Eyes Free

Rating:
Summary: Truth Hurts
Review: Seldom is a book with such honesty and depth entertaining...Taalam has managed to captivate the reader on page 1 and leave them longing for more on page 300. Here is the history of spoken word cleverly woven into the life's journey of one of the most compelling poets ever to grace a stage. Impossible to put down and a must read for anyone who has ever been, loved, or wanted to love, a black man.

Rating:
Summary: that life-or-death edge ..
Review: To quote a section in the book in which he describes his wife"I credit her with putting that life-or-death edge on my poetry.." That quote also applies to this book. Every sentence lives with a power and determination which cannot be denied. It must be experianced. I 1st saw Acey at a poetry club during his trip to Chicago in Jan 2000 and was blown away. Yes in the interest of full disclosure I am a fan and there are times when an editor could have helped the manuscript but it's a flawed masterpiece just like it's author.

Rating:
Summary: A masterfully written must-have for lovers of spoken word.
Review: You haven't experienced spoken word until you've experienced Taalam Acey. Words fail to describe the effect this man has on the mic. And off. When he says, "someone or something is protecting me", believe it. The first time I met Taalam, he moved me and to this day, I still find him inspiring.

Eyes Free is powerful on so many levels, it would take another book to explain. It is a raw collection of pivotal events, places, people and other phenomena that will evoke a gammet of emotion. I found myself laughing one minute (the humor is off the chain) and going "dayum, T!" the next, all the while turning page after page after page into the wee hours of the night.

Raised by the strongest of women, Taalam grew up in one of the "grittiest" cities in the world. Eyes Free chronicles the travels, trials, tribulations & turmoil of one of the world's finest jewels.

He covers early origins from the oral communication carried over on slave ships, to early poets like Phyllis Wheatley, to Harlem Renaissance and Langston Hughes to The Last Poets. He takes you through his first performance on the mic and brings you along the ride through venues where readings, festival and poetry slams (get the score cards out!) are held. The imagery is so vivid, one feels as if they are right there with him, especially on the night he fell in love with spoken word.

Eyes Free is sensual, seductive and outright scorching in its sexuality. These "spells" Taalam "Conjures" are no joke. I could go on, but will digress and let you take this journey through the eyes of one of the most powerful voices on this planet. He does not hold back with his views, opinions on other peers in this business and it is this constant truth that garners respect, or even reactions that are less than positive but hey! Such is life. If you can't be real with your own actions and others, what's the point? (page 232 is intense. truly)

Taalam. Thank you for sharing and showing such a personal side to the world. You opened this door to your mind, heart & soul allowing a glimpse inside. In giving so much of yourself, the love you are getting and will continue to receive is but a single drop in an ocean of gratitude for your presence in this here universe. I truly believe and know our ancestors are pleased. Peace*blessings. Riss.