Not Great for Meditating, But..
The urban groove chants do have a certain cool feel to them and after giving them a few listens, I've grown to really like them for mood music or even freestyle dance. The chants that are set to either the ambient music or are alone are very beautiful (the chanter has a gorgeous, deeply spiritual voice and intones well) and can be used to chant along with or to simply listen as one enters a deep meditation. I really love the writings of Lama Surya Das (nee Jeffery Miller) who writes about Tibetan Buddhism for a mostly Western audience and presents it well and without unneeded dogma (Tibetan purists probably are horrified at his approach, but I think the last thing Westerners who are curious about Buddhism need when they're exploring this faith is to be loaded down with foreign gods and concepts) and I had purchased this originally because of his name on the cover. I was abit surprised (like most of the other reviewers, I thought that this would be a cd for meditation), but I've grown to enjoy it alot. Just don't expect this to be an hour long guided meditation because it's not.

I like this CD
I like this CD and I listen to it all the time. The background instruments, including the drum, do not bother me. I like the musicality of the chanting. I like Lama Surya Das' voice; it's nice and resonant in deep notes and sweet in the higher notes. It's not like some chanting I've heard that sounds like the people have chanted it a gazillion times and are totally bored with it. Sometimes the attempts at spontaneity don't work entirely well, but overall it's my current favorite CD.

HORRIBLE! Hip Hoppy, Jazz Improv style to chants sucks!
The real reason I bought this was because I'm a big Steven Halpern fan and all of his stuff is great; who knew this Lama Surya Das (Long Island boy) would mess this CD up. I never return cds but this was so lousy I am most definitely returning it. A waste of my time, listening and most importantly ENERGY.

Average but ok
I liked one main song, but the thing i didn't like was the fact that theres about 5 songs and the track listed as having 13 songs. Its just a repeat of the same songs. Its kind of disappointing... But the sound is great. I just wish there were more mantras on the sound track...

Great CD
This is a CD of Lama Surya Das chanting in Tibetan over Steve Halpern's beats. Don't know what to say except that if you like this kind of thing, this is an excellent CD. I have listened to it many times at home and in the car. It will put you int a meditative state listening and singing along to the chants. Love it.