The Richest Man in Babylon [Limited Edition]

The Richest Man in Babylon [Limited Edition]

Track Listings

1. Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes

2. Facing East

3. Outernationalist

4. Interlude

5. Omid (Hope)

6. All That We Perceive

7. Simple Historie (A Simple Story)

8. Meu Destino

9. Exilio (Exile)

10. From Creation

11. Richest Man in Babylon

12. Liberation Front

13. State of the Union

14. Until the Morning

15. Resolution

Tracks:

Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes
Facing East
The Outernationalist
Interlude
Omid (Hope)
All That We Perceive
Simple Histoire (A Simple Story)
Meu Destino (My Destiny)
Exilio (Exile)
From Creation
The Richest Man In Babylon
Liberation Front
The State Of The Union
Until The Morning
Resolution

Amazon.com

Thievery Corporation's Eric Hilton and Rob Garza have always treated the line between acoustic and electronic music as a drunken sailor might, unpredictably falling on one side or the other with equal frequency. By this measure, The Richest Man in Babylon is their soberest effort to date, striding confidently into jazz, soul, world beat, and other styles with a direct, reverential approach. The band's last record, Sounds from the Verve Hi-Fi, featured a set of classic jazz tunes unadorned with remixes or reinterpretation. But the songs on Babylon are originals, incorporating not just jazz but Afro-beat, Brazilian dance, Persian and Indian music, reggae, and psychedelia, all while making expert use of new and old collaborators like Sleepy Wonder, Lou Lou, and Shinehead. Icelandic singer Emiliana Torrini makes an instant impression on the first track, "Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes," her voice freeing the song's melody and structure with just a few hypnotic bars. It's hard to call this an electronic record at all; even their dub-influenced tracks miss a certain studio sheen, as if Hilton and Garza simply waded into a sweltering Jamaican beach party and hit record. But while it misses the ambient, ethereal edge that made The Mirror Conspiracy a downtempo classic, Babylon satisfies with organic energy and tasteful eclecticism. --Matthew Cooke

Album Description

Rob Garza and Eric Hilton consider it their most introspective work to date. Existing somewhere between rock, dub, psychedelic, Latin, and electronic music, this 2002 album finds the duo elevating their signature sound with more contemplative and thought-provoking songwriter. The jewel case is housed in a slipcase along with a 40-page black & white photo booklet. Eighteenth Street Lounge. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional fusion........2007-07-10

Words cannot fully describe the vibes that emerge through the sound of this CD. I first heard it at a Microsoft conference in Virginia. Before the speaker took stage, The Richest Man in Babylon had captivated the audience. Something only a Thiethery Cororation could do. Immagine a group of highly thinkers in the world standing still; Absolutely mesmerized by a mystical fusion of JazzBigBandElectroCeltic sound. It was so ooooo relaxing; so oooo captivating that I got off my seat, walked to the sound system and asked the MC what algorithm he used to produce such a fantastic sound. He told me the sound was rendered by a DC group called Thievery Corporation. Ever since, I have been and remained a fan. Buy and listen to this CD. Also checkout the dub version of the same album.
Dr. Israel King, Ph.D. Author of: How To Keep A Man.How To Keep A Man

Good background music.......2007-04-10

I saw them perform last year, and was told by friends that if I was going to purchase one of Thievery Corporation's CDs that this should be the one. As soon as I got it in the mail, I have listened to it nearly every day while working. If you like electronic music as background music, I would suggest this CD. It has a nice steady rhythm throughout the entire CD to keep you going. I love the CD but hate having to get up and press play again...I guess that just means that I should buy another one of Thievery Corporation's CDs.

Nothing less than 5 stars.......2007-02-11

I don't usually write reviews, but I feel compelled to raise the average rating on this album. Look, it's silly to give any TC album less than 5 stars, when comparing to any other album out there. TC makes the most brilliant music on the planet right now. Of course you should go out and buy RMIB right now, if you don't already own it. The first and last songs on this CD are worth it alone. You will find yourself listening to Resolution over and over again, mesmerized by its beautiful, swirling, mystical, comforting, and yearning sounds. The first song is just hands down brilliant. You've never heard anything like it in your life, but somehow it seems familiar.

Now, comparing TC albums to each other is a different story. There should be a separate "intra-artist" rating system. In that sense, I
would rate Cosmic Game the highest, followed by Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi, and then Richest Man In Babylon.

Great Album.......2006-09-28

This is my second album by Thievery Corporation, The Cosmic Game being the first. I think I like this album a bit more due the the more organic nature of the instrumentation here. "Facing East" is my favorite song on the album, as well as one of my favorite songs at the moment. The exotic Middle Eastern groove and instruments really make this song something very unique. The song "The Richest Man In Babylon" is a real gem in more of a soulful/jazzy/reggae kind of mood. The mix of cross cultures really brings this kind of music to life. "Resolution" has a cool dreamy atmosphere, the perfect way to end this album. I will explore more of their music soon.

Wow.......2006-08-11

I can't believe Schirmer's review is highlighted, this album is amazing!! Babylon has as many bold shifts in style, experimental, innovative melds of music, RICH instrumentation, interesting & relevant lyrics and great vocal work as a late Beatles album. Except there's lyrics not only in English, but French, Farsi and Spanish!! There's Indian, dub, Latin, jazzy, rap, instrumental, fast, slow, fun, reflective all on one album with a very cool political stance. This is SO original, seriously, who sounds like Thievery Corporation?? This is one of the best albums of 2002, if not THE best (I'd put the Chemical Brother's Come With Us up there too). I feel this is Thievery, Inc.'s best album (I have them all, too), but that's a seperate argument. This is so much infinitely better than most of the totally wretched garbage that gets played on the radio/MTV these days. Also it's independently made, which is hard to hear these days as well, with total corporate control of the mainstream media. Which the group's name is a 'hip' take on. Speaking of, sure some of the songs sound 'hip,' that's a compliment, isn't it?

The only way someone could find this album bland or boring is if that person is bland or boring, i.e. has no interest in the the world outside their local community, other cultures, or only interested in one kind of music. Or if you're a neo-con.

People from all over the world came together to make this album, how cool is that??

If only there were MORE international collaborations that ended up as beautiful as this....

Average customer rating:

Richest Bonus CD

The Richest Man in Babylon
Thievery Corporation
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Versions

ASIN: B00006IWWQ
Release Date: 2003-01-21

Tracks:

Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes
Facing East
Outernationalist
Interlude
Omid (Hope)
All That We Perceive
Simple Historie (A Simple Story)
Meu Destino
Exilio (Exile)
From Creation
Richest Man in Babylon
Liberation Front
State of the Union
Until the Morning
Resolution

Album Description

Limited French pressing of their 2002 album along with a bonus CD featuring 3 non-album tracks 'The Richest Man In Babylon' (acoustic version & Groove Corporation remix) & 'Language Symbolique' (previously unreleased). Standard jewel case housed in a slipc

Album Details

Bonus CD Includes "The Richest Man in Babylon" (Acoustic Version), "The Richest Man in Babylon" (Groove Corporation Remix), and "Langage Symbolique".

Customer Reviews:

Richest Bonus CD.......2005-03-13

This is a 2-cd packaging of The Richest Man In Babylon, with a bonus 3-song cd. For a review of the main album, go check the page for the regular album (although I will say it's good). Here we have the acoustic version, which is sung by See-I (some of their usual collaborators; Focus on Sight, 38.45), and is basically them singing over an acoustic guitar strummed in time with the beat, while hands clap in the background. Sounds like a typical protest song in this manner, but is interesting. The Groove Corporation remixes the song, but not whole terrible amount. They mostly just echo some of the effects, lengthen the instrumental breaks, and the only really new addition is a twisty little bassline. Still pleasant, just not very different from the original. The last track is Language Symbolique. This is a great song, and in my opinion, just as good as anything on Richest Man. But it doesn't sound a thing like the album, which is probably why it was left off. Very dubby and danceable, with French vocals by Lou Lou. So should you get this? Well, if you can find it, then yes. If not, the two versions of Richest Man can be found on the single for this song, and Language Symbolique can be found on the Den of Thieves compilation. This would just be a nice item for a collector.

Average customer rating:

Solid, but I've come to expect more from TC.
Only 1 review so far......
Continued magic with these two guys

The Richest Man in Babylon
Thievery Corporation
Manufacturer: Eighteenth Street
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Acid Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Dance & DJ | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 R&B | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Sounds from the Verve Hi-Fi
Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi
Versions
DJ-Kicks

ASIN: B000087N1P
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

Richest Man in Babylon [Album Version]
Richest Man in Babylon [Acoustic Version]
Richest Man in Babylon [Groove Corporation Remix]

Customer Reviews:

Solid, but I've come to expect more from TC........2003-04-04

Judging by the content of the other 2 reviews here, I think the reviewers were commenting on the album, "The Richest Man in Babylon," not this specific single. The single has 3 tracks: the studio version (from the album), an acoustic version, and a Groove Corporation remix.

The album version is solid Thievery Corporation: nice vocals, heavy hitting dub and the right amount of live instrumentation. I have no complaints.

The acoustic version is kind of goofy if you ask me. It sounds like they tried to mimic the sound of the electronic beat with an acoustic guitar. It didn't work too well.

The Groove Corporation remix is average. It sounds like the vocal track from the album version mixed up and with added effects. The underlying beat lacks a good low-end and is too "tinny" for my ears.

All in all, if you're a casual listener I would advise against the single. If you're a completist, pick it up. Not TC's best work in my humble opinion though. You'd be much better off getting something else from the ESL label, maybe the Nicola Conte remix album or one of their compilations (Dubbed out in DC, ESL volume 1, etc).

Only 1 review so far.............2003-03-08

...this is a great CD, but then again the Theivery guys are great artists; I expected nothing less. It's sad that music this good is not getting the attention it deserves while untalented goofballs get all the airplay (especially in the US). This is a great CD for relaxation, I love to listen to it on my drive home.

Continued magic with these two guys.......2003-03-04

I'm glad to have the honor of being the first to review this album. Thievery Corp continues in their original style and contine to prove that their musical diversity works. Each track simmers with delight with great breaks/beats, reggae, or light trip hop. This is a must have for any TC collection. Don't need to sample, just buy it you won't be disappointed. Guest vocalists add continued style and warmth... especially liked Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes, and All That We Perceive. These are classics that should make it to the best of collection.

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