Reviews (page 7 of 15)
Transports me to a warm, breezy evening in Cuba sipping a cocktail after a delicious meal. Slow pace of life. Brilliant!
OK, so, Ry Cooder. I've heard of him before. cause... the generator gave me Talking Timbuktu before. that album's pretty boring i suppose. why are you everywhere in the field of promoting world music? can i have some paul simon or david byrne please? but anyway this is pretty decent. 4/5
4/8
I want to be wherever these guys are right now.
One of the soundtracks of my youth. Not my favorite, but very pleasing and introduced me to a new genre.
another certified world banger
Good shit. So much rhythm and passion
Really easy to listen to and great sounds. I've listened to it a few times before and find it unique and enjoyable.
Pretty good 8/10
Chan chan may be one of the greatest songs of all time
Soothing rainy Saturday music. Definitely will revisit this!
A total joy to listen to
This was a surprise. I was digging most of these.
Unique sound I've returned to for easy listening
A very lovely album that I got lost in. The last few songs started to drag on a bit, would have been an easy 5 had they not 4 ⭐️
Kominn tími á hærri einkunn. Þessir herramenn fá hana fyrir þessa notalegu og tímalausu klassík.
Oh hey, I watched the documentary about this group awhile back, but never actually listened to the album so this is a bit of a treat! I knew what to expect going in and wasn't disappointed, it's just fun, upbeat music.
A good, enjoyable album. It reminded me of the week I spent in Havana and makes me want to go back
An absolute delight to see this one pop up on a Friday after a long week. So pleasant and infectious, a mood-changer for sure.
Blij. De eerste waar ik hyped over was om te gaan luisteren. Soms vind ik een album van een uur te lang, maar deze is gewoon precies goed.
I think this is the first time i've really listened to this sort of music and I did enjoy it quite a bit. Maybe it's just because i'm entering summer here and it fits the mood but I will likely give it another listen.
Not what i'd listen to on repeat, but i love the sound
Well this was entirely pleasant. Sometimes world music albums have this tendency to sound the same all the way through to me. That wasn't the case here. There was a lot of variety, and I really enjoyed it all.
4.3/solid piece of music that is very chill in the background.
4/5
This is some good stuff.
81% Best: De Camino a la Vereda; El Cuarto de Tula; Candela; Orgullecida Must-Hear? Sure
It’s was fun!
bende krasse knarren die aanstekelijke muziek maken...
It's good music, I love the guitar and the singing and the drums. Great Vibessssss
Love the Latin flair. Just a great vibe overall.
for a record fully in spanish, i had no trouble understanding the intended feeling behind each song. also a save!
Left it on in the background while working. Very enjoyable.
Spanish mi no hablo
I have the DVD documentary, and the album when launched. Vibes man
I kinda look forward to playing this in the background as I'm working on dinner in the evening of a long hot day. Very chill! El cuarto de Tula and Candela were particularly my vibe - I'll need to look up the translation of the lyrics sometime.
Fiyah!!
Pretty brilliant, not perfect.
Great Latin sound
This was an album I knew of but had never heard. This is the reason I like this project, it gives me a chance to enjoy some of these types of albums. This probably won’t ever be my favorite album, but I liked hearing something truly unique and different rather than another boring pop album from an artist who hadn’t been good in many years.
very nice. Made me want to drink a cold modelo in a hot room with a fan blowing on me. Pueblo Nuevo was my favorite.
Legendary cubanos, my second or third time running this album since I moved to a Buena Vista of sorts near Pat Even as an ignorant American, I find the rhythms and genre spanning songs here to be infinitely entertaining in the right contexts (mainly just chilling or something in the background). Favorites: Pueblo Nuevo Chan Chan El Cuarto de tula Orgullecida (sounded like an old country song - very twangy)
Chad and I first met living in the same building on Buena Vista Terrace - a Social Club of sorts during Covid, with 4 or 5 guys who would get together and play guitar on our patio overlooking the Bay. Pretty special times. This album was on in the background of our apartment - like when they say the name of the movie in the movie. Chan Chan is the song I knew the best, but on closer listen - I think Pueblo Nuevo and Orgullecida are my new favorites. It was on BVT that Chad was convinced by a grouchy neighbor to help him paint DIY demarcated parking spots on our street - earning him the role of our block's Sheriff. 3 stars overall, and an extra star out of respect for the badge.
Didn’t understand a word, didn’t matter. This thing grooves like a warm breeze through an open window. There’s a live energy here that’s infectious. A killer vibe for driving, cooking, or pretending you’re somewhere tropical and sexy. Pure charm. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Chan Chan - El Cuarto De Tula - Pueblo Nuevo - Dos Gardenias - Buena Vista Social Club
Mainiota taustamusisointia, muutamia kappaleita voisi kuunnella useamminkin. Ei valittamista noin periaatteessa.
Loved it. Probably would have been better sitting outside in the sun sipping an ice cold beer, than stuck behind a desk doing work bull shit, but what are you gonna do? 4.5 ⭐️
Really cool story and very good music if that's what you're in the mood for. I wish I understood the language of the lyrics, but to paraphrase Ry Cooder's reminiscence on making this album, music is a universal language. And the music here is beautiful. I hear a little of Jeff Beal's Monk theme at some points and a little of Randy Newman and Michael Giacchino's Pixar work in others. The vocals and their harmonies stand out throughout.
I listened to most of this album and very much enjoyed the vibes! I’d never heard of this album or artist before but I would listen to this album again and recommend it to others! It was a nice departure from what I normally listen to.
I’d heard this name before but honestly didn’t know what it was! A super pleasant listen and surprise!
Love the music & story of this band. Rlly need to see the Wim Wenders documentary !!
4/22/25. Was happy to come across this today! Great feel good music, could've kept listening for another hour. I need to check out more Cuban music.
Very Good
Dope
I first heard Chan Chan played by a cover band in a Paris cafe in 2016 and I have been listening regularly ever since. I have listened to this album before, but I am excited to listen again. Upbeat tunes, smooth melodies. Makes me want to sway my hips.
cool! not entirely my jam but enjoyed
Finally something not in English! The kind of music you'd hear at a restaurant and get too into.
A great Latin jazz album. Even though I don’t totally understand it, the vibe is amazing. Could listen to this on repeat all day. 4⭐️
7/10…latinjazz
Skippy
It’s a groove hard to do crossword puzzles by.
Fun little album to listen to
Eind jaren '90. Stampende beats, raggende gitaren, rauwe rap. Maar ook de jaren van de muziek die je te relaxt maakt om te poepen. Manu Chao en deze sociale club voorop. Wellicht misschien ook wel juist nodig als tegenhanger van het muzikale geweld. Het verbaast me wat dat ik nu nog prima kan hebben.
This type of music is tailored made to get a 3 from me. Not because I'm not into it or because it's just not great, but moreso it tends to be experience music (dancing, soundtracks, restaurant/bars music) and not listening music for me. Like 99% of the time I can't imagine myself listening to it in the car or something. And this album kinds still is that, but this is special. There's layers and little stuff in it that makes it stand above most other music of similar styles I've heard. Songs like Chan Chan, El Cuarto de Tula, Das Gadenias, and Buena Vista Social Club just have a vibe I love. Very dark speakeasy type music. Some of the more upbeat tracks I'm not so hot on, but they're still solid. If I had a real complaint, it'd mostly be that some of the songs (especially early on) tend to be repetitive and overly long, but there's enough riffing and soloing that it doesn't bother me a lot.
One of the best and most cherished
"Can I get a side of Queso?"
Always found this one to be a bit overrated but still full of some great tunes.
Great stuff. Owned this one since its release.
Impeccable vibes
This is a very good record. I remember watching the movie and being blown away by it. Very cool. I gifted my wife the record because she loved it even more than me. I don't listen to it (not my usual style) but when my wife listens to it, I enjoy it. Cool.
I loved the chilled mellow cuban vibes, and also singing along to lyrics you can’t pronounce and have no idea what you are saying… brilliant!
This was a cracking Sunday listen
I liked this a lot more when it first came out but it not feels pretty repetitive. Still, its very tight musically and easy to listen to.
A bit long, but nice to have in in the background. Light 4.
Very good Latin jazz. I thought the first half was stronger than the latter part. Still this is more background than active listening for me.
I think the first song is the best one on the album. That's always unfortunate, because the rest of the album didn't live up to it, but still a fun album.
Good soundtrack.
What a THING this album was, everywhere, for everyone! Still in my collection. Which is to say, also, that there are no surprises here. A bit worn out, even. It's still super nice, though.
It feels like the pulse of Cuba. This album was produced by Ry Cooder. I had one of his albums where he played with Ali Farka Toure and I loved it (Talking Timbuktu). Favorite songs: El Cuarto De Tula, De Camino a La Vereda, Candela, Amor De Loca Juventud, Chan Chan, El Carretero, Orgullecida Least favorite songs: Murmullo 4/5
Exzellente kubanische Klänge, eingefangen in einem Wim Wenders Film. Speziell aber gut.
Jazzy, slick, unique
I love this one. We listened to this on our friend Puerto Rico trip. It’s a comfort album.
Interesting listen. I’d never heard of this group, but somehow I’ve heard many songs from this record. I don’t know how to square this circle. I wonder if they play BVSC on Mexican radio stations. Regardless, I like it quite a bit. Danceable and creates perfect Cuban restaurant vibes. Excellent trumpet and percussion throughout. Standout track is: “El Cuarto de Tula”
This gets a 4 star just to piss off the non-English hating crowd! Nice Afro-Cuban music and who cares that I can’t understand the words - I also can’t understand the lyrics of most of the hip-hop, rap and metal music that is in English so who cares! Standout is “Buena Vista Social Club” that had a lot of Jazz influences.
This was such a incredible discovery. Even though it was recorded in 1997, the album takes you back to the golden age of 1940s and 1950s Havana, Cuba. It has a rich, warm, and nostalgic sound that’s really enjoyable. The music is melodic, elegant, and jazzy, with a touch of sophistication. It’s hard to imagine anyone not appreciating this, especially if you have a love for music in all its forms and styles.
Great band
Je
7.5/10 Favorite Tracks: El Cuarto de Tula, El Carretero Least Favorite Tracks: De Camino a la Vereda, Dos Gardenias, Y Tu Que Has Hecho, Viente Anos
I love it
Liked this way more than I thought I would.
Oh wow this album is wonderful. Even though I’ve never heard it before, it felt like I’ve been listening to this my whole life. It brought sunny Holiday vibes to a winter day in the Midwest.
No idea what the lyrics are, but the music itself is great.
This is a Cuban album that puts me straight into the world of Pablo. I feel like I should be lying in the sun while my husband smokes a cigar and then we dance the salsa. The guitar in the back is lovely and the vocals strong. This feels very ethnically true to Cuban culture and in their bio it said this was very culturally impactful, and even though I can’t understand all the Spanish it was nice to experience this music.
Cool sounds, nice change in place. Cafe music
Varied and beautiful.
It made me happy. It trailed off at the end but started really strong.
Beautiful and warm
Норм
Didn’t knock my socks off but it was good to listen to! Fun beats and you could really hear the instruments by themselves and in harmony. I liked Dos Gardenias.
Ugh! Talk about delightful! I enjoyed how smooth and fun this album was. Buena Vista Social Club was a longer album that didn't drag--a miracle, apparently. Every song was full and captivating, and kept me listening and wanting to hear more and more. Truly, this Latin and jazz combo is lights out.
I had never heard of Buena Vista Social Club before, but this is the type of Latin jazz music I live for. I've noticed a lot of Latin jazz albums on this project have been from the 70s or earlier; it was a nice surprise to see something more "recent" from 1997. They're not trying to reinvent any wheel here, though -- they're simply playing outstanding Latin jazz. This album feels like one of those "lightning doesn't strike twice" situations. This group -- formed from a bunch of random Cuban musicians -- came together, recorded this first studio album (with outstanding production and overall composition, I might add), and then never recorded a studio album again. It's such a brief footprint on music, and yet an impactful one; it's among some of the best Latin jazz I've ever heard. A pleasure to listen to, for sure!
You know when you’re on holiday, and it’s been a super hot day, and you’ve been out in the sun, and then you come back to where you’re staying and shower off all the sweat and the sun cream and change into something fresh for the evening, and then you go and sit on the balcony and it’s still hot but it’s pleasant and you have a drink before dinner because you’re on holiday? That’s what this album sounds like.
Fun album! Reminds me a little bit of the music I heard in Spain and Portugal- not just because it’s in Spanish, but because of the instruments and just how it sounds. Probably wouldn’t listen again but it made making dinner more fun.
Nice li'l album here! Good vibes, good tunes, tight.
listened to again one of my most favorite albums
écouté plein de fois
This album is what I wanted to be listening to while we're getting 3.5" of snow. It's a fun album that captures the vibes of being somewhere warmer and is able to transport the listener there.
Great album. The standard for Afro-Cuban jazz. Just some wonderful music. 4/5 Will listen again
Enjoyable. Well produced. Haven’t heard it in a long while. Enjoyed it even more nowadays
Full of incredible musicianship that’ll get you moving. A little long but overall very good.
Dang, I have too much of a history with this album to see it objectively, as I have been trying to do through these albums. Juan de Marcos González and Ry Cooder brought all of these brilliant Cuban artists out of the obscurity (and sometimes squalor) they'd been living in, despite their luminous pasts, and breathed new life into their careers with this album. Or, rather, allowed them to breathe new life into their OWN careers, because although they're older, the music is still incredible. Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González, Omara Portuondo and Orlando ‘Cachaíto’ López, Compay Segundo, Eliades Ochoa, Barbarito Torres... some careers were revived, and we're lucky to have this hi fidelity album, as many (all?) of these guys passed away in the decade or so after its recording. Simpletons who just view this stuff as "pleasant" or "background music" are I suppose going to be in the majority, but it is not easy to make this music. not at all. The laoud solo by Barbarito Torres on "Cuarto de Tula"? Come on, people! The level of musicianship to hold this stuff together is incredible, and the passion with which it is performed is palpable. Might be background music to you, but it is LIFE to them. This record launched me on an exploration of Cuban music (and Puerto Rican, Haitian and more...) that I'm still on. Although there was a bit of a "white folks being charmed by latin music" craze in the aftermath of this record, at least it was nothing compared to the lunacy of the "cha cha" craze of the '50s and its related culturally-questionable shenanigans. Glad to listen to this record again on a day when things weren't going well.
The Cuban vibes are immaculate, you feel like a bad ass listening to this, could listen to this all afternoon: 8.4/10.
chill
Chan Chan
I remember seeing this at the Oscars when it came out and that was my intro to The Buena Vista Social Club, and I didn't actually watch the movie until I was older, but I remember thinking "wow these people really love music!" And I had always had a love for music and that was a really an interesting take on how something so small or not known could make you feel a certain way! While I couldn't understand the words I felt the love in the music and I really enjoyed this album, when I'm at work and I'm grooving to an album I'll know it's good if others see dancing and bopping around to it!
This albbbbuuummmmm is so grooooovvyyyyy woah. I love all the singing melodies, the FANTASTIC trumpets and those smooth as hell drums. Solid 8/10
Really neat album with amazing elements, well composed, well articulated and sounds like the wonderful essence of Cuba.
Would listen again
Really enjoyed this.
Que bueno!
Хорошая Латина музыка
кайф
Nice album.
First cuban album. Didn’t understand a word. Loved it.
Great vibe
Good vibes. Will probably listen again
Vibes.
Nostalgiczne, piękne. Aż chce się wyjść na ulicę i tańczyć. W końcu coś nieanglojęzycznego, przesiąkniętego inną kulturą. Nastrojowe, rytmiczne. Taka powinna być muzyka. Z instrumentami, z zabawą, z poczuciem wspólnoty. 8/10
I liked it, would listen again. The first track was great. Need to see that doc.
enjoyed immensely
I enjoyed that they included an album that wasn’t in english. Is it my favorite album? No. Did I really enjoy playing this in the background all weekend though? Yes.
Calm, warm. Reminds me of music I used to listen to when I was a kid and makes me think maybe I should get back to it. I’d say 4/5 due to a nice beat and a smooth voice.
Great. Marvelous. World.
89/100. An exceptional Latin jazz record. The production is so smooth it gives you a warm, relaxing feeling throughout.
Now I want to hang out at a bar in the tropics.
First part of the album is a masterpiece. Gets a bit worse on the second half but still a wonderful album. Chan Chan, El Camino a la vereda, El Cuarto de Tula, Dos Gardenias and El Carretero are my favourites. 4/5
Genuinely one of the best surprises this album generator has provided. Jazz music and world music are both genres I tend to struggle with (although I appreciate them on an academic level - acknowledging the effort and technique involved). But here? They marry each other beautifully.
LOVE! So fun. But... it could've used with a little editing. hah. Or maybe I listened to a DEEEluxe version by accident.
Vibes, vibes, vibes. Good vibes all around.
I borrowed this album from the public library on CD in the early 2000’s because I remembered that at the time it came out it was all the rage but I hadn’t listened to it. I got super into it back then for a couple of months but hadn’t listened to it more than a handful of times over the last couple of decades. But then my mother-in-law got it for me on vinyl recently (shout out T-Money) and while I was happy to have a physical copy of an album that I had fond memories of, I haven’t enjoyed it as much as I remembered doing 20 years or so ago. I still like it, but not as much as I remembered. I get being pissed off that it was NPR- listeners’ “world music” fad of the moment but that’s not these guys’ fault. The songs are pretty and fun to listen to. They also evoke a time and place that I can never visit but that seems super cool. This music is really good and worth listening to even if your hippie art teacher played this and danced around embarrassingly.
nyarat akarok emiatt!!!! nemhiszem h minden nap hallgatnam de jo volt!:)
Kedvenc/Favourite: Veinte Años Imádom a latin-amerikai zenét! A kubai zenével annyira nem voltam még ismerős, de tetszett, és nagyon jól keveredett vele a smooth jazz. Megsimogatta a lelkem ez az album. I love Latin American music! I wasn't so familiar with Cuban music, but I liked it, and the smooth jazz mixed with it really well. This album warmed my soul.
nice som fan
Buena Vista Social Club.
[7/10] Don’t mind me, I’m just listening to Buena Vista Social Club by Buena Vista Social Club off the album Buena Vista Social Club.
Bought this when it first came out. Going through a Ry phase. Still sounds great
All acoustic Afro-Cuban music. Very relaxed. Chan Chan (Dm, F, Gm, A7) Veinte Anos Amor de Loco juventud
Echt een banger
Reminiscent of gastronomic adventures in colourful taquerias in Southern California; relaxing, heady post-tequila feelings; sweet, enchanting smiles of pretty, olive-skinned Mexican women.
I have to admit, I listened to this album in the background while working (ojojoj), BUT what an album to listen to in the background while working! All the sudden the thesis wrote itself?? Got me going for a bathroom break like this 💃 Beautiful and relaxing, saved for when i’ll be cooking a romantic dinner just for myself 4 que bueno by que bueno
ai papi dios mio! da lauftmer verschwizt dstrasse entlang aber hett doch en full suit ah (wie mache die das) und ziet gedige ah sim 3te stumpe vom tag da chömed erinnerige ufe wenni das album lose - das hanimer scho als chline cucaracha scho ab und zue ih voller längi gönnt wellmer das diheim als eini vo dene heilige CD's gha hend, nebst emene krasse drum & bass album vo mim pappe sim alte mitbewohner isch das eis vo mine liebling gsi und hett drum en spezielle platz ih mim chline corazon han ezt aber au scho lang nüme mird lippe ledrig zoge ah dem album und es wird sehr warschindlich au nüm so oft vorcho ai caramber, trotzdem würdimer ah jedem tag 4 cuba libres hinderestelle für das album
I wasn’t sure what to expect. At first I was interested but not completely captivated but as the album went on, the songs were so cohesive and fit so perfectly within one another that it was a true joy to listen to.
Classic Cubano.
After doing this 1001 Albums Before You Die challenge for a bit, I’m regretting not sticking with my high school and college. But even fumbling through what words I could pick up, the music carried me through. Two things immediately jumped out at me: The name of the album is based on a real members-only social club located in Cuba and secondly, that Desi Arnez was associated with the group before making his way to America and marrying Lucille Ball of I Love Lucy fame. The musicians on the album spent multi-decades playing together, and it shows. Apparently American guitarist Ry Cooder was partly responsible to the groups international fame in the 90s by recording and producing this album after being exposed to the music and group during trips to Havana. I feel you Ry; I’d want to share this to the rest of the world if I personally discovered them too. It’s all about those rhythms! They move between traditional Cuban traditions, but also have flavors of Afro-Cuban rhythms and other styles such as Latin Jazz. Favorites from the album are “Pueblo Nuevo”, “Dos Gardenias”, “¿Y Tu Qué Has Hecho?”, “Veinte Años”, “El Carretero”, “Candela”, “Amor de Loca Jueventud”, “Murmullo” and “Buena Vista Social Club.” This album is a winner.
Very cool mellow music that transports you to a Cuban bar. Could tread into background music territory at times, but certainly sets a vibe and the skill of the players is evident. Curious to look up translations of the lyrics
When I discovered that this generator wasn't just for music in English, I was very happy. I'm very happy to have had the opportunity to listen to this album. It is a ton of fun, and I was able to talk about it with my dad. Fav song: De Camino a la Vereda
i have no idea what to make of this one bc i've listened to it in so many different contexts... it sounds exactly like its cover. a sunny, summery afternoon in the shade in the company of friends & refreshing drinks... reminds me of my 20s. bye
Really enjoyed this as a first album. Some standouts were chan chan, el cuatro de tula, pueblo nuevo, buena vista social club and la bayamesa. Loved the piano on songs like the title track and pueblo nuevo. Even though I don’t speak Spanish or listen to much Cuban music this album was very enjoyable to listen to. Not much to say other than that this album is quite good
3.5
what a vibe
Ry Cooder helps keep traditional Cuban music alive. I really need to see this documentary.
This was a jazzy fun time - felt like sipping a mojito in the Caribbean.
Cuban Jazz? Not sure how much it's jazz. Love the instrumentals, the ones with lyrics not as much. Instrumentals are more upbeat, lyric tunes are more ballady. I like Candela a lot though - tune with words
Despite the fact that this is basically a supergroup of musicians, there doesn’t seem to be a hint of ego. Just a pure love for tradition and country. Buena Vista Social Club is a love letter to Cuba, conjuring images of a simmering Havana at dusk, hot enough to make you sweat, but a hint of moonlight shadowing its way into a Cuban night. Despite that, I don’t think I would jam to this on my own unless really in the mood. 4/5
++: De camino a la vereda, El cuarto de Tula, Pueblo Nuevo, ¿Y tú qué has hecho?, Veinte años, El carretero, Amor de Loca Juventud, Orgullecida, La bayamesa +: Chan Chan, Dos gardenias, Candela, Murmullo, Buena Vista Social Club 8,5/10
It's a bit long, but a pleasant listen. I can definitely see listening to it again. I remember how ubiquitous it was when it came out.
Buenos bangers 4.3/5
This is cool. I'm not normally into jazz but I enjoyed this, some beautiful guitar playing, and loved some of the piano parts. I reckon these would be great fun in person. Interesting to read on the AllMusic review that the songs were all recorded live - I was thinking that the songs have quite an organic feel and wondered if it was production, but I guess it's because of how they were recorded. It's fun
Amazing album, every song at good and a lot of them are great. I'm not very familiar with this genre of music and given the whole project was lead by an american musician, I don't know how authentic it really is. Either way, I'm glad this was picked for the list and that we got a very well put-together album from a side of the music world not particularly focused on "albums". Key tracks: Chan Chan De Camino a la Vereda Amor de Loca Juventud Orgullecida
I'm torn, because this is really really good, but I feel like it's inconsistent? Like, when it's just really good son it is *really* good son (like, Chan Chan is just a transcendent track), but a lot of the time it gets a bit too 40s for me? Still, fantastic album, perfect background, and another good one to spend half the album going "Oh, that's where that's from."
I think I bought this when it first came out in 1997, but I haven’t listened to it for years. It’s bloody good, isn’t it.
Beautiful. Enjoyed every song
Feels like a snapshot of a time and a place. Even if songs feel a bit repetitive, I image the full experience of this is seeing it being played live. Incorporates a wide range of instruments, but is still relatively confined to a Latin/jazz kind of feel. No downsides at all, great nearly the whole way through. Favorite songs: De Camino a la Vereda, Amor de Loca Juventud, Orgullcida, Murmullo Overall around 8/10
9/10. OMG, YES!!!!! This is the 200th album that this generator gave me, and I'm really happy with its selection!!! It's one of the few albums from this generator that I have on CD. I know that my parents really like this album!!! :) Gosh, I love this type of Latin American music. It's criminally under-represented by the 1,001 album compilation.
historic
Me likey Fun n funky
Haven't heard this one in a while. My parents used to play it for me when I was a kid. Love it.
8/10. Was great! Wasn’t super consistent for me which is why the 8, but loved a lot of parts of this. Loved the creativity.
Great album. I love any music that can evoke a strong sense of a time or place - I’ve never been to Cuba, but listening to this album feels like Cuba.
This album has a very interesting backstory which I appreciate. Musically I won't pretend to be knowledgeable on the style but it's really fun to listen to and you can definitely hear the emotion behind it even without understanding the lyrics.
7,79
Very nice Cuban chill
Hvis den her var kommet i sommerhalvåret havde den været farlig tæt på en 5'er. Virkelig dejlig at lytte til, synes dog den bliver ved i lidt for lang tid og når at blive småmonoton. Jeg skal have set filmen
Not bad - 8/10. I like the style of music featured here, the instrumentation is very pleasant.
For this listener, this album is like a roadside attraction. The kind of roadside attraction that adds a fun yet significant detour to a much larger trip (the road to 1001).
Alright, this album is one of those enriching experiences of a culture different from my own. In this case, the Buena Vista Social Club was a Cuban musician ensemble organized by World Circuit executive Nick Gold, with their sole album produced by guitarist Ry Cooder and directed by bandleader Juan de Marcos González. Together, they recruited a dozen veteran musicians to record a collection of songs in the style of Son cubano, a popular dance genre with a call-and-response structure and a clave rhythm. In that regard, this music was well-executed as the Spanish guitars act as a superb driving force with the percussion following suit, while these gents sang fondly of romantic passions with vivid imagery. Also in the mix are two instrumentals "Pueblo Nuevo" and the title track which are dedicated to popular locations in Havana, adding to the experience. I wouldn't say this album lit my world on fire, as it feels like I'm seated in a Cuban restaurant while a band plays off in the distance. But the fact that they captured that essence is astounding. Buena Vista Social Club knew what they wanted to accomplish by bringing awareness of their culture to the larger world, and they did just that. I absolutely would recommend giving this a listen with an open mind and feel free to follow along to translated lyrics if you wish.
Do you ever feel like you want to listen to music but nothing fits the bill? This is the answer. A truly enjoyable palate cleanser. 9/10
I really liked to hear this album again... the beginning was good, but then I felt like it lost some of its power.
We saw Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club live once. It was fun to watch all the people dancing in the aisles. The quality of the album felt a little muted or something, but hard to deny the quality and impact of the music.
This one surprised me. Really enjoyed it...felt like I was on one of our trips to Mexico.
Fun
I listened to this album whilst driving to work. It was -2.5°C outside and foggy. This wasn’t the environment where I think would be best suited to listening. However, to my surprise it helped warm my mood this morning (aided by the car heaters), the album evokes memories of holidays in sunnier climbs, from of which coincidentally I have just returned (although not to Spain), so it puts you in that mindset. This was a nice tonic on my first journey in to work since my holiday. I really liked the music and will be returning to it again, to supplement my Spanish lessons.
If you want falsetto proto-metal
I feel like I'm sipping rum inside a small club in Havana, Cuba when I listen to this album. It's wonderfully delightful.
I have always enjoyed this album since its release. This listen has not swayed that opinion. Though the album gets slower and more melancholy as it goes, I still dig it.
I need to add this to my Duolingo studying. I love it!
кубинский мьюзик очень вайбово и классно
Really enjoyed this album! I would definitely listen to it again. I made sure to like a few songs so I don't forget about this band and album. Solid 4!
I loved this album when it came out-it inspired my interest in jazz guitar that wasn't hopelessly cheesy. All of the songs on this album are solid--nothing really stands out, though. I would give this 5 stars, but think I'm saving my "5 star" albums for things that I absolutely cannot live without (desert island discs).
Love this album. It’s loaded with excellent musicianship. I don’t know the language, and didn’t look into the lyrics, but it sounds great either way. Takes me away to a little Havana bar with a drink and a cigar. I think there’s something to be said for an album that can seemingly transport you to another place and/or time.
a real prime example of music from the caribbean, this album has a lot of dance tracks that's suited for fun gatherings and vacation destinations. it's simple, and straight to the point. while not too complex, nor rich with any deeper meaning, it's definitely an album you could turn on when you're down. i feel like songs get better as the record goes on.
Transported me to a Cuban bar. Blissful
Nice - good for cooking/eating dinner (good background music).
Impeccable vibes. This transported me to a warm place with a cold drink. I understand this is not a great representation of Cuban music, but it sure is fun. Favorite songs were Chan Chan, El Cuarto De Tula, Candela, and La Bayamesa.
Η μουσικη που φανταζεσαι οταν σκεφτεσαι Κουβα. Απιστευτη χαλαρωση, κιθαρες διαφορα οργανα και μια νοσταλγικη φωνη μεγαλης ηλικιας. Δευτερες φωνες που θυμιζουν δεκαετιες '50, '60. Rating: Α
Great, very calm. Good variety of tempo and sound. A bit long, and obviously my inability to speak Spanish doesn't help.
Always great to get some non-English music on the list. Favorite track: "Candela"
A-puoli on tosi hyvä, vallan tanssittaa. Mun guilty pleasure, mahtavaa rentoutumismusiikkia. Hymyn kuulee. Tosi itsetietoista kyllä, ja aika sievää. B-puolenkin voisi tanssia, mutta voisin myös jättää levyn kääntämättäkin. Siksi levy on melkein 3.
Jotain epäilyttävää tässä tuotteessa on: kuin kansainvälisen megayrityksen kuluttajatutkimusosastolla työskentelevä, tuntematon nero olisi keksinyt koko konseptin. LP itsessään on kiistämättömän tehokas: aloituskolmikko voittaa ihan kenet tahansa, siis kenet tahansa, puolelleen, eikä kokonaisuus lässähdä missään vaiheessa. OK, levylle palkatut muusikot soittavat myös standardi-iskelmää ja jazz-jammailevat useita minuutteja liian pitkään. Silti loppupuolelle on säästetty esim. Candela, Amor de Loca Juventud ja Orgullecida, joista kaikki hymyilyttävät, naurattavat ja tuottavat nautintoa. LP joka kaikkien pitäisi kuulla - ja jos käy kahviloissa missään läntisessä maailmassa, todennäköisesti on jo kuullut.
Sounds as delicious as a Cuban coffee and pastry
Favorite Track: Chan Chan
I was not expecting this to have such massive streaming numbers. I mean it is good, but I don't know if it 30-90 million (and one 230 million) good. Enjoyable album, but I think it overstays its welcome just a little bit. The guitars, percussion and grooves are great. Low 4.
Worthy inclusion. It's a very pleasant album to listen to, just not one I pick often. A great starting point for discovering more Latin and Cuban music. However, the genres they touch on here have more fleshed out albums to delve into. It's a good compilation but I'd rather listen to other albums in these genres.
One of Ry’s most tasteful moves was to let them play.
This is an interesting record and really a bit of a culmination of the mainstreaming of world music. I think of it as a much more authentic "Graceland" in that the fantastic musicians are playing their own music, not songs written by a white person.
I enjoyed this. There's something about music you can't understand that is very soothing and fun.
Very enjoyable
Klassiker, n paar sehr schöne Songs. Muy caliente!
Cool!
Vibes
They can certainly play and this is beautifully recorded. Listening in the car it feels like I'm in the room with them in Cuba! Glad we had this on Friday. On first play it was pleasant enough background music but with more listens I'm getting into the rhythms and the vibe. I really like it, relaxes and transports me away, and Monty too! I played it in 3 different rooms and each time he came in and curled up. I'll come back to this, it creates a warm calming mood, good for the soul. Favourite track: Chan Chan, but there are hidden depths throughout.
Can’t deny most songs are similar, but it is very good. Instant happy vibes to it. Doesnt feel miserable outside while this is on. Plus it reminds me of the greatest boss I ever had, who would drag me away from work to play poker with this on in the background. What a guy!
Got free tickets to see these at the Albert hall a good few years ago. Didn't know much about them but they were great, even though I think Buena vista are one of those bands where half of the members have left and set up their own similar bands. It's enjoyable Cuban music, Chan Chan is the best song but the rest of it is nice enough too. A band I would never really think to listen to but glad it came up, 3.5.
4/5
Great! 4 stars
Chad
Good album
It’s good, very relaxing. So relaxing that it put me to sleep.
This is such a cheerful album, primarily by artists in a later chapter in life. Lots of different song styles, but all approachable.
Entertaining and lively album
There's quite a few great songs on this album, but also some unremarkable ones. I can't help but wonder if there's not dozens of Latin musicians like this or even better who never made it to the west because they didn't have a western patron or didn't even have the means to record their music properly. Favorite song: Chan Chan
Very pretty but not my cup of tea :)
Fav: Amor De Loca Juventud Least Fav: Orgullecida No matter how good or bad it is, I’ll never get tired of world music on this list, it’s always a treat and a gateway to cultures outside of what I’m used to
Great gateway into Cuban music, fantastic documentary and some really beautiful music on this one!
More like this, please :)
really enjoyed this whole vibe. sometimes i forget to listen to the lyrics of anyways so it didn’t bother me
Have listened before - great Latin music. Very fresh and interesting
I don't usually enjoy records if I don't understand the lyrics but this is a beautiful record
The Good: something different for a change. The Bad: tunes tend to last a little too long for my taste. The Ugly: I felt like having a drink and a cigar... I purchased this album when it came out as a birthday gift to my best friend, and she just looked puzzled at me at the time. Due to this I never listened to this album, which I now regret as it is more than lovely. It is smooth, and raw, and exciting, and boring all at the same time. Thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and have already listened to it 3 times today. Solid 4*
Nice amount of complexity and chords are not bad.
This album felt like a great holiday, and has made me finally decide to work out what "Spongebob vibes" are. Favourite track: El Cuarto de Tula.
Cuban jazz and salsa music. Recorded to spread awareness of this music to people around the world. Pleasant listen, but I suspect (I’m no expert but have spent some time in Cuba) that it is pretty watered down for the masses. Still, very enjoyable and absolutely excellent musicianship.
Great stuff. The musicianship is top notch, the songs are catchy and it kept my attention. Enjoyed this one a lot.
3.5★. Now that's a club one would have liked to have visited. (Apparently Wim Wenders has a documentary on the group from around the same time, so some sort of visit is possible!)
The acceptable face of Cuba for the Americans, the acceptable face of World Music for the west. It's mad, isn't it, how this became so ubiquitous. I can't quite remember why, and I've decided not to bother looking it up, but I've a feeling that Thom Yorke was involved in some way. Anyway, it was lovely music to work to.
Hell yeah. Give me mariachi on a Friday any day of the week.
I liked this album. The jazz piano/mariachi worked for me. Although I have no idea what was being said lyrically - Spanish sounds happier and more flowing than most other languages.
About time I gave this a listen.
Great vibes all the way through
Muy bien!
You have to admire the artistry of those musicians and the energy they play with.
I enjoyed the music and energy. I need to work on my Spanish.
Enjoyed it but it got a bit too easy listening by the end.
Be prepared to dance
Funky
Musica Tropicale. It was so refreshing to hear. There was such joy in the singing in this music, not something you hear much of a lot of time. I did feel a few songs went on a bit too much ("El Cuarto de Tula"). But the musicians still kept me interested even when the song went on a bit. Recommended, a good palate cleanser. Top tracks: "Chan Chan," "De Camino a la Verada," "Pueblo Nuevo"
I really loved the opening to Chan Chan - smooth, deft guitar plucking and bongo tapping, and a modern twist. I thought it could be a 5-star album based off that. But I didn't love everything as much. De Camino a la Vereda was alright, but a bit too old school. Pueblo Nuevo was fun, even sneaking in a bit of Louie Louie there? Veinte Anos and El Carretero also had some real nice guitar playing though the vocals in the former weren't as good (vocals in the latter had a classic samba/cubano feel). Candela was pretty good too, though after that I started to get disinterested. Too slow? Too old sounding? I don't know. If this was 4-5 songs shorter, it'd could be really, really good. Feels like a 3.5 in the end but I'll round up because I likely wouldn't normally and that might be due to my uninformed ear for this genre.
Nice vibes. Aged well.
This is a 3.5 for me. I like it, but not sure why or how.
Really nice! Chill, easygoing music that’s hard not to move along to the beat. Worth another listen for sure - I enjoyed this a lot.
A really nice blend of latin sounds- it was greay music to have on in the background of my day. I can see how it was pribably very well received from enjoyers of latin dance.
I listened to this many years ago, I think I had a CD copy at one time. I forgot how good it is. I'll be listening again now I've rediscovered it.
Heard of them but never really listened to their stuff. Made me feel calm and kind of joyful. Made me want to (learn and) dance salsa in a tropical bar by the ocean under twinkly lights!
i actually love this album. it feels so summery and fresh. the vibe is definitely great and it’s a good change from what i usually listen to. it feels like a breath of fresh air. would definitely listen again !
Solid album, it is a great go-to for vibes.
I say this in the most positive way possible: perhaps some of the best background music ever made, truly excellent stuff.
bueno
Honestly thought this was so good for electronic music. Some of the songs were a bit similar but enough variety where you could put it on in the background and enjoy. I liked this album a lot, especially compared to some other electronic music I’ve listened to.
Now this is what I’m talkin about! Romantically vibrant and beautiful. De Camino a la Vereda was a standout but I danced to most of them, will revisit.
The top review on this album mentions that another highly-rated review gave it a one-star rating on the basis that it's not in English. Now, I want to give my own explanation as to why this kind of dismissal is so utterly (and quite frankly) stupid, with my experience with this album as a guide. As with all albums, this album is elevated with some level of context going into it. Some of Cuba's most talented artists from the 50s, 60s and 70s meeting up with USA guitarist Ry Cooder, and making an album. It's effectively a supergroup. In fact, there's a 1999 documentary about it, which I've not seen. So it's fair to say that in South America, particularly in Cuba, this album is a huge deal, even winning a Grammy award. Plus, while this is the only studio album under the name Buena Vista Social Club, it gave several of the performers on there a second wind, with Ry Cooder, Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, Juan de Marcos González and his Afro-Cuban All Stars receiving acclaim with their solo efforts around this time, as well as several others featured on the album - importantly, collaborating with other Buena Vista Social Club performers. All this to say that this is a culturally significant album, and discounting this based on it being sung in Spanish is remarkably ignorant. But obviously that isn't the issue here, if you're not willing to listen to the language of another culture, chances are you don't actually care too much about the culture itself. Alright, that's a whole different bag of worms, but let's talk about the music instead. This is from the perspective of someone who, in terms of traditional South American music, is only familiar with a few artists (Milton Nascimento, Lô Borges, Chico Buarque, João Gilbertido and Antônio Carlos Jobim, and even then, I've only heard one album or song from each). How does it read to someone unfamiliar with the genre, coming from indie rock, alternative rock and experimental rock? I like it quite a bit, personally. I think it's a very inviting record, even, and there's a lot to like here, especially from the stellar first three tracks. It never completely astounds me though, which I attribute to my lack of experience with the style of music here. In this respect, I do understand being put off by it. But to me, I see it as a springboard to learn more about this style of music, how it's done traditionally and how it's performed now. What modern flourishes appear in this album, with it being released in 1997? I don't know, but I very much do want to find out. I realise I've not gone too in-depth about what I thought about the music itself, but the fact that I've gone on this entire tirade should be enough of a hint that I did quite enjoy it. 8/10
A favourite - a beautiful album of its time
There’s some weird tendency, when producing “world music” for a North American audience, to smooth the edges off things. Maybe it’s that the main market is for cafe playlists or something. To my ear, it often sucks the life out of what should be a more raucous, organic sounding thing. This is smooth, but it at least breathes a little. At its best, you can imagine you’re in the room with these guys, and that feels exceedingly rare for a 90s recording that isn’t in English but was marketed towards primarily English speakers. Anyway, I didn’t understand the lyrics, so it’s a 1⭐️ for me. (Just kiddin)
7/10
When my kids were little and money was tight, friends of the family Bob and Wendy let us borrow their house at Tura Beach near Merimbula for a holiday, which was awesome. They didn't have a large CD collection, but this album was the pick of the bunch, and I flogged it for the full week we stayed there. It's a great listen for a summer holiday, with the kids gamboling around, and just chilling. I've read the criticisms (not really the state of Cuban music, overly nostalgic, only got attention because of Ry Cooder). it is a challenge for world music to get attention on its own merits, without the involvement of a champion to make it more 'palatable' to Western audiences, but Ry Cooder's influence here is much more muted than other examples of world music being regurgitated for mainstream Western markets (most egregious examples: Duckrock or Graceland, both on this 1001 albums list). And it is true that most of the music and artists on this record are more representative of Cuban music in the 1940s and 1950s. It is a highly nostalgic for a time and place that we have never visited (and possibly never really existed), an anemoia. It's like the throwback fashions and old Cadillac that appear on the cover of the album. Is it any less cool because of it? I think not. The history of this record seems a little less exploitative than, say, Graceland or Duckrock. A number of Cuban musicians got a real boost onto the world stage for some late career success, and good on them. The laid back tempo, the Latin feel, the great singing, the warm production and tasteful playing make this a really pleasant album to listen to. Sounds great, is great. Highly recommended for summer afternoons.
Even as a non Spanish speaker, this rules. The vibes are great. Good energy all around.
I have a soft spot for cuban music as well as jazz, so this album was a treat. Something that was easy for me to listen to and opened up some memories of myself when I was younger, since this was closer to what I used to listen to before I heavily got into electronic music. I especially liked Pueblo Nuevo and Buena Vista Social Club because of the usage of piano and specific chord progs. Dos Gardenias and Veinte Anos were very nice treats due to their chord progs and vocals and probably one of the more interesting songs to me on the album. Candela is also quite good. I think I've heard it somewhere before, not sure where. It was generally pleasant to listen to. I'm sure I'd love to hear this in person played by the group or a similar ensemble. Would be quite the treat at dinner as well. I can definitely imagine myself listening to this drinking a cinnamon brown sugar latte in shorts and a shirt near the beachside.
Jaaaaaa det her er så hygge ❤️ Har hørt det flere gange før. Rigtig godt til f.eks. at lave mad til! Kan blive lidt ensformigt hvis det ikke er baggrundsmusik hehe 4/5
I really enjoyed this album.
Oh, soft spot for this one. I remember seeing Wim Wenders' documentary at the cinema and immediately bend intrigued by this other world. The music is captivating and transporting. Solid performances born of a lifetime playing from the heart. Four harmonic stars.
I used to really love this album, but I think it was more of a gateway into Latin/Cuban jazz and other music, to the point where I’ve listened to so much of the genre that this doesn’t really stand out any longer. I will say that crediting the album to “Buena Vista Social Club” as the artist doesn’t really do justice to the amount of talent involved. American Ry Cooder (himself a specialist in world music despite my finding his music mostly really boring) helped conceive of the project and bring the musicians together. There’s tons of legendary Cuban musicians like Cachaíto on bass, Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal on trumpet, Compay Segundo playing guitar and singing, Rubén González on piano, and Omara Portuondo singing. Many of these musicians were in their 70s when recording, which is a testament to their immense talent and popularity.
Get me a rum punch NOW!
It's been a long time since I heard this album. And it's really good to have a non-English language album on this list! Of course the challenge then is to grasp what the songs are about. Nevertheless, for me this was a pleasant album to listen to, and it made me want to kill time in a Cuban bar with a daiquiri.
I really enjoyed this even though I have no idea what any of the lyrics were. Personal Enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Great
Fantastic. One of my favourite finds on this list so far. 9/10
3.5/5
Liked it a lot, upbeat and chill, liked all the songs, even though it was Spanish the music was still good, no complaints, but nothing too special. 7.5/10 id say
- Chan Chan (erster Song ) 10/10
Very pleasant. This passed me by at the time. Would play again.
Fantastic album….
Nicely fills a genre gap in my audio portfolio
This album is a fantastic listen. Not what I usually consume but something different is never a bad thing. I think the first track “Chan Chan” and “Veinte Años” were stand out tracks while listening. This is something that I would put on while cleaning the house and listen through start to finish. Amazing musicianship and singers on every track. Great listen.
Fantastic Cuban/World grooves and Spanish lyrics. A wonderful album for just chilling with a margarita.
A delightful foray across multiple genres of traditional Cuban music
Find it very hard not to love the socks off this music
Absolutely killer vibes, mix of so many different feelings. Listened to the whole album on my way home and didn't pay any mind to the traffic around me, happy happy happy
I love the sound and beats of this musical group. Really glad they got their music outside of Cuba.
I feel like it got a bit repetitive but it definitely didn’t hurt them because it was so good
This sort of unknown to me gem is why I'm here.
Just really enjoyable and well arranged.
Really enjoyed this.