Reviews (page 3 of 7)
I had never heard of this and immediately the album cover had me intrigued... and, yes, this is AWESOME.
More of whatever this!
This is totally my kind of nonsense. Weird but melodic. And weird in a way I haven’t heard before but also weird in that classic 1960s kind of way. Man. The Beatles really did a number on people. FOUR STARS
This is exactly the kind of music I wanted to discover by doing this challenge.
Trippy!
7.3/10
60s psych-pop plus Brazilian grooves? It's a yes from me. On several occasions I heard The Beatles, but at times there were traces of Small Faces, Donavan, The Animals and more - all with a Latin twist and unique experimental flair to rival their English-speaking contemporaries.
Weird and wonderful and trippy but didn't move me quite as much as the (few) other tropicalia records I've heard from this so far (REALLY loved the Caetano Veloso s/t and Jorge Ben's Africa Brasil). Maybe it's just that it's a bit goofy and owes a lot to the psychedelic era of the Beatles which has never been as interesting to me but yeah this was fun and weird and wonderful but so far everything I've heard on this list from Brazil has been the coolest shit EVER and this is just "wow this is pretty unique and cool!" so high bar to cross I guess
Superb!
I really love this album! The peak of punk music
What a weird little gem of an album. This is the kind of thing I signed up for - to hear something really new (to me) and interesting that pushes the boundaries. Really well done, interesting psych rock. This as the soundtrack and a weird cartoon in the Meredith cinema and I’d be very happy.
Good music and really groovy. 4 stars
Hell ya
Brazilian psych, very nice
Quite upbeat, Brazilian vibe and beats with an electronic flavour. Easy listening even if you don’t understand BrPt
Solid album! I'd listen to it again. MPB might be a new favorite genre of mine.
bizar en off-beat... Braziliaanse cumbia meets Brit psychedelica... mooi
Honestly, I've never properly listened to this kind of music.. and I was surprised in a good kind of sense. Surely would add a couple of songs into my liked playlist.
I've heard probably three of these tracks on the radio at some point with enough frequency that they stuck in my brain. That said, I had no idea who these folks are, and this is a really out there record. I mean that in the best possible sense!
This is the kind of stuff I expected to see on this list. I'm not sure I'll listen to it again, but it was super weird and I'm glad I gave it a go.
Kul överraskning och skruvat på ett riktigt bra sätt! Växer för varje lyssning och klart bättre än mycket annan psykadelisk rock på den här listan. Att det är så varierat och genreöverskridande gör lyssningen intressant hela vägen. Vissa delar är kanske inte hundraprocentiga, så det blir inte högsta betyg, men en fyra är det helt klart och något jag skulle vilja lyssna mer på när det här vansinnesprojektet är över.
À revisiter, intéressant au delà de l’aspect historique et très étrange dans le bon sens du terme.
didn’t know “brazilian” was a genre thanks apple music
Welcome to an alternate universe where the Hollies emerge out of Brazil instead of Manchester, UK. They are bit more psychedelic, and I would say more sophisticated, but that might just be because I can't understand all the lyrics. It doesn't matter in the end, because empirically, this is just good, fun, psychedelic rock.
not bad
Interesting
A Minha Menina is a fantastic song, it's a wonderful fusion of Latin-influenced psychedelic rock. I was quite familiar with it already - it already features on my playlist of favourites - and I'd spun this album once in the past too. The remainder of the album is good, albeit not spectacular, but A Minha Menina is enough to push it into high 3-star territory, rounded up to a 4.
Wow. It's albums like this that made me start this in the forst place. It's great and ive never heard (of) it before
The Magical Mystery Tour stops in Brazil! What a whacky, enjoyable listen. Minus 1 point for Portuguese. I hope it doesn’t make me racist to prefer to understand the lyrics.
Brazilian music of the sixties is such a trip. This is the weird Sixties Psychedelia I've been waiting for from the generator.
Very good album. Interesting and varied.
It's their happening, baby, and it freaks them out!
This is a very cool, fun album. It doesn't even seem real considering it's time.
Sgt. Pepper Beatles distilled with a few drops of Yoko and a lot of drops of LSD.
Had a roomate in college that played the shite out of this album
что-то Мексиканское(они бразильцы оказывается лол)и классическое аккомо аккофо что-то там... акустика?
Psychedelic 60s rock... but in Portuguese?! I like it!
Entertainingly bonkers 3.8
That was fun and I'm going to keep it around on the phone for a while to listen to again
This was a cool and interesting listen. I will listen to this again. Due to the language difference here, I will look for a translation of the lyrics.
Weird, loud and fun
Samba and Bossa Nova tinged Psychedelic Rock? Hell yeah!
yksi suodetuista maista. brasilia. suodetaan neljä viisi.. emt ehkä kuusi albumia.. jahas sanoo englannin taitajat, anglomaanikot. englanninkielen lautakunta jahas noh portugali. sata vuotta maailmanherroja oli niin vaikka .. EN YMMÄRRÄ HOHHOIJJAAA.. en kieltä ymmärrä niin otetaan muutama BRASILIA albumi.. ei edes kotimaa portugali.. BRASSIT BRASSIT. ja suomenkieltä näkynytkään. ei vilaustakaan.. chinese not approved. india hmm beatles were in india... ok go india 3 albums maybe... vähän kontekstia revolver albumille niin laitetaan pari ravi shankaria sekaan sanoivat lautakunta.. sairasta touhua sanon minä. hyvä albumi btw, erikoinen a minha menina
El Sgt. Pepperino
Panis Et Circenses // A Minha Menina // Baby // Senhor F // Bat Macumba // Trem Fantasma // 3.5/5
This is what I signed up for. Brazilian psychedelic rock with some of the loudest, most ear-piercing guitars I’ve ever heard on an album? Hell yeah.
Weird and I like it
Really fun album with strange instrumentation and weird artistic choices. The kind of pleasant surprise that should be on this list. 4.0/5.0: Great
this is the kinda thing im here for. not a fantastic album but it was a super fun listen. a bit chaotic at times with a fascinating use of different instruments
Ändå lite trevligt
This is very fun. Strange, great weird instrumentation, awesome vocals.
So random that I just heard this band for the first time a few months ago and now they show up on here. Rightly so.
Sometimes music offers up a mind melting experience where reality and illusion merge.
On first listen I think this kind of passed me by - it was fine but not much more. On second listen it really clicked much more - so many similar sounds from the time, this time it just happens to be in Portuguese (and French).
so good i had to listen to it twice (i fell asleep the first time)
3.7 2x flagging this to come back to... nice and Brazilian
4 stars for originality and musicianship.
More well written than most other weird 60s psych-rock i've come across, while still being plenty strange.
fun and strange
Playfully chaotic and fun. Unlike anything else I’ve heard so far. A melting pot of eclectic and unique sounds and genres.
Fun and exotic
estuvo ok
Kickass weird and fun. Can't see frequent re-listens, to too novel and creative not to give it a 4.
Liked this way more than I expected. The first 2 tracks pulled me in and Baby was really good. Definitely strange but I think it worked. Light 4.
Never heard of this band and couldn’t understand a word but I liked this a lot. Even though it was made in 1968 it sounds very modern. Sometimes it’s really interesting to listen to rock music sung in other languages.
This is the kind of album perfect for this list. Something important in another part of the world that I’d never hear otherwise. Sounds like this band loved the 60s stones.
This was a pretty fun album. It started off a little weird but really got into a good fun place.
1960's Brazilian Psychedelic Pop? OK! A Minha Menina is my favorite. Is this band sort of like a Brazilian Velvet Underground without a Lou Reed? Senhor F sounds old timey, kinda fun. Bat Macumba has a great bass line but I'm trying to decide if the totally fuzzed out static guitar is cool or annoying. I like the bass and drums but I don't really like what they did over it with the guitar and keys. Le Premier Bonheur.. total mood change w pretty cool vocals. I honestly don't know what to think of Trem Fantasma. How did David Lynch not use this song in one of his films? Not something I'd listen to often but it's pretty peculiar and definitely off the beaten path!
Tropicalia meets Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. I’ve had this album in my life for almost 20 years. It’s a very unique ride! “A Minha Menina” is a close to perfect song. If feels like an evening of samba and drinks on a beach.
Weird, Brazilian, and Psychadelia? Yeah, music like this is why the list should exist. 4/5
I love “A Minha Menina,” but I knew by it was what I now know is a cover. Great album that clear had a lot influences from the time and the Beatles, but still a vibe.
In the realm of psychedelic music this is one of the more listenable and accessible records even if it's sung in Portuguese. There are some really great, catchy songs here.
love it, love it, love it.
Pretty damn good album especially considering I don't know what any of the words mean.
I totally loved every minute. Weird interludes, transitions from the nega-verse. Like a Portuguese chamber pop mr. bungle.
Os Mutantes' self-titled 1968 debut album stands as a landmark of psychedelic Brazilian music and the Tropicália movement, blending a kaleidoscope of influences, experimental production, and playful yet rebellious themes. This in-depth review explores its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and the album’s strengths and weaknesses. ## Lyrics The lyrics on *Os Mutantes* are primarily in Portuguese and reflect a mix of playful surrealism, social commentary, and cultural references typical of the Tropicália movement. While not overtly political in the style of Bob Dylan or Sly Stone, the band’s work subtly challenged Brazil’s military dictatorship by embracing artistic freedom and irreverence. Songs like “A Minha Menina” (originally by Jorge Ben) express joyous love with simple, catchy phrases, while “Bat Macumba” and “Senhor F” feature repetitive, chant-like vocals and whimsical nonsense that contribute to the album’s playful, subversive spirit. The lyrics often border on the absurd or theatrical, adding to the album’s charm and unpredictability[1][3][4]. ## Music Musically, *Os Mutantes* is a vibrant fusion of psychedelic rock, Brazilian folk rhythms, garage rock, and avant-garde experimentation. The album draws from Anglo-American psychedelic pop influences like The Beatles and Frank Zappa, while incorporating Brazilian percussion and rhythms, creating a sound that is both familiar and alien. Tracks like “A Minha Menina” transform samba into a rollicking psych-rock anthem with fuzzy guitars and energetic percussion. “Bat Macumba” grooves with krautrock-like repetitive drums and funky rhythms, while “Ave Genghis Khan” blends psychedelic pop with jazzy percussion and electronic sounds ahead of its time. The band’s use of unusual instruments, distortion, and vocal effects adds layers of texture and surprise, making the music dense yet accessible[1][2][3][4][5]. ## Production The production on the album is inventive and experimental, reflecting the youthful audacity of the band members—Arnaldo Baptista (20 years old), Sérgio Dias (18), and Rita Lee (21). The album features homemade distortion pedals, tape effects, and a collage-like approach to sound that was groundbreaking in Brazil at the time. The production is intentionally raw and somewhat underproduced, giving the album a scrappy, garage band feel that enhances its chaotic joy. The use of studio trickery, feedback, and musique concrète techniques creates a psychedelic atmosphere without losing the pop sensibility. This lo-fi, playful production style contributes to the album’s lasting charm and originality[1][3][4][5][6]. ## Themes Thematically, *Os Mutantes* celebrates youthful rebellion, artistic freedom, and the joy of musical experimentation. The album captures the spirit of the Tropicália movement, which sought to break down cultural barriers and challenge authoritarianism through art. While not explicitly political in lyrics, the band’s very existence and sound were acts of cultural defiance against Brazil’s military regime. The album’s eclecticism and humor reflect a desire to escape convention and explore new sonic territories. Themes of love, fantasy, and playful absurdity run throughout, making the album a joyous, kaleidoscopic experience[4][6]. ## Influence *Os Mutantes* has had a profound and lasting influence on global music, especially in alternative, psychedelic, and indie rock circles. The band’s innovative fusion of Brazilian rhythms with psychedelic and experimental rock inspired artists such as Beck, who dedicated an album to them, and David Byrne of Talking Heads, a vocal admirer. Kurt Cobain attempted to reunite the band to tour with Nirvana, and contemporary acts like Stereolab and Boogarins have drawn from their sound. Despite their significant impact, Os Mutantes remained relatively unknown outside Brazil for decades, making their influence a remarkable story of underground legacy[4][7]. ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Exceptionally inventive and original psychedelic sound blending Brazilian and Anglo-American influences | Can feel chaotic and “all over the place,” which may alienate some listeners on first hearing | | Playful, joyous, and rebellious spirit capturing youthful energy | Raw, underproduced sound might be perceived as rough or unfinished | | Unique song structures and inventive use of studio effects | Lyrics in Portuguese may limit immediate accessibility for non-Portuguese speakers | | Strong, catchy melodies with experimental instrumentation | Some tracks may seem dated or overly busy to modern ears | | Influential and groundbreaking within Tropicália and psychedelic music | Not overtly political, so may lack direct engagement for listeners seeking protest music | ## Conclusion *Os Mutantes* is a chaotic, joyful masterpiece that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of 1960s Brazilian Tropicália. Its daring fusion of psychedelic rock, Brazilian folk, and avant-garde experimentation set it apart as a unique and influential album. The lyrics, while playful and sometimes surreal, contribute to a sense of artistic freedom and rebellion against authoritarian norms. The production’s raw, inventive style enhances the album’s charm and timelessness. Though its eclecticism and rough edges may challenge some listeners, repeated plays reveal a rich, rewarding musical experience that continues to inspire generations of musicians worldwide. This album is not just a record but a cultural statement—an exuberant declaration of creativity that remains as fresh and revolutionary today as it was over 50 years ago.
Yes please
Never heard the band or album before but interesting stuff!
Really cool
3.5 - Some songs are so so good and then others are just hard to listen to. Feels very similar to velvet underground. Good though, enjoyed
Give a load of musicians some acid and a kazo ans this is the result. Love it
This is the sort of madness that this list was designed for
Kinda charming.
This was cool AF to be fair. I also got to use it to improve my Portuguese, an endeavour I'm doing through Duo Lingo, leaving me fluent for about 20 minutes a day, and entirely non-conversant the rest of the time. Anyway, Os Mutantes (The Mutants!) manage to combine Brazilian flavours with garage rock in a way that left me thinking: eu me sinto muito feliz agora.
I genuinely have no idea how to react to this, but it was pretty fucking cool
This is exactly the stuff I was hoping to find when doing this challenge, weird stuff I would’ve never found otherwise. BRASIL NUMERO UNO!
Oh me oh my Brazilian music gone past me by.
I wasn't expecting samba music but this album made me absolutely love the genre. They do have some very strange instrumentals going on, but it gives it a unique ambiance, and for that, I really like this album. I wish I knew how to speak Spanish so I could really enjoy this album to its full potential. I am now finding out that this album is Brazilian, and the genre is psychedelic tropicalia, which is like sambas weird cousin. Brazilians always make great music.
72/100. Os Mutantes’ self-titled album is a pretty good and vibey listen, blending psychedelic rock with a uniquely Brazilian twist. I had never heard of the band before, but this debut was a fun surprise, filled with creative arrangements, quirky transitions, and playful energy.
Love the off the wall instrumentation. Portuguese is a beautiful language, I love hearing it on Brazilian tracks.
Grrrooooooovvvy baaaaaabbbby.
Os Mutantes
This is what I came for. Mad 60s Brazillian take on psychedelic rock. I'll be back
One of these psychedelic surprises that the 60s has to offer. Tasty and unpredictable. Gimme more!
That was a nice surprise - I really enjoyed but it does get a bit repetitive.
What a fantastic psychedelic journey this is Weird and fun and constantly surprising About as high as a 4 gets and I have a suspicion it might go to the full 5 if I listen to it at the right time/place/mind
Friggin cool. I'm a sucker for this late '60s, intangible, low fidelity, grainy, psychadelic music that takes on this almost dream-like quality. And this one has a Brazillian-pop twist! It almost reminded me of the VU debut in many ways, with those occasional female-vocal-led soft ballads, like the dreamy 'O Relogio' and 'Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour.' I also really liked the song 'Baby'; it had this super cutesy organ lead and maybe the catchiest chorus on the album. 'Bat Macumba' goes all the way with those insane tribal drums, and that bassline is to die for. 'Ave Gengis Khan' was also a memorable closer, taking an almost krautrock direction, reminding me ever so slightly of a CAN song. Just a really fun album to get through. Music like this just takes your mind to a million different places. And I'll say the grainy quality of the recording only amplifies this effect.
Unique
this is absolutely scrumptious 60s psych rock it’s awesome
This is the kind of weird stuff that makes me stick with this project! Like a mix of the Beach Boys and early Pink Floyd. One of the more interesting 60s psychedelic albums I've heard, but maybe because I don’t speak Portuguese and so I focused on the music. 4⭐️
This was brilliant! I really enjoyed it. Each song was completely different and just so fun. Will be listening today
I enjoyed this! Didn't know what to expect and was a bit concerned when it started to be honest but it was great fun!
oooooh awesome!! I love A Minha Menina but I havent heard the rest yet. loved ittt! Right up my alley for late 60s psych🔥
New! Different! Surprisingly pleasant to listen to! Introduced some new songs to my morning commute playlist
Åh. Er det en 4er, eller er det en 1er? Jeg var underholdt af underligheden fra start til slut. Cirkus, gøgler show.
Pretty great. I feel like animal collective got some inspiration from this. I like the song baby a lot
This is what I thought the Beatles sounded like before I listened to them
This is pretty wild and sounds quite innovative for its time. Liked Songs Added: A Minha Menina Bat Macumba Ave Gengis Khan
Well, considering this is a French album. It kind of limits how much I can process. Like I have no idea what any of the songs are about. Literally the only thing I can even critique/comment on is the music and instrumentation. Thankfully psychedelic rock has a long history of being performed by wildly talented musicians and that is no different here. The music is engaging and creative without being silly necessarily. There’s variety, not a lot, but definitely a lot of variety for its time. Honestly this album ages super well and it’s because the music and instrumentation is so good. Just a few songs in and you think you might have a good idea of what this album has to offer and then you realize don’t when you get to “Adeus Maria Fulô” which I can only describe as jungle-rock. It’s so fun and enjoyable, I’d highly recommend this album to somebody with tolerance for not understanding the actual lyrics/message and an interest in psychedelic music.
This album is cute - not my usual vibe but it's a pleasant listen. Would recommend.
Really enjoyed most of this album. The South American take on psychedelic was great to listen to. Overall I liked this. 3.5/5 Will listen again
Crazy
It’s psych rock, which is never my favorite genre, but it’s Brazilian psych rock, which at least makes it more interesting. Overall, a pretty fun album with a good amount of variety. Favorites: O Relógio, Le Premier Bonheur du Jour 3.5
Weird but really fun
Never heard before. Very.good.
Now this was something so unique, never heard anything quite like this, it was weird in the best way combining so many genres that would never even be considered together usually, really shocked with the results
The way this album mixes traditional Brazilian vocals with late 60s psych rock is just so mind blowing and weird to me, what a fascinating and beatiful album
hell ye
Feels simultaneously like The Beatles of post-Rubber band, but also you can really feel the strange foreshadowing of Neutral Milk Hotel (inb4 "The man who only listened to The Beatles and Neutral Milk Hotel be like:")
Kunnon meininki! Viidakon rokkia ja sekoilua! 4/5
Menevä lattarirock-platta! 4/5
Good vibes, enjoyed this one. Would not be surprised if they were a big influence for modern day surf psych rock
The result of the US thinking it’s the center of the universe is that so many people miss the best of other cultures. Os Mutantes were doing things almost no other band was back then.
For 1968, this stuff is pretty dang creative. It represents the almost euphoric happiness that the world of psychedelia had to offer back in the 60s. The multiple song sections squeezed into tracks under three minutes in length, the multi-tracked layering of vocals (e.g. in Trem Fantasma), the heavy 8-bit distortion of the guitar on Bat Macumba... man, how do you come up with this stuff? There's some clear influence here, not just from British psychedelic pop but also towards it. I'm willing to bet the likes of Pink Floyd, the Velvet Underground, and Jefferson Airplane both inspired and were inspired by Os Mutantes. Each track is distinct from the last, and the energy of the album rises and falls like a (slow) rollercoaster. The bass playing is one of the highlights of the album, being simple, bluesy, and infectious. There are a few aspects that could've been better. The production is fine for its time, but through a modern lens it feels a bit brash and messy. (Hard to explain.) The vocals are mixed too loudly – commonplace for the 60s – giving it an overly retro feel. I'm not a big fan of the male lead vocal, which sounds untrained compared to its female counterpart. There are parts of the album where Os Mutantes seemingly chooses to be "weird for the sake of weird", and generally I'm not a big fan of that. They make it work pretty darn well, though. It's a gas. 4/5 Key tracks: Panis Et Circenses, A Minha Menina, Trem Fantasma
Sick album, never heard of these guys before but I really love the Brazilian psych sound
genre: samba/pop rock/alternative?? very genre bending and weird, i quite liked it!
WT actual F? Album art works for the album, some recognizable elements and plenty of wait, what's that? Clearly set in a time and place without being like anything I've ever heard before. Madness; two thumbs up.
Now THIS is how you do psychedelic! Experimental without being annoying. Weird sounds that simply somehow go together. It’s great. I loved every song. Good work folks! 4/5
Fun and weird
Utterly weird and whimsical psychedelic pop from… Brazil? Fck yeah. Albums like these are why it’s so fun being a part of this website - I likely never would have discovered this band on my own.
A bit funny. Sounds like the Italien funky Beatles
This album was an interesting mix of psychedelia and more traditional Brazilian music. I wish the production was a bit better, but it's a fun listen overall 4/5
Brazilian music blended by American and British psychedelic.
Funky Brazilian psychedelic rock
What an absolutely wonderful, weird album. Strangely approachable in spite of its eccentricities, and even kind of charming. Really enjoyed this one.
7/10
Bit bonkers but always dug them on the Tropicalia album during my Brazilian phase
Never heard of them, thought I wouldn't reconcognise any of it, then that second track came along. Sounds like the velvet underground with a south American twist. Can't help but see the front cover as a homage to "what we do in the Shadows".
Love those vibes
The way I would describe this style is that they use basic rock (or sometimes jazz?) melodies as a foundation, and then add a bunch of stuff on top: effects, samples, extra instruments, some folk elements, sometimes the main theme isn't even there for half of the track, but it all works perfectly together. But more importantly, it just sounds fun.
3.5/5
9/10. Um...YES, PLEASE!!! This album features the PERFECT 1960's psychedelic rock vibes. It's crazy and all over the place, but in the best way possible. Brazil knows how to make fantastic music!!! :)
Out there psych rock from the late 60s. Fun listen, but not the best album I have ever heard. Some tunes are very unique and you can tell various influences. 7/10
I mean I love this cover. Let's see. Finally, an album that lives up to its cover. Is this the best album I've ever heard? This is 36 minutes of joy, right here.
There is a special place in every record collector's heart for a weird old obscure record with a cool cover that you pick out of a bargain bin for $1, which turns out to be awesome fun. I confess I have a few of those in my collection. Collectors love to champion those kinds of records; hard to find, strange, often misbegotten, and probably not really that great or important in the scheme of things. But a fun artefact to share with your friends. The obscurity is part of the fetishization. Every now and then, a cult will build up around those kinds of finds, and suddenly they are a cause célèbre. I am thinking of things like the Shaggs' Philosophy of the World, the Kashmere Stage Band and the entire Numero Group catalogue. I've always been wary of Os Mutantes as exactly that kind of hipster-bait. It's for music snobs who think that Pet Sounds is too mainstream ("yeah, Pet Sounds is OK I guess, but I bet you've never heard _this_ one.") I have slogged through a long list of 60s psychedelic cult classics as part of this list (Love, Spirit, 13th Floor Elevators, Skip Spence, Shuggie Otis, Iron Butterfly, Quicksilver Messenger Service, for god's sake), and most are a pretty shitty listening experience. I am doubly wary when the legend of the band is an integral part of their 'appeal', especially if that legend is predicated on career collapse and/or the suffering of one or more band members' due to mental health or other issues. And this album ticked nearly all the boxes on my 'pretentious music sob under-rated masterpiece psychedelic cult favorite' bingo card before the stylus even hit the vinyl. But what's the listening experience actually like, if I give it an honest chance? Well, pretty damn great, actually. The tunes are catchy and melodic (even if I can't understand the Portuguese lyrics), the singing is great, especially Rita Lee, the Tropicalia rhythms are fun, the songs are generally pretty economical without too much unlistenable psychedelic nonsense (cf. Pet Sounds low point 'Vegetables'. Don't come at me, hipsters, but 'Vegetables' is shit), the lo-fi recording has a charming warmth, the fuzzy guitar is excellent. I realized I did know 'A Minha Menina', which is a terrific tune. 'Baby', 'Trem Fantasma' and 'Bat Macumba' also really strong stand-outs. The whole album is charming (if occasionally twee), left of centre (generally avoiding disappearing too far down the black hole of pseudo-experimentalism), with great pop chops. Loathe as I am to admit it, I really like this album. It's fun to listen to. It is, dare I say, more to my taste as an enjoyable listening experience than Pet Sounds (which I consider to be massively over-rated. Dude, I already said, don't come at me). Do you really _need_ to hear this record? Not really, but I like it. I would seriously consider buying this record. But I don't want a pricey vinyl reissue. I want a shitty, beaten-up copy from a dusty bargain bin on the floor of a small record store with the cover all split, lots of surface noise, and a previous owner's name written in biro on the label. That's the way this album should be heard.
SO. FUCKING. WEIRD. I love it! Seriously, every track is very different. It's a tour through sounds jazzy, rocky, funky, loungey, and experimental.
Interesting!
Feeling psychedelic
Quirky and eccentric psychedelia from Brazil. A Minha Menina, Baby, and Bat Macumba are the best, but a really fun album overall.
experimental, playful, and chaotic. a fantastic find.
This was kind of all over the place and was very fun. A Brazilian psych-rock album with songs by Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben, Francoise Hardy and The Mamas and the Papas - it’s as eclectic as it sounds and just incredibly energetic and frankly a bit nuts. Good stuff
Super rad album! Wacky and off-the-wall and creative and catchy. Will really enjoy coming back to this. 8/10
Digging this one right out of the gate. Quick little indirection with the horn fanfare, then we get right into some super wonky psychedelic rock. Love the bright trumpet work overtop of it all. A Minha Menina sounds really familiar, but I cannot place it. Ditches the outright psychedlia vibe of Panis Et Circenses for a brighter surf-rock vibe. Feels very much like proto-Beck. The tape effects on Bat Macumba also make me think of Beck. A bit distracting, but interesting no less. This whole album feels so far ahead of it's time. Not many individual songs I would go in for, but the album as a whole is tight and interesting. This is an unexpected high 4 for me.
With the Brazilian music scene bubbling under the exciting fizz of Troplicália, it would be Os Mutantes that would provide the more out there aspects of the genre with their self-titled debut. Blazing originality mixed with transformed renditions of songs from the States have helped this record endure, largely in their homeland then ultimately the rest of the world. A guaranteed head spinner. Favorites: Panis Et Circenses, A Minha Menina, O Relógio, Baby, Bat Macumba, Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour, Tempo No Tempo.
4/5 Weird, old, psychedelic, foreign music. It slaps. The back stretch is so strong. Even the weaker moments are just striking and confusing and definitely not boring. And the stronger moments are so intriguing and full of life. Panis Et Circenses 3.5/5 A Minha Menina 4/5 O Relógio 3.5/5 Adeus Maria Fulô 2.5/5 Baby 3.5/5 Senhor F 3.5/5 Bat Macumba 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour 5/5 Trem Fantasma 5/5 (FAV) Tempo No Tempo 4.5/5 Ave Gengis Khan 4.5/5
Favorites were Tempo no Tempo and Bat Macumba. Probably won’t listen again, but def interesting this is so popular in Brazil.
Heel vaag maar wel geinig
Climbing the mountain I learned I had wings.
I enjoyed it a lot. Didn't outstay it's welcome and contained some very delicious noises.
I would like to take a moment to thank the creators of the 1001 Albums book and this project. This is a band that I never would have heard of. This music was very interesting and experimental. It had, at times, what I thought were really strokes of genius and novelty and not something I would have ever learned about if not for this project.
A surprisingly fun and experimental rock album. There are many songs that are fun to listen to once, but because of some of the experimental choices, I'm not sure they would be great for repeated listening, for me at least. Nonetheless, a super interesting album with some great songs on it.
Yes, all the best songs here are covers, yes, they're all written by Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben Jor and Gilberto Gil. But who cares when they are this good? I had The Bees a few weeks back with their inferior version of A Minha Menina, this 'original' is simply streets ahead. I love Astrid Gilberto's version of Baby but this is almost as good in all it's wonky glory. I am pretty sure they also recorded a different, gentler, version with Rita Lee on the vocal, which I prefer (yes they did, in English - in 1971 - not sure I prefer it now but it's still nice). Panis Et Circenses (Bread and Circuses - check the cutting lyrics in English, great) is gloriously mental. Happy to have discovered this in the 90s and now I can look back and recognise that the other weird shit I was listening to at the time like Gorkys Zygotic Mynci was basically Os Mutantes in Welsh. I don't love everything here, sometimes it's a bit TOO psych, at the expense of, you know, a tune, but it's a fundamentally good time all the same. Great timing as well. I went to see Marcos Valle live last night. He's 80, and he was fucking brilliant. I love it when this app throws out a serendipity album.
Strange but very musical and unique. I'm not sure I have heard anything like this before...and I like that.
This one was weird in a mostly good way.
-I LOVE THIS SM! Tropicalia is a very interesting genre. this album specifically kind of reminds me of Thievery Corporation in a lot of songs. The crazy instrumentation is my favorite part -Favorites are A Minha Menina, Adeus Maria Fulô, Bat Macumba, and Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour
Esta es la sicodelia que me gusta
Surprisingly really cool! Guitar work is awesome.
What a pleasant surprise
Very cool album! The kind of variety to '60s psych rock that we need, something in a different language. "Bat Macumba" is such a banger, I've heard the chorus part a million times based on it being in Nacho Libre, but good lord that guitar piece is insane, the effects are otherwordly. Really enjoyed this one! Favorite tracks: Bat Macumba, Panis et circenses, Adeus Maria Fulo, Trem Fantasma. Album art: A couple of spooky folks in a green room. Very strong design here, love the Halloween font style as well. Makes me think of that show Los Espookys. 4/5
What a fun album. Trippy vibes of the hippie 60's era with an eclectic mix of Latin America, which made for a very unique sound. I really enjoyed it
Extremely fun and cultural album. Great drums, bass, guitars and vocals. A lot of material from here that I’ve heard sampled from some of my favorite hip hop artists. Psychedelic and funky.
Very unique sound (Brazilian Psych) - a little chaotic at times, but largely enjoyable!
pretty cool shit. would have never know this was from the 60s.
When I moved to Chicago the MCA had an exhibit on Tropicalia and these bright moons are the thing that's always stuck in my head from it.
Super fuckin cool.
damn this is a fine discovery. Late sixties beat/psychedelia is not my comfort zone but this is a damn fine first date and thus four stars. Need to go and relisten definitely to see if it joins Iggy and a few others as albums I have bought after hearing them on this list.
As the top review put it: "This is the kind of weird shit I signed up for"
Überraschende zappaeske Momente.
Erweckt in mir eine verschobene Art der Nostalgie.1969. KLingt zum Teil aber auch sehr nett.
Really neat. Reminded me of Crack-Up in terms of how wild the form got at times. Won’t be regular listening but was a highlight of the non-US albums.
Pop-rock experimental psicodélico en portugués. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
- psychedelic era album, brazilian band - big fan of the atmospheric experimental feel and differences that happen in tempo - one of the songs is in french which was a surprise when I could suddenly understand what they were singing - i quite enjoy the choral feeling of chunks of this - CLARINET in tempo no tempo!! clocks also!! - really quite entertaining to realize how much i don’t know. and how much the “beatles sound” is just the sound of the era. embarrassing for me! - i’m not sure where to rate this one - I don’t listen to 60s music a ton, but this album is really sonically interesting to me. going to go with 4/5, adding to library to expand the music i have in my library in other languages
I liked this album way more than I thought I would. It probably helps that I have no idea what they were saying.
Enjoyably bonkers, & A Minha Meina is a top tune
Weird (or as another reviewer called it "Batshit Crazy") and (mostly) wonderful. And fun. Really liked this. This album and others from this band added to favorites for later listening.
Enjoyed this psychedelic way to start the day.
Everyone that grew up in Brazil in the 80s-90s knows at least 4 songs from this album
Brazilian mix of the Mamas and the Papas, Beatles, Kinks. Psychadelic, late 60s sounds, backmasking, false endings, etc. I kind of liked it. Low 4/5. I will listen again.
I especially like Tempo no Tempo
A revelation. I am a convert. Os Mutantes pra vida.
A non English album! Make a wish!
This is cool and I'd never heard anything about it before. The Brazilian missing link between Sgt. Pepper and the Velvet Underground & Nico, and I wish I enjoyed it at an immediate level a bit more. If I were more fun I think it'd be a favourite. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
Trippy in the best ways. Somewhat sad to find out that one of The Bees songs I fell in love with early on in this project is a cover, but happy to have now heard the original (A Minha Menina). I do wish I could understand the lyrics but thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless.
Pretty good, as far as I can tell
This is the shit that should be more prevalent on the list. I'd never heard of them before and it was a great mixture of Brazilian music with 60s psychedelic. More of this please.
This was a fun album, strange but fun.
brazilian psychedelic rock
Instantly likeable!
I didn't really know what to expect, but this was rather enjoyable. It really does seem that 60s psychedelic rock is entirely my jam.
Really enjoyed the album despite only understanding a few words. The sound varied and was very upbeat.
While I only knew a couple words, it was upbeat and happy. You wanted to go to a beach and sing (especially Jimmy Buffet)
peak 60s psychedelia
3.5
I have a feeling this one would have been a 5 for me if I would have had any idea what they were saying. I really enjoyed it.
This is why I’m back here doing 1001. It’s albums like these. What a unique piece of music. I immediately fell for this band and wanted so much more. Great soundtrack to a sunny day in and around my apartment. I listened to some later Mutantes cuts as well, which I’m glad I did because they were just as wonderful but a lot more polished. If I have one complaint about this album is it is a bit harsh in close, headphone listening. But that is also it’s charm. Love this.
what the hell is this!! Okay, truly, I needed a few days’ separation from this record and a little bit of *physical* separation from my speakers this Sunday. Whoever mixed these tambourine overdubs, let’s just say, we are not listening on identical systems, lol. And I think my winter cold had properly stuffed my ears, to the point that this was just a bit annoying to listen to head-on, sonically. But… it really sounds like NOTHING I’ve ever heard. It sounds like a strange lovechild between the arrangements of Pet Sounds and the real strangeness of a genre I have discovered since 10001 I call Brazil Weird. The cover looks like some campy TV show, and honestly, that image stuck with me…. Strange, whimsical, campy. These musicians are having way more fun than you or I have on a given day. Kind of brightened my day… as long as I was sufficiently outside the splash zone of those tambourines! This one could use a remaster. 4/5 for pure wiz-kid zaniness, creative risks, and fun.
Perhaps it demonstrates my sheltered music experiences living in the UK, but I’ve been surprised by the amount of Brazilian music that has shown up on this list. The vast majority has been really enjoyable, so I’m glad that there has been some. It’s always good to expand the palette! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: A Minha Menina, Bat Macumba I love how this album spans so many genres. There are parts that sound comparable to surf rock crossed with the B-52s, and other parts that are really quite trippy and psychedelic. The whole album made for a really fun experience. As usual, I didn’t understand what the music was about, but from an entirely auditory point of view this was very nice. Definitely recommend a listen!
This is really fucking awesome. I was admittedly not excited about listening to an album in another language, but the jams are so tasty. Notable tracks include A Minha Menina, bat macumba, Adeus Maria fulo, and senhor F.
Never heard of this group or this album. This is what this list is all about for me.
3.75
I had heard "Bread and Circuses" before and I did kind of like it. Kinda Beach Boys-y harmonies but also kinda discordant? There is a lot of interesting music on here. Each song feels like it has its own vibe, but somehow still cohesive mostly. Maybe because my brain still hears it all as "'60s". Yeah, I dig this.
This was fun!
Super psychedelic vibe from the jump. Actually, really enjoyed the album
Fun fun fun
brazil reference
Interesting, unique, and memorable. Could we get some more albums like this instead of the cavalcade of middle of the road British new wave records we're currently stuck with?
odd mix of a lot of 60s trends, kind of wandered through the early Beatles up to a few sort of Mama and Papa harmonies and then some wanky Doors keyboards and I never did figure out the language of most of the lyrics. I got the French and a few English lines, but is this Portuguese? Don't know; don't care; still a fun, if weird--dare I say mutant?--listen.
Wild, inventive and bonkers. A mish-mash of styles and influences thrown together, put into a blender then spread out to dry for your listening pleasure. Fantastic!
This is the type of album you do this thing for
I liked it
January 21, 2024 HL: "Panis et Circenses", "A Minha Menina", "O Relógio", "Bat Macumba", "Le premier bonheur du jour" Surreal, a little creepy at times, loved it Both the opener and closer of this album are bonkers <3
Gloriously batshit. Had no idea i knew a song. A Minha Menina is a hit
North America had Pet Sounds, Europe had Sgt Peppers and South America had Os Mutantes. Decidedly an album of its era and area, it all sounds a bit rambly musically and production wise at times, but you hear so much quality here. I really enjoyed this one and will pick this one up in the future to give this a few spins.
This album spoke to me...I don't know what it said, though, since I don't speak Brazilian On a real note, this actually went pretty hard. It was psychedelic and wacky and cacophonous in a good way. Much better than I expected opening the page and seeing a 1960s album from another language. Was very close to giving it a 5. Maybe I'll listen a few more times and regret the decision but for now it's a 4
One of the great things that Brazil gave to the world
4.25
Classico conheci pelo vestibular dda ufrgs, nao eh um som tao agradavel mas foi uma proposta interesante
Such a trip of an album in a good way. It feels refreshing to hear old music that still pioneered legends like Kurt Cobain. I don’t know how to understand spoken Portuguese and haven’t read up on the meanings of the lyrics, but it’s still a good listen. 4.3/5 Favorite: A Minha Menina Least Favorite: Don’t have one
Just the right level of weird
This and the United States of America record from the same time were so ahead of their time that it is insane how overlooked they are in the US. I mean, some of the electronic effects are so crunchy and powerful that one can't help but be taken aback by the brash sound this album presents. Can it be a bit too much? In this album's case, yes, I feel it can be, with often some songs losing focus and feeling a tad bit like just noise, and the language barrier certainly doesn't help, but can you really blame it when it's all just so cool sounding? And it is certainly varied too, which helps. There is certainly some filler here, but otherwise top notch and ahead of its time, I need to dig into more of this underrated, late-60s psychedelic rock, it's bating a nearly perfect score.
kooky and pleasant
This was a bit of a crazy trip… I liked it and it was definitely unique. Fun to hear!
This was pleasantly weird and my first though was this must be the Brazilian answer to Sgt Peppers or something. If this hasn't been setbreak music it yet it totally should be. Has relisten potential
Note really sure how to rate this. It's not unpleasant, it's clearly an interesting and exciting mix of sounds. Not something I'd particularly want to listen to again, and I definitely can't imagine it entering my regular rotation, but am I pleased to have heard it? Yeah - kinda!
as big a melting pot as Brazil itself. feels very part of the 60s
Really love this sound!
Odd in a fun way, deserves another listen
This is the kind of discovery I came here for! Like a Brazilian Beefheart or Zappa, utterly different sort of experience. Gets chaotic at times, and not one I'll be going back to very often. But 3 stars for quality and an extra star just for being so damn out there. Rating: 4 trout heads.
Pop-rock experimental psicodélico en portugués. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Heard before. Liked it more this time. Fitting for Halloween. + Panis et Circenses + A Minha Menina + O Relógio + Bat Macumba + Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour
Well, that was definitely the weirdest album I've listened to so far. It's also my first non-English album, so that's neat. I actually liked this one quite a bit. As stated earlier, this album is very weird, but I think it's in a good way. It is psychedelic rock after all. This album goes all over the place, and yet somehow makes it sound somewhat cohesive. The lyrics, while I don't fully understand them due to the language barrier, yielded some good results when I put them into google translate. Despite having never heard of this band or album before today, I think this album deserves to be on here because of the cultural context behind it and the fact that it's just a fun album with plenty of surprising turns in its direction. low 4/5.
Liked it
Weirdly fantastic. I didnt love every song but the ones I did love were genuinely great. Will definitely re-listen
Really delightful record.
Happy, colorful, thoroughly strange, and thoroughly creative. Psychedelic pop through a Brazilian lens. I’m not sure if I’ll ever return to this but I had a very good time. Best song: Senhor F
This is exactly why I’m doing this. The album is fantastic and I never would have found it.
I find Latin Rock so interesting. Watch that documentary. This is wild
Pretty generic 60s psychadelia album that gets an admittedly biased bump from be for being Brazilian. I like when there is any variety at all on this list, and hearing non-English lyrics and some unique instrumentation tickled me.
Again, the language barrier makes it tricky to give a fair review.... A minha menina must have been on an advert or similar as I recognise it. Unless my French gcse fails me, there's some French in here too. Le premier Bonheur du jour. I enjoyed this. Was eclectic enough to be interesting, without me understanding the lyrics My favorites were: A minha menina Le premier Bonheur du jour Bar macumba
Now this one was a surprise. Didn't expect a lot, ended up really enjoying it.
This was lots of fun, and likely aided by the fact that I didn't understand the lyrics and could just vibe on the vibe. Where the hell did this come from? Good inclusion. I was beginning to think Eric Clapton needed to be on the album in order for it to be considered.
Darn near perfect album to play loud throughout the house when you're all alone for the first time in a very long time. I loved the variety of songs and the fact I couldn't understand a word. BONUS: after this album my Spotify psychic shuffle played Secos & Molhados (Amor) and I recommend you check that out.
This album gave my Panis a Bonheur
Incredibly refreshing, although I cannot say that I understood much of what was going on.
Certain bands entered the late 60’s like it was still 1963. Os Mutantes is not one of those groups.
esse é pra chapar o coco
- Never heard of this before - Very pleasantly surprised - Really good 60s psych and sounds ahead of its time - Will definitely go back to this again - Fav songs: Senhor F, Trem Fantasma, Panis Et Circenses
4.25
I really enjoyed this album. I've listened to quite a bit of Brazilian music, but this has a completely different feel to the others I've heard. It's much more eclectic, much more willing to experiment with song structure, and much more rough in a good way. The energy and passion throughout was palpable, and each song felt different from the last. A Minha Menina was definitely the highlight for me, it just was absolutely infectious and catchy beyond belief, on top of the great musicianship. In the upper echelon of Brazilian music for sure and a definite recommend.
Strange mix of Spanish (or I guess Brazilian) music and psychedelic rock ala The Beatles. It works a lot better than I thought it would. It’s a little inaccessible due to the experimentation with sound snippets and unconventional structure but at the same time it wasn’t a hard listen due to its more conventional psychedelic elements.
Mucho bueno!! (Oops...I guess this is Portuguese...)
Great album I never would have heard of!
excellent - sounded like Beach boys and Beatles in a foreign language.
I really liked this. At certain points, it felt like I was listening to the Brazilian Beatles, and at other points, it felt like Piper at the Gates of Dawn. For most of the album, though, they definitely feel like their own thing.
What a cool surprise this was! Sometimes it leaned a little too far into the weird, but a lot of it was fun to listen to.
This is what a sixties album should be: weird, fun, catchy, vaguely psychedelic. I was very into this. I only wish we'd had weather that matched the mood
This album is a party. I don't know what they're talking about, and I don't know what they're all on, but it works. The Beatles probably loved this, or Os Mutantes loved the Beatles. Anyway, this is 39 minutes of mostly great stuff. The bass and lead guitar work is popping and the non-traditional percussion gives it that Brazilian beat. This is a hidden gem.
Trippy
You are going to Brazil
Incredibly good Almost a 5
разнообразненькоо
I don't know what this is, but I liked it.
These are not the mutants I wanted, but they're the ones I got, and I'm sticking with 'em!
Bouncy, weird, and essential.
Siento que debería gustarme....
Excellent psych album, only a couple of songs away from being perfect.
gostei muito
I waited to rate on this one. It grated me at first, but it felt like an acquired taste kind of album. I went back to it on and off for a few days and it’s undeniably grown on me. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Glad I gave it a few chances and I can’t help but wonder how many other albums would grow on me similarly with more time.
Never heard of this before or any other Brazilian psychedelic for that matter. What a fun listen! 4/5
super cool & ahead of its time
That was awesome. They saved the best for last, a musical tribute to Ghengis Khan. Epic!
interesting sound, love psychadelic 60s stuff.
really cool album actually - 4 stars
Wtf. Today I learned what Tropicalia is; I knew a little of Caetano Veloso but never knew the genre could get so weird 😅. Os Mutantes sounds like The Beatles meeting Bossa Nova with a dash of The Velvet Underground and samba thrown in. No wonder the whole Tropicalia movement was at odds with both sides of the political spectrum; its rejection of media mass appeal feels ahead of its time when looking at where we were in the 60’s in Latin America and the power of military dictatorships at the times. A new addition to my regular music rotation.
This drifted along just outside The United States of America, trading jam length for variation in language. I can't decide how much more I would like Os Mutantes to freak out after just one listen. The wild sounds get impressively harsh at times, though I grooved to every single track. Another instant favorite, though again the gonzo elements read as just a little ambiguous.
No idea what they're saying but the music is fun.
Wild, creative, and really experimental for it’s time. I don’t understand any of the lyrics and it’s kind of a mess but still interesting as heck.
Hade aldrig hört om dehä tidigare men ganska tight
Man detta var episkt varför har jag inte lyssnat :)
En av få psykedeliska rock-skivor som faktiskt känns psykedelisk. Jättelätt att lyssna på, njuta av och dansa till, men med en massa skumt bullshit kastat med. Bra vibez (Dababy).. De har också swag på covern... baaby... babyy... i love you...
I enjoyed listening to this though throughout I was sort of going back and forth over whether it really rose above the general fray of 60s/70s psychedelic rock, or if the hype was more from the exotica factor. Of course the language barrier always makes me wonder how the part of the experience I’m missing might change my perceptions. It brought me around anyway, with the unusual degree of variety of sound and very strong closing songs.
epic
fun trippy music
Now this is some Brazilian music I can get behind. It's political, it's weird and it's cool. Well worth a listen. Best Tracks: A Minha Menina; Baby; Bat Macumba
Wow, ça c’est différent. Ça sonne comme un train qui est constamment sur le point de dérailler, mais qui reste toujours à peu près sur les rails. Belle fusion de musique brésilienne et de rock psychédélique.
I had no idea what to expect with this one. But I must say I generally liked it. There were a few patches were I wasn't really there for it, but then the next song would come on and I'd be right back into it.
A lot of fun
This is the Brazilian Sgt. Pepper. Best Songs: A Minha Menina, Sonhor F, Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour, Tempo No Tempo, Bat Macumba Worst Songs: Baby, Ave Gengis Khan
Ideias com qualidade e força musical para sintetizar um contexto importante.
60s commune vibes—in Portuguese! It’s all there: fuzzy guitars, Hammond organ, lyrics in reverse, tambourine, quirky co-ed group. 3 or 3.5 stars, but rounding up to 4 for the fun factor.