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Editorial Reviews

Music Is the Weapon is a triple-disc package that contains both volumes of The Best of Fela Kuti volumes and the terrific documentary the title of this set comes from. There are a total of 13 tracks over the two discs, ranging from "Shakara," "Zombie," and "Sorrow Tears and Blood." Some cuts here, such as "Gentleman" and "Water No Enemy" are edited versions, while still others, such as "Shuffering and Shmiling," are the second parts of album-length jams. Nonetheless, while it's a bit irritating to not have entire tracks, this set makes for a quite decent sampler of Kuti's glory years. The DVD is essential viewing as well; it is not only authoritative and well-researched, it is authorized by the family. All of that said, Wrasse Records and Universal issued another three-disc set with some of the same tracks, called Anthology 1. This latter one is the preferred compilation because it showcases Kuti's important, formative '60s work in London and Los Angeles as well as Lagos. It also organizes the material chronologically and features unedited tracks, and comes with a terrific DVD as well called Teacher Don't Teach Me No Nonsense. Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

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