Buena Vista Social Club

Nice listening experience from some great musicians.

Back when this was new, I heard it and decided that I would be Cuban by the year 2000. It didn't work out, sadly.

Cool Cuban jazz. I’m old enough to have watched the film when it first came out. You’d hear this everywhere. It’s like a cool smooth party. Some songs are more improvisational, other more lyric, cool stuff. Three stars.

Yeah its pretty nice, would feel right at home backing a room full of cured meat, rum and cigars. Didn't grab my interest much but probably due to personal taste. Where all the distortion at?? Favourites - Pueblo Nuevo, Veinte años

Chan Chan (7/10) Da Camino de la Verada (6/10) El Cuarto de Tula (5/10) Pueblo Nuevo (3/10) Dos Gardenias (7/10) ¿Tú Qué Has Hecho? (6/10) Veinte Años (6/10) El Carretero (6/10) Candela (8/10) Amor der Loco Juventud (6/10) Orgullecida (6/10) Murmullo (5/10) Buena Vista Social Club (5/10) La Bayamesa (4/10) 5.7/10

Pretty good, not my typical sound.

I have always loved this album. It is top tier of its genre.

4.3/solid piece of music that is very chill in the background.

4/5

not my favorite, decent, but not what im into

STAYED on REPEAT in my house. a classic. though kinda weird that this had a mainstream life of it's own.. this is just music I grew up with. I can't imagine a bunch of white people suddenly into boleros??

Лёгкая, жизнерадостная музыка. Легко представить, будто сидишь в кафе на берегу океана и неспешно потягиваешь коктейль... 8 из 10.

Mellow, jazzy? I like it!!! The shorter songs especially are punchier but they all have such a sweet nostalgic feeling.

Sounds like instrumental you'd hear in movies or shows.

This is some good stuff.

81% Best: De Camino a la Vereda; El Cuarto de Tula; Candela; Orgullecida Must-Hear? Sure

I've never been that much into cuban music as it all sounded quite similar: relaxing in the sun enjooying time on the beach... all had that groovy minor feel and it just didn't feel intriguing. This felt different though. More creative and expasive, opening my lens to a really unique cuban culture that is so heavily unappriceated. I love this album and certainly one of my favorites that I've listened to. If you're leaving a negative review because you don't understand what they're saying, wtf bro? This music wasn't intended for you to understand, appriceate the fact that it's not attaching itself to the dumbass american culture that is your love language. Just enjoy the music lol

It’s was fun!

Zonnige gezelligheid

Its a good album to cruse to, such a great feel to every track

bende krasse knarren die aanstekelijke muziek maken...

6/10 It's cool - the musicality is top drawer and I like the feel to the album. However, there are no stand out tracks I'd say I love and it gets a little too jazz for me. But obviously great and worthy of it's place on this list

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.

3,5

Have heard it before and listened again - can really feel the passion here from these musicians getting a second chance at recording. That being said I think it gets a bit overrated because of the background of it, it has several highlights but nothing that massively sticks and it is functionally a compilation so it doesn't really have a great throughline as a record. Obviously this is a feature of this challenge as you only get a day with each album and some records just need longer to present themselves to you, so I foresee a lot of 3 stars for a record I like on first listen but I haven't had time to sit with yet - but I have heard this one before and it is definitely a 3 star project.

This transported me to another place and time. I was surprised this was only released in 1997, but it makes sense when you realize this was a project designed to preserve Cuban music of the past. The opening track Chan Chan made me feel like I was on vacation — or at least a fun restaurant. It sounded familiar too. I’ve probably heard some of these songs (at aforementioned fun restaurants) even though I’ve never put this album on myself. I wish I owned a house with a patio so I could host a summer dinner party and put this on. But a random Tuesday in my kitchen will have to suffice.

Writing positive reviews isn't near as fun as writing negative ones. Bad news for me, this is another positive one. Here we go: It's 1 hour of very beautiful Cuban music. It has a very warm vibe to it. I listened to it 3 times while going about my evening. It's the perfect background music for cleaning your bathroom or hosting a dinner party. It would just fill the room, create a sense of place... I felt like I was at some sort of Cuban lounge where the lights are dim and I'm smoking a cigar and sipping a whiskey.... I don't like cigars or whiskey, but I wanted both while listening to this album. The instrumentals impressed me more than the vocals... some of my favourite tracks were purely instrumental. Really the piano driven ones were the best, Pueblo Nuevo and Buena Vista Social Club specifically. That piano tone is just incredible. It reminds me of a Mars Volta track called L’Via L’Viaquez... which I'm sure was influenced by more traditional latin music. Also I swear there's a couple tracks that sound vaguely Hawaiian and remind me of the music in sponge bob square pants... this is compliment. Orgullecida for sure is one. Overall, it's a real feel good, warm, inviting album. I hope that the lyrics match this vibe and aren't horrific or something... but perhaps that would also add to the intrigue of this album. I may never know though... i have no plans to learn Spanish. Which leaves the vocals on the album feeling almost like another instrument in the mix... in a good way. Anyways... really good record.

Stark början, men blev lite seg

буенос диаз, пидрилаз

Absolutely glorious rhythmic fun. I never get tired of this album, and it was so much fun to rediscover it. The bonus tracks were another nice treat. I've heard that the reason Cuban jazz musicians were so good was the strict Soviet classical training they received in technique and music theory combined with the Afro-Carribean influence elevated their jazz to rhythms into unheard territories. That cowbell meter holds it all together, and the clave--that mysterious space between the beats is where the magic really happens.

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!!

Great album 5/5. I knew most of the tracks already, but discovered some new hidden gems.

This was honestly a breath of fresh air. It was catchy and managed to keep me engaged and listening even when the songs were about 7 minutes long. Truly a great album of its time.

Pretty brilliant, not perfect.

This one wasn't for me. Not my taste.

Liked it. Because I don't know the language I just tried to absorb the vibe. Chan Chan was the standout as the rest of the tracks merged, they were warm, rhythmic, and deeply human. While not background music in the modern chillout sense,I did find it good to have on while I did chores as it does have that kind of breezy, atmospheric charm that makes everyday moments feel a bit more cinematic. It made me think of Dexter in the non dramatic moments ( there was definitely a strong Cuban/Miami sound in that show.)

The only real gripe I have with this album is that I picked it up the day after Cinco de Mayo.... The generator missed that for me, because this would’ve been a perfect soundtrack. That aside, Buena Vista Social Club is a fun, vibrant, and beautifully arranged album. There's a richness and authenticity to the music that makes it easy to enjoy even if you're not fluent in the genre. I can definitely see myself returning to this whenever I’m craving that smooth, classic Latin vibe.

Latin

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.

Happy Cinco de Mayo.

Didn't quite hit for me, although the Cinco de Mayo timing was a fun nod to this album.

Latin jazz from the Cuban group. Upbeat, groovy at parts, and so relaxing. A wonderful listen. 4/5

Ok to dance a little bit.

Difficult to fairly grade music from a genre I have so little knowledge of, but I will say I really enjoyed this. I remember hearing a lot about this maybe 10 years ago, I'm not sure if there was a rerelease of the doc or they performed in Boston or what, but it was on my radar and I enjoyed it then too. Do not mean this in a disrespectful way, but its perfect cooking/hanging background music. Great vibes. Sounds great. Without having a single complaint I feel guilty putting it at 3, but that's where it's going. I just can't say how this stacks up against other all time greats, can't comment on the lyrics etc etc. Maybe its a 4 or a 5.

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)

I remember when this album came out, my parents and all their friends were obsessed with it and played it at all their dinner parties, so my parents played it around the house a lot. I remember at some point feeling cynically like it was a 'world music' play that was more about novelty than anything. But then I listened to it myself as an adult, and I've landed on two things: 1, it's great if people get exposed to a new genre of music, and 2, this album rules. I love it. It's nostalgic for me and from reading about it, for the musicians who made it. Made in the 1990s but with a 1940s sound. I love the horns and the guitar especially – beautiful stuff.

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.

Track 3 is called "A Quarter of DICKS"

Top quality Latin music! A shout out from Brazil to my Latin friends in Cuba!

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

Good for background music on a Sunday morning. Musically tight, a little repetitive in the rhythm from song to song.

One star because I'm bored by this. This is Carribean resort hotel lobby music. I also don't understand what makes some "ethnic music" cool and relevant but not others. This list has Cuban and other Carribean music, music from South America , and from Africa, and reggae. But no J-Rock? No Polka? No Mongolian throat singing?

Mainiota taustamusisointia, muutamia kappaleita voisi kuunnella useamminkin. Ei valittamista noin periaatteessa.

Classic

Oh hell yeah!! I grooved to this. Hard to go wrong with Latin American music. Sexy and sensual and strumming (if that makes sense---it doesn't really). I think a perfect album. Of course it's not an "on repeat" type of record for me, but I can sure picture myself jamming out to it in the future. It fits in exactly where it should in its own niche. Very fun and very energetic. Got me dancing a lot, which I value greatly in a set of songs. Loved it, very musically brilliant. Overall, really very nice!! :)) 9/10 perfect score!!!!

Exactly what's advertised. Makes you feel part of the group

It was cool listening to more traditional Cuban music. I didn't really have any standouts, but the album was solid nonetheless

Very nice, we listened all through the weekend.

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 ⭐️

I mean, it's alright....not really my jam and I have no clue what they're singing about. Instrumentation DOES seem on point though. But I would rather listen to this than Roni Size, The Slits, or Scritti Politti. And for those reasons, I give this a 2.

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.

An iconic and sweaty embrace of Cuban music. This album has always held a special place for me, and not just because it feels like you’re accessing the forbidden through a time portal. Also because the grooves are nearly unrivaled and the passion is so strong.

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.

Great Cuban music, can’t believe Ry Cooder was prosecuted and ordered to pay $25,000 because this album was in breach of the “trading with the enemy” act.

I’d heard this name before but honestly didn’t know what it was! A super pleasant listen and surprise!

Impeccable

Love the music & story of this band. Rlly need to see the Wim Wenders documentary !!

Excellent. This is a great example of the music the influenced many artists of the 60s and 70s

Enjoyable lively music but not something I would have in regular rotation.

Chill and something different.

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.

It just wasn't my vibe.

Very Good

Je zet het album aan, het ongelofelijk lekkere 'Chan Chan' begint en je ziet Chris Zegers alweer met z'n meer-dan-halfopen overhemd en met wapperende halflange haren, tevreden kijkend, voorbij razen op z'n door ons allen voorgeschoten huurscootertje. Of vergis ik me en is het Tim Immers? Het maakt niemand ook maar iets uit. We zijn op vakantie. Verder dan Chan Chan ben ik voorheen eigenlijk nooit gekomen als het op dit album van BVSC aankomt. Ze hadden in 2006 zo'n cover album (Rhythms del Mundo) en die heb ik nog wel eens aangezet, maar dit album eigenlijk nooit. Er zit aardig wat herhaling in en helaas haalt geen enkel nummer het legednarische niveau van 'Chan Chan', maar al met al moet je wel heel zuur zijn om dit af te branden. Die ritmesectie is toch heerlijk, de gitaartjes worden lekker feestelijk aangeslagen, de zangers doen prima hun nasale ding, een jolig kroegpianotje en wat blazers erbij. Je krijgt automatisch zin om zelf ook op een woodblockje te hengsten terwijl je door de benauwde warmte uit je voorhoofd en nek loopt te gutsen alsof het een lieve lust is. Ik denk dat dit, in dit hoek van het muzikale spectrum, toch wel het hoogst haalbare is. Exotisch, maar toch nog te behappen voor een tatta zoals ik. Ik geef gewoon 5 sterren. Deze hoort zeker in het lijstje albums die je een keer gehoord moet hebben.

Drag album, baš me vraća u prošlost i kad sam prvi put igrala Tropico 😁 Ne mogu reći da mi je najbolji ikad, ali volim ga čuti. 3/5, 5/10

Every single song on this thing is a stone cold classic. Better yet, every single instrumental line on every single song's a classic. The amount of warm, fuzzy joy these songs can conjure up is simply unreal; summer hasn't really started until you've put this on in the background, walking around with a cold drink in hand.

Good for what it is, and another of those albums where my assessment is "I can respect it, but it's not my thing."

Really nice sound just don't care about a couple songs

Dope

I accept that I'm just uneducated on this, but to me it just sounds like every other Latin styled music. Not saying I don't enjoy it but I can't piece out the differences that makes this stand out Will I listen to again: 1%

One of my all time faves

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.

3 maybe 4

cool! not entirely my jam but enjoyed

KLASSIEKER VIJF STERREN

Finally something not in English! The kind of music you'd hear at a restaurant and get too into.

This was okaaaay. I quite liked it at first cause I'd had a few Latin vibe albums recently and quite enjoy them but then it went a bit lounge music with all the piano (which I have no issue with) but it just dragged on a bit and I kinda just wanted the Latin vibes back.

A classic album, both in execution and the back story behind its making. I remember watching the documentary about its making in a Latin American studies class in university. All these musicians, super popular decades before, were apparently working odd jobs to make ends meet before they were all brought together for this album. Given the fact that many hadn't been playing for so long adds to the timelessness of the sound. Almost like they picked up where they left off rather than having modernized over the decades. Easy 5/5

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

While this isn’t really my bag, I can definitely respect the sheer talent of the band as a whole. The instrumentation is quite good and well composed. The album is a brilliant celebration of Cuban music in general. I don’t really think it’s going to stick with me for a long time, but I’m still very happy to have spent the day listening to it nonetheless. Very curious if I recognize any of these songs while watching a show or movie at some point.

3.5

Skippy

It’s a groove hard to do crossword puzzles by.

Fun little album to listen to

Wonderful sound. Definitely not the music i'd listen to, but you can sense, feel, and hear the passion and talent for the music in the way they play their instruments. Felt like i was at a mexican restaurant lol

Excellent musicianship.

Spanish piano salsa

I saw a band claiming to be these guys in Havana. One of the worst shows I've ever been to. Pretty sure it was a big ol fake but that experience has still tarnished this album for me. Jajajaja. The doco is decent and I'm sure this was cool as heck in '97.

Buen disco. Composiciones muy representativas de la zona. Al escucharlo me imaginaba en el patio un día de calor, con estas canciones de fondo en un parlante. Hace muy bien el trabajo de transportarte hasta la habana. Me sorprendieron las partes de guitarra, hay canciones con muy buenas violas para tocar.

Ja ik weet het, ik zou eigenlijk die film eens moeten kijken. Want dit album ken ik maar al te goed. Ry Cooder zet een stel Cubaanse ouwe knarren voor de microfoon en het speelplezier knalt door de speakers. Gitaar, percussie, vrolijk getoeter en gemummel in het Spaans. Dé muziek die je moet opzetten tijdens grijze dagen dat je je vertrouwen in de mensheid hebt verloren. Als mensen dit kunnen maken, dan hebben we misschien toch nog een plek verdiend op deze goeie oude aarde.

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.

Dit is toch wel een iconisch album geworden, wie had dat ooit kunnen denken. Een stel bejaarden op het trottoir of on the back porch met wat 2-string, 1-string, no-string guitars (thx Presidents of the USA) en een paar trommels. Zelfs de obligate toeters klinken heerlijk. Niks nagels op een krijtbord, maar zoetgevooisd. Ik heb dit ook gewoon in mijn mp3-verzamelbak gehad. Omdat je er simpelweg vrolijk van wordt en de zomer absoluut in je bol krijgt. Wat wil je dan nog meer? Je bent bij het starten van het album instantly op vakantie. 14 nummers pak hem beet hetzelfde, daar zijn albums aan ten onder gegaan, maar deze nummers gaan er in als zoete koek. Lekker, een vrolijke 5 sterretjes!

It’s slow and quite boring. Nothing on here interested me.

No me gusta

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.

A nice and pleasant listen with a lot of soul, but somehow not something that I think I will revisit any time soon. Some songs are better than others but nothing is truly great in my opinion.

Un point bonus parce que j'ai écouté ça un 8 avril sous la neige.

This knocked me off my socks. Was not expecting that.

la vibra més vibra de la història de les vibres. aconsegueixen que viatgis i tornis i canviïs. el palau de circe dels àlbums.

Not my kind of music. Maybe would be enjoyable live, but this album sounds like muzak and is way too long.

Gewoon lekker plaatje, helemaal zomer

One of the best and most cherished

"Can I get a side of Queso?"

Now if I had chips and salsa it may have been better

swinging joy, sinuous, flowing, uplifting - great musicians in perfect groove

I like the slower beats and relaxed vibes. The singers are very good.

Always found this one to be a bit overrated but still full of some great tunes.

A much revisited album of my youth. It’s on my morning album rotation.

This album was a Big Deal when I was first starting to think about music, and I hear it in the wild quite a bit. Maybe a tad overhyped at the time but classic. 3.5

dragged a little in the back half, but lots of fun

Quite cool, feel asleep to it on the train. Did feel a little bit samy but I would listens to it again

Mycket mysigt! Coola harmonier och melodier.

Already know and love it

general: the instruments >> songs rly long but there’s a lot of variety in the album top 3: veinte años (the blend of voices is peak) candela el carretero

5/10 General: Not my vibe, but very fun; WHY ARE ALL OLD SONGS 83405274062650547074589 MINUTES LONG Favorite Song: Dos Gardenias

Great stuff. Owned this one since its release.

Chan Chan is easily top 100 song. And the rest of the album brings me back to the trip Liz and I took to Cuba in 2017 in that brief window when it was legal.

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!

It’s not something I could listen to regularly, but it is good for what it is. It sounds like a lot of Cuban music I’ve heard, but maybe it’s the originator? It sounds like it was a huge influence on a lot of that music at the time coming to prominence. I respect it for what it is.

Не дослухала, але непогано, для настрою потанцювати сракою

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.

This was a VIBE. Wow, what a perfect accompaniment to the first warm sunny day of the year. These musicians are great and totally locked into each other throughout the whole album. Will definitely add this to my rotation.

Este es uno de los pocos álbumes que me hace decir "HELL YEAH" al hecho de ser latino. Planeo escucharlo dos veces más pero por ahora es un 10/10. EL CUARTO DE QUÉ?!

The album was a pleasant surprise. I had no idea what to expect with this album. It’s fun and loud and also emotional and moving. It’s instrumentally perfect, the music is like drinking water it’s so smooth. Honestly I don’t have the vocabulary to fully describe what makes this album special outside of being an amazing Cuban band that plays Latin music. Seriously though, if you are not normally a Latin music person I still think you should listen to the album, it’s honestly a lot of fun and I think that aspect of this album is universal.

Sounds like the soundtrack for any movie set in a Latin country. Very soulful, well done.

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.

not for me

I don't speak Spanish but the music was beautiful. Enjoyed it!

Love this! Its like being in the room with them having a great laugh.

Uno de los mejores álbumes en español de todos los tiempos

Good soundtrack.

New to me. Great voices and harmonies, refreshingly not in English, pleasant enough but I got bored fairly soon.

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.

i’m always thrilled to see anything not UK/USA on here and this is so superb. perfect for cooking, eating outside, driving. loved it so much

Wonderful album, wonderful musicians.

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

A fine album. Good to have on in the background. Excellent sounding vocals and instrumentals but never an album I am going to put on again. Just not a genre with a lot of repeatability for me. 5.5/10 (2.75/5)

awesome

Summery and pleasant, but it starts to be too much after a while. I'd like a song or two on a playlist, not a whole album. 3.5

Cuban songs i like it. Joyfull to listen.

Exzellente kubanische Klänge, eingefangen in einem Wim Wenders Film. Speziell aber gut.

groovy

Jazzy, slick, unique

Easy 5/5 kæmpe nostalgisk faktor involveret her. Satte instant igang den gang hvor min mor spillede det og vi har danset til. Behøves ikke sige mere her.

Definitely enjoyed the guitar based songs more than I enjoyed the piano based one. That said this album was a real joy to listen to. Felt like I was in Cuba on a nice sunny morning, drinking in the sun and the heat. The sound of music. Nice for a bit of a grey morning

The first few songs I thought were amazing. I’ve heard these songs covered by bands when I visit Cuba, so it was awesome to hear the original. As the album went on, I found that it grew more… stale? More boring? I don’t know how to describe it but basically I didn’t like the back half. I’d put it on again so I can listen to the first few songs again.

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.

Fun background music

I really wanted to like this album more than I did.

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.

Good solid music. A little more old school Cuban, I was thinking it would have more modern flare. But all around an easy and enjoyable listen.

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

A pleasant album of Cuban music.

I love it

Liked this way more than I thought I would.

this album was inescapable in the late 90s. it was fun to revisit it.

Cool

2 klub albumia putkeen uskomatonta.. club esque 2 in a row albums.. wondrous.. paitsi tällä kertaa ei ole englanninkielienn joka tarkoittaa että tämä on itse asiassa hyvä:)Mira, seré el primero en admitir que probablemente "entiendo" esto. Pero el hecho claro fue que fue increíble escucharlo. Es un ruido repetitivo. Tienes que ser REALMENTE fanático de los tambores de conga para amar este álbum. Hay una canción de 6 minutos que NO SE PARECE A LAS CONGAS. Y lo siguiente es una pista de 4 minutos de la MAYORÍA de congas, interrumpida por gritos ocasionales y flautas de samba ruidosas. el cuarto de tula

Perfect for a grey Monday.

Still sounds great

Nice beats for the right setting.

A great album to transport you to another time and place.

I liked this a lot and am certainly saving it for vacation tunes. That said, I don’t really have a good rationale for rating it above three. But I’ll be vibing to this again soon, tequila in hand.

The most 3 of 3 albums to ever 3. I liked it. Not something I’d typically listen to and had a nice vibe. Not sure how this would compare to other music in the same variety so tough for me to say just how good this is.

This album is a vibe and I enjoyed it. Didn’t blow me away but still a fun listen. 3.25/5

I owned this. Listened to it a lot but would be happy to not hear it again now.

Yeah yeah. World music. This one hit big. You look good putting it on at your dinner party when the baba ganouch comes out. Not that interesting tbh.

so fire 🔥 very very good i like dos gardenias & veinte anos & el cuarto de tula very good 5/5 stars

Beautiful musicianship and singing, really nice listen and nice to be exposed to Cuban music. Felt the first half of the album was better and possibly it was 10-15 minutes too long, but definitely something I could see having on in the background again

Sorry but when I can’t understand music it’s harder to enjoy. Sounded nice at times but nothing I’m coming back to

Such a great vibe on this album, you really feel like they made this especially for you

I wasn’t blown away by it. Lovely album yes but i found nothing that particularly stood out or drew me to it?

Wish I could vibe with this album more, something about it falls apart

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.

Classy, warm and clean. I think everyone sort of knows this record, having listened to it or not. I had never listened to BVSC, but of course knew the art and the genre. Anywho, I liked the record, but I didn't "get" it. This album is so popular and revived the "world" music scene and I just don't get how. However I did like the record, it had a way of taking you to the beaches of cuba and just perfectly captured that vibrant sunny feeling, I think I'll have to listen to this record a few more times and maybe I will get it. For now though I appreciate it and overall enjoyed it, its fun, just not excellent. Favorite track: Chan Chan. Overall score: 7.0/10

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

Made me want to lie by the pool.

Varied and beautiful.

It made me happy. It trailed off at the end but started really strong.

This is a fine album. There was a time I had it in heavy rotation, although it has often felt just a little longer than I wanted it to be.

Beautiful and warm

Норм

Easy listening Latino style. Sunny music full of emotions, happy and sad.

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.

There is something beautiful about modern artists bringing a fresh twist on classical / traditional music in Latin American countries. I think Natalia Lafourcade is the best modern example, but BVSC's inspiration from the dark yet musically rich days of Batista is beautiful. Now to the actually composition of the songs, I liken it to the rock n' roll days of Neil Young and Crazy Horse where the lyrics are simple but the jams are drawn out, sophisticated, and exciting. El Cuarto de Tula is one of my favorite songs of all time. 5/5

Unfortunately, this was great

Grab a fedora, a Cohiba, and channel your inner Ricky Ricardo... this is an all-time favorite of mine and should be of yours, too.

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.

What can one say about this album, which has not already been written and talked about. Today a classic album. Can't be anything else than a 5.

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.

Incredibly fun 9/10

Nice li'l album here! Good vibes, good tunes, tight.

Pretty cool Cuban album that starts off with a few strong songs, but doesn’t hold the fire the full length.

listened to again one of my most favorite albums

Never heard this before. God this is so fucking groovy. The muted trumpet line in De Camino a la Vereda -- wow... Definition of cool. Thank you. Now I love Cuba.

Classic

Again, I think a cultural thing.

This went on for too long. Because it’s different from what I’m used to I was interested in what could be found appealing, and it didn’t start off bad but continued for much too long. I have neither compliment nor complaint.

I've found that I like non-English vocals either a lot more than I'd thought or simply a lot more than I used to. It's far less-distracting and lets me as a listener have the vocals settle in as more of an instrument which I prefer. Get that shit out of the way dammit and let's hear the music which I was excited to... Yet after all that, this doesn't grab my interest. Zzzz. This album is unchallenging - it's fine, but feels like the kind of music I (yeah stereotyping) might hear street musicians playing which sets a nice evening mood as I'm strolling by but I'm not really compelled to stop and listen, nor would I remember much about it. Nor do I remember any of the melodies here as they pass me by. 4 chord traditional structures, eh ok. It bores me. By way of contrast, one of our first Spanish-vocal albums was Milton Nascimento's "Clube da Esquina" which has become a favourite - not for anything vocal-wise, but the music is mysterious and challenging which is my jam - that's a compelling album that I can play anytime. Not much of a review, but I'm not feeling much of anything either. 5/10 2 stars.

Too subdued

écouté plein de fois

finally, music not centered in athe US or the UK. this is a delightful album where the artists not only show off their immense talent, but do it so casually that the music really does feel like hanging out at a club - either dancing, chatting with the locals, or in just soaking in the music.

This is legitimately one of my favorite albums; I've already listened to it twice this week but am happy to make it a third. Speaking as a relatively uninformed American, I recognize that there is something beautiful about modern artists bringing a fresh twist on classical / traditional music in Latin American countries. I think Natalia Lafourcade is the best modern example, but BVSC's inspiration from the dark yet musically rich days of Batista is beautiful. Now to the actually composition of the songs, I liken it to the rock n' roll days of Neil Young and Crazy Horse where the lyrics are simple but the jams are drawn out, sophisticated, and exciting. El Cuarto de Tula is one of my favorite songs of all time. 5/5

I really liked this! I usually gravitate towards music I "get" which this isn't quite. But this is excellent long Sunday afternoon vibes. 4.5 stars; I guess I'll round up because it's very different from other stuff which is a plus.

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.

This album warmed me up over the snowy weekend. Favorite track: “Murmullo”

I mean it’s all good, just not my genre… feels like I should be on holiday listening to this- I am at work. Depressing

Vibey

It's great. John and Lakin said they grew up with this one.

Not for me

Memories of drinking rum on the ski hills

Give me more of this

Really special album. Lovely capsule of a bygone era. Not an every day listen, but there is so much talent in each song. I’m so glad they were able to capture it while these folks were around.

Fun album. Helped me lock in and ignore my clueless and nagging coworker, and that’s worth a 100 stars.

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.

You know what, hell yeah.

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.

I wish I understood, I'm rating purely on vibes and idk

Atmospheric and charming album. Had a great time imagining singing along with this gorgeous array of voices in a club somewhere

The Cuban vibes are immaculate, you feel like a bad ass listening to this, could listen to this all afternoon: 8.4/10.

Hey I love this album! You can't listen to De Camino a La Vereda and not have a smile on. Make that this whole album makes me smile.

When I first heard it I put a 4 with comment “Good Stuff”, but I’ve been returning to this album and it’s really grown on me. I really really like it now

chill

love murmullo, love the pianos

when i read ensemble of cuban musicians i already knew it was gonna be good and i did definitely enjoy it, i listened to it twice, the only complaint i have is that the music all through sounds very similar but you can look past that as it is good, but my bigger complaint is that towards the end it started lacking, so i can’t give a 4 xx to the person who gave a one star because “not in english” respectfully, what the actual fuck??

It's another one of those where I can picture myself somewhere else as a tourist. I can't understand the words, but I can enjoy it.

Chan Chan

cuban music

Quite delectable, but it doesn't stand out to me in any particular way. I enjoyed the more energetic tracks at the beginning, but I felt a bit lost towards the end. A solid 3/5 listen

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.

Pleasant, nice background music.

a little long but pretty good!

Best ever music album ! Note it everywhere!!

I have no frame of reference for this music!

Grúví beibí

Frábær plata og frábær saga.

Awesome Cubano album. There is some really beautiful stuff here and it doesn't really feel generic, while remaining easy to identify. The piano work in the title track is so good, I listened to that song repeatedly over the day. Chan Chan, Amor de Loca Juventud, and Pueblo Nuevo were also standouts for me. Probably my go to for latin music now, if I'm rver told to pick a single album in my admittedly narrow experience with it.

It was all in Spanish so I can't vouch for the lyrics but the music was ok.

Increíble. El son cubano en su máxima expresión. Genios absolutos homenajeando a los genios absolutos que les dieron la música. Un disco que todo mundo debería no solo escuchar, sino tener en su colección.

Would listen again

Enjoyed the piano led tracks, love the album title + title song

If you don't have positive feelings towards this, I doubt the existence of your soul. It's so easy to listen to. Favourite tracks were Chan Chan and Candela, or any of the ones which were piano led. I was probably not in the right environment to fully enjoy the vibe, but vibe I still did. 3 Stars. Good Album cover as well.

Really enjoyed this.

Que bueno!

Хорошая Латина музыка

fun listen, strongest at start

кайф

Nice album.

One of my favorite albums. Nostalgia, childhood.

First cuban album. Didn’t understand a word. Loved it.

I feel like I'm sipping a cappuccino while eating a bran muffin in a coffee shop in the '90s

Great vibe

Good vibes. Will probably listen again

I need more of this in my life. 5/5

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.

The warmth and richness of this recording is legendary. Each track oozes with flavor and a cohesion that gives a timeless impression. I love Cuban jazz but I've never heard another studio album that compares to this one. Both my favorite world music and jazz album of all time

I like this album, definitely outside the realm of music I would normally listen to. Good for a relaxing summer day outside, or any kind of day where you're OK with time moving slowly. Although I liked this album, I can't see myself coming back to it a lot but glad I was exposed to what seems to be considered a quintessential work of Cuban music.

★★★★★ Favorite tracks: - Chan Chan - ¿Y tú qué has hecho? One of the best things my ex did for me was buy me this CD. I'd be content listening to only this album until the end of time!

It's not for me, but it's crazy how much of this I recognize. Seems like this modernized production of traditional Cuban music and brought it to a larger audience. Mostly standards but in some ways the definitive versions.

An amazing album that has resonated with me for decades.

I vaguely remember this group / album from my high school days, so there was a double dose of nostalgia in listening to this.

Generally I am not a listener of Cuban music, I have very little knowledge about Cuban son. However, for a first step into these Central American rhythms, it was not bad at all. In fact, the jazz touches make it not at all distant to me and allow me to praise this album a little. I recognize that it is not the kind of album that I would listen to again or in a usual way since, as it happens to anyone, there are melodies or lyrics that call my attention or touch my soul without the need to think about it or analyze each song structurally. But, undoubtedly, there are high points that deserve to be named and have allowed me to see that fiery, or rather Caribbean, side of this Buena Vista Social Club presentation. Pros: Dos Gardenias, Pueblo Nuevo, El Cuarto de Tula, Candela and Amor de Loca Juventud