Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Much more of a vibe than anticipated!
This was interesting. It was fairly sparse musically but I can see how this was an influence on later african music I've enjoyed.
Never heard this one. Salsa makes me positively tap my foot, but this was hard to listen to.
I don't really know enough about this music to comment.
"Palo Congo" by Sabu showcases an Afro-Cuban sound that primarily focused on the use of percussion. Although it was recorded in 1957, resulting in less than optimal audio quality, this does add charm to the album. However, the audio panning between the left and right channels can be distracting, particularly when using headphones. The album captures the vibrant energy of a live event or party, rather than just a studio recording. The instrumentation is masterful, though at times the drum beats become overly repetitive, and some solos may extend for too long. The music feels very authentic and effectively transports listeners to a different era. This album was an interesting new discovery for me and an enjoyable listen.
Lacks a more diverse sound. While I love latin percussion, this just wasnt very interesting and too 1 dimensional
Cool funky sound. This is why I got into the project in the first place. I never would have listened to this, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
If I get some of my pals together and get us to hit something for 40 minutes then is it essential listening before death? Didn’t think so.
It's unlikely I will ever listen to this again, but it was a fun listen for a Tuesday afternoon at work. Heavy on the drums
Unique sounding percussion forward sound. Somewhat challenging musically but it seems pretty innovative for the time and manages to sound very good.
I liked this album more when it was instrumental, and obviously the conga solos are killer. I don't know if they need to go on for as long as they do but I do like them as a change of pace from the usual albums we've had. Hand percussion is incredibly difficult to master and this dude seems to have found a way to do it. Where it does fall apart a bit is the call and response style (Billumba-Palo Congo). I suspect this is part of the style, but the voices being out of sync combined with the instruments not being entirely in step with each other triggered something in me that made it sound annoying after a while. Either the voices or the instruments can be off but not both; it gets a bit cacophonous. That's probably just my upbringing though and my preconceived notions of what things "should" sound like. Like a lot of other albums I liked the instrumentals the most (Asabache), or the songs with just a bit of voice work (the opener). When it brings everyone in it's just a bit too disorganized for me. Still not as bad as everyone in the reviews seemed to make it out to be!
I found it very hard to get in a groove to as it is very unlike music I've ever heard before. I would rather listen to the Chrono Trigger song Burn Bobonga!
somewhat barren Latin jazz. the sound of listlessly lounging in a cafe in Central America in the summer afternoon trying to figure out your evening plans
Cuban jazz. Not very melodic, very minimal. Repetitive. Mostly drums and vocals, sounds more like traditional African music than jazz.
No Polymath
More of this please, low 5.
Couldn’t wait for this to be over. Repetitive 1001 album worthy: No - 60/110
Not bad but not something I would return to.
Really interesting. Love some Cuban and this feels influential, seminal. Amazing for 1957. Energy, colour, contrast. Fun. Wonderful musicianship. Playful. 4.2
Due to cultural incometance I have failed on this one. My music blindness means I cannot formuate an opinion. Fail.
I feel like this is quite context dependent. I can imagine enjoying this live, on a hot humid night, in a outside bar under corrugated iron roof, dancing around plastic chairs and drinking cheap rum. As it is, I quite enjoyed listening out of interest but can't ever imagine myself listening to the album again. I think it deserves more than 1 star on the basis of artistic merit and being an interesting historical recording of folk culture. Personally, not my thing though.
It sounds like he's a congo drum virtuoso, but for me the combination of drums and singing/chanting is not interesting enough to want to hear it again.
Another one of those albums tt struggles to move beyond background music because of the language barrier. Still this more on me than the band.
A fun listen. The call and response vocals bring to mind so many other genres, and much of the songs are head-bobbing if not outright danceable. Maybe between a 3 & 4 - some tracks are a bit repetitively drum heavy ... but still miles better than a Rush drum fill so rounding up to a 4. Favorites: Choferito-Plena, Tribilin Cantore, El Cumbanchero.
Nice change of pace
World music - probably fine, but not for me. 2/5
Great african sounds
Nice old-school Latin jazz album, refreshing change from all those 70s rock albums. Recording sounds rather crude though, but the vibe is there. 3.2
I found this more difficult to listen to than I expected - I think it was possibly just a little too grating to work to easily?
I really tried to go at this with an open mind, but I just don't like this. The congas get old quite fast. The call-and-response thing is cool for about a minute, but then it drags and drags and drags. I like some of the guitar work, I guess. This is not an indictment of rumba. This is just definitively not for me. Fav track: El Cumbanchero
I wish I understood percussion more than I do now. It would ave helped here. Mostly just come banging around with some chanting vocals that's do get repatatve for me. But not bad. Just not something I'll be spinning again and again
this was fire on the low. I love a good shouting song w some beats underneath
Look, the guy’s a helluva conga player, but I don’t need 40 minutes of his playing any more than I want to hear 40 minutes of plain guitar noodling from someone like Jeff Beck.
Not my cup of tea. Repetitive and loud.
For anyone as annoyed as me about the stereo mix on this; if you're on Android, search in your settings for "Mono audio" and have Android mix it back to mono for you. I found it much more listenable that way . Anyway, I liked this more at the beginning and the end than I did in the middle, where it dragged on a bit. Low three stars
Jazz conga bongos album that really doest work on an icy commute to work. Overly repetitive and annoying at times. I was not in the mood. 2
Hand drum bonanza Feels both ancient and modern And insists you dance
An interesting album, I liked El Cumbanchero, Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso and Tribilin Cantore.
pretty cool
Enjoyable! Nice to work to
boring :/
Fun!
fine, maybe a little annoying / boring at times. highlight was the guitar rather than the drums.
Dios mio. This might be the most interesting and culturally resonant piece of shit I've ever listened to. I begged the bongos (congas??) to stop one minute into a six minute solo. When the guitar arrived I pleaded for the bongos (????) once more. Not enough ayahuasca, 1 star.
Album 697 of 1001 Sabu - Palo Congo (1957) Rating : 2.5 / 5 I enjoy listening to this but can't really deem it a "great" album. It is a nice introduction to Afro-Cuban jazz for anyone who isn't familiar. I would recommend.
Twee dingen die ik meeneem na het beluisteren van 'Palo Congo': 1) Dit album is echt een reminder hoe verweven de Caribische en Afrikaanse muziekhistorie is (hoe zou dat nou komen???). Latin jazz is in vele opzichten een zuster van de West Afrikaanse stijlen met jazz-ritmes, zoals afrobeat of highlife. Voortbordurend op Westerse ideeën, maar wel dichtbij lokale tradities blijvende. Dit voelt echter wel heel erg authentiek voor een in New York geboren artiest, wat wel verfrissend is. 2) Ik heb geen greintje Caribisch bloed door m'n aderen stromen, of ook maar één West-Indisch allel in mijn genoom. Op momenten tijdens het openingsnummer en 'Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso' na lukt het me niet om écht te viben op de ritmes. Ze zijn misschien wel wat te complex voor mijn Hollandse brein. En de ellenlange conga-solo's werken eerder op de zenuwen dan dat ik zin heb om eens even flink met de heupen te gaan zwaaien. Ik vond het best leuk om eens een Latin Jazz-plaat te treffen hiero, maar het echt op waarde schatten gaat me moeilijk af. 6/10 Highlights: El Cumbanchero Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso
Mooi en grensverleggend om eens een album te luisteren waar de conga centraal staat als instrument. En deze plaat is gewoon al 68 jaar oud, dat is best sick. Het klinkt super Cubaans en is jazzy. Vind het extra lekker als er een gitaartje en zang bij komt, zoals in het slotnummer. Halverwege werkt ik het getrommel al aardig beu, zeker in Asabache - wat enkel trommeltjes zijn. De jeu kwam daarna toch weer terug, dus best verrast bij zo'n plaat het tot het eind een aangename luisterervaring is gebleken. 6/10 Highlights Tribilin Cantore
Drums
I got a fever and the only prescription is more bongos lol This was fun to listen to and bang your hands on your thighs with the beats. If I ever need any good island music in the future, I might throw this on.
Definitely vibing to Choferito-Plena. Is it amazing? No. But the guitar tone and lived in atmosphere are both so messy and inviting. Otherwise, this falls into a category of percussion heavy world music that only really works for me at times. On one hand, I like the messiness of it all; it feels tangible and real. On the other, there is only so much hand-banged poly-rhythm and call and response shouting that I can listen to before I get worn out. This album was pretty low for my personal appeal. With the exception of Choferito-Plena (which I took as the most western in here) I really didn't care. This is a low 2 for me.
Fine music, but not something I need 40 minutes of. Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso was a favorite. 2.5 here. Repetition was the downside. Rhapsodia and Tribilin Contore gave it that extra 0.5.
Some of the songs with just bongos and instruments were pretty awesome, especially the first song. But the random chanting and whistles and what not were quite brutal
Kinda just the same thing over and over again. Nothing really stood out to me at all. Was hoping for it to be a little more jazzy.
This was really fun! I liked it quite a bit.
This is a fun listen
sollte man vielleicht nicht im Büro hören, sondern eher im Sommer auffem Balkon oder Terrasse. Kam so nicht in Stimmung :-/ Fairness halber gebe ich daher neutrale 3 Sterne
Nein Danke
This is music that would be good live. As an album, it wasn't.
Genuinely different and interesting. A lot of it was fun, but some of it was just too heavy on the percussion for my preference.
I almost started dancing 4/5
It's Alright. Calling it jazz is a stretch. Definitely latin. Great conga work. But it mostly just a lot of conga and not a ton of variation. Not for me.
"Palo Congo" is the debut album by American congeuro (conga player) of Puerto Rican descent Louis "Sabu" Martinez. The Wiki-listed genre is Cuban rumba. Besides Sabu who plays the congas, bongos and vocals, bandmembers included Arseno Rodriguez (congas, tres, guitar, vocals), Raul "Ceasar" Travieso (congas, vocals), Israel Moisés Quique Travieso (congas), Ray "Mosquito" Romero (congas), Evaristo Baró (bass) and vocalists Willie Capó and Sarah Baró. "El cumbnchero" starts outs with a tres guitar. The vocals come in with very quick percussions. Male and female vocals join. This song features the guitar. "Absabache" is essentially a conga and bongos jam from start to finish. The closing song "Tribilin cantore" is very much a tropical jam. Congas and a female vocalist. I have to admit I was very bust today and didn't get to dig as much as usual, but this music was very enjoyable to listen to as I worked. Percussion and rhythm heavy. The music is mostly instrumental. Exquisite guitar and tres playing. A fun and joyous album that should bring a smile to everyone.
I didn't enjoy this a massive amount.
I can get down to this kind of music, but this record? Nah… I know it’s from the 50’s but the songs just feel incomplete.
Each song goes on too long but I like the sound and drums. Choferito is a great song. 3.5
It's just drums. Hmm. I don't know how anyone can just sit and listen to that. I always thought being in a drum circle was the worst kind of torture.
A Cuban Rumba album. Not sure why this album is in this list as it deson't seem to be significant or historically important in any way - at least not according to its Wikipedia entry. Overall, not bad, if you like this sort of thing.
This sounded like a devolved version of Phonk. I'll have to look into the history of it and see if its actually the case, or if phonk carries heavy influence from these roots. The album overall was barren, I kept waiting for some chord structure to hit me, but by song 2 realized this was mainly a bongo centric album. I couldn't find anything on how much this influenced the world, or at least the wiki didn't note anything.
Primal. In a sexy Latino way.
Nie wiem, co to tutaj robi i nic nie mogę nawet znaleźć na temat tego albumu. Totalne widmo. Nigdy mi nie było po drodze z muzyką afro-kubańską ani afrykańską, choć YouTube i Spotify mi świadkami, że próbowałem. Nic nie zapamiętałem z tego albumu poza wrażeniem irytującego stukania bez ładu i składu. I mówię to jako osoba, która uwielbia bębny i za dzieciaka chciała być perkusistą.
I've heard this with a hangover and with every olelelele I thought I would die. But I didn't. And I think I don't like rumba music that much. Not for me/5.
Kinda in the vein of Tanto Tempo and Siembra. Vibe/experience music that isn't something I'd put on while in the car or just listening to music, but could get behind in the right contexts (Dancing, soundtracks, etc). Only difference is, a lot of it is just rhythm based with minimal music, so a lot of the album does not do anything for me really. I'd give it a 3 if it weren't for the rhythm based stuff.
While I would not choose to listen to this on a regular basis I am glad to it is on the list and the style is worth a listen. As with many of the albums on the list I am not sure if this recording is genre defining, but it was good to hear something beyond the overrepresented brit pop.
I don’t really get it
I had such high hopes, but this wasn’t fun to listen to.
The drum sounds could be mesmerizing at times.
Amazing listen - great quality performance and solid recording. The skills of the musicians are well showcased.
Whew... I can finally stop worrying that rumba was going to be unfairly underrepresented on this list...
This was certainly a choice to have this as one of 1001 albums you need to hear before you die. I really don’t think anyone needs to hear this. I did find this at least a ridiculously hilarious choice. I kept thinking it would be funny if someone stole my phone while I was walking around the city listening to this. The thief would be so confused with what I was listening to. That hypothetical situation made me delighted. And for that alone I’m going to remain neutral on this.
Not for me
I like music with energy and rhythm, which this had, but there really wasn't anything special about it for me.
Not into Latin/Rumba music? Don’t know what it is? One listen to this and you will be hooked. Intoxicatingly energetic. Just be sure to put on your dance shoes before you listen.
Better than World Beat from the 80s, this album was a nice change of pace for me.
This is totally different than anything I listen to on a regular basis. The Cuban rhythm on the congas is entrancing at times and so groovy at others. It's a surprising break from the typical rock and roll/jazz/blues that I've been recommended thus far and is super interesting. Some people complain about this album and say that they just don't "get" it, which is fine. This album didn't have that effect on me.
I know nothing about latino music, but I know this is straight up annoying to listen too. Production is superb for a 50s album.
Lots of fun.
Good album. Recording was excellent with good use of stereo. The percussionist(s) were awesome. Good guitar work. So-so vocals.
First off, glad to have more variety in music. Very percussion and chant-heavy. At their best when accompanied by guitar. I can appreciate Sabu for their contributions to Afro-Cuban music and folk songs, but I can't see myself putting this on often. Possibly essential, but not really my thing.
mostly percussion, wish there was more melody
Fav Tracks: El Cumbanchero, Choferita-Plena Least Fav: Billumba-Palo Congo, Simba Very nice to have on in the background.
Not the best fit for a dark, snowy January morning. I enjoyed the songs with the whole band a lot more than the ones that were just call/response and drums
3.0 I was Today Years old when I fould out there is a differnece between a Conga and a Bongo. This album had a whole bunch of Congas. Had sort of a club feel, thought it was interesting enough
Different and trying to put it in context for the time. Would go back and revisit as I enjoy this style.
Not for me
A bit repetitive, but lively with a great beat.
Fun, but p full on. Enjoyed it but it's not for regular rotation.
Not bad, but not all that great either. The percussion-only songs got stale half way through the first one, though it did start out neat. The guitar was very enjoyable when it was present. Vocals were either inconsequential or carried a call-and-response for way too long, to the point that it became droning and almost annoying. Overall fine, but very skippable. Top tracks: Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso, Tribilin Cantore
Fun and funky! Wasn’t a huge fan of the tracks with a lot of yelling but otherwise, I enjoyed this. I LOVE upbeat Latin music, and that’s something I didn’t know before starting this challenge.
Man, the haters can kick rocks. This album rules and the guitar parts are amazing.
This is a great album - not the best of it's genre, but still very good. In fact, if this had been better recorded it would have easily got 5 stars. Having said that, the fact that it is still highly enjoyable to listen to now is testament to the original recording using the limited technology available in the 1950s. Anyone who isn't moved by the rhythms on this album needs to check themselves.
It's not my favorite music, but I guess the list was missing something on this really Latin/Caribbean style, so I'll pay respect to its inclusion on the list.
it's good, but repetitive.
Ero curioso, poi è partita la canzone dell’eterno buona noche e mi sono ricordato di averlo già sentito e detestato
mi ero presa bene con il genere World ma cos'è sta cosa? che barba e che noia ancora una volta
In a nutshell: these congueros are on fire. I’m not drummer or a musician, but there is excellent percussion on here! I think it was recorded to sound like a live show. It doesn’t quite capture that vibe for me. Conversely, the technology was in its infancy… It’s good, but I’m unsure if this is the best example of this genre. Overall: 5/10
Was fully in the groove with the final three tracks. Bonus points for the relentless bass that drowned out the jerk blasting music next to me on the train.
“Cool conga solo—I wish that was the entire record,” said no one ever. I give it a bonus star for the musicianship and general raucousness.
Just the right amount of bongos
¡que rápido!
not familiar with this artist /style
cuban? haven't heard a lot of this style
Not bad but not amazing to me. Just a generally fun rumba record with a tropical/isalnd vibe.
Be careful! This album goes by quick and if you're streaming you might just absorb more than the 8 songs of Palo Congo by Sabu before realizing it. I appreciate the energy of this record, especially for 1957. It reminds me that pace and gusto have always been present in music from eras that would otherwise like to push those elements back.
I felt like I was being raised in the air like Simba when I heard this album.
God this is hard to listen to. Stupidly repetitive and the vocals are horrible, just shrieking away. It may have been amazing back in 57, but I don't want to listen to it again.
This album sounds like the soundtrack to a wild party! At times the Cuban sound seems to move into a rather African call and response feel. To me, however, the album seems a bit same-y, so while I reckon it's great party music, it's not something I'd add to my collection.
Super fun listen wouldn’t have found this without the list.
Sa bu
A bit ambient for me. I'm good with instrumental and like a lot of jazz but this was like trance music in a number of ways. Not something that moved me. Perhaps there's a technical thing I am unaware of or a place in history that this snugs into that adds gravity to the album.
yes
Definitely a bop, but wasn't incredibly engaging / interesting
I'm often at a complete loss when it comes to judging these kinds of albums. They're in a quite different category than the majority of the albums on the list. They have very different musical aims. I enjoyed it, but I really don't know how to compare it with other albums. I'll leave a 3 for now
Everything about this is wonderful.
¡batería! me duele el culo por todos los golpes!
This was fun, quick, easy, loved it. It’s a nice little record to put on when you’re getting some things done around the house. I can only hope that it’s even better if you can understand what they’re saying. Not sure how original it is, but I’ll say it’s unique. Stands out and I enjoy it. 4/5
Pretty good. Not a genre I'm familiar with or drawn to, but it's hard to go wrong with percussion forward music in my ears.
Pretty fun album. I really liked the stereo mix. It's interesting to see someone who is great at conga drums as a band leader. I don't understand how you compose for bongos or congas. It seems so free form. 3.25/5
Just can't do it. Too instrumental.
No way
Drums and voices.
Not my genre but sounded nice.
Can’t stand this so I’m quitting one track in
It’s interesting to hear a Latin jazz record that’s so percussion-forward. Not the most engaging listen, but s’fine.
Interesting. I’m always up for finding (new to me) old jazz musicians. Unfamiliar with this style, but dig it. Not fully in live with it, but could see listening to it again.
Just not really my thing
Loved it !
Gek album weer, zitten in een bijzondere hoek! Dit is waarschijnlijk toegevoegd omdat er nou eenmaal meer muziek is gemaakt dan alleen Britpop. Prettige afwisseling en ik kan altijd wel genieten van de muziek op dit album, maar de recording is helaas vrij matig en er zijn wat nummers die gewoon niet goed lopen. Als het wel goed loopt dan swingt het ook meteen lekker en vibe ik dit album heel goed! Nummers zoals een Simba trek ik gewoon niet zo goed, het is een soort jazzy nummer met hier en daar een soort oerkreet. Andere nummers hebben meer de Call and Response die bekend is van deze stijl muziek. Ik snap dat dit een cultuur ding is en probeer ze hier niet op af te rekenen en ben oprecht blij dat de nummers die wel bevallen ook echt leuk zijn. Daarnaast; GOD wat ben ik blij dat dit geen rock/Britpop/Neil Young album is, krijgen ze bij dezen een sterretje van me erbij. FAVO: El Cumbanchero, Choferito-Plena, Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso, Aggo Ellegua
Look, I can recognise it is good music. It’s not for me. But it’s good.
Might be worth coming back one day. Really in the middle between Africa and South America
Rating this for greatness or influence or whatever is pretty impossible for me. I respect it, seems like some good drumming. But it was a lot of the same. I would like to have it next a pool with a mai tai maybe. And that's probably reductive but whatever
kevyttä täydellisyyttä kongon pojilta
This was fine, but I didn't really care for it. Felt a little generic.
I always enjoy something that id never come across normally and this was very new to me. I enjoyed the rhythm and the vibe bit it never really took off from there.
Not the usual sort of music. I really enjoyed this.
很有非洲風味的專輯，非洲的鼓真的很有特色。歌唱的方式總是會有一位像是長老的帶頭，其他人復頌一次。沒有特別喜歡的歌曲，但很有特色。
I get it — Palo Congo is supposed to be important in the history of Latin music. That’s cool. But that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy sitting through it. This album is basically one long drum circle with someone yelling over it, and after a few tracks, it starts to feel more like a test of patience than a musical experience. “Billumba-Palo Congo” was especially rough — chaotic without being interesting, and way too repetitive. I kept waiting for it to click, but it never did. It just kept going... and going... like someone left a bongo on loop. That said, “Rhapsodia del Maravilloso” was a bright spot. It had some real rhythm and energy that stood out from the rest. But one decent track can’t save an album that feels more like background noise for a cultural anthropology lecture than something I’d willingly listen to again.
Ok, that's enough.
Interesting but don’t really know how to quantify this and not likely something I would list to regularly
It has some cool groovy and jammy moments. But also some very skippable moments.
This is the kind of album I'd wanted to experience from the list, but I don't need to hear it again. Cool piece of Blue Note history.
Album that is out of my breadth for vocals, but it's got a fun energy to it. 3.5
Enjoyed this quite a bit, but probably won't listen to this after today.
Pretty fun!
Decent Cuban Rumba music. Given its date, I wasn't too shocked at how rudimentary, skeletal, and sort of tribal it was. In a sense, it's sort of hypnotic, especially when looking at the extreme with a song like 'Simba' with those occasional cries and entrancing conga drums. On the other end of the spectrum, you have a song like 'Choferito-Piena' which may be the catchiest and most melodic song here. Sounds like a song that'd fit snuggly on a Columbian party mix or something. If we're talking a perfect balance, nothing beats 'Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso' for me, impeccable guitar work over that relaxed rhythm section. Cool album, though it didn't do much for me - it's not something I would revisit.
If you like the first 10 seconds of these songs, then you are going to like the entire track because it's SO repetitive. Musically, I enjoyed this (minus the repetitiveness). But the vocals drove me up the frigging wall. Take those away and I would have given this another star.
Throbbing jungle ethnic music Not in a good way. This album is stupid, its lobby music while you're checking into a mid 3 star Cuban resort you grabbed through an Expedia Black Friday sale. If you're going to include shit like this on this list why not also include Polka or Yodelling albums, or some swarthy Med playing bouzouki.
#74 It's not bad, just not something I would ever listen to.
after listening to this album, i was a bit surprised to find that it seems to be pretty unliked. not just here but on other websites, etc. i was a percussionist in a past life, so i am not afraid of a drum-forward and rhythm-forward album. this was pretty cool. the conga playing was top notch and the songs here were very fun. it felt like a party at times. the one gripe i think i have with this album is that there wasn't anything that really gripped me. there was a lot of cool stuff, but not really anything i think i would come back for more than this listen. still, i appreciated this album - this is the kind of stuff i love this project for!
Never would have listened to this without the generator so for that I'm grateful. It's a weird album. Felt like I was sitting around a campfire during a ritual in some indigenous tribe.
When the tres is featured and there's a vocal line to speak of, this can be really pleasant – the son style vibe is lovely. But there's too much congo for me I'm afraid and I ended up skipping some of the tracks, which I really try hard not to do on principle. I'm unlikely to want to listen to this again. It gets the obligatory +1 star for not being in English, but that only gets it to 3.
very african. I've heard this before I think. It's intense and high energy. 4 maybe?
3rd one was alright
my kingdom for a guitar
Just finished listening to Napalm Death and now this. I can't tell the difference to be honest! Only kidding of course but this is another world to what we hear nowadays and it's hard to be objective. It's good to listen to. Reading the reviews I'm dismayed at the random low marks so I'm randomly giving this a '5'
I appreciate the variety that the 1001 albums project can provide; this album is definitely something I would not come across otherwise. The album has a pretty cohesive sound: rhythm-focused and Spanish language. However, I would file most tracks into one of two categories: instrument-focused and vocal-focused. The vocal-focused tracks tend to be call-and-response with little musical variety, and being that I don't speak the language, I found these tracks to be a bit less interesting. However, the instrument-focused tracks were more interesting to me. I can also hear some similarities to the Santana track "El Nicoya" from Abraxas, so presumably Santana has taken influence from this sound. Overall, I can see why this album is on the list, but it is probably not something I would listen to again.
you like bongos? you'll love this! good rhythm and beats, but its repetitive as all hell.
This should be for me. I should like this. But it’s just bongo bongo bongo I don’t wanna leave the Congo over and over! Try a new instrument
Fun album, nice couple of songs to begin with, and then it turned into a more average show. Pretty good to listen to for 10 minutes.
You can actually see this show live now - and it’s free! Walk your way to the closest downtown area, any downtown area should do, and listen for the noise. You’ll know it when you hear it. Eventually you’ll come upon the band. The one guy playing the 5 gallon bucket, maybe two of them if he had enough tips the previous day, and then the guy with the rollerblades and strapped on guitar amp. That’s them! Or the ghost of them. Toss them a five and they’ll play your favorite track, but who can pick just one?
Sabu Martinez, commonly known as Sabu, is a percussionist, and that fact is felt throughout this album, with the percussion playing the major role. I can hear a variety of drums and Sabu is truly slapping and striking away, and he does it exceptionally well. However, the percussion alone isn’t enough to keep my interest. The rest of the music feels lacklustre. The singing fails to captivate, and the compositions aren't particularly impressive. And unfortunately, the repetitive drumming also fails to get me into that state of trance that other songs in the genre do. On a positive note, the guitar playing, when it's there, is enjoyable, and I appreciate the album's overall sound. As a result, I think it serves well as background music. But when listening more attentively, I find it falls short in many areas.
Music that comes under the extremely broad genre of “world” has tended to score highly with me for the most part. Perhaps it’s because I can’t tell if the lyrics are good or bad, so maybe I just assume they are and so focus more on the music itself. For today’s album, I didn’t find the music all that interesting. It seemed fine, and perhaps it was revolutionary at the time, but with today’s ears I simply found it to be a very average sounding album that didn’t really leave much impression on me. I think a ranking right down the middle is fair here.
could i write poetry to this? n
Sounded like the parking lot at a Phish show.
A group of people playing instruments and chanting with no regard for what the others are chanting and playing. If that's what poly rhythmic means, I'll stick with just the one rhythm, thank you.
not my bag - salsa/south african/cuban something or other
Good, I'd pick this up if I saw it.
Congo bongo songos.
cry harder, guitarwank enthusiasts
I didn't overly mind it but I don't want to listen to it again Sabu
Latin dance music, conga drum focus. Would be good background music for a summer pool party.
With some polish that could have been really nice. Obviously talented, let down by the recording.
Bit monotonous, no? I guess it was an exotic curiosity in its day…
Afro-cuban jazz hey? Cool, I'm not sure I've heard anything like it. Lots of variety and focus on trumpets and hand drums. Some songs were very light on ideas and quite repetitive, others were upbeat and almost raucous. Cool to be exposed to something I wouldn't have been, otherwise!
Hey, it's congo's. Certainly an enjoyanble listen. Fave: El Cumbanchero
An interesting listen. I did capoeira for a while and some of these tracks made me nostalgic for all the singing involved. (I know this is Spanish rather than Portuguese but like any Englishman, I can just barely tell the difference.) It's a bit too rough around the edges for me to want to revisit it often, so misses out on a fourth star, but still appreciated. Fave tracks - "Billumba-Palo Congo" for all the call and response stuff. Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso" and "Tribilin Cantore" are pleasant listens, too...
I enjoyed this. Definitely a change of pace from British post punk and 70s glam.
Haven’t had one that sucked this hard in awhile
It's like the soundtrack to every Nandos meal I have ever eaten...
This wasn’t awful but it follows a week of average ir bad music on this ride and that made it a little less fun for me. Latin African Drum Jazz isn’t anything I see myself craving to listen to. But it didn’t hurt me to hear it. 3
Smoooth.
Spanish chanting intensifies. It would be a lot better if each song wasn’t the same 10 seconds of music repeated for 5 minutes. 3/10
So destructively boring that it made me genuinely upset at multiple points as some of the worst vocalists ever yell in my ear while insipid drumming completely fails to deliver a funky or groovy experience. The only saving grace is the guitar playing, but it is still generic and, often times, lacking. Is it jazzy? Fun? I don't know, I seemingly clocked out early about halfway through, and I couldn't be bothered to once again interact with anything here.
Was very interested during the first half as it had a pretty fun improv vibe, makes sense as the cover says it was released on Blue Note, the legendary jazz label. Unfortunately it gets a bit stale into the second half, the improv style drifts away a little and gets replaced by repetitive bongo drumming, which i'm not completely opposed to, but it was just alright. Glad I got to give it a shot, but doubt i'll be spinning it again any time soon.
Rhythm and grooves just pouring out of this album. I feel like I’m there in the room, and the energy is high!
Hmmm. This is good. But I’m not sure if this is white boy wannabe posing. So it gets two till you can convince me otherwise.
album cover and sound are perfect poser record bar accoutrements. But do I like it? Well, yes the drums seem fun for cooking / party / typing. And the generla lack of intelligibility (to my ear) means it is great work music that wont distract. Except for the stereo seperation. and the cool sub call and response going on. and the cool mumbling and waling. hey maybe I really like this. At least a 4, so lets get binary. Either I hate it (1), am indifferent (3) or I wantot hear it again (5). Happy Easter Buona Natale, et Buena Note. damn I am starting to understand this.
I read a review of this record on albumoftheyear.org that said that the repetitiveness of this record (all percussion and vocals chants) was a major issue. Well, that's a feature, not a bug in my opinion. I love that most of this album is just polyrhythmic percussion (mostly hand percussion) with chants. I like the raw recording quality, I like the energetic and layered rhythms, and I like the multi-timbral chants. There's a band in there somewhere (bass, guitar, piano sometimes?) but mixed so low as to remind you of what the point of the record is. I'm kind of surprised that someone had the perspective to record and release an album like this is the 50s. Interesting that it was marketed as "jazz" (which sui drawing a long bow, in my opinion) rather than as presenting it as an ethnographic recording. These kinds of sounds did not become more popular for a very long time. 'Choferito', for example, reminds me of 80s or 90s Tom Waits, for example. I am sure that the guitar on that influenced Marc Ribot. There aren't many strong or memorable 'songs' here as we would understand it in more Eurocentric musical traditions, but the groove is intense and compelling. It's a really good example of an Afro-Latin model, which places a greater emphasis on rhythm. And I don't feel like this was too compromised to appeal to Western tastes. It's great to break out of one's cultural assumptions and listen to music with a different set of assumptions and priorities.
You can recognize a Blue Note album cover from a mile away, and it's always a good sign when the album pops up and you know it's a Blue Note. Unfamiliar with Sabu, and this is more jazz adjacent as an excellent Cuban Rumba record. Really enjoyable weekend morning listen with my morning coffee.
this album was boring as hell but at least it counts towards my spanish log
I do like a bit if congo/samba so I didn't really think this was bad. Nothing I'd ever come back to, but it was a nice little ride. 2.5/5
This had me tapping out polyrhythms at my desk for a few hours after I finished listening.
Wel oke
I don't listen to this kind of music, but it's pretty fun to listen to once. Also, the musicality is very cool, with great interval choices. And the congos are very fun.
bad
It's not for me, but it's a bit better than I was expecting. The songs are pleasant enough for the most part and they don't actively irritate me. That said, the bullshit tracks of them screeching can do one. I started to enjoy it way more towards the end, until I realised Spotify had segued into an altogether different album!
Thought I would enjoy this more than I did. 3
I don’t know if Psychedelic Congo is a thing but this was there. Somewhere around Simba I found myself hallucinating and believing I was in Central American tripping on ayahuasca. I was relieve to discover I was still alive when the guitars kicked back in for Rhaspodia del Maravilloso. I probably won’t return here (already talked to God today, good convo, ready to move on) but I was an interesting listen!
Mad respect for the Afro-Cuban congo music. I dug this one. While it is old it doesn't sound as dated as I imagined. I doubt I'll reach for this one often, I'd rather listen to Buena Vista Social Club. But this was an interesting listen and one I'm glad to experience. I could really hear the African rhythms in here more than usual when I hear Cuban music.
Solid dance party!
Lots of bongos, could have used more cowbell. Everything is hard panned to one ear or the other, its not great when listening with headphones.
I imagine this is framework for all drum circles around a campfire that involved smoking weed and tripping out. Fun for a while, but I'm not at a drum circle...I'm in a cubicle.
Some of Sabu is fun and exciting, most of it is obnoxious and annoying. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone I like.
I’m sorry to say I don’t get it. No melody or narrative to hook me in, just pure rhythm
One of the few albums I couldn't make it all the way through. Huge jazz fan, this was simply boring, repetitive, and mostly annoying
Judging by the cover, 5 stars. Yep, 5 stars. Would listen again, made me feel happy. No notes.
How raw is this? It's Gordon Ramsey bellowing at a flustered Hell's Kitchen contestant raw, that's what's up. It also sounds really sparse too - a few tracks are little more than congas and some chanted vocals. I thought I would get bored, but I had this on whilst doing some chores and in the end the insistent, driving polyrhythms had me snagged. Perhaps that's the key - peculiarly kinetic music like this does not pair well with stillness.
An entire album of congo music wears out its welcome rather quickly
Blind album and artist. I'm not even sure what these songs are about or the purpose of them. I wish I could but I clearly the message and the album was a bit repetitive and dragged. Very straight forward and not a lot of interest from me.
This just wasn’t for me
A fun listen that gets a bit repetitive, but is still very cool. I do not think I will revisit this project as a whole very often, but a couple of songs like Asabache and El Cumbanchero are fantastic. I find the departure from guitar and vocal driven music a nice change of pace, and it is so fun to just sink into a rhythmic and percussive project. The call and response work throughout the album is great too, and reminds me of a ton of the Sega, Seggae, and Creole albums I grew up listening to. Personally, this album gave me a ton of nostalgia for family events growing up. Fantastic listen, but idk how often I will revisit it.
Holy fuck this wants me to put a bullet in my head. Just some cunt yelling over constant drums, yeah sick man. I have a theory JFK was hesitant on authorising the Bay of Pigs invasion until he heard this atrocious piece of shit. And 62 years later I am had my own battle with trying to finish this record without un-aliving myself.
Really glad to see things like this get some recognition. Especially after feeling like I was being suffocated with moldy beige paint equivalent that was Shack and The La's. I liked the tracks that used all of the elements like El Cumbanchero and Choferito Plena. The more folky tracks felt more like a chant and got a bit repetitive for their duration. even by Pop or Electronica standards I thought these got a bit samey. That being said I think Asabache was my favourite song. They went fucking ham on that conga drum. This album was very easy to appreciate but outside of a few songs I'm not sure if it was something I would come back to outside of this list.
Instrumentals are great throughout, guitar and drums are excellent. Vocals are hit or miss. The call and response part in song 2 sucked and went on far too long. The instrumental heavy tracks are great
i get the feeling this is the kind of album that has been sampled to death and back. this is the first time ive listened to rumba and i have no idea what the song making process is like but it gives me big jazz vibes. like a bunch of guys that know their instruments and their styles front to back and just go hard as fuck with a few drinks in hand and let the magic happen. particularly choferito-plena, whoever the mother fucker was that was going hard on that guitar was clearly off hits tits and loving every minute of it. they had some crazy good drums throughout obviously, but some subtle bass lines and miscellaneous percussion really made for an interesting auditory experience in an otherwise very unconventional sounding album. they completely defy the standard song structure of verse, chorus, verse bridge, chorus, instead opting for these long meandering riffs with chanting that lead into extended solos from their the drums and guitar that sometimes combined into at once discordant yet rhythmtic and coordinated duets. obviously the first track is standout but rhapsodia del maravilloso, choferito-plena and tribilin cantore were all personal favourites. amazing vocals, but mostly the inspired and creative instrumentation are what made this one a killer for me.
I don’t have much to say about this. It’s great music but it doesn’t really strike me as above and beyond anything else I’ve heard in the genre. I’d say this is another inclusion of albums that inspired genres that have since been outdone by those that came after them. Sorta made me think of what would be on the radio in some South American tiki bar before the CIA get in a gunfight with the local security forces.
Maybe (?) The most front loaded album ever created. I LOVED the first 4 tracks on this thing, I listened to the album over and over and over and I just couldn't get around that back half. Those first four tracks though, mf masterpieces. 7/10 Fav tracks - El Cumbanchero, Billumba-Palo Congo, Choferito-Plena, Asabache, Least Fav - Simba
"My friends! My people! Welcome to the golden age of prosperity for every living Music Evil member! It was your trust that made it possible - your trust in me, El Jackbot!" "Know this, my people: I have nothing but contempt for English music - especially Britpop! When I heavily arm the police force, you will no longer fear the The Charlatans!" "Our efforts are aided by our hater comrades - to each according to their need, from each according to their ability. Equality for all, especially those who hate English music more than the others!" "Our problems are deeply rooted in the arrogance of Byron! When his takes invade our beaches, they are a 4. But when Supergrass knocks upon their door? They are a 1!" "What can you look forward to in years to come? Better Music! Led zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, more Bob Dylan - the 1001 albums of tomorrow will be built with 5’s!" Actual review, This slaps and I fucking love Latin music. I don't have to understand the what they're saying to do the rump shaker! loved my time with this one. 4/5
This album was enjoyable enough, but it feels like it was pretty inaccessible. Lots of call and response which can get a bit grating. Rhapsodia del Maravilloso was the standout on this album mainly for being a departure from the heavy drum work into guitar work which is splendid. I can't see myself going out of my way to listen to this again, it's pretty repetitive and I found that after Rhapsodia that the album kind of flew by me. On a repeat listen it didn't stick in my head any more than it did the first time. This album for me is a 5/10, wouldn't be upset if I heard it in the background but would probably skip it if I was in charge of the music.
not for me. It's a little too grating. that Simba song felt like an Ice Pic into my brain
African jazz. I could take it or leave it.
This might have been interesting live, but there is almost nothing about this that works as recorded music.
Listening to this makes me feel exactly as I would imagine Cuba in 1957. Such a pure and wild sound experience.
Finally an actually interesting album in the list. Also I found out today that both me and my infant quite enjoy this time of music. 4/5 stars
I can appreciate the groove but I don't think I'll revisit. Not enough going on. High 2 or low 3.
I love introducing new genres into my listening. I think I generally vibe with Cuban music, like when I've heard it in a movie or something like that, and am curious which other Cuban jazz albums might be considered definitive. But I didn't love this album. I'm glad I listened to it once, but some of it was too repetitive to be enjoyable. Rhapsodia del Maravilloso was the best track for me.
A couple of good tracks here in an otherwise fun but middling album. 2.5 stars.
The first album on the list that I’ve never heard of, or the artist even, whilst it’s definitely not my thing, I can appreciate it and wouldn’t want to give it too low a score as certain it’s been influential
It was fine.
I'd much rather listen to something like this - repetitive, sure, but folk music with amazing grooves and actual heart and soul - than something like LCD Soundsystem. But if you really listen, the minimalistic shifts in the groove are incredible.
I love when things like this come up that are completely unique and interesting and wash away the pain of the countless mediocre British indie bands
I mean, if i passed away and i hadnt heard this album before, i wouldnt be turning over in my grave thats for sure. Theres plenty of comments about too many indie bands but id take that over this. Hell, id take hip hop and rap over this. I mean its good to hear different styles or music from different countries but id honestly love to know why this is on the list. I think spotify has these guys down with 2k monthly listeners. Wikipedia isnt even complete. Thats when you know something aint right. Some decent melodies and mad congo skillz. but damn, i thought i had nearly finished the album and i was only starting the third track!!!
Was torn between giving it 2 or 3 stars. It’s nearly 70yr old and does have a good vibe to it so I think it deserves the 3.
All right, not bad.
I mean, it all kind of sounds the same. I guess that's ok as it's...ok, but just waiting for it to be done. Some hip swinging was had.
This album was a real roadblock for me. I thought I would enjoy it, but I tried to listen to it a few times and I kept falling asleep. I didn't want to skip it, so the new albums kept coming in daily and stacking up. It was giving me anxiety. Finally after 20 days I put the whole project on pause, for three months. Well, I'm finally back and I put this album on and finally made it through to the end. It's just okay.
Feels like sitting in on a jam session which is okay but the songs just lack any sort of structure so each becomes kind of old after some time. 6/10
Alveg ágætis plata.
Interesting mix of African and South American beats. They’re clearly having a ball.
My only criticism of this album is the lack of congas.
Listening to this wild, visceral Cuban rumba while strolling the sterile aisles of a grocery store was a refreshingly dichotomous experience.
Well. Sounds really different to most of the albums in this list. But I liked it. Great rithmical base.
Not gonna lie; I have an inherent bias to this since my folks come from the Caribbean, and I know for a fact my pops would definitely vibe to this. I'm not looking for any complicated melodies or intellectual lyrics when I listen to this. Instead, I close my eyes and teleport myself to late 14th century B.C. in Hispaniola when Christopher Columbus wasn't there to colonize the beautiful island and picture myself among the Taino people vibing out to this and spiritually taking it all the beautiful scenery, enjoying the culture and the delicious fruits. That being said, this shit slaps. Best - Billumba-Palo Congo, Asabache, Rhapsodia del Maravilloso, and Aggo Elegua (MPF) Worst - no bad songs 3.50-3.75/5
A couple of these songs started out good or had good parts but it was just too discordant and yelly for me.
I like drums. This album has a lot of drums.
extremely exciting to discover an album this old that traces the roots of the idiom of Dance Music as it is known in western popular music to Dance Music as in the tradition that has existed for probably as long as music itself has. i honestly cant imagine unsuspecting listeners in 1957 (or apparently, suspecting listeners in 2024, given the bizarrely low rym score) rly knew what to do with it? its super awesome tho...sweaty hypnotic call and response beats that just go and go and go a little more, feels free while being incredibly tight, feels old (much older then the recording, roots in afro-cuban folk styles) while being incredibly vital, feels spiritual while having more libido then any contemporary rock and roll would manage for a long long time
It's the rhythm of the island like the sugar cane so sweet. If you want to do the conga, you've got to listen to the beat.
I liked that I was asked to listen to this. It was something different and not bad, but maybe just not right in the groove for me.
Not a lot for me to hook into but an interesting change of pace.
I enjoyed listening to some 50s Cuban music. Not for daily consumption but interesting nonetheless.
it’s freaky
Very Caribbean -- love hearing different genres on here. This one sounds timeless. 3* because it doesn't surpass some other albums I've really enjoyed.
Interesting to hear music from other cultures. But aside from some moments this didn't do much for me
Just not my cup of tea. Thought it might be a jazz album, but it really is drum and chant music. Early precursor to world music maybe.
I will never ever think about this record again, and if you ask me if I'd listened to it before, I'd have to double check if I had. Fairly shite
4/5. I didn't know we could have a Congo solo but I'm not complaining. This was more of a jam album located in the basement of a latin bar, hot and sweaty with barely enough standing space. The vocals seem more like ad-lib or instruments themselves. This was a very enjoyable listen, chill and down to earth. Definitely not an all the time album but great nonetheless. Best Song: El Cumbanchero, Asabache, Simba
Palo Congo is interesting, some of the instrumentals are nice but it often goes too long for my liking.
Fun!
Not a huge fan
The era and genre is a sweet spot for me.
It’s fine but gets a little tedious after a while
lmfao this rocks
Cool for the first 15 minutes then gets old quick.
I can respect this for what it is. While it is not something that I would cruise around town blasting, it is something that is a decent representation of it's genre.
Good for background music
A cheerful pick-me-up on what was otherwise a glum afternoon.
Another nice example of a very specific genre that I wouldn't have heard otherwise and have no frame of reference for to tell if it's any good. I enjoyed it, matched the sunny weather very well. Sure it would be very good live but it sounds like a jam session a lot of the time so it's hard to say a particular song is good or bad. Good addition to the list, wouldn't go out my way to listen again but hopefully I can hear it unexpectedly in the future.
Doesn't seem quite as old as it actually is. Not much more to say, too repetitive for me.
Found it quite interesting for a song or 2, but that was plenty. I got the jist of it after that. Nice to have stuff like this on the list, but won't be rushing back
while I can't deny the talents of Sabu, the recording is largely dedicated to long flat examples of some rythyms that dont change and have little or no orchestration so the appeal is very limited. I did find the second to last and last songs to be better because they involved more orchestration.
Am i missing something? It's literally just repetitive percussion over grating vocals. It's groovy sometimes, but an entire album of this? Just annoying to listen to.
Authentic and pure music ! I could listen to this all day long !
More incredibly interesting world music. I just dig the vibe of it all. Sometimes a little repetitive, but overall a fun journey of moving and grooving.
Ei vittu vaan pysty. Kyllä tämä on jo paskuudessaan kuninkuusluokan kamaa. El cumbancheroa jaksoi kuunnella n. 2min ja siihen loppui mielenkiinto. On paskaa, aidosti paskaa.
Kyllä tää oman aikansa piti otteessa, mut pidemmän päälle tuli korvista ulos
I wish I could enjoy this more but something is definitely lost in translation.
Very enjoyable and a great recording. A jazzy congo style.
7/10/24. First time experience this artist and genre, loved the percussion and liked the improvisisational aspect of this. I'll need to explore this genre more.
Fun
Not really my thing. Lot of drums.
if all the songs were just like the first minute or two of the songs I'd prolly rate this like a 4 or 5 but by the time it got to the halfway point I was bored of listening to the same drum instrumental thing for two more minutes straight.
It aight. Good energy but too much shouting. 4.5/10
6/10 - Parts of this remind me of Peking O. The first two songs were not very interesting. But the third song was pretty good. Overall the songs that were good were pretty good and the songs that were bad were pretty bad.
Sounds a lot like some of the stuff my mom would listen to when I was a kid. Not crazy about it though
I really like this and was in the mood. Gotta love the African influences on the Latin world. 3.5 stars.
Not my favorite.
What a strange recording to have on this list. Do you like the conga? If not, then this is going to be some rough 40 minutes. Almost impressed with the range going directly from the almost unlistenable 'Simba' to the groovy 'Rhapsodia del Maravilloso'.
How many congas players are too many? On Palo Congo there are 5, so the answer is somewhere lower than that.
Drums catchy as hell, shimmied my shoulders in public
Not really for me...
It’s at it’s best when it’s focusing solely on the rhythm, Asabache is by far the best song on the album and the following are the other drum and vocal only tracks. And it’s not that the melodies are bad necessarily, it’s just that it is particularly badly recorded, even for the late 50’s, and so does get a bit grating. On the whole though, I am glad that I listened to it, and given it’s getting on to summer proper now, I may find myself returning to it sooner than I think