Reviews (page 6 of 15)
This was a favorite in the late 90s architectural design studios. I never owned it but heard it plenty of times. It's incredibly pleasant.
4/5 - I probably could have listened to this all day. I sorta did. Chan Chan is a newly discovered favorite.
good vibes. makes me move my body. want to dance. love the guitar
i liked this a lot. easy listening
überraschend gut dafür dass es spanisch ist, vibes halt
einf vibes
Oui ! Connu ! Cependant, je n’avais jamais écouté l’album jusqu’au bout, il y a des pistes très calmes… mais je trouve ça vraiment chouette
Plutôt sympa! Le premier titre est un classique, vraiment bonne ambiance pour bosser
I love this album
El primer albumen que tuve en espanol. Era muy pegajoso y relajante.
Great Latin sounds 🎺
Perfect house-cleaning/ lazing around the house music. Super relaxing and lively enough to not fall into the background. Great vocals and instrumentation!
Great listening at dinner with the girls, remember it from somewhere but can't place
8/10 Top 5: 1. Dos Gardenias 2. Veinte Años 3. Murmullo 4. Candela 5. El Carretero
Good times were had by all.
i loved it so much, such a masterpiece
I don't speak Spanish so the lyrics are lost to me. However, the first song feels like you've been transported to a humid summer day at a Caribbean beach club, with a cigar in hand as you're lazily swing back and forth in a hammock. The rest of the album gives more or less the same feeling, perhaps you've ordered a cocktail or sat down at the domino table. I first heard this album over a decade ago and it's still as good as it was back then.
un album muy relajante con canciones que me dan mucha nostalgia por alguna razón
I really dont have time for this so i give this a 3 stars for the sake of being a 90s jazz album Edit from future me: I finally got around to listening to this album again. This is a very great piece of music by some great singers. Im gonna give this project 4 stars.
An album that can transport you to a humid beach with a light breeze rustling the palm trees, this is a greatest hits sampler of fantastic pre-Castro Cuban music. It is impeccably produced and performed, and the enthusiasm for the material by the performers comes across vividly. The record is a bit long and is front-loaded, but these are nits. A definitive Cuban musical statement.
I’m sure there was a time when it was obligatory to have a copy of this kicking around. Entry level Cuban jazz but not dumbed down, it was great prep for when we went over there what is now a frighteningly long time ago.
The sound of rum and coffee from an old rocking chair
Put me on a beach and give me this album please.
This is the type of album I was hoping to hear starting this challenge. It was so fun to bop to while doing my work, and I feel like this album had more of a cultural impact than the vast majority of the albums we have listened to so far. This album made me crave a mojito and some good Cuban food. Very good.
Perfect album to transport you to another place and time.
fun background - a bit repetitive
треки с фортепиано отличаются ну очень любопытной гармонией - треки без фортепиано реально отдают абстрактной латиной. ну это для совсем неискушенного слушателя, я даже босанову не отличу, подобная музыка для меня как тёмный лес. но кататься на коньках под неё - 7/10
I don't know why I was hesitant to start this. Chan Chan is a great start. It sounds like the music that would be playing during a Robert Rodriguez love scene. I know one is Cuban and one is Mexican-American but there are some similarities across Latin music. I'm finding a newfound appreciation for Cuban music. I like this a lot more than I would have expected. This album is great. Amor de Loca Juventud is the Cuban All of Me. Orgullecida is a low point. The back half of the album is not as good.
Were it 15 minutes shorter, it would've been a 5/5. The playing, singing and songwriting are soulful and beautiful. Old masters who came together and made magic. 4/5
Very fun and impressive album. Cant believe i have never heard it before.
Good album for a good time. Havana sounds- sweaty evenings and slow dancing under low lights on the beach.
i've listened to this before. my mom used to play this album frequently when I was a kid, so i remember having good memories about it Chan Chan - 5/5 De camino a la vereda - 5/5 El cuarto de Tula - 5/5 Pueblo nuevo - 3/5 Dos gardenias - 4/5 ¿Y tú qué has hecho? - 4/5 Veinte años - 4/5 El carretero - 5/5 Candela - 5/5 Amor de loca juventud - 3/5 Orgullecida - 4/5 Murmullo - 3/5 Buena Vista Social Club - 3/5 La Bayamesa - 3/5 Average score: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcané. Llego a Cueto, voy para Mayarí.
A wonderful transportation back to Havana.
love !
hi i just finished this album and my favourites are: CHAN CHAN (LLEGO A CUETOO VOY PARA MARYARIII) es un temón, it's a bangerrrr 2 GARDENIAS FOR UUUU WITH THEM I WANT TO SAYY I LOVE UUU EL CUARTO DE TULA LE COGIÓ CANDELA SE KEDO DORMIDA Y NOOOO APAGÓ LA VELAA DE CAMINO A LA VEREDAAA BANGERR well that was my opinion, i love that they have included spanish music in their list, it's very important keep living the latin culture!! greetings from argentina ICE OUT
Went into this a little skeptical since j had a salsa album I did not enjoy the previous day but this album was awesome! I liked every track and will listen again!
Ay Candela! Fun.
Listening to this was a blast from the past as I hadn't listened in so long. The album came out when I was in college and while I never owned a proper copy, I think I had a copy on cassette tape (Piracy is theft so I don't condone this behaviour :) ) A year or so after it came out I visited Cuba for a month, so I associate this album with good times, good vibes, mojitos, Cuba libres and good tunes. And this album is full of good tunes. Recommended 4 out of 5 stars.
Nice ... men, put this on, grab your wife and hold her tight, and dance slowly into the night. Great mellow music to listen to, even if you don't understand the words.
reminds me of busy bars in Cartagena with lights and smiles
3.5/5
This is good, it's a lovely sounding taste of Cuban music and it really transports you to Havana in the 1990s. Even an uncultured gringo like me can really dig this.
Temps in the 40s while listening to this get me to a beach
Super fun and enjoyable listen. Great for when the sun is shining.
Album 96. Buena Vista Social Club (https://open.spotify.com/album/5qcOy8sMqROZ0VEfK8LJZt?si=K6U0z02UQyWKppXQatwFCQ) — Buena Vista Social Club (1997) That’s one of the many reasons why I started to learn Spanish, I guess. I knew Chan Chan for a long time, so it’s great to hear the whole album now. I can describe it as extraplanetary beautiful and fascinating. It’s so refreshing to get Cuban jazz today, after a series of mediocre albums. I’d like to relisten to it a couple of years later when I have intermediate Spanish in my head, a Pina Colada in my hand and sunny warm weather, not killing frost. 4/5 —————————————— Liked songs: — Chan Chan — De Camino a la Vereda — Pueblo Nuevo — Dos Gardenias — Veinte Años — Candela
This is a great album. For some reason I thought it came out in the mid 2000s. Way better than The Black Album.
I’m not super familiar with the different Cuban styles but this had such a good collection of different tempos and rhythms and the vocals and instrumentalists were so solid. Not something I’d put on for really any occasion but still really good
A great album and one I got at the time of release as "world music" was a major interest of mine at the time. It was very popular especially in the UK and led to many spin off albums from the various participants who were able to finish off their lives with a big flourish hurrah! I had only listened to this a couple of weeks ago but it's never a trial to revisit, and especially enjoyable now I know some Spanish and can get the gist of lyrics.
Very calming to enjoy. Also makes me want to dance a bit
Quite nice. Wish there was more like this on the list
When you get Ry Cooder to sing your eulogy at the hundredth meridian, make sure he brings the Buena Vista Social Club
It's diverse and expansive. A lot of groovy tunes. I'd go 3.5/5 just for my personal taste, but a 3 star rating does feel too low.
Siiiii
Vibes are immaculate for this jazzy latin album.
Por pura coincidencia lo escuché después de Debí tirar más fotos de Bad Bunny y este es de una onda parecida pero más tranqui, más chill. Me gustaron ambos.
A very interesting listen from a group and genre I've heard very little of before. You can tell that the entire band are consummate musicians, and many of the tracks are truly beautiful pieces of work spanning clearly several genres endemic to Cuba. I'm glad this was recommended, it's a quality album, and expanded my horizons in the deep and rich world of Latin American and Caribbean music. Favorite Tracks: "Chan Chan", "Dos Gardenias", "Murmullo" Least Favorite Track: N/A Cuba Libres consumed: Two
This was not the Latin music I was raised on, but I think this was beautifully made and can appreciate the artistry behind what is played.
This album was a vibe. It instantly makes you want to move your body. The instruments sound good, the vocals sound good, and when the instruments got their chance to shine in the solos it was magic. I was listening to this while watching dishes and my body couldn’t help but dance.
Maravilloso!
Quite interesting world music. It is a silent 4 out of buenos.
Wonderful music. Makes you want to party in Havana. Perfect for background dinner party music. The musicianship is excellent. Get a real cool vibe here… and there is a consistent theme and concept throughout the work. Cool record.
Vibes for days
Great sounding slice of world music. No idea what they’re singing about but it still sounds great. Like stepping back in time. 4
I can’t remember ever hearing this album or anything by the group for that matter. I definitely enjoyed this, a nice enjoyable listen. 3+ stars that I I will round up to 4.
I liked this album when it first came out and I like the remastered version as well. Really nice overall feel and tone to all the songs.
Beautiful album, was great to listen to one entirely in a non-English language finally, a bit too repetitive to sit among the greatest of great that I've rated thus far but still very good
Not mindblowing but nice listening
Really good album. Felt like I was in a dusty saloon slamming whiskeys in a poncho
A revelation and such consistently excellent musicianship. Maybe just a touch too lazy and laid back at times for my liking, but it’s borne of the heat, humidity, the sea and rhythms of the island after all. Ry Cooder is a national treasure for being our eyes and ears in the world, uncovering its musical delights and bringing them to us.
Not my favorite that’s come up so far but I liked it! Very dance-y. I think I would’ve enjoyed more without the language barrier, I’ll have to look into what they’re singing about. 4/5
Didnt understand a word but still enjoyed the album
i get “Chan Chan” stuck in my head like once a month. Cuban music rules
3.5
Enjoyed this and felt outside my normal listening taste
lindo, por fin un album en español, +1 punto
I remember this taking the world by storm back in the late 90s but somehow it never connected at that time. Now I see the similarity with Calexico, right up my street - not to mention it's español.
Hyvää kuubafiilistä, erinomInen kesäinen taustamusalevy
I can listen to this and forget that I’m in my office sending emails. Baller.
very much enjoyed it, love the rhythm, bass, and musicality.
Incredible
Talk about an incredibly well mastered album. The spaciousness between the instruments and the tactility of the guitars and drums is incredible. I wish I wasn't so dang white and could understand the lyrics.
Is there anything else that can be said about Buena Vista Social Club that has not already been said? I don't think so.
Not my favorite, but I guess there is cultural significance to this one.
It’s wonderful
Fire
it’s weird bc idk if I would ever just put this on but I still liked it
A new genre has entered the rotation
I saw someone say "No club is cooler than the Buena Vista Social Club."
very much hotel or nice restaurant vibes. I added a few songs. Very easy to listen while studying.
This reminded me of Papi sitting in the backyard by himself, sitting shirtless in the big brown chair. That was when he was nice to me so this made me a little sad but it mostly made me feel nostalgic.
Listening to this on a gloomy Thursday morning, and immediately got transported to a sunny beach day with coke and beer in hand. Day is made. Love this gem.
Leuk, erg fijn om op de achtergrond te hebben. Versta er de ballen van maar heb me erg goed vermaakt.
Very mellow and pleasant.
major guitar slay
i felt like i was in a beautiful and calm cafe in a movie that was so chic
Au bout de 35 albums, ça n'est que le deuxième qui m'est proposé qui n'est ni britannique ni américain, ça en dit long sur les biais de la liste. En tout cas, ça me fait plaisir de tomber sur celui-là ! J'ai parfois envie de l'écouter, j'écoute quelques titres puis je me lasse, c'est pas un type de musique qui m'accroche sur le long terme (pour l'instant), mais je persiste. Aujourd'hui, c'est peut-être la première fois que je l'écoute en entier et même si c'est ultra-classe et qu'il mérite amplement sa place dans cette liste, il est tout simplement iconique, c'est pas non plus un style qui me parle. Mais je le noterai très bien quand même.
First half of the album is excellent
Acc liked it but dont know if i would like really listen to it all that much maybe if im doing chores
3,5 Zeer tof & zomers, helaas is het nu winter :/ Het openingsnummer (Chan Chan) is echt een vibe! Soms iets te jazzy naar mijn goesting, maar wel altijd gezellig.
Fantastic, full of soul and emotion.
Eindruck: muss man kennen, geil, Macht Spaß Rating: 8/10 Favourite: candela Anmerkungen: lieb das Cover
The vibes here are immaculate
There was a lot of hype surrounding the album when it was released. I couldn't really get into it at the time and didn't feel like trying. I was familiar with the song Chan Chan, but didn't associate it with the band. Now I've listened to the album in its entirety for the first time and found it really interesting. It's not the kind of music I listen to all the time, but it's great fun to listen to now and then. 4/5
ini album tuh summer bgt, plus ini pertama kali gw dengerin album full bahasa spanyol
I've always loved this style ( Spanish/Mexican) genre of music. This album can be viewed as a reflection of what I love about this genre. My favorite ones are Candela (top song for sure) and Dos Gardenias.
Smooth and relaxing, makes me feel like im at an upscale social club. I need to listen to this on a beach with a tequila sunrise in hand.
Cudowny, wspaniały
so so good!
Fabulous
Album review 034 Buena Vista Social Club by Buena Vista Social Club (1997) Rating 4/5 There is a magic about this album in that it can evoke a different sense of place and time like few others. Welcome to Havana, sometime around the mid-1950’s; pour yourself a drink, sit back and enjoy.
I have never been to Cuba (unfortunately). Luckily this album nearly took me there anyway. The lush instrumentation and virtuoso playing of everyone involved gave this vibrant album a timeless feel. I love how it perfectly captures the mood that it does and I will be returning to this again.
I need to revisit this album as I didn't actively listen to it.
Favorite Song: Candela Very nice to listen to, I loved all the Latin aspects of this album as well as the repetitiveness that never felt boring.
I honestly loved this
Good vibes
6/10
groovy and sexy. what else need an album be?
Hearing jazz fused with an unfamiliar genre is such a treat. The percussive, bouncing qualities of Latin music charged the jazz characteristics with such a lively energy. I don’t have much of a palette for Latin music, so hearing it melded with jazz helped me appreciate it, and this accessibility is probably what led to this record being on The List. Not the champagne, but the Don Julio 1942 tequila of this genre?
Not really the album for a cold English winter. But in the sun, rum & coke in hand, unbeatable.
Impossible not to imagine being on holiday when listening to this album. Or being in an episode of Narcos. No specific tracks id come back to but the album has a classy vibe that i like.
tea
I don’t get the hype. Good album nothing stands out.
Cuban royalty
What a beautifully breezy listen. Gonna return to this when I wanna feel all happy and sunny.
Awesome Cuban music, this could make a fencepost dance.
Was so nice to listen to while working on my iPad.
I feel like im in coco. Very Spanish dancing vibes
Super cool album cover, super chilled album. Some tracks would fit right in Rick's Cafe in Casablanca, others in New Orleans club. A reason to go to Cuba.
Fun, chill
Hadn’t heard of these guys before until today and now I’m part of the fan Club! It was muy Buena!
Great album!
The storytelling in the lyrics is amazing and deep
Ayyy
I remember this being all the rage back in the day. It still holds up well, though more as a change of pace than anything else.
This is an album I'm very happy to have experienced as it instantly transported me to a different place that I've never been before. Very enjoyable at the start, it dragged a bit through the middle, but it picked itself back up near the end. I think I'm going to have to make a couple mojitos or El Presidentes this weekend now as I have a sudden craving for some rum. Also, to all the reviewers who left 1-star reviews because “this album isn’t in English”, what the hell are you doing here?
Pretty good
Love the sound
To all of those people who said they don't understand the language, neither do I, but I do understand the music. This music makes you feel alive. It makes me want to grab a beer and get out on the dance floor.
surprisingly good listen
Certainly unlike anything I would seek out, but I thought this was solid which probably means it's legitimately good. 3.5
Enjoyed listening to this record. Excellent musicians, great Latin music. The vocals aren’t always my thing.
Solid. Favorite track: Orgullecida 3.5/5
So pleasant to listen to. Makes for just about the best album to put on while cooking that I've had in a long time. I don't know that I can give this a five - just not quite enough variety here - but this is pretty wonderful.
I don't know why I was hesitant to start this. Chan Chan is a great start. It sounds like the music that would be playing during a Robert Rodriguez love scene. I know one is Cuban and one is Mexican-American but there are some similarities across Latin music. I'm finding a newfound appreciation for Cuban music. I like this a lot more than I would have expected. This album is great. Amor de Loca Juventud is the Cuban All of Me. Orgullecida is a low point. The back half of the album is not as good.
chill, enjoyable relaxed beat
Classic collection of Latin music. Amazing musicianship. Can get repetitive
Love it.
Very good 3.75
Jazzimpaa tavaraa Kuubasta! Erinomaista oleskelumusiikkia 4/5
I kind of dug this. Yeah, the fact that it is Spanish means that I don't understand a lot of what they are saying (ok, most of it), but that doesn't take away from the excellent musicality / playing that is on display and the general feel of the album. Worth a listen
Wonderful album that is a pleasure to listen to. Excellent piano playing which i hadn't noticed before. I particularly like the version of Dos Gardenias. I do wonder whether this album is remarkable or only got the traction it did because it was initiated by a famous American. I was interested to hear that Ry Cooder was fined $25k for violating the trade embargo imposed by the US by working on this album.
If you worked in a bookstore from 1997-2007 or have a partner who has, you may be entitled to compensation from the Buena Vista Social Club. Outside of that, this is still a great record that makes me smile and sway every time I hear it.
It has the intimate, casual quality of an epic jam session among elder master craftsmen, and Ry Cooder was smart enough to mostly get out of the way and not try to overproduce anything. The musicianship is stellar and the album, filled with propulsive rhythms, is a wonderful listen.
Beautiful
Very smooth, relaxing.
I hadn't heard for Buena Vista Social Club before, so this was a nice surprise. Really smooth, relaxing music. Makes me want to be spending my evening on the terrace, wine in hand while a warm breeze blows. Dos Gardenias was a favorite song.
Probably the most interesting one yet. Really fits my vibe.
While not the type of music I'd normally listen to it is really well played and recorded. Chan Chan is the outstanding track.
Sort of music you really want to dance to
solid, another one i kinda recognise
Love this album, it’s in my collection - good to hear again- ace
My introduction to BVSC was the release of the live at Carnegie Hall record in the late 00s. At the time, I didn’t even know an earlier studio record existed, but I embraced the Carnegie Hall album completely (I even own the vinyl). It wasn’t until humiliatingly recently - like two weeks ago - that I fully realized this album existed and listened to it for the first time. Obviously I'm a fan of BVSC and this album. There’s a little bit of magic in the live album that you don’t get here, but the studio clarity creates a richer mix of every musician’s contributions. Some of the compositions, like “Pueblo Nuevo”, seem built for a in-person jam and don't play so well in a studio recording. I'll also note (as others have) that the album seems to get tired as it goes on. It starts very energetic, and then slows down into ballads and piano tracks that don't bring the same energy. The live album seems to carry its energy longer so, I guess, just know your mood before choosing an adventure.
Need some cha fha heels to dance around my living room for this one. Beautiful music of fabulous instrumentation and rhythms. I don't speak a bit if Spanish, but the tracks sound very upbeat without translation. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Liked it a whole lot.
I liked this a lot on a sunny Sunday. A little long to be a 5.
Really good
Fun, happy music. Maybe it's not, but I don't speak Spanish. 3.5* rounding up.
Boss album listening to this all the time when its summer and swimming in pool 😈😈😈
4/5 Peak Cuban music
Veeery good music, chan chan a claaassic, the whole album just makes me wanna dance.
Liked it alot. Definitely more my style.
I like the feeling. It was joyful and peppy. It was in Spanish but that was okay. The instruments were so good.
Latin class of working people... I don't know what to say, I just feel it
Fun! I don’t listen to music like this often but I definitely enjoy it. I have to add this album into my rotation.
119 Creo que la misma época en la que estuvimos obsesionados con Gotan Project, también lo estuvimos con Buena Vista Social Club. Me gusta, pero no lo encuentro excepcionalmente bueno. Es como buena música para comer con amigos. Le voy a poner un 4 porque ya veo que hay gente que no lo escuchó por ser música en español :D
Very happy music, sounds exactly like what I’d expect from a latin album
Great album, right away I remembered hearing the first song before and it really set the mood for the rest. The songs are great with excellent vocals and music. Sort of Cuban sounding beats. I'm not sure what they are saying due to my Spanish being remedial at best, but you don't need to know what they are saying to be able to enjoy the sounds. Like I said, it's great, I really enjoyed it and will be listening to it again.
Need to sit with it a bit more. But like that it is a different genre than the ones I've been getting.
The musicianship here is clearly high-quality: relaxed, economical, flowing. But the songs don't move me a lot. Maybe you have to be in a café in Cuba -- or have the memory of it -- to really appreciate this.
transportive and vibey
13/1089 хороший, ненапрягающий альбом, сразу ощущается лето при прослушивании, кинематографичность под конец, правда, становится немного скучно, но скорее это дело в жанре
Really great, mellow vibes. Loved the first song the most I think, but super strong album.
Listening to this and watching the documentary instead of doing my coursework This album is really great The documentary is cool
One of the greatest albums of this genre
Evergreen. Guter feel good Sound.
Irgendwie hat mich das komplett in seinen Bann gezogen. Fällt etwas lang aus, aber trotzdem wirklich stark
Det va gøy. Æ tror jo æ har hørt det her før sjøl om æ ikke har hørt på selve albumet med vilje, men det har liksom dukka opp og vært bakgrunnsmusikk og den slags, og det e lettlikt, så æ skjønne godt at det blei en suksess.
So chill - really like this.
This one has had several spins on my record player. Why not one more!? The album changes vibes halfway through. It's a nice Cuban sound throughout. I love it. 4
7/10
So fun
Ayayay
I don't understand Spanish, but I didn't need to in order to feel the spirit of the music. That's been my favorite thing about this project: listening to albums that are in languages other than mine but understanding completely via the universal language of music. 4 stars.
Not sure I can rate this a 4/5 simply because I unfortunately don't understand Spanish, or really have any frame of reference for it. I loved the melodies, especially the longer instrumental tracks. Some of those will definitely be on my study music lists.
Fascinerende origin story, en daarmee ook een fascinerend debuutalbum. Ik ken slechts enkele huis, tuin en keuken woorden in het Spaans, waardoor het algehele verhaal aan me voorbij gaat. Maar vakmanschap als dit spreekt tot de muzikale ziel, en je hebt geen Spaans woordenboek nodig om daarmee te levelen. Nogmaals, niet echt je typische storm Benjamin-muziek, maar toch verrassend genoeg wel een warm dekentje zo op herfstavond. 8,5/10 Highlights: Chan Chan (verveelt vreemd genoeg nooit helemaal) De Camino a la Vereda El Cuarto de Tula Candela Amor de Loca Juventud
Off the cuff remark: I haven't seen the film, know little of the story behind this and my Spanish is nothing like good enough to understand what they are singing about but there seems to be something universally warming and heartfelt about this. It is an album I have had for a long time and a film on the "must watch" list - for waaay too long - decades? Standout track: Chan Chan sets the mood and the flavour, El cuarto De Tula has all the right ingredients Revisit?: I do often revisit for something warm and uplifting, on a cold day it is warming on a warm day it is fitting.
It would've been a 5 if I had a canchanchara in my hand
I’m almost nostalgic for a life I never experienced
I appreciate the musicianship, but its not for me.
Je pensais ne pas connaître du tout cet album, mais je me suis rendue compte en l’écoutant que plusieurs chansons m’étaient familières!
I’ve always really loved this album
Never thought I would listen something like this until the end with smile on my face.
Very nice and mellow
A very interesting listen.
She stayed with me until she moved to Notting Hill She said it was the place she needs to be Where the cocaine is fair trade, and frequently displayed Is the Buena Vista Social Club CD (It's pretty good)
Only wish it wasn't 50 degrees outside while listening to this one, if it were humid and 90 degrees I have a feeling this would've been an easy 5. For an album full of versatility in its jazzy sound it really blends together. Now where's my CERVEZA CRISTAAAAL
Good songs and rythym
Not familiar with Cuban music. This is very cool. Good vibes.
Cafe music
What a lovely album.
Loved it. Started out a little slow but really got going.
The first half was better than the second. But this was great.
I like it
Lovely collection of Cuban music puts you in the heart of Havana. Some great rhythms, melodies and aged vocals with beautiful authentic production work by Ry Cooder to capture the live feel. An atmospheric and emotional album that's well worth a listen.
So fun to revisit this one
Actually great
Balanced instruments. Great vocals.
(79/100)
I really liked this. This is the best-selling "world music" album of all time. I recognized some of the songs but I think the most special and iconic one is the first one. Still enjoyed the ride though, all the way through.
a beautiful time. will revisit. will look for this on vinyl
Hell yeah.
First artist I had never heard of. The backstory is really interesting. The album itself I enjoyed but it wasn’t amazing but pretty good.
That was fun to listen to. I feel like it isn't a style of music I really know how to critique or truly appreciate but it felt as good an example of the genre as I could imagine
3.5
What a groovy opening song. The rest of them were also veryv nice. I listened to it as backfround. Nice.
The opening track alone might be worth four stars. A joyous listen and proof that one not speak the singers’ language to love their songs.
Nice
Highlight Song/s: Chan Chan, De Camino a la Verda, Orgullecida and Murmullo This album has an absolutely killer atmosphere, literally second-to-none. Just that killer. I think it's because of it being sombre in parts, a bit bittersweet-sounding and the passionate singing. Now, I'm not sure if that's something that's just specific to this album or if it's just the Latin sound or the specific sub-genre. But I dig it hard. My only gripe is that it goes on for just a bit TOO long, it would've been great if it was a 45m long album. Though I do get that album length is an artistic choice, I just can't help but feel that way.
8/10
Very summery sounding
Good tunes, not all that catchy though
A good album, I liked Chan Chan, Veinte Anos and El Carretero.
More than happy to listen to that again
Very interesting melodies and great vocals
Cuban super group tradional bolero Chan chan Pueblo neuvo
nice
Fantastic music, I enjoyed listening to this.
me encanta mucho 💫
Started off great. Felt like I was at an airy bar near a bench sipping mojitos and looking at the waves. Got my hips moving. Kind of trailed off at the end but solid 3.5 for me.
I have to admit, I haven't encountered much, if any of Cuban music, but I am glad that my first taste was with Buena Vista Social Club. I enjoyed listening to this album and to the band!
This album was a gateway for my discovery of Latin music when it first came out. Sounds just as good now.
Superb listen. I think I'd enjoy this a hell of a lot more if I was cooking a romantic dinner with my girlfriend while listening to this thing on my vinyl player. This thing is definitely backloaded as fuck, I found the first half to be a bit of a snore, a lot of songs meshing with one another to the point I started losing interest. Once Candela came on, my opinion changed. Candela fucking rocked. Anyways, not much to say about this - if you don't like latin music, you'll hate this. If you do, it's probably close to as good as it gets.
Protesting the Buena Vista Social Club’s tyrannical decision to revoke my membership for the INNOCENT and UNDERSTANDABLE act of getting blind drunk and pissing myself on the one good couch of the members lounge by deducting one star from this otherwise stellar album.
Hits different after a massive fuck up 9/10
A very enjoyable Cuban album that was a lot of fun.
My dad and my aunts listen to these guys classic Cuban music played at old Spanish parties
I had the great pleasure to meet Ry Cooder's son, Joachim, at a screening of Wim Wenders' documentary on this group, who at the age of 18 played drums and percussion with these incredible musicians. I'm not sure if it was as interesting to him as it was to me but I told him that Bob Dylan was recording Time Out of Mind in Miami at the same time not far away from their studio in Havana. (I was not much further off as a 6 year-old in Jupiter, Florida. Yes, I feel special having been within 200 miles of Dylan recording one of his greatest records!) We chatted about his many, often illegal, trips to Cuba to record with the group over the years. He was a really chill dude raising a nice family.
Such great musicianship. Language barrier doesn’t stop me from having a great time listening to this album.
Soulful and joyous
Chan Chan, now that’s a song
Sounds good to me
Have heard this before and I really enjoy, of course do not much about this type of music, but this seems like the real thing! 3.5 rounded up Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes, 6/1001, 6/21 (28%) Will I get? Already have Recommend: Yes
Fun, but unlikely to relisten much.
Really liked this record. Loved the general sound that was achieved here. There's a nice mix of instrumental and vocal tracks. There is no doubt that any track on this record will get you grooving or dancing. Favourite Track(s): Amor De Loca Juventud, Murmullo Least Favourite Track(s): El Carretero
Great vibes. Both the singing and the instrumentals are top notch. Kinda makes me wish I learned Spanish. Maybe it's not too late.
Oddly my deepest memories of this album are associated with spring and summer time in southern Germany. Perhaps not so odd, as the documentary film was created by Wim Wenders. Boy was it ever a hit there, you couldn’t have a bbq or garden party without this on the boombox. Which fits, not all music is best suited for all spaces, and yet, I can never grok if this goes misunderstood (the lyrics, the musical references) or if the general understanding is that this is a kind of nostalgia for a specific, lost period of time in Cuban history, but that these (mostly) men got their day in the sun late in life and isn’t that great and also isn’t this so pleasing to listen to? The politics of this are maybe complicated: the era being celebrated is Batista and the imperial power of the USA, but the specific music BSC played was largely an afro-cuban concern and while part of the melange of Havana Nights in the 40s and 50s, was segregated. The communists didn’t outright condemn their clubs, but also did little to assist their continuance and with the arrival of newer music forms, the son music fell out of favour. That the film (at least) is all occurring through the lens of Ry Cooder and his creative partner Wenders has always sat a little awkwardly with me, particularly the addition of Cooder’s slide guitar and his son playing percussion (I guess well enough?), but hey, it worked to bring this collection to the world and that’s what we’re ultimately interested in here right? If the dynamics were changed it’d be like if some rich African fond of white American rock music discovered the GBV catalog or something “wow another hit eh?” Anyhow, I’ll always enjoy listening to this right up until I lose interest - the repetition inherent to a lot of Afro-Cuban music (or traditional Irish folk song) runs up against my western pop ears’ yearning for a change.
Groovy
Divertido
I have a soft spot in my heart for this album. I saw the trailer for the documentary (never saw it), but I went out and bought the album right away. The opening song is by far the best track, but it is all good - recorded and produced by great artist!
The quintessential cuban album
Incredible summer vibes from skilled Cuban legends. Where do we sign up for this Social Club?
I really love Buena Vista Social Club. Insanely skilled musicians, yet a lot of feelings in their performances. The mood of this album is unmatched. The best glimpse of cuban music one could get.
I'm gonna feel some positive bias because the sounds are mostly those I grew up with. That being said, the production on this is versatile, exploring the family of the Latin Caribbean genres while maintaining cohesion. There might be a song here or there that feels over produced or misplaced, but as a whole it's a gem. I'd recommend this album if you're exploring Latin music in general.
Oh I remember when this dropped. Big deal! It holds up as an easy way into appreciation of world music.
Such a huge album when it came out- everyone was playing it that summer. I grew to love it and still know it off by heart. Reminds me of a time in my life when I was voraciously devouring new music.
This one stayed on my radar but unlistened to for a lot longer than it should have. What good fun
delightful - got to it a day late but enjoyed it a lot.
Very cool - makes me wish I was in Cuba now, or anywhere in the Caribbean!
Отличный эсирадный и джазовый альбом из кубы!!! Слушается легко и с кайфом!
Absolutely delightful. I would use this to soundtrack my life if it didn’t feel slightly problematic. Or is it problematic *not* to have it soundtrack my life? Fuck…
The definition of music you want playing in your home as background to something else -- cooking, cleaning, working, having company over. As Latin cafe society music, it's beautiful. But compared to Gipsy Kings, say, this music does not enter the foreground. It's a playlist for your crib, not something you're going to put on as the main attraction.
Jazzy, soulful, a little sultry. A beautiful collection
holy PEAK. all 33 songs were beautiful but Veinte Años was my favorite. 🤤/5
Music is so cool guys. I love that I don't have to speak spanish to know what I'm getting with these songs. Each had its own vibe and took me on a fun little trip. Loved this and I hope to see more things that are similar.
HELL YEAH
consistent, tight harmonies. the guitar (american guy named ry) gives that sweet traditional cuban sound flawlessly. all the vocalists are pretty freaking awesome. trumpet is solid.
Classic album now. Couldn't believe at the time that this album was an attempt to save and archive a musical style which was dying out. Enjoyable jazz with latin flavours.
Upon getting this album and doing some research, two things immediately stuck out to me. Firstly, Wikipedia lists this album as belonging to seven genres, six of which I am unfamiliar with by name, so if I miss some of the cultural context here, forgive me. Second, that Buena Vista Social Club has 4.4 million listeners on my streaming service of choice, which makes me wonder what happened here. Frankly, English speaking music communities aren't exactly spending most of their time seeking out traditional Cuban music and 4.4 million is, without qualifier, a healthy following. With this in mind, I started listening and noticed a third thing: that this is really fucking good. This is just pleasant and joyful and nostalgic. This really effortlessly transports me to a time and place that I do not know, and never will, but the sounds and ideas here are so vivid and evocative that they bridge the gap. And while I can't take this apart into its individual components, I can listen to this and tell that it is really effortlessly weaving a tapestry with a bunch of disparate yet related sounds, like I believe those seven genres are doing some heavy lifting. I do agree with a sentiment that I've seen here that this album starts stronger than it ends, but I do think this remains somewhat strong throughout its runtime, and I'd believe that the perceived oscillation in quality can perhaps be chalked up to a matter of taste. I wish I had more to say about this, it is really exciting to listen through, I just don't have enough context to say everything I want to. But, like I said, I do think this is very good, and I could see it growing on me even more.
💃🏻
Nonstop bangers Fav song: Not sure, gonna go with De Camino a la Vereda for now
Ultimate holiday tracks
Me gustó, no es algo que definitivamente hubiese elegido para escuchar pero me gusta mucho la acústica que maneja, es todo bastante armonioso, algún tema lo escuché en ByN
I really liked this one, the title track was probably my fav
Very cool - makes me wish I was in Cuba now, or anywhere in the Caribbean!
Been a while since I listened to this, just as enjoyable as it always has been.
Lovely to listen to
As far as my knowledge of Cuban music goes, this was an incredible listen. One hour of pure sunny, sweaty music that I definitely need to give another listen to for a deeper understanding. What an awsome album cover!
What a pleasurable listen.
This is active listening music. You can have it on in the background, but not really for a calm read or chat. It's too catchy and groovy. It sounds fun and sweaty.
Surprised at how fun this was, great album
This is so good. In the last year I’ve really come around to Latin music. Makes me want to lay up on a patio with a cigar. Will definitely be revisiting.
Very nice, almost required listening
If you didn't have sex to this in the late 90s, what were you doing?
4.1 1x plus starred the Wim Wenders documentary. Helped bump up the rating but I will be listening again.
Known
Loved it
Dig this a lot!
Pure class, nothing else to say.
Very fun and a good break from what I have been hearing over the past couple of weeks
Till största del en kulturgärning. Att föra ut cubansk musik och dessa legender till hela världen. Oerhört väl framfört, men i grund och botten schlager. Vackert så.