!!!

Billy G-Drive

classic songs that are sadly, not recognized as the classics that they should be recognixed as
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
In an alternative universe Mother Love Bone is a household name, praised by critics and recognized as one of the best bands of the 90s, and no one has ever heard the words "Pearl Jam" mentioned in that order. In this universe singer Andrew Wood was one of the biggest rock stars of the 1990s and he continues to enjoy his celebrity today....

Listening to the 1992 self-titled Mother Love Bone compilation, (also known as "Star Dog Champion) which consists of the bands brilliant debut album "Apple" (1990) and an earlier EP "Shine" (1989) its easy to ask "what could have been?" If Andrew Wood hadnt died of a drug overdose, what would his status and the status of Mother Love Bone be today? What great music would they have gone on to record?

But alas, Mother Love Bone died along with Andrew Wood and one is left to speculate. What we are left with is just one album and an EP, the sole testaments of a great band.

While there are a fair amount of albums that werent recognized in their day (like Loves "Forever Changes" or The Velvet Underground and Nico, both 1967) no album has been as criminally neglected as "Apple." While the album received and still receives good-to-glowing reviews and "Crown of Thorns" is considered a classic, the band and their music, have been, overall, greatly overlooked and under appreciated.

What exactly was the sound of this great band? Grunge, right? After all, Mother Love Bone was from Seattle and three of the band members (Ament, Gossard and Bruce Fairweather) were in the Green River (one of the pioneers of Seattle grunge) so "Apple" should have a total grungy sound, right? Well, not exactly.

Listening to Mother Love Bone and then comparing it with Mudhoney, its clear that when Green River split, singer Mark Arm took the bands sound with him. Mudhoney was really just a continuation of Green River, with its distorted guitars and "fuzz" while Mother Love Bone had an entirely new sound.

Imagine crossing Led Zeppelin with Aerosmith and Jefferson Airplane, and thats pretty much what you get with Mother Love Bone--a totally retro, neo-psychedelic, hard rocking band with groove-laden bluesy riffs, killer solos with strong melodies. Andrew Wood, who could have been a love child of Janis Joplin and David Lee Roth, was a charismatic, gifted singer whose voice and words combined a paradoxical mixture of utopian happiness and lonely despair, sometimes in the same breath. This makes listening to "Apple" kind of a unique experience. In some ways its a celebratory, happy album, and in others, its a deeply sad one.

While only two members of MLB went on to play in Pearl Jam, if you listen to "Apple" and then "Ten" (1991) you can see the natural progression, how one seems to naturally follow the other. "Ten" may have, overall, better songs, but "Apple" has its strengths too. While both albums are terrific and have a classic-rock feel, "Apple" seems to be a little more spontaneous, less slick, and certainly bluesier with stronger melodies. Stylistically, the sunny, hippie Wood is the polar opposite of the somber, baritone Vedder.

Songs like "This Is Shangrila," "Stardog Champion," "Holy Roller" "Stargazer," "Crown of Thorns" and "Come Bite the Apple," (in which Wood prophetically sings "my future was in my hands till I washed it all away") rival anything from Aerosmiths "Rocks" (1974) and are classic songs that are sadly, not recognized as the classics that they should be recognixed as.

One can only guess what Mother Love Bone could have achived, but its frutless to contemplate. One thing is for sure though, Andrew Wood, Jeff Ament, Bruce Fairweather, Sone Gossard and Greg Gilmore left one great album, and that much is indisputable.

On a side note: This single-disc compilation contains most of the "Shine" EP, and there is another 2-CD edition that contains the entire "Shine" EP. While these songs arent as strong as what the band would later do, they are worth listening to.

Have you ever heard the story of Mr Faded Glory
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
I am a 90s kid, born in the early 80s. I knew of Mother Love Bone but never listened to them. Fast forward to....2003, I get Pearl Jams DVD Live At The Garden and they do the song Crown of Thorns. Then, I hear it on a couple of their bootlegs. So, as curiosity goes, I find out who does that song. I look at the back of my Singles Soundtrack and there it is. So, i buy this CD because if a band is good enough for one great song, what stops them from having more. This CD did nothing but amaze me. Im sooooo upset that Andy Wood couldnt have produced any more CDs other than Apple and Shine, but what he left behind were two of the greatest CDs in Seattle Grunge history. This CD is a mush together of those two CDs and is just captivating.

RIP Andrew Wood and MLB
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
What more can be said that hasnt already. I found MLB shortly after Andrew died in the 90s and have wondered as many..."what if". My car was broken into once and this along with other CDs were stolen. I found it a few months later in a second-hand music store. It was my original CD!!! (there were a specific couple cracks in the case) I bought it again!!! So nice I paid for it twice!!!! Love every song like my children..equally.

BECAUSE SOMEDAY.... M.L.B. SHINES!
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :2
Mother Love Bone may have only released one album and a four song EP in their time, but they are legendary as far as the Seattle sound goes. In a class of their own, and if you listen to the disc, you will realize, a band that almost all the Seattle hit makers, have spent the past twenty years trying to emulate... however, have never quite made the mark. THis disc showcases all of the bands major label material, consisting of the LP:Apple, and the EP:Shine.

This band came out of the late eighties, and while they were children of the glam rock era, they were the people who basically invented the grunge rock sound. The combination of these two styles, along with some really finely penned lyrics, make these songs all sparkle, and at the same time, make the head get deep, and also make you want to crank some volume, and sing along. This is a free natured sort of rock music. Unique. Loud. Somewhat raw, and just an overall good time record. Mother Love Bone is a band that threatens to be invisible these days, but really, some of these songs should stay bright for years down the road. Theres not a letdown in the bunch, but my key picks would be SHANGRI-LA, CROWN OF THORNS (especially the extended version from Shine)and HOLY ROLLER, Id name more but they aint poppin into my head as quickly. This is a record that any fan of the Seattle scene couldnt possibly not enjoy, and thats more than I personally can say for its spin off younger brother Pearl Jam, who usually bums me out for the most part. But lets not try to get onto any sort of negative spin here people. Thats not what this stuff is all about.

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Dust

Dust

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The Trees third and best major-label album wasnt an easy one to make: the band felt compelled to scrap the first recording with producer Don Fleming and re-record the songs with George Drakoulias of Black Crowes and Tom Petty fame. But the creative malaise and personal chaos that reportedly plagued the follow-up to 1992s gold-selling Sweet Oblivion are nowhere in evidence in the finished grooves. Dust is a complex, layered effort that transcends the grunge tag so often hung on the band by emphasizing deep roots in psychedelia and folk-rock that have been obscured in the past by the fuzz and fury. As always, Mark Lanegans smooth-as-bourbon vocals and Gary Lee Conners thunderstorm guitars are two of the most distinctive instruments Seattle has produced. But what makes this album special is the ensemble playing and the dynamics: The band seems to have listened to Lanegans call in "Make My Mind" to "Take a minute just to breathe." Sitars, tabla, harmonium, and Mellotron adorn moving midtempo rockers such as "All I Know" and "Dying Days," adding to a world-weary but overall optimistic vibe. Dust could be considered the combination of MTV Unplugged in New York and From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah that Nirvana was never able to realize--its a mature, melodic album that doesnt sacrifice the energy of youthful rock & roll abandon. --Jim Derogatis
Rate Points :4.5
Binding :Audio CD
Label :Sbme Special Mkts.
Manufacturer :Sbme Special Mkts.
MPN :724658
ProductGroup :Music
Studio :Sbme Special Mkts.
Publisher :Sbme Special Mkts.
UPC :886972465821
EAN :0886972465821
Price :$6.99USD
Lowest Price :$2.44USD
Customer ReviewsGood overall album
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :0
I do enjoy the Screaming Trees. They are unheard of to many people, and most people think that im coming up with something from an LSD high... but it does have good songs on it. The first four didnt captivate me much as anything that i heard from them previous to buying this CD, the first one ive bought from them, but i do listen to it often.

The final whimper of a great band
Rating Point :3 Helpful Point :3
The Screaming Trees were a great band that combined psychedlia, punk rock and roots rock. And Mark Lanegan was one of the strongest frontment of that Seattle crop. In 1996, they were no longer constrained by the expectations of the waning grunge revolution. So I think they were really in a position to try something different and release their magnum opus. Instead, Dust has 10 catchy, well written rock songs, all of which wouldve been perfectly at home on "Sweet Oblivion". So, basically, while Lanegan et al were wasting their time with drugs and alcohol, their fans waited four years to get forty minutes of the same old same old. The Trees received little recognition for this effort, and probably got what they deserved. Still, I like the band overall, and would recommend the Anthology from their SST years (or, for that matter, the compilation from their last three albums "Ocean of Confusion", which is a better value than buying all of these good-but-not-great albums individually).

ADDENDUM: 3 months later, this album has found its back into heavy rotation on my CD player. I must admit that the songcraft is excellent and this album must be judged a success in relation to its ambitions--although I remain disappointed that those ambitions were not nearly as lofty as the hyperbole of many of this albums boosters would have you believe.

Fine Swansong From The Most Overlooked Band In The 90s
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
When I listen to "Dust" nowadays it really makes me question why the Screaming Trees never received the recognition of their contemporaries. While Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam surged into the limelight with passionate grit and angst, The Trees forged their own loyal allegiance through low-key yet equally admirable releases. "Dust" was the last of these releases, and proved to be a glorious swansong and the bands best.

For those unaware of the bands style and sound, I would urge you to try and separate them from their grunge era tag. Do not expect raging distorted guitars and aggressive vocals. Instead Screaming Trees fuse soaring melodies and harmonies, infectious chorus hooks and 60s psychedelic rock into their sound. The result is intriguing and unique, and is given further prowess and individuality by front man Mark Lanegan. Lanegans wonderful gravely and brooding tone is sumptuous throughout, elevating the bands music.

What makes "Dust" such a special album for me is its consistency. The band was always able to write excellent songs, but always seemed to struggle to recreate this consistently throughout an album. "Sweet Oblivion" touched on the consistency needed, but still contained the odd lacking track that I would always skip. With "Dust" I can simply press play, sit back and enjoy its entirety. There are still standout tracks however, such as the stunning "All I Know" which has the most glorious of chorus harmonies. "Make My Mind" is one of the bands classic songs showcases great pop sensibility in the main hook. "Dying Days" is perhaps the bands most well crafted song, shifting between subtle slow-burning verses and uplifting choruses. More psychedelic tinges are introduced with the swirling ballad "Traveler" and the intense closer "Gospel Plow".

For fans of the bands earlier releases "Dust" is a must have. It contains their best and most consistent writing, and remains one of my favorite albums from the Seattle era.

Actually the last reviewer was pretty "dead on"..
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :2
This is an awesome album BUT:

The first three songs on this album pretty much start off where Sweet Oblivion left off.. Start of with a rocker "Halo of Ashes", insert an absolute classic "All I know". throw in a ballad "Look at You" and you have the makings of another classic... Then...

The album just seems to bog down.. Dont get me wrong, this is an outstanding album, but it is not as diverse as Sweet Oblivion. Mark Lanegan never sounded as good as he did on Dust, and the quality of the musicianship is great, but the song writing isnt as good as Sweet Oblivion. You would think that after a four year hiatus (a hiatus that pretty much killed the band) there would be a more diverse collection of songs.

Probably the most striking song on the album is Dime Western. For anyone who has ever seen Jesus Christ Superstar, if you remember the part where Judas is running to hang himself, the guitar riff in this song sounds almost exactly like the music that is playing in the backround. Throw in an "Iron Butterly"esque melotron and it is freaky.. Then to go into a song called "Gospel Plow"...

Do I recommend this album? Heck yeah, its just a shame that this was their swan song, they really had more to offer.

woken a sleeping beast
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :3
screaming trees dust a great cover and an title to get you too think and it sure does you look at the cover and wonder what the music on the cd going to be like, is it gonna repeat what theyve done before? or is there gonna be a big surprise well really you know which way screaming trees make music heartfelt lyrics blistering music with a hint of that dirty word which i dont think kurt made i think soundgarden and mark lanegan made what grunge was really about...
this album features such classics in my opipion
holo of ashes, all i know, look at you,
witness, traveller and gospel plow,
this album was released long time after the grunge icon killed himself.. and around this time we had this terrible thing called britpop bought on by them god damn awful bands oasis and blur this was a saving grace that saved the last 4 years of the nineties for me...grunge is dead but the trees still grow

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For his second solo album, Lanegan, the singer for the Screaming Trees, decided to go wider and deeper. The arrangements are mostly acoustic and electric guitars, bass and drums, but the subtle addition of violin and saxophone on select cuts makes for greater variance and gives the album a rich, epic scope. As always, Lanegan sees the glass as neither half-empty or half-full, just dirty. "Borracho" reaches a cathartic wall of shrieking feedback, but mostly Lanegan tunes down for the ambulatory emissions and Seattle blues of "Shooting Gallery," "Judas Touch," and "Kingdoms of Rain." --Rob OConnor
Rate Points :5.0
Binding :Audio CD
Label :Sub Pop
Manufacturer :Sub Pop
MPN :132
ProductGroup :Music
Studio :Sub Pop
Publisher :Sub Pop
UPC :098787013221
EAN :0098787013221
Price :$11.98USD
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Customer ReviewsOne of the most underrated albums of the nineties
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :11
American musical tastes have always baffled me. Mediocrities extraordinaire like Britney Spears, Linkin Park, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, and Dave Matthews sell millions of records, while genuinely talented souls like Mark Lanegan remain unknown except to music connoisseurs. A few know him as the front man and resident genius of Screaming Trees, others as a solo artist, a few more as sometimes member of Queens of the New Age, and a few Isobel Campbell fans as the guy who helped make her latest album so stunningly special. But Mark Lanegan should someone anyone who is obsessed with great music should know well. I honestly believe that if you love great music, there are at least three albums featuring Mark Lanegan that fall into the category of "Must Own": his incredible solo album WHISKEY FOR THE HOLY GHOST, the superfine Screaming Trees anthology OCEAN OF CONFUSION, and his recent effort in support of Isobel Campbell on her amazing BALLAD OF THE BROKEN SEAS (most of the songs are by Campbell, but he contributes some great supporting vocals, especially a killer version of Hank Williamss "Ramblin Man" and on the albums great closing song "The Circus is Leaving Town").

This was Lanegans second solo album. The first one, THE WINDING SHEET, was one downer of an album. Bleak, deeply atmospheric, introspective, and seriously unfocused, it represented a significant break from his work with the Screaming Trees. Whatever fans of that band were looking for in a Mark Lanegan solo project, that was definitely not it. WHISKEY FOR THE HOLY GHOST is not completely dissimilar from THE WINDING SHEET, but it is better conceived, the songwriting is infinitely sharper, and the melancholy is redeemed by one exquisitely melodic song after another. To this day, Lanegan has not been involved on an album--not with Screaming Trees or anyone else--that was so superb from first cut to the last.

One thing that really comes out on this album is what a low, deep voice Lanegan has. In the Screaming Trees, it is clear he pushes his voice up to its highest possible range, but here he allows it to fall into its natural, low range. Most rock bands force the singers to be high tenors, even a natural baritone like Lanegan. But as a tenor myself, I have to admit that baritones can project a world weariness and ennui that no tenor can intimate. His voice here is perfect for the regret, sadness, and angst he wants to project.

What is most amazing about this album is how great the songs are from first to last. Lanegans songwriting with the Screaming Trees was never this consistent (one reason why the best way to get to know their music is from the generous anthology OCEAN OF CONFUSION). He would pen several gems that would sandwich some astonishingly bland cuts. No filler here, however. The contrast here is between some astonishingly great songs and songs that are at worst at least interesting (e.g., "Ride the Nightingale"). My favorite cut is probably "El Sol," filled with wonderful musical moments and a casually wonderful vocal. "Carnival" (which I keep thinking should be entitled "Freak Show") is very nearly as good, while "The River Rise," which kicks the album off, is on their par. But there are 3 or 4 other cuts very nearly as strong as these.

So, please do your part to fight the flood of mediocrity that the music industry tries to drown us with. We dont have to accept all the garbage that they tell us we ought to like! We can support great music like this instead! Do your part. If you dont already have this great album, get it. Tell your friends about it. Give it as a gift to friends. Heck, give it to enemies to placate them! Lets just not let this album remain as unknown as it currently is.

Without a doubt, Mark Lanegans best.
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :2
Ive been a fan of Mark ever since I heard him on Mad Seasons "Long Gone Day". Since then Ive gotten into Screaming Trees, then bought "The Winding Sheet" from 1990, then moved up to "Bubblegum" from 2004. Both of these are great albums in their own way, particularly the former. This album takes over where the last one left off, with a more mature, full and melodic sound. Mark shows a greater vocal range than usual here, and the songs in general are very atmospheric. The extremes range from the haunting opener "The River Rise" to the powerful "Borracho". Not a weak track in the bunch really.

If youre a Screaming Trees/Mad Season fan a little hesitant to try Marks solo music, this is the place to start. This infectious collection of songs will win you over for good. Get it now!

Here comes the Devil...............!!!!!
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :3
Lanegan is awesome, is hauntingly charming is the truth only the truth and nothing but the truth, really, his folk is deligthfull and poetic, his lyrics are charged with alcohol, tobaco sadness and melancholy is hard to resist the voice of this tormented soul, the man with the cloud over his head, production on Whiskey for the Holy Ghost counts with excellent producers such as Terry Date, and remarkable musicians such as Ben Shepperd on bass guitar and Van Conner on guitar. Kingdoms of rain, Carnival, Borracho (gooood one) Dead on you and Beggars Blues are just a few of the master pieces contained on maybe his best work to date, American Folk have in Lanegan one of their best elements now that saddly iconic figures such as Johnny Cash have left us but we can trust this beautifull artform of contemporary music have yet future and way to walk , im happy for that
HM

Whiskey with alot of soul
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :3
mark lanegan second solo album after the fantastic "the winding sheet" and it sort of in the same vein as that nice acoustic/blues/country songs with his remarkable voice singing with delight of subjects that i wont go into.. but this is a beautiful well thought out finely recorded album an album which draws you in..to the man "mark lanegan" it traps you in a world
which lanegan was living at the time of writing this album as i heard some other reviewer say you can smell the smoke and whiskey when youre playing this album and i truly agree with that reviewer
if you like screaming trees you may find the departure too much.but i loved the screaming trees and i love this along with "the winding sheet" "bubblegum" his recent classic album
this is the third classic lanegan album i dont think youll ever find a dud in his work a truly one off artist

What Are You Waiting For???
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
This is a GREAT album. Mark Lanegan is such an amazing musician and always seems to include other great musicians. If you liked The Winding Sheet, Lanegans first, youre sure to love this amazing, nostalgic, beautiful whiskey concoction. Even though I cannot stand whiskey, it sure sounds good when Lanegan and company crack open a bottle.

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Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley teams with Seattle pals Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) and Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees) in the tradition of other part-time grunge aggregations like Brad and Hater. These 10 numbers--mostly somber, acoustic-hued ballads like the single "River of Deceit"--are a therapeutic soul-cleansing for the troubled Staley. Core fans of any of the aforementioned bands will rank this with the solo work of Screaming Tree frontman Mark Lanegan (a guest vocalist here). --Jeff Bateman
Rate Points :4.5
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Label :Sony
Manufacturer :Sony
MPN :67057
ProductGroup :Music
Studio :Sony
Publisher :Sony
UPC :074646705728
EAN :0074646705728
Price :$11.98USD
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Customer ReviewsAbsolute Masterpiece
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :2
Cant say much more than I enjoyed this CD more than any Alice In Chains, or any other 90s Seattle scene music! Lots relative to the pain of heroin addiction, which Staley suffered and died from way too young. The CD lyrics, with the facts surronding Staleys demise, make it eerie to the point of good music causing gooseflesh! This CD is awesome. Good luck finding it anywhere else off the shelves. The bargain of my life was this CD, right here!

You must own this!
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
Wow, this album is awesome. It takes you beyond the music the performers are known for, and shows just what talented musicians they are. Layne Staley is an awesome singer and his lyrics are deep and insigtful. This is a find for anyone, and a must for any Lane fan. This is near the top of my all time favorite albums. Such talent, and it unfortunately will never perform again.

A truly classic record....
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
When this album came out, more than well over a decade ago, I was not entirely unfamiliar with grunge at that point of time (still weaning away from GunsNR and Iron Maiden), my exposure on the same being restricted to Nevermind and Ten, I had heard about Alice in Chains, but did not give them any serious consideration. Then my friend (god bless him) gave me this album, telling me, it was a collaborative effort by a grunge super group called Mad Season, which had Layne Staley and the usual suspects in the crew.
I have worn out this album thrice, based on the number of times i have listened to it. I got the cassette tape first and then 3 times i had to buy cos i wore it out.
This album to me represents a phenomenal musical direction, both lyrically and musically, of the member who wanted to experiment. The results are tangible, but apart from that, it was the flow that was perfect. EVERY song is pure gold!
My only regret is that Layne Staley, such a talent that he was, (for those of who you do not know, in addition, the cover art also is done by him) was dumb enough to do drugs and passed on at such a young age, when his potential was limitless.
If at all my arm was being severely twisted and i was being water boarded, id have to say my favorite tracks would be:
1. Long Gone Day - hands down, THE best (probably reading on Kerouac when they wrote this)
2. River of Deceit
3. Wake up
I doubt that there are those who have not heard this, but if you have not, please do pick it up and give it a listen. Its unreal and a setlist of songs that will give you that thing to reflect and introspect.

Great Work
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :1
I received this cassette as a gift when it came out in the 90s from someone I was dating at the time. I fell in love with it, not the person. All worked out as it should have and this is still a great album. I do feel it was an under-rated album. Layne Staley is raw, poetic and genuine as always. He was among the greatest singer/song writers ever. So unique, so fragile, so moving. If you like Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam, please give Mad Season a well deserved listen.

Under appreciated
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :1
I first heard this album in a drafting class in high school. A friend had on his headphones as we all listened to music in the class and I asked him what he was listening to. He said Mad Season and I had never heard of them before. He handed me the headphones and Wake Up was playing. I demanded to borrow the CD and bought it soon after. Some of Layne Staleys best lyrics and all of the contributing musicians just do an incredible job. Give it a listen.

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Studio :W. W. Norton & Company
Publisher :W. W. Norton & Company
EAN :9780393316995
Price :$14.95USD
Lowest Price :$8.00USD
Customer ReviewsIm not a Confucius nor a China expert, but ...
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :7
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Granted, I havent read other translations of the Analects, so my rating is for the book itself more than as a comparison to other translations.

The fact that Confucius lived thousands of years ago is amazing to me ... the things he says apply to people throughout the ages, and theyre full of wisdom. Having read the book, I find myself trying to be a bit more of a Confucian gentleman than I did before reading it. Confucius teachings about humanity and being a gentleman span across the ages.

Im very glad I read this book. The only reason I didnt give the book 5 stars is because I cant compare it to other translations, and it seems a little improper to rate a translated book without comparing it to other translations. But I personally found Leys lines to be easily understandable and interesting, even if I have no way of ascertaining their accuracy with the original text.

Readable, useful, rewarding
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :2
Those who complain about this translation being "uninspired" are missing the forest for the trees. Leys rendition of the Analects is a modern, useful, and enjoyable read. The translation flows well and makes sense, and the authors comments are interesting and avoid being scholarly tripe.

Confucius himself would agree that the purpose of his teaching was not to inspire linguistic debate, but to lead the recipient to right action. This book does the latter and avoids the former, and thereby gets my unqualified recommendation. No matter your religious leanings, if you read this book and put it into practice, youll grow into a more human person. As this was the Masters entire point, Id say this translation is a success.

Turned off by translators comments
Rating Point :1 Helpful Point :1
I cant read Confucius in the original so I really cant speak to the accuracy of Simon Leys translation (or should we use his actual name - Pierre Ryckmans?). But without a doubt he feels it is the standard against which all others should be measured, as he constantly passes judgment in his Notes section on all who have gone before and finds each generally lacking in some way. Add to that his efforts to impress the reader with the breadth of his literary knowledge and his decidedly conservative social comments (another reviewer also commented on his anti-gay bias) and Im left with a translation I would just as soon skip.

Servant Leadership Chinese Style!
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :6
The importance of the historical use and misuse of the teaching of Confucius throughout the centuries in China can hardly be understated. While Confucian thought was on the outs with Communist intellectuals, others such as Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore point to Confucius principles as the secret to the Asian economic tigers success. Leys, the translator of this volume, notes that Chinese familiarity and historical misuse of Confucius prejudices many, but taken without these prejudices, Confucius is thoroughly modern in his application today.

Confucius is known for being a great teacher, but it was politics and government that was his passion. Today, Confucius is a good source for leadership philosophy. Far from promoting authoritarian despotism, the teachings of Confucius point to a higher calling of leadership through service, character development, and self-abandonment - all sorely lacking in Chinese leadership today.

To learn was Confucius calling. He said he did not have much innate knowledge and studied literature and history to learn (6.27). The responsibility of learning was on the learner not the teacher: "I enlighten only the enthusiastic I guide only the fervent. After I have lifted up one corner of a question, if the student cannot discover the other three, I do not repeat" (7.8). While that may sound harsh, Confucius practiced what he preached. "Put me in the company of any two people at random-they will invariably have something to teach me. I can take their qualities as a model and their defects as a warning" (7.22).

Learning was to be put into practice this showed integrity. The first verse of the Analects says, "To learn something new and then to put it into practice at the right time: is this not a joy?" (1.1). Again, "Learning is like a chase in which, as you fail to catch up, you fear to lose what you have already gained" (8.17). Here we see the high value of action resulting from learning and not only study. He valued doing what you say. "There was a time when I used to listen to what people said and trusted that they would act accordingly, but now I listen to what they say and watch what they do" (5.10). Doing what you say is the heart of personal integrity. "A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words" (14.27).

Learning was his way of improving himself in order to govern well. Three major themes surface in Confucius teaching regarding those who govern: be a gentleman, keep the rites and maintain your humanity. A gentleman was a moral superior, someone worthy of leading. A person becomes a gentleman not through birthright but through learning and right actions. These actions are called ritual, which is similar to courteous behavior, and maintaining humanity which is treating people with respect, dignity, fairness, justice and generosity to name a few of the qualities that Confucius praises. Ritual and humanity develop character in a person, and a person with character is the one whom Confucius calls a gentleman.

Confucius and his contemporary political and intellectual leaders wanted to make a name for themselves. In a way, they could live on through that reputation. "The Master said: A gentleman worries lest he might disappear from this world without having made a name for himself" (15.20). However, in making a name a leader must not do evil or act without virtue.

Official position was an obvious choice for ruling and making a name. Today, position is the most highly regarded form of authority all over Asia. Hear Confucius: "Do not worry if you are without a position worry lest you do not deserve a position" (4.14). Again, "It is not your obscurity that should distress you, but your incompetence" (14.30). This is a powerful lesson for Chinese leaders to hear. Today too much emphasis is placed on leadership position, and not enough placed on competence and character. The results are personal empires, corruption, and incompetence that oppress those without power (position). "Before he gets his position, his only fear is that he might not get it, and once he gets it, his only fear is that he might lose it. And when he fears to lose it, he becomes capable of anything" (17.15).

The wisdom available to contemporary readers goes on and on. I found this book extremely helpful for finding ancient Chinese cultural leadership principles that back up the principles of transformational leadership theory and servant leadership theory. I would like to read and reflect deeper to find Confucian principles that are not yet apart of contemporary models of leadership, but are consistent with it. This is a deeper task.

Recently I have begun quoting Confucius during my leadership seminars. Although, a feel a bit dubious doing so - proof texting largely Western leadership principles with Confucius - the reaction from the participants has been enthusiastic. While many leaders are attracted to Western leadership theories, many also feel these theories are foreign. Many theories based on egalitarian social structure are foreign and are not appropriate for most cultures in Asia. However, some theories, working inside hierarchical social structures, are helpful but still smack of American "one, two, three" optimism. We are sometimes too brash and not mysterious enough, too left brained, in our presentations. Confucius has helped my audiences to embrace the principles I try to get across.

I was surprised how readable, useful and contemporary the writing of Confucius is to me as a leadership consultant. He had a good grasp of humankind, and set the bar very high regarding how leaders should govern from character and justice. He encouraged people to higher traits of humanity, that if followed would make the world a much better place. We would do well to study and apply the teachings of Confucius.

Completely unprofessional translation
Rating Point :1 Helpful Point :3
One of only two things Ive ever went to the trouble to return to Amazon.com. I bought this translation because it was recommended in "Confucius Lives Next Door". Unfortunately, Mr. "Leys" goes out of his way to be homophobic in his footnotes. Ive heard a lot of adjectives used to describe minority groups in my lifetime, especially since I live in the Midwest but "grim" is a new one (page 126). I am surprised that such a progressive company such as Amazon sells a book that incites such negativity about a minority group. Can anyone recommend a professional translation?

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Rate Points :5.0
Binding :Hardcover
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Studio :Stanford University Press
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Customer ReviewsLu rocks
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :3
Lu is of the most intelligent guys Ive ever known. Its a surprise that I found this book. If I had more money, I would buy more this kind of book.

Lu Bu Wei rocks

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Rate Points :4.5
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Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :1
Slingerlands translation of Confucius Analects is a helpful addition to the current literature on the subject. Destined to be used for college student, Slingerland gathers a number of traditional commentaries on each translated verse as well as giving a helpful glossary of Chinese terms and names of person referred in the text. While I personally would prefer D.C. Laus translation, Slingerlands prose is quite good and less cumbersome than Ames and Rogermonts philosophical translation. This is a helpful introduction to Confucian thought for English-language reader.

confusing reviews
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :5
None of these reviews relate to the Slingerland edition of Analects, which is the best around.

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