Mitakuye Oyasin Oyasin/All My Relations Explained

Mitakuye Oyasin Oyasin/All My Relations is an album by the American musical group the Neville Brothers, released in 1996.^{[1] [2]} Arvol Looking Horse allowed the Nevilles to use a Lakota phrase for the album's title.^[3] The band supported the album with a North American tour.^[4]

Production

The album was coproduced by James Stroud. Ten members of the Neville extended family worked on the album; Cyril Neville was in part inspired to use family members after attending the Million Man March.^{[5] [6]} Gaynielle Neville cowrote three of the songs. Bob Weir played guitar on the cover of the Grateful Dead's "Fire on the Mountain"; the song was nominated for a Grammy Award.^[7] Aaron Neville solos on the cover of Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine".^[8] Charles Neville played saxophone on the album.^[9] Dann Huff played guitar.^[10] "You're Gonna Make Your Momma Cry" addresses a person addicted to crack cocaine.^[11]

Critical reception

Entertainment Weekly noted that "when the Neville Brothers ignore their pair of aces—Mardi Gras music and Aaron’s ethereal warble—they come perilously close to generic funk." The Guardian called the album "a tasteful collection of eclectic tunesmithery with bouncy Caribbean beats, gospel-flavoured hymns and soulful ballads." The Fort Worth Star-Telegram considered it to be one of the group's best albums, writing that "the sound is strongly informed by the '70s soul of Hi Records."^[12] USA Today labeled the album "an incongruous mix of slick radio-aimed ballads and funky Afro-Caribbean jumpers."

AllMusic deemed Mitakuye Oyasin Oyasin/All My Relations "an album of small pleasures rather than the larger statement it seems intended to be."

Notes and References

1. News: Takiff . Jonathan . May's Hot Music . The Seattle Times . 9 May 1996 . F3.
2. News: Whitall . Susan . Nevilles explore their spiritual side . San Francisco Chronicle . 12 May 1996 . DAT48.
3. Book: DeLaney Hoffman . Elizabeth . American Indians and Popular Culture . 2012 . ABC-CLIO . 321.
4. News: Shuster . Fred . Contemplating Neville . Los Angeles Daily News . 19 July 1996 . L22.
5. News: Spera . Keith . 'Smooth Relations' Puts Nevilles on the Sunny Side . The Times-Picayune . 27 Apr 1996 . E1.
6. News: McDonald . Sam . Neville's Spreading Brotherly Love . Daily Press . 21 June 1996 . Newport News . D1.
7. Web site: Neville Brothers . Recording Academy . 25 September 2023.
8. News: Wirt . John . Nevilles blend messages with many musical flavors . The Advocate . 17 May 1996 . Baton Rouge . Fun . 8.
9. News: Kinsman . Michael . Album Reviews . The San Diego Union-Tribune . 16 May 1996 . Night & Day . 18.
10. News: Mitchell . Rick . One family, many songs . Houston Chronicle . 19 May 1996 . Zest . 6.
11. News: Burliuk . Greg . The Neville Brothers . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 1 June 1996 . Companion . 6.
12. News: Ferman . Dave . The Neville Brothers, Mitakuye Oyasin Oyasin/All My Relations . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . 24 May 1996 . Star Time . 13.