Reviews (page 3 of 7)
15/03/26 - dropei dps da segunda faixa é bastante cultural e forte, inclusive na voz - o instrumental também é interessantemente cultural (até meio repetitivo, quando se pega a diversidade musical br de exemplo) mas não gostei de como o baaba canta, e as faixas sempre duram demais, metade do tempo seria melhor
genuinely pleasant music, the production is actually rather fitting as I was afraid this was gonna sound weird and out of place, but it's actually a pretty good listen.
Not my usual listen but this was impressive.
This was completely new to me and super interesting. I feel like I need to revisit it for sure, but a few tracks are so compelling with their groove (Daniibe) to push the album in the frequent relisten level
Great album, different from what I normaly listen.
Це звучіть доволі цікаво та автентично, і якщо слухати одну-дві пісні, то мені подобається. Але весь альбом, особисто для мене, - це трохи забагато. Незнаю, чи буду я колись ще це слухати
Fine for work but didn’t speak to me.
its pleasant music, really different from the kind of music im more used to
It feels unfair for me to give this album a rating considering I mostly listen to western music (trying to expand my horizons...) so I don't know how to compare this to other African music. I did enjoy the album though and the energy it brought! :)
Did not finish the last few tracks, but it had a lot of different sounds in the album. A good alternative take for me .
Je n’avais aucune attente de cet album et il m’a surpris. Très complet, sa voix est agréable, les morceaux bien sequencés, c’est vraiment bien. L’album est cependant un peu long, je me serais arrêté à Sy Sawande qui pourrait sonner comme une outro même si minuit est parfaite aussi. 3-/5
Veldig verdensmusikk-ate, sjøl om det e en forkastelig sjanger, men den dekke jo veldig mye av sånt æ ikke egentlig har grunnlag for å uttale mæ om. Æ likte det her, synes det va trivelig å høre på.
Nah
This was an interesting album to listen through, but I don't see myself revisiting it. I liked Daniibe, that track was unique and experimental in a nice way, but the other tracks didn't stand out. Not bad to listen to, interesting energy!
I fucked heavy with this album and was not expecting it at all. Not a style I would have listened to before, but it was honestly amazing. I love when I get a unique cool album. Ndelorel was so good it was added to the main playlist
I hate the term "world music" as much as the next guy. But I just usually don't know how to enjoy it. This album wasn't bad, it was a nice little something playing in the background. But when I listen to music, I expect more.
3
It's not going to make my playlist but it's still interesting to hear music from different cultures from time to time.
A couple of great songs, some not so much.
Not bad. Not something that I'll listen to again, but still.
Ah it's so refreshing to get away from britpop and "indie" music and be exposed to sounds from other cultures. Not something I would regularly listen to, but it set a nice mood and inspires wanderlust. Favorite songs: Sy Sawande (beautiful) and Gidelam (percussion).
Strong 3, verging on 4, very much along the lines of the Toures's work.
Interesting. Serviceable African-tinged pop music, a bit dated but presumably of its time; probably exactly what I could have expected. Unlikely to go back to it, but certainly glad to have listened to it and wouldn't have come across it otherwise.
I don't have much experience with world music. The little I do know has not been my thing. This album has some cool moments and neat sounds. I hope this is a sign of things to come in the world music genre on this list.
Enjoyable listening
Good stuff. Need to expand
This was really good, I enjoyed the diverse instrumentation quite a bit and thought it was beautiful. Definitely shakes things up for me which is welcome at this point in the list. I'll probably come back to it soon.
Rhythmically very cool, could have done with a few tracks less imo
The fact that Djam Leelii (Maal + Seck) is one of the most blissed-out but earth-bounded albums I've heard didn't make it easy to go into this record w/o being somewhat disappointed. Even if Lam Toro isn't a failure, which it isn't, the one w/ Seck is a masterpiece, so the standards are simply higher. But even w/o the (unfair) comparison in mind, Lam Toro is not only bent on something that is more pop than authentic - it seems to be reaching for a sound that ought to be, for this artist at least, second nature. To go pop & to be real are not mutually exclusive: our best pop artists prove that it's so, over & over. Yet, the chill vibes these songs produce are exactly that & not much more. Still, 'Gidelam' is a substantial one, & it all mostly hits for bits.
Some good moments, but nothing outstanding for me. When it's good, it's repetitive and the song seems to go on too long. Some cheesy keys at points, but the beats are on point. Not something I'd listen to again so it has to be rated 2 stars.
49/100. An important record that helped push West African music further onto the global stage. Even if it did not land for me right now, I can respect what it represents. Sometimes appreciation and enjoyment are two different things.
not bad, not my thing
would’ve voted 0
Wouldn't be my chosen choice of genre but this was alright to be honest. Musically it was pretty decent, and most of the vocals were fine (albeit mildly chanty)
A real fusion of African sounds, thought this was a beautiful record to listen to.
A very eclectic mix and some interesting stuff in there but as a whole it never really caught me.
I really love the music on this, it's very evocative of...something, and at times whole songs are really lovely and captivating. At other times, it feels like it's passing me by quite a bit, and there's a vocal style on there that doesn't do loads for me, but I was certainly glad to have heard this.
It's incredibly difficult for me to rate albums like this as I simply don't have the cultural knowledge or points of comparison. It sounds perfectly nice, of course, and it's all performed well. That's about the depth of what I can say about it, mind.
2,5
Lam Toro (1992) is Baaba Maal’s third studio album. Baaba Maal is a Senegalese musician and singer that I wasn’t aware of before listening to this album. That’s no reflection on Baaba Maal - my musical knowledge really doesn’t extend much further than Europe (predominantly the United Kingdom) and North America. I really enjoyed this album, but not knowing anything about the Senegalese music scene (the only other Senegalese artist that I’m aware of is Youssou N’Dour), or the context of the artist or the album makes it difficult to give a very informed review. Although I really enjoy it, as I didn’t understand the lyrics, it was a bit like listening to an instrumental album, with Baaba Maal’s voice being just another sound in the mix. I haven’t rated the tracks individually this time as to be honest after my customary three listens I hadn’t really differentiated between all the tracks yet. The version I rated was the eleven track CD which is the version on Spotify. The run time is just under an hour. It turns out that the vinyl LP only had eight tracks. As I’ve mentioned before I seldom think that longer is better when it comes to an album so I would have probably enjoyed the vinyl album even more. Disk 1: Yela - 4/5; Toro - 4/5; Daande Lenol - 4/5; Hamady Boiro - 4/5 Daniibe - 4/5; Gidelam - 4/5; Olel - 4/5; Sy Sawande - 4/5 Ndelorel - 4/5; Lem Gi- 4/5 Minuit - 4/5
Not bad
This experience was quietly different. I couldn't find lyrics translations anywhere, and honestly? That made me pay more attention to everything else, the rhythms, the textures, the feeling. I'm actually glad the album forced that. I could be wrong, but I hear a certain resemblance to Brazilian music. It made me so happy to spot those similarities and kind of trace where some of my country's sounds came from. The track Toro specifically, the bass with the percussion, that's exactly what made me realize it. Reminded me a lot of mangue beat and Axé music. There's something in the rhythm that connects. African continent influence in Brazilian music, it's more than obvious. His voice compliments the instrumentation so well. Really well. And I think I hear some Arabic scales in there? Pure speculation though, I'm no expert. Not understanding the words took me somewhere else. It reminded me of being a child, when I only knew my mother tongue and had to rely heavily on feelings to understand things. There's something intrigued and positive in that return. I love the instrumental choices. Nothing overwhelming, very well produced, cohesive as hell. I wish I could've understood the lyrical part, I know something was lost there. But music really is a language on its own.
This is polished and quite easy to listen to but functioned more as background music for me. Low 3
This could have been the best album I've ever listened to. But I wouldn't of have been able to tell.
I enjoyed listening to this. It was funky and cool. Good background music for chores on a gloomy day.
Afrikanischer Pop
i wish i liked this more, baaba maal rules but a lot of the music here feels super flat and it sort of feels like he's spinning his wheels for a lot of it. i still like it and it certainly has its moments, but it's definitely nowhere near peak baaba maal
Funky, soulful
Great vibes, beautiful vocals
The instrumentation does have a dated feel, but nothing particularly compelling here 2.5*
3.5
Never listened. Expectations: None - Verdict: Good - Starts slowly but quickly gets into a groove. Hamady Boira is very funky and Daniibe is also very cool. The album gets a bit lost for me and almost becomes too comfortable. Overall I really enjoyed this and will definitely check out some more in this vein.
(32/100)
Some of the juxtaposition of traditional instrumentation doesn't land well. Last song is just cringe.
It's gonna be a "no" for me dawg. Don't get me wrong, some beautiful stuff, rich with vibrant percussion and emotional depth, going down here - it just doesn't illicit a damn thing from my mind + spirit. Good restaurant music. I could hold a decent conversation about cruise lines to this.
Music that makes ya wanna mooooove. Infectious rhythm, celebratory vocals and variety of instruments had this gal feeling mighty fine!
Meh
I liked the rhythms and the groove. I think I would like it more if I liked his voice better. I'm fine with not understanding the language, but there were times I found his voice quite grating. Also some of the songs were far too long for them to be as boring as they were. Felt almost Jam-band-esque at points because it just kept going and going.
I kinda get it, but why this album? Baaba Maal's "Firin' In Fouta" is the far more essential work. It won a Grammy and brought him huge crossover appeal. It should serve as entry point to his other, more Afro-Centric albums.
Didn't like the mashup with the global sound and the 90s sound - hasn't aged well.
Boring country
My rating 2.6. Ok. I enjoyed the layered guitars but the wailing/singing got to be a bit much.
I’m sure it’s great music and well played and sung but I just didn’t enjoy it!
Very interesting to sample African music, a culture I don’t know loads about. I found it very pleasant but a bit repetitive and long, so not hugely for me. But I was happy for the chance to experience it.
Good.
Some poor production choices here really hinder my enjoyment of this one. Mostly those garbage sounding digital horns. Deducting an entire point for how bad they make the song Lem Gi. Favorite songs were Hamady Boiro, Daniibe, and Minuite.
Not bad
By the last tracks I feel like a real cosmopolitan. What an album!
I enjoyed hearing the variety of instruments and rythyms.
#850. I didn't listen to this whole thing. This is the third day in a row of singers with irritating voices, and I simply cannot today. 2/5: meh
I'd give this a 3.5. It is a nice album, but I've now heard several like it, and while there are some great songs, I don't think it rises much above what it starts out as, a very good example of this form of music. It's hard for me to judge the historical significance of the album, so I can't add much weight there, either.
Interesting mix with the Carribbean sounds, however didn't resonate with me 3.5/10
Albums in another language are tricky to click with. Wasn’t a huge fan.
Glad we got the token Senegalese album out of the way
Same 30 seconds forever
Liked this, a lot of interesting tracks, Hamady Boiro a funky stand out
Fascinating and infectious. The singing is absolutely from a tradition that's not familiar to me -- the vocal ornaments remind me of the Muslim call to prayer, or the microtonal flourishes in Indian music. The guitar playing does sound like 1992 but not in any kind of bad way. Rhythmically as fabulous as you ought to expect. The rhythm sections in African music are like Italian cars; justifiably stereotyped as baseline excellent. It's wonderful to hear how familiar this music feels, despite the obvious differences from the Western traditions I am most familiar with. This is a good listen. I'd happily put this record on, some Saturday, and get shit done. Works for a party, too.
It's solid, but it doesn't really stand out beyond the cool vibes of the regional sound. I enjoyed it, but I doubt I'll come back.
Not for me. Didn't give me much of anything
An experience that made up for the not-so-great album I previously listened to (I'm playing catchup for 5 days)
It's groovy
I don't think I've ever listened to this type of music for more than a couple of minutes. This wasn't unlistenable or anything but I will say that if I was a quitter this would have been my first DNF.
2.5
Music that plays as you wander the bazaar.
Nice boogie, but only a couple of songs stood out for me.
Not for me
No opinion on this as would never chose to listen to it
This album was an interesting listen, it felt different and fresh. I was surprised to find out it was made in the 90s. I couldn’t understand any of the words but it was still a great listen!
Ich checks, aber ist Worldmusic, die ich mir so nicht anmachen würde. Man kennt nichts zur Kultur oder der Bedeutung, es ist in Ordnung zu hören, sicher auch gut gemacht, aber einfach nicht meins. Daher ne 3, ist jetzt nicht schlecht, aber hör ich mir nicht nochmal an sehr wahrscheinlich.
Good music, Great to see more variety making this list.
Im partial to a foreign language album as long as it has something i can mildly shake my ass too or atleast somewhat boogie to, and this fit the criteria so 3/5.
2.2 1x easy listening but not my thing
I liked this. Unlike usual this one actually got better as I continued listening to it.
I reviewed Baaba Maal’s Djam Leelii about eight months ago, and I thought it was a good album. Even though I didn’t understand the lyrics or the broader context of what made it be included on this list, I thought the music on it was really good. I love bright guitar melodies and synthesizers, so a lot of West African music is right up my alley. I’m hoping that I’ll enjoy this second Baaba Maal album just as much, or possibly more than Djam Leelii. Just like Djam Leelii, I didn’t understand any of the lyrics on Lam Toro, but I still really enjoyed it. I thought Baaba Maal did a wonderful job of layering rich melodies throughout the songs on this album, and the end result was a beautiful album that offered plenty of different sounds and moods through its music. There was so much to take in on Lam Toro, and I’m bummed that I couldn’t find any notes to tell me what instruments were used in the creation of this album. Listening to this album was really fun, and I really want to add a copy of Lam Toro to my music collection. Some notes on the individual songs: I really liked the vibe of “Yela.” It felt like this song was trying to convey a darkness bubbling under the surface, like a warning or an omen. I just really loved the melodies that made up this song. I loved the funky groove of “Hamady Boiro.” The bass line was excellent, and that guitar that kicked in towards the end really rocked. “Daniibe” gets really good about half way in. When that xylophone sound kicks in, and the bass cranks up, and the drums start punching harder, it sounded fantastic. I really liked the bright melodies of “Gidelam.” The percussion had so many layers to it, and it complemented the other elements so well. I loved the bright tones of “Olel.” There was a lot of complexity to the melody, but it was a rich and beautiful sound, and the bass groove was great too. “Sy Sawande” was really beautiful. It was a bit simpler melodically than the album has been so far, but it sounded great, and it was a nice addition to this album. I really liked the vocals on this song too, and the guitar playing was particularly gorgeous. I liked the horns and bright guitar on “Lem Gi.” The synthesizers/keyboards were great too. The electric guitar on Minuit was excellent. What a cool way to close this album. Some things truly transcend language, and the beautiful melodies of Lam Toro are a perfect example of that. This album will probably wind up being my favorite of the West African albums that I got to review.
I do enjoy me some African grooves.
The music is good, nice rhythms and cool vibe. But I’m losing some of the connection over time.
how do you rate an album of a gender you're not familiar enough to rate? I guess that only based on what it felt like when I heard... so not much. 2 stars.
He’s not by fave but I do enjoy this genre..a couple of those tracks I could’ve done without but on the whole how’s about a 3
It reminds me of a second line; the celebratory procession that follows the instruments after a parade. The energy is always highly infectious and full of joy. It’s all bright colors, dancing, and hope. One of those magical moments where complete strangers come together in harmony.
Talented. But I can't get past the production. The same virus that affected many (most?) 80s reggae album renders this album passable. There another - much better - Babba Maal album on this list so I feel ok trashing this one as he should be heard - just not here - except for Daanda Lenol which brings some Baaba heat.
Sounds like the Animal Kingdom Lodge at Disney World. It's fine but doesn't click with me.
The first half, I really enjoyed. But halfway through I got a bit done with it. 2,5/5
Whatever the hell this is, I'm a fan. The Eno influence is up front at first, and Daniibe is my favorite of this half. Smooth once the groove breaks out, love the bass. Sy Sawande and Ndelorel make up the peak of this album for me, the latter had a pretty sick transition into a ska style of playing. Yeah that was definitely a strange one, for this list especially. But a pretty good album.
Not my jam
Yup, good.
Just not for me.
I find rating music like this quite hard, because all I have to go off is just my enjoyment of it. Which coming to think of it, really should be the only basis on which to rate music, but we can't help to let out contextual biases get the better of us and rate things higher or lower based on how it compares to what we are already familiar with. But listening to something like this every now and then is refreshing if nothing else, definitely not something I would ever seek out listening to, but it's still interesting to expose myself to something completely different.
For not understanding a thing that was sai, it was really funky! I enjoyed this.
This is the type of album that reminds me why I am doing this exercise. New to me, exciting to listen to. Mysterious and cool. I learned something today!
Definitely one of those albums that I'm just not going to get into because I just am not a part of the culture. Like samba, bossanova, etc., this is more "vibe" music to me and not listening to music. That said, a lot of the sounds on this album are pretty dated in an 80's pop way. I'm just not feeling this one. And generally I'm not one to speak on whether or not an album is deserving of a place on the list when it comes from a country/culture I'm not familiar with, but this one I'm confused on. One of the lower rated in his discography on rateyourmusic, no article for the album itself on Wikipedia (While others of his do). When I look up the genres associated with this album, Baaba Maal nor this album tend to rank very high (Aside from his album Missing You being #1 for Fula Music). I probably shouldn't expect an answer to this, but getting some context of this album's inclusion would be appreciated.
I like me some African shit, but this ain’t it.
6/10 Quite enjoyable, although it is going to struggle with my philistine Western tastes. Naff synths
maybe the language barrier, maybe the style or the instrumentalization. not my taste at all.
I understand this was his ‘breakthrough’ album but Firin’ in Fouta and Nomad Soul are much more interesting to listen to.
nice
Of some of the more world music based selections this has been my favourite and I listened to it three times on the trot. Even the alleged cheesy dated elements (trumpet synth) seemed to make sense. Granted I went through a phase of listening to lots of world music so the different language didn't jar, it's more the feeling and vibe and pure musicality, which Baaba has in spades
I enjoyed the first track Yela, but it appears this created misplaced optimism. The rest of the album just feels too synthy/poppy (or even worse too Glockenspiely) for my taste in world music.
This is the first “world music” offering we’ve had in a while, so was a nice change of pace from the rock heavy run of albums. It was also the “world music” offering I have enjoyed the most. While I won’t profess to understand the lyrics, I found a lot of the melodies to be incredibly catchy. It was the first “world music” album where you could absolutely place its era - it sounded very distinctly 90s to me. I fear this may be another prime example of a 2.5* album but, given how much I liked a lot of the melody, if this were in English I think it’d be closer to a 3* album for me. And we can’t punish an album for my linguistic failures.
I really enjoyed this, much to my surprise. When the generator previously produced Djam Leelii by Baaba Maal, I really struggled to get into it. The lack of being able to understand the lyrics and the repetitive beats made me lose interest pretty quickly. This album still throws up the lyric issue (I'd genuinely love someone to translate the songs and put the lyrics online somewhere - I'd really appreciate knowing the topics) but it felt much more varied, with more influences. It seems wrong to say you enjoyed an album more because it felt less linked to the traditional sounds of the singer's homeland, but this is much more of a fusion, and I guess it means I find it easier to listen to as a result (which is very much my problem, not the artists obviously). I really liked Hamady Boiro and Ndelorel. And the funky bass playing on Daniibe was great. I'm not sure I'll necessarily return to this album again, but I do appreciate it. 3/5
Not bad.
I don't really know what it was but it was a pleasant background listen.
While certainly more lively and busy than the other Baaba Maal album on this list (Djam Leelii), I did find it was a bit more hit-or-miss and far longer than I would've liked. It still has that sun-kissed, bright, and cheery atmosphere that was present in Djam Leeli, but it's certainly more bloated and drawn out, with fewer memorable moments scattered throughout. Still, the dense rhythmic and funky moments here were great. The second part of 'Daniibe' stands out particularly, with some of Baaba's best vocals on the album. And 'Olel' really emphasizes that funky part with these encompassing, hypnotizing rhythms. Nothing that was super mindblowing, but not a record I minded or anything. Was a good time generally.
African World Leaders
I kept expecting Paul Simon to show up every song. It’s an ok album. I’ve enjoyed other world music more. Who am I to judge if this is good or not?
I really need to listen to this multiple times to appreciate it.
A bit dated on the production side, but more interesting than his other record included in this project. 3/5
I loved this a lot - felt really familiar at points and then at others genuinely felt like i was hearing new noises fresh of the presses curtesy of Mr Maal. Great stuff!
Name something more universal than a good beat!!!
I thought this was such a beautiful album and goes to show that you don’t need to understand what’s being said to be moved, and as someone whose primary experience with music tends to be through the lyrics it was a good reminder. I’m always moved by people who sing in their native language too, so I particularly enjoyed this album! I was surprised/intrigued by how much the first 3ish tracks sounded like Balkan folk music to me and I think “Gidelam” was my fave! Had me grooving in the streets (I love percussion!!)
This is the first album we’ve had where I had never heard of the artist before and I enjoyed branching out into something completely new. a few songs I enjoyed on here
Brilliant! I have absolutely no idea what’s going on.
Pretty cool! Not really my cup of tea but I'm happy I got exposed to this Best Song: Yela Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 3
Some interesting tracks, but overall due most likely to my not understanding the music or the context, found it Ppretty much the same throughout the album.
First look into the wider scope of what this list has to offer I guess. Very African, very traditional, very interesting. Just not really for me, but I can't rate it lower just because it's not for my tastes, overall it's clearly a well made album, with some great talent behind it.
я такую музыку не понимаю и не знаю как комментировать и оценивать. просто 3, может когда-нибудь пересмотрю своё мнение, но пока так...
All different kinds of afro heat - great vibes, eclectic and lively
It's pleasant to listen to, but with how long the songs go on for, they get old towards the end. I also have no idea what he's saying because I don't speak the language. I'm not rating the album worse for that, but it's harder to enjoy the music when to me it just sounds like gibberish. I think I preferred Djam Leelii. Both albums had their bright spots, but weren't consistent in them.
It's just not my thing. Did not enjoy it.
I don’t have any foundational knowledge to pass judgement on this album. Did I enjoy it? Mostly. Would I listen to it again? Probably not.
Sin palabras. No vale la pena escucharlo.
Just like Australia had Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Senegal has Baaba Maal: a serene, gifted and atmospheric vocalist with a unique approach to acoustic guitar. On his 1992 record, 'Lam Toro', Maal chants his way through the songs with ethereal grace and unwavering focus. The lyrics are in his native tongue (Pulaar, native to inabitants along the Senegal River) so it's hard to gauge the themes, but the allure of Maal's voice is impressive enough to keep you hooked, hence the Gurrumul comparison. And that's not to mention the beautiful musicianship on display throughout 'Lam Toro'. Maal's guitar playing is full of intrigue and character, and there's an eclectic range of instruments (panflute, harp, marimba, brass, percussion, handclaps etc.) that add to the multilayered, dynamic sound on show. You can tell a lot of heart and passion went into creating 'Lam Toro', and it's such a great record to kick back and relax to. Best songs: Yela, Hamady Boiro, Gidelam
An interesting diversion for a single listen but ultimately forgettable.
I enjoyed the vibes but it really felt a little all over the place.
Dig it. It all has a cool African vibe but he explores alot of different styles and moods. Good mix of songs. I'd rank this higher than most world music. I'm gonna start a World Music Playlist.
Very mid for me. This is not something I’d come back to.
I really liked this, made me dance and groove while I was making dinner. I can’t quite put my finger on what drew me in so much, I just really dug the vibes.
At times I feel as if artists such as Baaba Maal are elevated bc they seem exotic to a Western audience, who is not going to understand any of the lyrics and will only be able to guess at the cultural context. And as music, the touch of the “different” has a tendency to be fetishized. All to say, I was not really seeing this as much different from any of the other sounds and music I’ve heard from West Africa.
I'm a huge fan of music from all over the African continent, so this was a welcome change from middling albums from the UK. I would love to know more context of why Baaba Maal is important to Senegalese music. Enjoyable music, fun. Joyful.
Yep, that's afro beat alright
3.5
I have no reference how to rate this vs other albums in this genre. It's pretty great but something about the production feels too clean to me. 3.5
178/1001 Baaba Maal - Lam Toro Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ A tale of two halves in which I thought the first half was sparse and showcased the range of vocal and thought it was excellent. The second half turns to a more synthy sound, which wasn't bad, just didn't have the same impact. Quintessential 3.5 stars
this was chill to listen to, not something i would've picked nor something i'll ever listen to again. 3/5
Definitely not my style and I don't have the background to appreciate all of it. Nevertheless, I rate this one pretty well on vibes alone.
Fun and funky, but I prefer singing in English.
I liked this. I didn't understand the lyrics, but musically this album was very enjoyable. Interesting rhythms and melodies. Glad I got to check this one out.
Enjoyable, not earth shattering. Worth another go
An interesting listen, just not sure if it’s for me
Unfortunately realized he sounds like Tom Kenny
Very listenable.
65
++: Daande Lenol, Yela, Sy Sawande +: Hamady Boiro (Yelle), Ndelorel, Toro, Daniibe, Hamady Bogle +-: Lem Gi, Olel 5,0/10
This is what I was hoping most albums would be. Instead, we're stuck with music from the anglosphere that influenced other music from the anglosphere. I'm absolutely glad we got a Senegalese artist singing in different languages, for once. That being said, the album was quite fine, probably a 3. But, just because of the variety it adds, I'm bumping it up to a 4.
مَا شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ
1001 Albums Generator 186 (12/18/2025) Lam Toro is an album that I absolutely did not need to hear before I die. Not only is it not very good; I can't even find anything that explains what its supposed impact on the wider music world even was. It doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. I find the production on Minuit quite dated, but the guitar solo is actually pretty good and really took me by surprise. That was kind of the only notable moment to me, and I didn't even like that song that much. The album is way way too long and unfortunately has nothing that really sticks out. 1/5. Favs: Daande Lenol Gidelam Ndelorel Least Fav: Olel
Really nice West African sounds - sometimes more concrete songs, other times, more atmosphere. Not necessarily going to put it on to listen to, more to feel.
Have never heard Baaba Maal before. It was a fun album. It reminded me of Paul Simon’s Graceland at parts and Vampires Weekend(both heavily influenced by African music)
Supporter of world music on this list, but this did not do it for me. Olel had some fun vibes tho.
not really for me
Suffering my way through this one.
Why the score is that low
Pretty cool
Would definitely relisten
Very nice. No idea if it's good
i bet it's reallly great but i cannot connect to that musicstyle
Hard to rate given I don’t speak Pulaar, but the music itself is quite nice, inoffensive and different to anything else on this list. Would never choose it but not bad.
I was hoping for better even though I didnt know what to expect, it wasnt bad.
Quite like when world music comes up, it's something I'd never listen to or know about otherwise. I'd definitely like this more if I was on a beach in Senegal and not driving to work at 7am. It was alright.
Reminds me of the Lion King sound track, not in a bad way though. If you like the Lion King world music then you will like this album. It's really good but there isn't a lot of variety and I have no idea what he is singing about which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The guy is super talented and has a great story about his rise to fame, super interesting. I'm not sure I would listen to it again but it was great this one time.
Fín afrísk tónlist.
I didn’t understand the words but it’s got lots of songs with great sounds.
Could not get into it. Not necessarily bad music. Just not something. I could connect with
I’ve enjoyed a few things from Baaba Maal before in bits and pieces. There’s some really stunning work here, and when he sticks to a grander, more theatrical flavor, the songs work really well. Some of the more pop-tinged themes have some synths and instrumentation that feels overly dated at this point, but its still a really interesting listen.
This is an enjoyable album, even though I don't understand the language or know the culture. It speaks to the universality of music that it can be convey emotion even when it cannot be fully understood. Favorite track: "Yela"
meh
I don’t feel it’s fair to rate this anything lower than a 3 as that would be because then, it would be because I don’t understand what’s being said. I wish there was a synopsis provided because perhaps I’d be able to understand the cultural significance of Lam Toro. The beats sound really good, but again, I don’t understand the significance of the lyrics and why this was selected for 1001 albums to listen to.
I like this as much as I’ve liked any of the African music I’ve heard in this list so far (not as much as Ali Farka Toure, more than Koffi Olomide). I’m happy to listen to it, but didn’t realize when the album ended and Spotify radio took over. It’s perfectly fine, but unremarkable without a deeper understanding of its context within Senegalese music history (which I don’t have).
Completo desconocido para mí. Solo me he guardado el tema Toro, pero vamos que hay mucho de las bandas sonoras de Black Panther y El Mandaloriano.
I like this okay until I got to the screaming guitars in Daande Lenol. Bumped down to 2 stars.
I’m so glad I heard this. I’ve heard about Maal for a while, but had no idea about his music. The vocals are a little too high in the register and intense for me, and I think the artist might be trying a little too hard for a “western fusion” sound sometimes on this album, but I definitely wouldn’t mind sampling more Babba Maal or hearing tracks from this album in a mix. A 3.
yela- 5 toro- 5 daande lenol- 5 hamady boiro- 5 daniibe- 5 gidelam- 5 olel- 5 sy sawande- 5 ndelorel- 5 lem gi- 5 minuit- 5
Las melodias son un si rotundo, la voz.... me esperaba algo un poco más folklorico y menos fusión, en otro mood creo que me puede gustar un poco mas, pero es por lo general no me gustan cuando gritan tanto.
I enjoy a good world music album here & there, this one is no exception. I wouldn't call it spectacular but it was an enjoyable listen.
As with his other album, this is skilled enough, but I'm just not into it at all. As such, almost a whole hour of this was a hard time.
mid
I don't like it but i don't hate it either. It wouldn't bother me if somebody listened to this in his car while driving, but i won't add any songs to my playlist.
Very lovely
I liked Gidelam and Olel, but I struggled to really get into it. I appreciated listening to it, even if I felt that it was too long, it's a 2 for me.
Lam Toro I can reproduce much of the review for Djam Leeli here, as I feel very similarly about this as I did that record: ‘It’s hard to describe this other than just a lovely series of hypnotic, beautifully woven acoustic and electric guitar lines and vocals….Those excellent, circular, fantastic-sounding guitars wash over brilliantly, evoking sunsets and sunrises…The songs broadly follow the same template and do sound quite similar, but I didn’t find that a bad thing at all, the sound is so expressive and the feeling they elicit so lovely I could (and did) listen on repeat all day’ I think there is perhaps a bit more variation on this one, Toro has a bit more rhythmic pulse, Daande Lenol has some lovely flute, Hamady Boiro has a bit of funk-rock to it and Minuit goes a bit too cheese rock with the guitar. Similar to Djam Leeli I think it does also suffer from being a bit long for only 11 tracks overall, but also similar to Djam Leeli its a 4 - some great tracks, a couple of dips, but overall a great listen. 🐑🐑🐑🐑 Playlist submission: Daande Lenol
offers some enchanting moments. This one hits the mark less often, and the crossover with western production values doesn't always work, such as on 'Gidelam' (_Dizzy Sheep_), which uses a synth and some slap bass to create a drive. At one point 'Olel' (_African Oil_) goes into something akin to the Lambada, and with the cheap synth it starts to feel more like Kofi Olomide. It's a cheap gameshow sound that reappears now again, such as on the plodding 'Lem Gi' (_Citrus Punch_). 'Hamady Boiro' (_Pass The Pen_) has too many cheesy synth touches and a dated drum sound. 'Minuit' (_Tiny Eskimo_) is the ultimate attempt to marry the Senagalese language with western rhythms and in many ways is the most successful. Had I heard this album first I may consider Maal a great proponent of western/Senagalese fusion, but as it is this album pales somewhat to the atmospheric authenticity of Djam Leeli. Nonetheless, he pulls some great melodies out the bag.
Lovely voice and a big variety of styles. Some are more rock, some African folk, some traditional rhythms. Jovial!
Traditionell African music.
This started off strong, really evoking a sense of place for me. Felll away a bit as it went on. The naff synth sounds detracted from the music, and it could definitely have done with a bit of trimming. I like the vibe overall though
I enjoyed listening to this and it was interesting, but lacking the language or any real cultural basis in the music, I think my ability to appreciate it is pretty limited. 2.5⭐️
2.5
As a whole I'm much prefer *Djam Leelii* to this entry in the book. This one has a problem every once in awhile in that it will go to this almost 80 style cheap keyboard, sound, which sounds out of place in 92. As for most of the other songs they actually are really good and probably would be on the same level as the previous album in the book, but some of those keyboard heavy tracks just really kind of took me out of it from time to time. (7.65) ★★★½
Okay Wesr African music with awfully dsted production. 3 stars
More like Shopping Maal. This is just a big, long, intensely cheesy and dated shopping mall version of Baaba’s other album on this list. It almost sounds Lion Kingish except very muzaky and is not fit for a Lion King nor a Burger King or Dunkin Donuts for that matter. If Baaba Maal became friends with Forest Gump and started Baaba Shrimp then it not be very good shrimp at all, the business would close down fast and you’d have quite a weak chapter in the Forrest Gump story actually.
Enjoyed it more than all the salsa and samba albums I had been getting. In my book, this album is a 4.
There’s definitely a limit to how much of this music I can handle in one sitting without getting sick of it, and that’s probably about ten minutes before this album ends. That doesn’t mean that it hasn’t got its merits. First of all, Daniibe is a stunning song. One of the best new discoveries I’ve had from this list. It’s just the lack of wanting to listen to ten songs in a row of this sort of stuff, I guess. There’s this distinct west African rock sound that you can find in the likes of Tinariwen that crops up multiple times on this album, and when it does, it’s great. When it doesn’t, though, we are left with either a simple drum beat, or in a couple of cases, a surprise 80s synth track. You can see why this might be a ‘mixed bag’.
Imma gonna pass
I have no idea how to evaluate this. The music was really pretty good. The singing while im sure desirable in certain cultures was not for me
This was cool! Certainly nothing I had ever listened to before. I’ve found myself watching a lot of non-American films lately. Maybe it’s time to switch musically too.
While I don't understand what is going on - I did enjoy listening my time listening to it. It's like transferring to another world.
Who the fuck is Baaba Maal and what was he doing on Comic Con??? (cool album)
https://zaneis.moe/ss/2025-11-23_10-30_23434.png
Typical Afro Pop. Enjoyable enough of a listen but won't go back to it. 2.5/5
Mid
Ballt!
Det här är genomträngande härlig musikglädje! Fattar uppenbarligen inte ett ord men tydligen räcker den västafrikanska viben för att golva mig igen.
Hade låga förväntningar på att detta skulle vara något för mig men var ju både spännande och för det mesta välljudande!
Nej det här går inte hem
I’m sure it’s great once you key into it.
Ok 2/5
In terms of random African guys with multiple albums on the list Ali Farka Toure clears
Shut the fuck up
didn’t listen to all of it but it was interesting, distinctly 90’s sound
It's nice to listen to.
3.75
Some good songs! I don’t know this genre very well but it was good background cooking music
Not everything is for everyone.
Better than Coldplay
Not my style
Great singer
Full disclosure: I've never heard of this guy so take my comments with the acknowledgement of my ignorance as this is way out of my music comfort zone. It isn't something I'd run into growing up in the Midwest outside of Yellow Springs (look it up). Hell, to us Lynyrd Skynyrd was exotic. So I don't know this guy but I do know music (at least a little) and I know my own ears. This album was a pleasant listen and actually quite easy to digest. There's good compositions and interesting instruments and even though I don't speak Senegalese you can tell his voice is unique and authentic. After I read up on the man I realized I've seen/heard a couple things like his voice in Black Panther and that big multi star UK cover of God Only Knows, so there's that. The last song felt a little different than the rest due in part to a "rocking" guitar solo. It kinda feels out of place but it also doesn't when you consider it was released in 1992, so the rock solo tracks. Overall it's a really good album, I'm glad it came up in the queue. That's all.
Not bad actually. I like it.
Interesting and really not bad. I doubt I'd come back to it much though.
This album is the reason that I stick with this list through umpteen tedious gangsta rap entries. It’s a delight from start to finish, mixing traditional Senegalese music with more familiar folk and western pop sounds. Baaba Maal was one of the inspirations behind the formation of the Afro Celt Soundsystem which builds on this fusion of different worlds. We really need more of this kind of thing!
Not sure how much I would listen to this again but great relaxing music and really enjoyed it
I think this album was lost on me. The African tribal sounds are beautiful, but I don’t believe I appreciate them properly
referência afro. Interessante.
Pretty nice to put on in the background when doing work. Good vibes. Otherwise, I’m so removed from the context, it’s difficult to determine if I really ‘liked’ this.
At first I was not interested in this project at all but it grabbed me towards the end. The sounds were joy inducing and made you feel like dancing a bit.
Ok
Lots of talent caught for posterity on this album, and I can enjoy this form of African music in small doses, but a full album is perhaps a little much for me.
- oli ns muutakin kuunneltavaa tänään joten ajattelin kuunnella ekat pari biisiä vaan mut tää jumalauta potkii ku hirvi - ihan sikke hyvä meno joka biisissä, siistejä soundeja - meni omalle listalle, kyllä tähän on varmasti mukava palata uudestaankin
Beautiful music.
So much easier to move into culturally unfamiliar music with the help of a hybridizer like M.I.A, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Elvis. Then I watch Baaba Maal's video with Mumford and Sons and go, oh yeah, now I get it! Yeah, I'll check the Black Panther soundtrack and in a month this 3 might be a 5.
Made me want to rewatch the blank panther movies after I learned this artist had involved in the music for this films. Otherwise it was alright!
I don't think I've listened to Senegalese music before, so this was cool. There are some great guitar and drum moments throughout the album, plus some sweet percussion and flute on certain tracks. I'm not sure what is being sung, but Baaba Mal has a nice voice that interacts well with the backing vocalists. A pleasant listen. 7/10.
This was a cool album. I really liked some of the instrumentation. But some of it I wasn't the biggest fan of
Fun album! Can get a good sense of the vibe without knowing what he is singing about. Nice to see some more world music pop up on this list. The drums in African music are always so so good, this album did not disappoint. Was really into the vocal style as well. Gidelam and Minuit were faves 7/10
Pardon my ignorance, but this felt like world music for the sake of world music. There didn't seem to be a lot to find about this artist when I looked at their Wikipedia.
I don't really know how to rate albums like this. It's fine, but I have no idea how it stacks up against other similar artists or works. It's interesting, but I wouldn't listen to it again.
What the hell
So refreshing to hear in this list. Truly fantastic.
Großartig dieser Rhythmus! Wunderschöne Harmonien. Das Album hat mir den Blick auf afrikanische Musik und Kultur geöffnet!
Don’t feel qualified to have an opinion on this.
Nah
Baaba Maal is a super good singer, but everything about this album is totally cheapened by some really bad production choices, like those really terrible midi horns that feel like are on every single song. The best tracks are by far the most minimal ones. I think Hamady Boiro has a different producer, and it’s definitely my favorite song on the album. I think everything would be way better if it was literally just vocals. Overall, it just ends up wasting talent and leaning way too hard into 90s western pop. Standout Tracks: Hamady Boiro, Daniibe
Interesting to see an album on Spotify with so few listens - under 100k for every track, most in the 20k range! Obviously only recently added. I like this a lot! Not my usual style obviously but great beat, love the percussion, I should listen to more African music.
Simply astounding. Now I’ve found him he’ll be with me a lifetime.
I just know there's a lot to Baaba Maal's Lam Toro that I'm not appreciating simply because of my ignorance. What I do know is that Maal is successful in this album by staying true to his roots, using his beautiful voice, and creating a varied album that flows. "Sy Sawande" uses African instruments in a western blues format, and the end result is quite beautiful. Most songs are mellow, but "Olel" was a delightful and lively surprise. And I know I already mentioned Maal's voice, but his vocals are so tender and appealing, even when I can't understand Pulaar. From the little I read about Maal, Lam Toro was early in his career and before his big albums. He worked with big western names--and co-wrote music for Marvel's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and provided musical connections for the first Black Panther. This man has had quite the career! I heard his debut album, Djam Leelii, which is more folk-like. I hope we get another album of his (I'm at 978 albums) to explore more of his career.
Baaba Maal's work on this album is nothing short of energetic and vibrant. I don't have the appropriate level of context to really talk about him or his music, but this much really comes across to me. Also, this is quite different from his other album entry on the project. I didn't look far enough into Baaba Maal the first time, but it was brought to my attention with this album that he had part in creating the score for the Black Panther movies. I like to think I can really hear that flair for "traditional meets modern" in this album that also makes the Black Panther music so outstanding.
I'm digging the world music selection in this list, and this was pleasant enough, and I'd probably have enjoyed it more if I had context around the lyrics.
Some sick grooves
This album blends traditional West African instrumentation—talking drums, kora-like textures, and intricate percussion—with a soaring, ornamented tenor and group responses that feel vibrant, expressive and remains exotic, while at the same time the lyrics remain inaccessible to me due to the language barrier.
Hamady Boiro
Not bad music by any means, but just not much on here that I can appreciate. Even with some understanding in the French language, I just didn’t really like much about it.
Senegalese, 90s. Lovely world music.
Lam Toro isn't an album that is all that special as it is just another afrobeat album but coming off the last two albums i just heard, it feels like heaven in comparison. I've never been aware of this guy or his music so i didn't really have much expectations going in but like i said, it has the typical sound of an afrobeat album. The songs here follow the typical norms of this type of music with some acoustic guitars, some electronic synths (a lot actually) and his voice. This is also a fairly long one too at around 58 minutes with many songs clocking in at 6-7 minutes. There isn't really anything all that special with this album, but for what it is, its a nice listen. Best Song: Sy Sawande Worst Song: Daande Lenol
A little different than some of the other world music I have heard. Wasn’t incredible but it was alright
By the time of Lam Toro's release, African musicians wielding guitars and conjuring up infectious contributions not just to their scene but to the music world at large was becoming the standard. Baaba Maal doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel but what he does with it is more than enough to ensure continual enjoyment for his audience. Favorites: Yela, Toro, Hamady Boiro, Daniibe, Gidelam, Sy Sawande, Ndelorel.
I cannot fathom why this was considered essential to this list.
This was honestly a really groovy record. Sure, the lyrics were nonsense to me, but there is some really cool stuff here too.
Second album proposé par le générateur après 'Djam Leelii' que je n'avais pas aimé du tout (noté 1/5). Ce second album n'est pas mieux que le premier ... =>1/5
All tracks sound the same. It's fine enough, but nothing really pops.
Impossible to really rate fairly but I certainly enjoyed it
Too long, dragged towards the end
Not my jam. On a positive note, I have listened to all of Baaba's stuff on here and will never have to hear this again.
I actually quite liked it, something a bit different.
Interesting sound!! I like the cultural feel/sound, but is not something I see myself listening to. Cool experience tho:D 2/5🎉
It’s an enjoyable enough listen but I’m not sure I’ll revisit. I enjoyed the vocal performances and percussion the most. Has a lot of 80s synths and other sonic markers despite its release date; there’s a lot of talent here, but the production choices were distracting and obviously dated.
6/10 Favourite: Lem Gi Least Favourite: Daande Lenol
i like this!
89/1089 Really solid afrobeats album, perhaps not the absolute best and it sounded a little dated at times but i enjoyed my time with it nonetheless fave: Daniibe 56/100
Enjoyable.
2.5 stars. 90's Senegalese worldbeat by Not bad, not super memorable. Standout is "Gidelam".
Good enough the gf asked me to play it again.
The early 90s based keyboard instruments quite literally ruin the songs they are in. I was around then and can say 100% for sure they sounded like crap then. They sound like crap now. This album good. But it REALLY suffers from the synth they used at the time.
not bad
I feel kinda bad about this one but I just don't care unfortunately.
Interesting.
The world music selections are not my favorites. This is no different. Ladysmith Black Mambazo did the African singing over 80s African music best. Daande Lenol sounds like the music behind a montage of an African scientist and a white scientist working in the lab tirelessly to discover the cure to the epidemic that started as something they saw in one boy in a village and is now threatening to wipeout humanity. Hamady Boiro has a similar feel to Caught Stealing by Jane's Addiction. Everything sounds like Graceland. This is so foreign as to be boring because it all sounds the same.
Actually - not bad. I would love to explore like, Morocco listening to this but enjoyed a sleepy coastal town in Greece as well
Sounds like a Ridley Scott movie
I have never heard this artist before. It is quite good, especially the bass lines in a lot of the songs.
"Lam Toro" is the third studio album by Senegalese singer, guitarist and percussionist Baaba Maal. The album introduced his mix of traditional African rhythms and Western arrangements (keyboards, guitar, bass and horns). The album was produced by Simon Booth (English), Lester Mendez (Cuban), Joe Galdo (American) and Maal. The album opens with Maal's high-pitched vocals in "Yela." Sparse percussion and acoustic guitar. Backing vocals eventually come in responding to Maal. This song is more traditional African. "Hamady Boiro" adds guitar and rock/dance beat. Drums and background percussion in a more Western-sounding song. "Daniibe" starts softly with Maal talking and an acoustic guitar. A bass is coupled with an African instrument playing the melody and polyrhythms. Jazzy horns, handclaps, percussion and bass open "Gidelam." Here we go with the African-Western fusion. Impassioned vocals keyboards keeping the pace in a groovy song. Another fusion song "Kem Gi" has horns, sappy keyboards and a rumbling bass. Drums cone in. Deep vocals. This song has a movie song written all over it. I liked that this album had both traditional African songs and the African-Western fusion songs. I don't know if a total fusion album of this kind works for me. The African instruments included the percussion, woodwinds and string instruments while the Western instruments were jazzy guitar and horns, keyboards, 80's synths and a bluesy guitar (that could be African too). Maal vocals are great and soaring. The backing vocals are also very good. The vocals are all Senegalese (I believe) which never play a part for me from liking/disliking an album. This is a decent album which does a good in its fusion goal.
It's fine. Cool African music. Will I listen to it again? No.
Not the worst music in the world. It got better as I listened. Still not my cup of tea.