Album Of The Day

Perfect mood-setter on a Sunday!

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.

Back in 2011, my family and I went to cuba on vacation. While there we saw street vendor selling cds. We were quite fond of the music we'd heard around the place so we decided, why not buy one. It wasn't this album, but it sounds a lot like it, and we played it for every dinner party we hosted since. I love thos kind of music, it's so soulful and nostalgic while also being fun groovy at the same time. This one's a winner guys. Standouts: harder to distinguish the tracks when I listened at work and it's not in my language. Everything stood out.

Now I want to hang out at a bar in the tropics.

I definitely enjoyed it but definitely wouldn't listen to the entire album in one go again.

I liked it, I'd probably listen again.

I have no idea what they are saying, but I like the music and melodies. Apparently my Spanish studies are not going as well as I thought. I’m not sure what to call this other than Jazz/traditional music. I’m really enjoying this album. Looked this band up. It was the Cuban influence I could not put my finger on and I should have known because of the songs we played in jazz band. I know the style. This is the album I don’t know I was looking for. I love this and want more.

love Spanish songs and the first one is this. Nice vibe and jazz is good.

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.

Relaxing, good music

this was a vibe and put me in a pretty good mood

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.

I don't really love the genre, but the songs sounded not bad for the genre. A lot of the songs in the album (esp towards the beginning) sounded similar to me, but I don't understand Spanish (which definitely impacted my enjoyment).

3/5

Amazing album, definetly happily suprises to hear abit of flamenco music, and some great flamenco music at that. Really great songs, with amazing musicians and great sound.

Nice collabs, sets a nice mood

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.

Decent Spanish album, a bit slower than I would have liked, but a solid listen. 3.25/5

Nice vibes

nice som fan

Buena Vista Social Club.

09/01/25

One of the best albums ever made

[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.

It's well-made and the history behind it is cool, but it's a style that doesn't seem to give me a whole lot of mileage. Fine in the background.

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

A nice album. Didn’t really pull me in but a good listen.

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.

So chill and lovely

I deal with foreign language albums the same way I deal with foreign language movies. I’m not letting the fact I have no idea what they’re saying deride me from the experience. Though they haven’t found a way to give subtitles while you’re listening like in movies. Maybe someday… I like that there are albums that like to take me out of my comfort zone. The “world” albums I’ve gotten so far tend to do that. This one is perhaps the most accessible. Speaking as a white dude with no trace of Latin blood in me (my mother’s side of the family has a lot of origins. Can’t say Cuba was one of them), this album really does invoke the sense of relaxing on a beach or at a nice restaurant. It truly is a unique vibe that only an album like this can bring. The thing is though, that after a while, most of the tracks started to blend together. There is a good mix between love songs and traditional Cuban songs. And Pueblo Nuevo is a really good jazz song. But I can’t say it clicked with me. I enjoyed it, but I not dying to go back to any of it. That’s a personal preference problem with me, it seems. I still respect this, however, and I hope those who listen can look past not understanding a damn word being sung to find more enjoyment than I could. Favorite track: Pueblo Nuevo Other hits: Chan Chan, Candela, Buena Vista Social Club, El Carretero

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

Buenos dias mi hijos y mi hija. Estamos aquí para mi revisión des amigos de la band 'buena vista club social'! und scho bini usgschosse mit mim spanisch, obwohl ich mich bim lose vom album sehr fest wie en Kubaner gfühlt han, wieni i mim 60er jahr Chevy d Strasse vo Havana entlangfahr, mit de Zigarre im Muul under mim mächtige Magnum-Schnauz, eme verschmitzte lächle ih mim ledrige, bruun-brännte gsicht und ready für en wiitere arbeitslose Tag gfüllt mit Schach spiele im Park und am Strasserand ufeme Bänkli sitze. ich bin sehr happy das mal was anders chund als Ami-albe, finde d Pedros aber denn doch ehner durchschnittlich. Isch fun gsi zums eimal lose, aber het jetzt ned en song druf gha wo mi richtig catchito het (Ussert vlt de classico Chan Chan) Dadefür gern drü Mal e Jahresmitgliedschaft im Buena Vista Social Klöbb! (PS. für all Film-Interessierte: es git e Doku vom Wim Wenders über die Band und d Musig Szene in Kuba - sött no guet sii, het en el oscáritto gwunne) Dios mio y hasta luego!

Ayyyy papi, me gusta. Hola señiors y señiorita. Buena vista social club stept in album klöpp, hypahypa. Vorab info: Hans album na nie ganz glosst aber scho oft mal driklickt und chli gschnupperet. Setup: miguelito isch in lombok am letste abig und dud de albumklöpp uf und gsed das album. Chani mir nöd la entgah und glichzitig hani au kei ziit zums lose. Deshalb download full album demit ichs am morge am flughafe chan lose. Da chömed gfühl uf, zerst mal die 2 bekannte tracks vu de teenie jahre (bierli trinke und chille a de reuss), denn de musikstyl beförderert de miguelito directimento zrug uf Colombia. Wunderschöni ferie mitm lil‘noah, wiemer sofort ready gsi sind für de cumbia und mit vill müeh denn doch au na in reggeaton inecho sind. Uf all fäll gsehn ich eus mit chline schrittlis dezent (mengisch au weniger dezent) zu dem tänzle, vlt na churz ein hand ad hüft und di ander id hand und de parkett ordentlich ihzführe. Au e herzliche fuditätscher an noah würi na gseh zu dere musik ;) Darum gib ich euch vier album mensche e herzliche imaginäre fudi-tätscher, sofern ihr das au gern hätted. Album startet mit drü big times 5* tracks, woni all kenne und liebe. Denn wirds biz ruhiger aber au eifach gmüetlich, gueti tracks. Hani nani kennt. Bi candela denn wieder party vibe, mit dem Cali handmusikinstrument wo mer eifach biz umeschlad, es tönt öppe so „tschö tschö tschö“ oder „dög dög dög“. Witer mit bar gmüdi tracks. Als summary eich gude laune und öpis schöns fürd ohre. All i want for christmas is: sitting in a tropical cafe & listening to this album Es bliebt na ei offnigi frag: chömed die uf züri na mal für un concerto??? 5 kubanischi Zigarre für das Meisterwerk Miguel Last add-on: offical real welcome to maya as an active review person, started with a bang review

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

aaaayyy papi muuuuy rica da wird am don noahcito grad warm um‘s herz erinnerige chömed ufe wie ich am miguel schlimm de poblado versohlt ha im yatzy und dezue es lauwarms aguila abegschletzt han eis vo dene albe woni scho mehrmals in voller längi glost han und nie gnueg devo becho chan por favor mas musica tropicale y latin y cumbia y gschmeus klare fall vo cinco cucarachas

I need to see this documentary one day. Music is solid but I think would be heightened by seeing the film.

masterpiece

Not my stuff.

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.

Some nice latin music for the background. Nothing felt particularly special or catching to me.

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

Excellent vibes.

Наверное, я никогда не слышал кубинской музыки вот так, альбомом, со всей серьезностью. Музыка хорошая. Лучшая песня - Chan Chan.

.

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

Love this band. Have seen them perform and they are great.

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

2 Stars (5/15)

what a vibe

Was a big hit in the 90s, and I can see why that might be the case: this is very expertly played and produced, very relaxed Latin-Jazz. It's just that this kind of music if very far removed from my musical tastes, so that I did not enjoy (as in: even get through) this album at all. 2.5/5

Good, not great. Like scenes from a festive restaurant, house band the attraction and reason seats are filled. But after 5 minutes, with hustling waiters and bustling busboys buzzing around like ants at a picnic, your attention slips to your food and your company. What’s left is part of the background.

Ry Cooder helps keep traditional Cuban music alive. I really need to see this documentary.

Wow! This is beautiful, human, romantic, cinematic music. It’s hard not to swoon while listening to it. There is such a potent sensuality all through the tracklist. I didn’t know I enjoyed Cuban music so much. Definitely a must-listen. (#52)

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

Did not expect to enjoy this one, pleasantly surprised

++: 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

Amazing performances through and through. These are clearly legends. But they sound like it - a bit listless and tired. And this is music that should MOVE you start to finish. As played here, it is perfect elevator / background music.

Album #4 - 5/5 Damn, this whole album makes me want to get up and dance. Interesting jazzy detour with "Pueblo Nuevo" (from the Wikipedia, learned this song & "Beuna Vista Social Club" are the two danzón songs, so maybe that's just my least favorite genre featured on this album). I didn't need to understand the lyrics to thoroughly enjoy most songs on this list. Standouts were "Chan Chan," "El Cuarto de Tula," "Dos Gardenias," and "¿Y Tú Qué Has Hecho?" Crazy that this group of musicians got together and busted out this masterpiece in 6 days. Stoked to learn this album became a stage production that's headed to Broadway! I expect it to blow up when it does.

Only Bangers! Vibey vibe.

Love it

Gets better every listen. A perfect album to listen to with a nice Sunday dinner and a few glasses of wine.

This album made me feel so calm and comfortable. I feel like these guys would be so fun to play dominos with. Fav Songs: La Bayamesa, El Cuarto de Tula, Y Tu Que Has Hecho?

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

One of my all time favourites!

This is luscious music, isn't it?

Wow - a Milestone

Fun vibes and a good listen nothing I’ll play back too often but something to throw on a late evening

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

This is enjoyable

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.

Just like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band before it, it turns out that when you get some of the best musicians in a genre together they make really good music! I've loved Latin guitar music for as long as I can remember, and this is definitely up there with the best of them - I will definitely be adding a few of these to my regular rotation :)

Many years without listening to these songs. My mum used to play it when I was a child and it brought me back there :)

Beautiful. Enjoyed every song

Not for me

Starts out as standard Mexican restaurant music, then some nice variety kicks in. Some jazzy stuff. One song sounded like Peanuts La Bamba. Good for a single listen.

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.

Love it! Kind of old Mexican/Cuban style, a bit lounge a bit romantic.

historic

Iba por el 5, bajó a 4 pero al final dije "lo merecen"

Not for me - I get why it’s popular just felt flat

Me likey Fun n funky

Goeie werkmuziek

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.

Nice. I imagine myself in the cuba, just finish surfing , pull out cigar from my vintage backpack , sitting in the wooden bar ordered pina collada and just vibing But reality is I’m in Riga it’s -1, some strong wind Alerts, and winter just started

Now I need tickets to Cuba. Loved the vibes.

I really like the brooding menace of Chan Chan - and have heard this track a lot over the years. The rest of the album is a bit more forgettable although a pleasant listen.

another Far Cry 6 soundtrack, fun tho.

Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club El álbum es tan bueno, que hasta voy a empezar a escribir en español y no inglés xd. Honestamente, cuando vi que me tocaba escuchar este álbum, no sabes lo emocionado que estaba, ya que era uno que tenía muchas ganas de escuchar. Tenía mis altas expectativas, y cuando lo escucho, no decepciono para nada. Puro temazo sobre temazo sobre temazo. Esto es lo que sucede cuando traes los mejores musicos que latinoamérica ofrece, todos juntos en solo un álbum, obtienes esto como resultado. Hay muy buena música en todos los lados que puedas ir si lo encuentras bien, pero luego existe música como está que es simplemente imposible de replicar, porqué es raro de que puedan hacer un album, así de perfecto. Literalmente, esto es perfecto. 1.- Chan Chan = 10/10 2.- De camino a la vereda = 10/10 3.- El cuarto de Tula = 10/10 4.- Pueblo nuevo = 9/10 5.- Dos gardenias = 10/10 6.- ¿Y tú qué has hecho? = 9/10 7.- Veinte años = 10/10 8.- El carretero = 10/10 9.- Candela = 10/10 10.- Amor de loca juventud = 10/10 11.- Orgullecida = 9/10 12.- Murmullo = 9/10 13.- Buena Vista Social Club = 10/10 14.- La Bayamesa = 9/10 PUNTUACIÓN FINAL = 9.6/10

It's pleasant background music. That's about all I could hope for from it for my musical taste. A good solid 3.

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.

Excellent

7,79

An obvious classic record. Always a great listen, timeless and beyond reproach.

now that's a pretty solid vista

love it

Pour moi, irrésistible dans ses rythmes, mélodies, voix, arrangements. D’une tranquillité inébranlable où la joie de la musique perce

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

Meget chill og afslappende, tydeligvis ekstremt skilled!

A great album you can play/listen on many occasions!

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).

I’ve always wanted to go to the forbidden island. So much culture and history. This album is just one small taste of it.

Loved it! Something really different to what I normally listen to

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.

The story behind the creation of this album is fascinating, and it unsurprisingly resulted in fascinating music. I was truly bummed out when the album ended. An easy 5 stars.

wow this one is unique. certainly not like anything id normally listen to

Feels like vacation in an album :)

Makes me want to wiggle my hips with my hand on my stomach.

Appreciate the opportunity to listen to something which is far outside my comfort zone and comes from a country that I have no interest in exploring the musical history of. Aside from that, this music is pretty tepid, uninspired and drawn out

Great

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

Weird but it was kinda really good?

I like this. Very chill.

Hello and welcome to Jazz Club. Great. Really great. Tonight, we're giving it a 3. Nice.

5/10 Very soulful 11-25-2024

I've heard the album many times. A great sample of Cuban music by a bunch of great musicians. Culturally relevant for significantly increasing the popularity of Cuban music (and indirectly Cuban culture) in American society around the turn of the century.

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.

We saw these guys live several years ago. Good music, good fun!

This one surprised me. Really enjoyed it...felt like I was on one of our trips to Mexico.

I know the group, but not really the music. I feel like I don't get anything out of it at home, maybe I would at a party or curated into a DJ's set, but like this, almost nothing. Few tracks did make me feel like I should learn to dance.

Fun

Made a cold miserable day feel warmer. Chan Chan is an amazing opening track.

If you like jazz, this album is a 5. Unfortunately, I don't like jazz.

Songs i liked: a fair few These tracks sound great, love the style and it's an album I reckon I could go back to. It's an album that doesn't affend the ears and gets the hips moving, not sure how this compares against other albums in it's genre so let's see what koffi delivers. Low 3.

It’s the sound of the summer. It’s the putting your feet up round the pool on holiday, pint in hand. It’s a cool breeze on a warm beach. Can’t understand a bloody word they’re saying mind. 5/5

Didn't listen as new Kendrick album dropped so that's getting all my attention but... I absolutely love this album. It was my gateway into world music and its a real jam. Was lucky to see some of the members live and it was a vibe I can tell you.

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.

Enjoyed this and as per other reviews have suggested, wonderful holiday listening. Wouldnt go full on giving it the Buena Vista big one like the others, as doubt I’d be able to pick it out of line up of other similar Cuban music

very good Cuban music. I like that it can be played today and it doesn't sound like it was from a few years ago, much more than 30 or 40. very cool album

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.

Not my style.

Phenomenal! Absolutely love this album.

So good. I should go back and watch the documentary if it’s still available somewhere.

I need to add this to my Duolingo studying. I love it!

кубинский мьюзик очень вайбово и классно

Hell no

nice vibes, but more for passive listening

Made me feel like I was in Cuba

👌🏻

It was decent background music

This album is so good I could throw it on any time and enjoy myself, it can be background music but it also can be the focus. All the different musicians coming together is like a big band feel but so much more fluid and moving. Love it makes me want to salsa

4.6 Soild album. Gets a boost from a core memory growing up. We bought this album for my dad when it came out for christmas one year. He played it non stopped and really loved it and the ry cooder connection. We didnt know what to get him the following year so we just bought the same album again (may have been a deluxe version..) there was nothing wrong with the first copy.

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.

Cuban music has a special place in my heart I hate it but I love it

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.

Can see why people would love this, but wasn't for me. Grooves were cool but not much else to draw me in

Transported me to a Cuban bar. Blissful

Own it, love it!!!!

Frunky

Viva centroamerica, nada que agregar (excepto que se hace un poquito largo el disco, igual es un 5/5)

FANTASTICO!!!

Nice - good for cooking/eating dinner (good background music).

i've never really listened to spanish music before but this was fun

Really vibey and well made. Hard to click when it's in a different language, but I can still groove. This is a lyric blindness dream. Favorites were El Cuarto de Tula, Candela, and Buena Vista Social Club

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

very fun to listen to. festive cuban music. great background work tunes.

Not really my style. Nice enough in the background.

Great, very calm. Good variety of tempo and sound. A bit long, and obviously my inability to speak Spanish doesn't help.

It was nice

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

fun album

Pretty good!

I’m sure it’s very culturally significant but it just didn’t really grab my attention for much of the fairly long runtime. The first song was great though.

best album, ever

Disco excelente, todo un descubrimiento, sin bien es necesario señalar el imprescindible Semilla del Son (recopilación de Santiago Auserón) publicado en 1991 como el verdadero motor de este disco (que se lo digan a Ry Cooder). Otros antecedentes fueron el sello Luaka Bop de David Byrne pero no al nivel, en ningún caso, de Semilla del Son. Ahora bien, el mérito es, cómo no, de los propios artistas. En este caso, Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Eliades Ochoa u Omara Portuondo y otros muchos. Buena parte de ellos no eran precisamente novatos ni desconocidos. Las canciones, también muchas de ellas son clásicos como Chan Chan o el bolero Dos gardenias. También se publicó Documental (Win Wenders) y gira musical. Contribuyó al auge de la World Music que habían iniciado Peter Gabriel (Real World) o Paul Simon, entre otros. Aquí la (buena) mano la puso Ry Cooder. Sonidos orgánicos, ritmos caribeños, idioma español (letra y lírica)... una gozada para todos los sentidos. Imposible no disfrutar de él, e igualmente escucha obligatoria en cualquier colección. Otros discos de 1997: Radiohead: OK Computer, Spiritualized: Ladies And Gentlemen We’re Floating In Space, The Prodigy: The fat of the land, The Verve: Urban Hymns, Cornershop: When I Was Born For The 7th Time, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: The Boatman’s Call, Erykah Badu: Baduizm, Wilco: Being There, Portishead: Portishead, Primal Scream: Vanishing Point, Tindersticks: Curtains, Björk: Homogenic, Bob Dylan: Time Out Of Mind, Yo La Tengo: I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One, The Chemical Brothers: Dig Your Own Hole, Belle And Sebastian: If You’re Feeling Sinister, Shleep de Robert Wyatt Teenage Fanclub: Songs From Northern Britain, Mogwai: Young Team, Daft Punk: Homework, Stereolab: Doots And Loops, The Make-Up: Sound Verite, Eels: Beautiful Freak, Erykah Badu: Baduizm, Echo & The Bunnymen: Evergreen, Prefab Sprout: Andromeda heights, Dinoasaur Jr.: Hand It Over, Blur: Blur, Elliott Smith: Either, Or, Janet Jackson: The velvet rope, Smog; Red apple falls, Built to Spill: Perfecto from now on, The Jayhwaks: Sound of lies, Kent: Isola, Ocean Colour Scene: Marchin' already, Paul Weller: Heavy soul, Cotton Maher: Kontiki, Luna: Pup Tent, Foo Fighters: The colour and the shape, Shleep Robert Wyatt... Y también: Spice Girls: Spiceworld, U2: Pop o Aqua: aquarium...

P good, enjoyed the vibes

The only reason this got any play Stateside is because of Ry Cooder. It's great that this introduced people to a type of music that they might not have otherwise heard, but I don't think Cooder needed to insert his boring white boomer self. I used to own this on CD and would listen to it occasionally because I thought it was important to hear stuff like this, but I always lost interest after track two. Still true today. I'm sure there's plenty of great Cuban music, but more often than not, this just ain't my thing.

Favorite Track: Chan Chan

This was nice enough, but it didn't really do anything much for me.

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.

I know this album is very popular and great background music. This is not the sort of music I ever think about listening to, but it was good.

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.

Was ein vibe

Had good vibes, strong band, good tunes. I enjoyed it. 3 stars

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.

An appreciation of life itself.

I generally don’t actively engage with jazz, but it’s nice to have on in the background. This is quite nice background music.

I enjoyed this. There's something about music you can't understand that is very soothing and fun.

My distant roots!

Just not really my thing.

soft, comfy, easy, gentle. ideal album to listen to on a weekend afternoon where you don't have responsibilities but you do have a porch beer

Very enjoyable

This was so much more fun than I thought it would be; and I didn’t think it’d be not fun. The writing is beautiful and original. The lyrics and vocals are gorgeous (though I’m not entirely sure what they’re talking about). The instrumentation and production both complement everything perfectly. The amount of range surprised me given that non english albums typically feel like an amalgamation. Couldn’t be more pleasantly surprised with how well I turned out to enjoy this. 5/5

God, this was unescapable in the late nineties. I can see the appeal. It's got a good story with layers and layers of authenticity and it sounds very warm and just familiar and at the same time different enough and the songs are quite pleasant (if rather repititive). But it's also very safe and even then it was very much background-music-in-a-coffeeshop kind of stuff. I like to think that the success of this project was part of the inspiration behind the subsequent and still ongoing wave of rediscoveries and reissues of, ugh, 'world music' from the sixties and seventies. I have no wish to put on this album ever again.

Good album. Just not necessarily my thing.

Klassiker, n paar sehr schöne Songs. Muy caliente!

Cool!

Good one this

THIS SHIT IS FUCKING AMAZING SPANISH SONGS ARE THE FUCKING BEST YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I found it good but repetitive.

Vibes

It is a good album, but something I need to dig into over time as it is quite extensive. Intellectually I find it very good, but it doesn't quite hit it for me personally.

Not something I’d listen to on a regular basis, but if I were at a restaurant or on vacation listening to it, I’d be pleased. Nice melodies, but nothing stood out to me as being particularly memorable once the album was over.

Not bad, but not my bag

A party of an album! I like the holiday atmosphere this creates - makes me want to 💃 (I did actually - badly! Haha). Great guitar, and an uplifting listen throughout.

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.

Constant grooves but not much more

This was cool! Listened to this with Jess on the drive to Liverpool and the word she used to describe it is ‘vibey’ which is pretty accurate. Talented group of players and good to listen to something I would never think to put on otherwise.

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.

I saw Eliades Ochoa last year - he conjured such a party atmosphere. No loss of playing skill or vocals, despite being very old. Buena Vista Social Club is probably the album that got me interested in Spanish. I had the documentary on VHS, watched it probably once a month at one point. Eliades wandering around an old train yard singing, El Carretero, is burned into my memory. Company Segundo and Ibrahim Ferrer (I even used his name as a password for a bit) definitely stand out on the album. Chan Chan, Dos Gardenias, Candela, Cuarto de Tula, y De Camino A La Vereda were always my favourites. Fantastic.

This takes me back to when I worked in a restaurant, this cd must've been one that was constantly on rotation. Won't have heard this for probably over 15 years but I feel it is etched into my memory. I can't deny that it's pretty good, but I feel this experience has somewhat tainted it!

As heard on repeat in Viva Cuba Leeds. I can taste chorizo when I hear this.

4/5

Blind album and artist. Decent listen and kinda fun, but not for me.

gypsy kings vibes

Chan Chan 3.5 De camino a la vereda 3.6 El cuarto de Tula 3.4 Pueblo Nuevo 3 Dos gardenias 3.3 ¿Y tú qué has hecho? 3.1 Veinte años 3.2 El carretero 3.2 Candela 3.3 Amor de loca juventud 3.2 Orgullecida 3 Murmullo 3 Bueno Vista Social Club 3.1 La bayamesa 3.2 Score: 3.221428571

Nandos

3.5

4.5

6.8 ★★★ It's fine well recorded, great players, but the music didn't strike me a anything out of the ordinary. Kinda by the book.

Enjoyable music, but a bit long and could be more varied. 3.5 stars

Great! 4 stars

Pretty cool Cuban jazz record with lots of nifty playing and some of the best Exotic Socialista Hotel singing on it. 3.75 Cuban Cigars out of 5.

Nice pleasant listen, seems like a mood album. When you are in the right mood it’s might be a fantastic album. That said I’m going 3.5 for this and 3 for the project.

Chad

Good album

I actually have this album, popular at the time. Very nice as background music and feeling the cuba salsa vibes or so.

At the time, this album could be heard in the background everywhere. It is well made, but nowadays I hardly listen to it. my vote in 1997: 3/5 my vote in 2024: 2/5

Starts of very nice; later I lose attention although it is still ok in the background.

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

It's competent, but doesn't do much for me. Highlights: "De Camino a la Vereda" (upbeat, I like the horn lines), "Candela" (nice burbling percussion and fingerpicked guitar, though the repetitive vocals on the last half become mind-numbing)

Un álbum que me gusta mucho por su propia calidad musical y porque provoca la añoranza de una ciudad que supe conocer en dos momentos bien distintos de su historia.

El inodoro está en el bano 🗣️🗣️🗣️

Not for me

Obra prima

Very cool guitar work. We enjoyed it quite a bit.

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 :)

I wouldn't normally seek this type of music out, but I enjoyed this style and the energetic sound behind it.

Lovely on the ears

Not my jam, but understand why it’s on this list. Found the different styles jarring and disjointed.

Ngl lubed myself up

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

Fine.

I have never really listened to Cuban Music so this was an interesting start to this project. At first, I wasn't really into it but there were some songs, especially near the middle of this project that I found to be really interesting. There is a Wim Winders documentary about this album that I'm definitely going to watch. 6/10

Sit back and relax to the sounds of some authentic Cuban plucking.

Rating: 5/10 Meh.

Great gateway into Cuban music, fantastic documentary and some really beautiful music on this one!

Absolutely fantastic. Felt like I was in the islands. Will play

Buena Vista Social Club

Buena Vista Social Club

Reviews (page 9 of 15)