Reviews (page 5 of 7)
safe to say this is outside of my usual comfort zone. it felt like the vocals were doing jazz improvization over the band. i liked it, but some tracks felt so full and unique while other tracks - mainly the beginning ones - can feel really empty. fav track: hamady boiro
Probably not something that I will visit frequently but I enjoyed it. A couple of the tracks even made it into my playlist.
surprisingly decent
4.5
1001 albums tried something difference
Daande Lenol
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba
I really struggled to get through this one. It started okay, but the production on tracks like 'Hamady Boiro' and 'Gidelam' and 'Olel' seemed particular cheesy and cheap.
Nice vibes.
I know the language barrier makes it hard to fully feel in-tune with the music presented, but I just found this album to be exactly what I expected from it. There were no hidden gems, or cultural shake-ups, but rather just an album that feels like it is included in lists for the sake of diversity, and is by no means bad, but by no means a seminal release. I will admit getting up and moving a little while listening did make it a bit more enjoyable, but not enough to be anything magical. Just a record of filler.
While I appreciate his voice, this is not something I would choose to listen to.
people hating on something just because they don’t understand the lyrics is wow 😅 i feel i don’t need it with this one and i loved the vibe and sound of it all, i love the voice as well! good find on the list and i hope to find more albums in languages that’s not only english. because it’s def needed! downside is it’s quite long, 11 tracks at 1 hour basically. cut it down to 40 mins tops and i’m happy xD that seems to be my preferred length for an album in this project i’ve noticed haha
It was ok
Enjoyable listen. Borderline catchy even though I don’t know the language. Great songwriting and fusion with western sounds.
Kinda weird
Interesting. Some cool beats and rhythms. Outside of yela, wish I knew what he was singing about.
Very good african record, with pop sensibilites that make it accesssible to a more general audience. One thing this book does well is try to establish a canon for regional music albums such as this, although there could me even more of them here. Maybe they should do a whole 1001 book on so-called "world music" records. Key tracks: Toro (The Bird)
весело уютно
3/5
01) Yela - 6,0 02) Toro - 6,0 03) Daande Leňol - 7,5 04) Hamady Boiro - 6,5 05) Daniibe - 6,5 06) Gidelam - 6,5 07) Olel - 6,0 08) Sy Sawande - 6,5 09) Ndelorel - 6,0 10) Lem Gi - 6,0 11) Minuit - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,32 (63/100) Current ranking: 371/500 500. Am I halfway there? This album is nothing special, after a few songs it becomes monotonous and boring. "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac is still my number 1.
African music from a very specific region of Senegal. It's very nice to learn of the Futa Tooro culture and music, but it might be too exotic for me. I appreciate Baaba influence, but mostly from the distance.
So pleased that another Baaba Maal album has made it onto my album list. A perfect musical companion on a early spring sunny day in England. Beautiful voice, guitars and accompaniment. Nothing less than 5 stars would suffice.
thought it was cool but not really up my alley
This is the mind opening music I came here for.
Vibey listen but not really memorable
Niet mijn ding
i enjoy it but get nothing from it
Not for me, but it's interesting. The guitar in Minuit is cool.
A unique record that blends in atmospheric world music with unique vocals that are honestly welcoming outside of the more anglocentric albums that this site suggests. That said, I feel that this record is hindered by the very dated instrumentation that makes it rather harder to enjoy. There are layers in this music which seem very much culturally engrained and I just feel like I cannot fully grasp this album. It was a nice listen but I don't know if I'll revisit it again. I enjoyed it for breaking up the palette of known classics that tend to populate this site.
Second half very interesting. Ok
i lowkey think a lot of these reviewers are racist. sorry you had your worldview slightly expanded for an hour? this was cool! enjoyable vibes, even if it felt a little long. i loved the marimba. probably more of a 3.5 but what the hell, take the 4.
lots of really cool stuff going on here! i don't mind the "dated instrumentation" lots of other reviewers complain about - it's a product of its time, no big deal. what's here is really interesting and engaging, and seems to be drawing from many different sources. very cool despite me not understanding a word of it or even really having a wikipedia article to fall back on for context. i know i'm gonna sound like a gauche american for this but i really dig that shredding guitar solo in minuit at the end B) favorites: yela, toro, gidelam, olel, minuit
Interesting to be exposed to, but if I’m honest, I’m never gonna listen to this again in my life
Awesome world music album. Thank you album generator for being one of the few bright spots in a pretty shit world. Baaba Maal is 5 stars for me.
Senegalese music sung in Pulaar. Nothing special.
Never heard of this man but holy can I see the talent. Not an everyday listen.
Not a type of music I'm familiar with but I enjoyed it although some songs were grating.
It's obvious that this list would have artists that don't belong to the typical places and genres one thinks of when it comes to genres, you know, the US, Canada, UK, Western Europe, Japan, etc. and only makes them more interesting for that simple novelty even if the music is nothing to write home about. That's not to say Lam Toro is a boring album or not worth being in the list, far from it I do think it's a pleasant album that in all its rhythms and melodies it feels more familiar to me because a lot of them are basically what I would have heard as a child when listening to Colombian folk or something of the sort which was heavily influenced by African music (sometimes by way of Caribbean music, sometimes not). It suddenly makes an album that maybe for some would be this completely different experience something that feels more comforting to listen to because it reminds me of that stuff I would hear in the background at home or taught about in class. I think if something does trip up on my enjoyment of this album is simply the way some songs include some 80s production, nothing terrible or that i haven't heard of before but it does feel out of place when the type of cheesy synths and fretless bass play while Baaba's singing so nicely, it feels like a distraction for what's otherwise a really nice album and something that I hope I can get to listen to more.
So yesterday I said D'Angelo wasn't as relatable to me because his music is outside my cultural sphere. If he's out of my cultural sphere, Baaba Maal is outside of my cultural world. It's hard to know what to make of this or feel about this. Some of it sounds like the kind of thing you'd hear with the awfully general label of "world music." The droning vocal style of the first tracks can be very off-putting to western ears. But the further you get into it, the more it starts to liven up and become something a little more accessible. I'm not saying the first few tracks were bad because they weren't accessible at first. I'm just saying that thankfully, for the album's sake, it picks up and becomes something a little more familiar. Do I think this album needed to be on this list? No, I don't. I'm honestly a little worried it's here as a token pick, one that the author's felt needed to be there in order to say that they were including "world music." As an album, how is it? It's fine. Some of the songs are bouncy and fun, and some of them are a little boring. I hate to do this because I don't want to the western listener who dismisses this simply because it's different. I promise I'm not trying to do that. But I need to give it two stars because while I'm happy to have listened, I can't say I'll seek it out again, sadly. Standout Tracks: Hamay Boiro, Daniibe, Gidelam, Ndelorel
Was a beautiful album. Would enjoy re-listening to this album while enjoying a nice day laying in the grass and staring at the clouds. Not great for working music.
Really enjoyed despite not understanding which is normally a big deal to me.
Not really my cup of tea but certainly appreciate the talent. 5/10.
I was unsure what to expect, I liked the voice and style. But, no really my thing over a whole album, one track now and again maybe.
# Lam Toro by Baaba Maal: A Transformative Fusion of Tradition and Modernity Baaba Maal’s *Lam Toro* (1992) stands as a watershed moment in the evolution of Senegalese music, bridging the gap between West African folk traditions and globalized contemporary soundscapes. As the artist’s third studio album, it marked a deliberate shift from the acoustic minimalism of his earlier works to a bold synthesis of traditional instrumentation, funk-inflected rhythms, and electrified arrangements. This review examines the album’s lyrical themes, musical innovation, production techniques, and enduring influence, contextualizing its place within Maal’s career and the broader landscape of African popular music. While the album’s experimental ethos and cross-cultural ambition are commendable, its occasional unevenness in balancing tradition with modernity reveals both the possibilities and challenges of such hybrid projects[1]. --- ## Lyricism: Oral Traditions in a Globalized Context Though specific lyrical content from *Lam Toro* is not extensively documented in available sources, Baaba Maal’s broader artistic practice offers insight into the album’s thematic preoccupations. As a griot—a hereditary oral historian and praise singer from the Fulani ethnic group—Maal’s lyrics typically intertwine social commentary, spiritual reflection, and allegorical storytelling. On *Lam Toro*, these elements are filtered through the lens of postcolonial identity, addressing themes of migration, cultural preservation, and the tensions between rural traditions and urban modernity[1]. Tracks like “Fanta” and “Djam Leelii” (the latter a reworking of material from his 1989 album *Djam Leelii*) likely retain the poetic cadences of Pulaar-language storytelling, though the incorporation of Western instrumentation suggests a deliberate orientation toward international audiences. This duality—rooted in local linguistic traditions yet open to global reinterpretation—reflects Maal’s role as a cultural ambassador. However, the absence of widespread lyrical translations limits deeper analysis of narrative subtleties for non-Pulaar speakers, a recurring challenge in the global reception of African vernacular music[1]. --- ## Musical Architecture: Rhythmic Innovation and Harmonic Hybridity The album’s revolutionary impact lies in its musical synthesis, described by critics as a “singular mix of traditional African rhythms and Western arrangements”[1]. Maal’s signature sound—centered on the *hoddu* (a West African lute) and his soaring tenor vocals—is augmented by funk basslines, electric guitar riffs, and layered percussion that draws equally from Sabar drumming traditions and Afro-Cuban grooves. ### Rhythmic Foundation Tracks such as “Sidiki” exemplify this hybridity, with interlocking djembe and talking drum patterns underpinned by syncopated bass grooves reminiscent of 1970s Afrobeat. The polyrhythmic complexity never feels academic; instead, it generates an infectious kinetic energy that invites both dance and contemplation. Producer Simon Booth’s influence is evident in the crisp, punchy drum programming on tracks like “African Woman,” where synthetic elements coexist organically with hand percussion[1]. ### Melodic and Textural Experimentation Maal’s vocal delivery oscillates between plaintive melismas and declamatory phrases, often doubled by call-and-response choruses. The integration of electric guitars and keyboards introduces harmonic frameworks atypical in traditional Senegalese music, creating tension between pentatonic vocal lines and blues-inflected chord progressions. On “Toro,” swirling organ textures and wah-wah guitar effects evoke psychedelic rock, while the *hoddu*’s brittle timbre anchors the track in Sahelian soil[1]. --- ## Production Philosophy: Studio as Cultural Mediator The production of *Lam Toro* represents a pivotal collaboration between Maal and European producers like Simon Booth and Eric Michel J Clermontet, resulting in a polished yet idiosyncratic sonic palette. Recording sessions split between Senegal and European studios facilitated this cross-pollination, though the album avoids the sterile “world music” aesthetic prevalent in contemporaneous projects[1]. ### Spatial Dynamics Mix engineers like Adam Moseley and Sophie Masson achieved a delicate balance between acoustic intimacy and expansive soundscapes. On “Baye,” the *hoddu* occupies a dry, upfront position in the mix, while reverberant backing vocals and synth pads create a sense of celestial vastness. This production choice metaphorically mirrors Maal’s artistic journey—grounded in tradition yet reaching toward cosmopolitan horizons[1]. ### Technological Integration The use of multi-track recording and analog effects processors (notably on the dub-influenced “Coumba”) demonstrates a willingness to embrace studio technology without sacrificing organic warmth. However, occasional over-reliance on reverb and delay risks obscuring the textural nuances of traditional instruments, a minor but notable production misstep[1]. --- ## Thematic Undercurrents: Identity in Flux *Lam Toro* operates on multiple thematic levels, reflecting Maal’s personal evolution and Senegal’s sociocultural shifts during the early 1990s. ### Cultural Preservation vs. Globalization The album’s title—translating to “The Toro Tree” in Pulaar—serves as a metaphor for rootedness amidst change. Just as the toro tree withstands Sahelian droughts, Maal positions traditional music as resilient yet adaptable. Tracks like “Souka Nayo” juxtapose centuries-old proverbs with references to urban migration, embodying the dual consciousness of African modernity[1]. ### Gender and Community While not explicitly feminist, the album’s celebration of female archetypes (“African Woman”) and communal choruses reflects the matrilineal aspects of Fulani culture. However, some critics argue that the Westernized arrangements occasionally exoticize these themes for foreign consumption[1]. --- ## Influence and Legacy: Bridging Continents *Lam Toro*’s impact reverberated beyond Senegal, catalyzing international interest in African fusion projects. Its success paved the way for Maal’s collaborations with Western artists like Brian Eno and contributed to the globalization of “world music” as a market category. The album’s rhythmic innovations directly influenced subsequent genres like Afro-house and desert blues, evident in the work of Tinariwen and Bombino[1]. Within Senegal, *Lam Toro* inspired a generation of artists to reinterpret traditional forms through contemporary lenses, though some purists criticized its perceived dilution of folk authenticity. This tension underscores the album’s central paradox: its greatest strength (cultural hybridity) also rendering it vulnerable to charges of commodification[1]. --- ## Critical Evaluation: Strengths and Limitations ### Pros 1. **Innovative Fusion**: Maal’s seamless integration of Senegalese folk and global pop idioms remains groundbreaking, expanding the possibilities of African music in the international arena. 2. **Production Mastery**: The album’s lush, dynamic soundscapes set a new benchmark for African studio production, balancing technological sophistication with organic warmth. 3. **Cultural Ambassadorship**: By singing primarily in Pulaar while embracing Western instrumentation, Maal preserved linguistic heritage while fostering cross-cultural dialogue. ### Cons 1. **Uneven Experimentation**: Certain tracks (“African Woman”) lean too heavily into 1990s pop conventions, diluting the album’s distinctive character. 2. **Lyrical Opacity**: Without accessible translations, non-Pulaar listeners miss crucial layers of meaning, limiting the album’s discursive reach. 3. **Commercial Compromises**: The pursuit of global appeal occasionally prioritizes accessibility over artistic risk, particularly in rhythmically streamlined sections. --- ## Conclusion: A Foundation for Future Dialogues *Lam Toro* endures as both a cultural artifact and a living testament to music’s border-crossing potential. While not without flaws in its negotiation of tradition and modernity, the album’s bold hybridity laid groundwork for subsequent generations of African artists navigating globalization. Its synthesis of the *hoddu*’s earthy resonance and studio-born electronics prefigured 21st-century genres like folktronica, proving that cultural authenticity need not be sacrificed at modernity’s altar. For contemporary listeners, *Lam Toro* offers not just a musical experience, but a blueprint for artistic evolution in an interconnected world—a toro tree whose roots deepen even as its branches embrace new skies.
So much to like here, with ample talent to transcend the obvious packaging. He shows a wider range though some settings (particularly the most pop-oriented) dilute the impact a bit and the freshness does seem to slightly wear off over multiple listenings. "Lem Gi" and "Minuit" close the album on quite a high note. One's always delighted to have one's musical horizons expanded.
bouncy, uplifting
I can’t understand it, but it’s a cool sound. I don’t know how this is relevant to Senegal, but I hope they like it over there.
This one never hit my radar, or anyone else's based on listener counts. Since its release in 1992, an average of only 20K people have listened to this collection of songs. The biggest track, "Gidelam", has 74K listens. The opening track mostly sounds like wailing or yelling to the sky in a different language. It's not background relaxing type music since his voice is double-tracked and high pitched. The one track I sort of enjoyed was "Hamady Boiro" which had a bass line. The second half of the album is weak as can be in any language. This is an album for people who appreciate world music, not for a first timer who isn't going to relate or absorb this in the same way. I didn't hate it, I just didn't enjoy it - I love African rhythms, Jamaican/island music, this just didn't have that vibe and the words are incomprehensible. I don't feel this is a masterpiece or something I needed to hear once before I die.
Nope.
Cool album, not a style I would listen to often but it was enjoyable. I liked the xylophone and mellow guitar parts, was surprised by a rocky sounding riff towards the end of the last track which sounded great and made for a strong closing. The strong West African style vocals aren't my favorite and kept me from loving this album. Favorite songs were: Hamady Boiro - funky Daniibe - xylophone licks Minuit - sweet guitar part 7/10
I was definitely groovin along to this while stuck in traffic (as is so often then way). My highlight is the group/choral vocals on Yela. Album cover: (B)
Certainly not a style of music I listen to super frequently. As a person that really loves good lyrics, having the lyrics in a language I can't understand does make it a little harder for me to appreciate. That said, cool rhythms and nice to work to. Also Baaba Maal is a sick name.
I think I enjoyed this one a little more than Djam Leelii (though that one was more than a hundred albums ago and I didn't go back to relisten to confirm).
Awful! I don’t think it was necessary for me to ever listen to this album.
Another solid one
See my review of his other album from 4 days ago. I liked this a little better. 3.5.
There’s groove, there’s texture, but something’s missing, and it's not the fact that I can't sing along. I usually dig World music. The production is too clean, sanding off the edges, I think. It reaches for the hypnotic, but doesn’t quite get there. There are flashes of awesome, but they don’t last. Playlist Additions: - Yela - Gidelam
Not my style but I respect it.
I’m not qualified to judge this . Everything sounds like Felling Hot Hot Hot.
Man, the regional music highlighted in this book really trips me up. While I didn’t hate Maal’s other album here, Djam Leelii, I think the meditative, tranquil ambiance of that record wasn’t really my vibe nor was it something I have the musical palette to appreciate, as the traditional acoustic aesthetics were literally foreign to my ears. That left me apathetic, with little to latch on to throughout that record, and I kind of passively put it aside. So when Lam Toro came up, I was worried. I’ll admit, the first few tracks are similar to Djam Leelii, and that didn’t bode well for me. “Yela” really takes that traditional chant approach, but “Toro” adds an interesting if subtle groove before we’re back in the ambient vibe of “Daande Lenol.” At this point, I wasn’t hopeful and anticipated once again having to tap out and admit that I cannot comprehend this and don’t have the right words to adequately critique it. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, the album just…HITS!! I think it’s largely because from “Hamady Boiro” forward, Maal blends Western instrumentation with West African sound palettes, and the use of instruments I can actually recognize– most importantly an acoustic drum set– hold my head above water. Sure, I’m still being bombarded with afro-beat timing and foreign lyrics, but there’s such an undeniable groove to this. While I might not know what Maal is singing about, the vibe is obviously 🪩dance, baby🪩 and my body complied. And from there, I kind of fell in love with this record, purely on ✨vibes✨ and vibes alone. I wish I had anything more insightful to add critically, but I don’t. Once I found the rhythm, this record clicked for me. Maybe it says a lot about me and my taste that I needed an actual rhythm to appreciate Maal’s style, maybe it says a lot more about my ignorance around global folk music. Maybe I just like a song I can dance to, which is true even in Western music. I think Maal is adding in a lot of the same regional instrumentation he used on Djam Leelii, yes, but here, they’re a lot more digestible. I’ll admit there’s a dated, near-‘80s quality to some of these songs, especially “Olel” and the guitar work on “Minuit,” but I don’t find that to be a bad thing because I love that sound. I still don’t like the opening few tracks much, but I can get over it. But other than that, I’m at the same point I always end up at with regional music, where I lack the right words to describe it, but this time, I can’t even describe why I enjoy it. I have no clue if Maal is so vital to the canon of West African music that he needs two albums in this book. I know I personally prefer this one, but I don’t know if that’s a pleb opinion, or if both are superlative. Either way, I’m cool with this record. It’s fun and expands my palette while still making me have move my butt while I prepped dinner. If Maal has more of this in his discography, I’m going to check it out.
Not enough guitar - I especially like Weest African guitar and Baaba Maal should have fit that nicely, but doesn't - too loud, too singy, not bluesy enough.
Refreshingly good
Pleasant enough, wish I knew what he was singing about. 3*
Baaba Maal’s Lam Toro album is a significant work for the Senegalese people, bringing to light the rich culture and traditions of the region, as well as conveying messages of resilience and identity. However, I personally failed to connect with the album in the same emotional way. Despite its relevance and the sonic experiences it offers, the musical and lyrical nuances did not resonate deeply with me, making the experience more distant than I had hoped.
I actually gave this two listens in a row. I tried to think of his singing as an instrument as opposed to a language I did not know. The songs varied a lot, which was pretty cool. I was hoping for a bigger finish to "Lem Gi," as the song went on for a bit. But nope, fade out instead. I enjoyed it, although there were a few songs that sounded dated in the instrumentation. You can hear the joy in his voice, particularly in songs like "Olel". Top songs: "Olel," "Ndelorel," "Yela"
I had a similar reaction as I did to Baaba Maal's album with Mansour Seck, minus a wicked opening song with dueling guitars. Melodic with some great beats, great energy, and great tempo. Some songs better than others, but overall glad to be exposed to this album and a sound I wouldn't otherwise listen to. I'm not necessarily going to seek out more or put this on all the time, but I know where to turn if I ever need African or Worldbeat music.
I enjoyed this album, even if I had no clue what he was singing. Decent variety of styles, although it was a little long. The end of Sy Sawande seemed like a perfect ending to the album...and then there were three more songs. Hamady Boiro caught my attention each time I listened so I'll call that a favorite track. I'd call the album a 3.5 but, even though I wouldn't mind listening again, I don't think I can bump it to a 4. Ready to move on.
Finally something interesting. I mean, I don't like it but at least it's new to me.
I really enjoy the rhythms on this. Something about music from Africa, western Africa particularly, is something I tend to enjoy when I can find it. There is definitely a missing component without being able to understand what's being said though.
I could not find a lot of information about this album online. This album is not really my thing. Maybe, if I had more context to what he was singing about, it would have been better. The blending of Western instruments and the traditional instruments was interesting.
The music is pleasant enough, but I do not have enough of a world music vocabulary to really evaluate it. It is in cases like this that I rely on the inclusion on the list and the reviews on wikipedia to shape my view.
Beautiful music.
Pleasantly surprising, never really listened to this artist before
Enjoyed the variety.
Not my thing
For a world album - it was a solid offering.
Instruments are great but the singing is a bit grating.
Cool
Nothing special about this
Another album that is great for background music.
I'm glad he was able to break out of his caste and become a successful recording artist. I still don't really enjoy this style of music all that much.
I feel like I’m in the opening credits of an 80s movie where a recently divorced woman goes on an island vacation to find herself but soon finds herself solving a mystery. (ntm.)
Sy Sawande // 1.5/5
I would lying if i said I listen to a lot of world music I do have a few that I like though. I appreciate the difference sounds and different beats. This is pretty good. I’m big on drumming on world music and this one doesn’t have as much as I’d like. Some synth sounds are dated b My favourites: Diniibe. Gidalem
Ended up being surprisingly easy to work to (good rhythm and I didn't understand a word). I don't think I'd play this for other purposes.
My first time listening to West African music, and it was wonderful! I found the style of singing and the different percussion really fascinating and unique. Favourite track: Daande Lenol
Not my type of music at all. 2/5 because it didn't make my ears bleed, and it didn't kill my enthusiasm for music generally. But it's not a good album.
Tämä on ihan nätti. Tuttuja teemoja, joita kehitellään omaan soittoon sopivaksi. Uhkasi jäädä ”aika kiva” -tasolle, mutta vika biisi Minuit yllätti! Herätti huomion, hymyilytti. Vähän vajaa kolme.
Senegalin Phil Collins
This album was forgettable. I'm glad that there's diversity on the list, but it's hard to connect with songs in a language that isn't at all similar to what you know. It was fine background noise but I almost forgot I had it on. It's not bad, it's just not memorable.
no es mi para mi
It’s ok. Not my typical listening.
The music is pleasant enough, but I do not have enough of a world music vocabulary to really evaluate it. It is in cases like this that I rely on the inclusion on the list and the reviews on wikipedia to shape my view.
Train of thoughts: Ugh… no doubt this will be too far removed from me culturally to truly appreciate. “World music.” Just how many countries and cultures are loaded into that one signifier? Too many. Crazy. “Toro.” Hey… this sounds REAL nice. Think I’ll add it to my liked songs. Who is Baaba Maal anyway? (Reads over full Wikipedia article.) Oh. I love fusion. “Sy Sawande.” Man, this album is pretty. “Ndelorel.” Love this. What a groove. So glad I listened.
It was pretty interesting. Would not have listened to it. It reminded me that this guy recorded with Mumford & Sons and I like that song. I don’t know, hard to have an opinion for something other than “yeah I listened” Didn’t hate it though.
I'm not going going to pretend like I'm some well cultured music efficiencionado - I'm not. I'm a straight white dude from the West, so maybe I'm lacking the cultural ties to enjoy this record. I don't like this very much, but only because I don't understand the singing, and I really don't like that type of vocals. The instrumentals were great, and I couldn't resist a smirk each time I heard the slap of that twangy bass, which is really what redeems this to a 3.
Not sure what bro was saying but it sounded like he was spitting some fucking heat in a few parts there. Really not too much to say, I suppose the global score feels kinda harsh
This probably goes hard as fuck if you speak Senegalese, unfortunately I am an ignorant whitey and don’t get much out of this genre except the vocals, which I can’t understand.
The dickheads who this book suddenly wake up and realise there's music made outside of the UK And it's good 7/10 Fav tracks - Toro, Daande Lenol, Daniibe, Minuit
Some albums have a verbose wikipedia page bloviating about their influence on music/the world. Some albums have a short page where the only sentence in "Reception" or "Legacy" is that it was included in this book. This album does not have a wikipedia page. Usually my favourite part of listening to albums in this project is reading the background of the album, the history of the artist up to that point and how it all came together. From what I can gather, Toro collaborated with Eno and has enjoyed success working as a musician in the English music scene, I don't imagine that this would have ever been included here if he had not worked with Eno. Regardless of why this album was chosen, it was a novel listen. I think that African artists in general are very underrepresented in musical discourse (shoutout Afous d'Afous, cool as fuck Touareg blues/rock group from the Algerian Sahara). The production here interferes a bit with what I think the artist's vision was as I think some of the synth heavy production on songs like Gidelam and Olel are a bit oil and water with the vocals and some of the instrumentation. Overall, a fun listen but I don't see myself coming back to this. This album to me sounds like songs you would hear on the PA at Nandos but in this case I would try to shazam the music rather than continue to demolish a half chicken (mild because I am weak) and chips. Highlights: Daande Lenol, Hamady Boiro, Sy Sawande
Not really my thing, but interesting nonetheless. There are some nice rhythms, and it definitely makes me want to move. This is so far removed from what I'm used to that I can't really find a way into it.
Regardless of the language, the vibe of the music is frequently not engaging. Some of the guitar starts to interest me (listen to Hamady Boiro) but not usually enough for me to pay attention. It feels unfamiliar and at the same time dated. Two stars.
It's completely different than what I normally listen to, but it's squarely in what I would call "World" music. Which is to mean that it's got some cool percussion, some African-style chanting/singing, and some bouncy guitars. It's a fun listen, because it's new (and it's not 70s rock), but it's not earth shattering. I liked it in the sense that it was pleasant to listen to, and it had me bouncing my leg, but I didn't like it enough to remember the name of it tomorrow.
This was definitely different, but I'm not sure it was all that interesting.
dont wanna sound racist but this kinda sucks
Pas grand chose à dire. Pas vraiment mon style, mais c'est normal, c'est pas du tout une musique que je serais allé écouter par moi-même. 2,5 arrondi au-dessus tout de même, je suis sûr que je pourrais plus l'apprécier en le réécoutant.
Best Song: Gidelam. Lovely little shuffling rhythm. Worst Song: Minuit. Felt more like a monologue than a song. Overall: It's pleasant to listen to, but I also feel unequipped to even begin to evaluate it, let alone appreciate it. That said, it's fun and fine for background, but also not particularly exciting for me.
não é exatamente ruim, mas tá distante de ser bom pro meu gosto jamais escutaria de novo. mal mal aguentei escutar essa vez. infelizmente eu não sou desenvolvido o suficiente pra gostar de world music
divertidíssimo e inesperadamente groovado. achei bem bacana. não sei se volto a escutar não, mas achei massa demais
I'll never listen to this again, but it wasn't totally irredeemable I suppose. I'll give it 2 stars.
I was not able to understand much of what Baaba Maal was singing about, but it is obvious that he is very passionate about the topic(s). I was tapping my foot along to these songs, yet as it is with a lot of music in a language I am not fluent in, my engagement/enjoyment can only go so far. I'm not smart enough to know whether this album deserves a place in the book, as this type of music is so foreign to me I don't think I would have a good reference for comparison.
African instruments mixed in electro-rock
A good listen. I think by the end, Baaba's voice becomes slightly taxing to listen to with a lot of wailing, but still a really quality record. 7/10
Kinda groovy to listen to. Always like hearing new (to me) stuff. Not my jam though.
2.5
gran fusion gran
Pretty good. This is the kind of music that makes this list fun. Something totally different.
It sucks, but you already knew that.
Listened to this on the road on the way home from celebrating NYE out of town. Really enjoyable to listen to and I was surprised that all the songs had a unique feel to them. What a surprising find!
Favourite songs: Hamady Boiro, Yela, Daniibe, Toro, Lem Gi Least favourite songs: Daande Lenol 4/5
2.5
Ok
kinda dull i'm afraid
It's a fun, upbeat album but I dont see myself coming back to it again...ever
He kind of sounds like Spongebob from Africa. I always love hearing world music on this list since its such a drastic change the general albums. Great instrumentals on this one with the inclusions of more traditional instruments really elevating some of the songs. Some of the songs were a bit repetitive and long for my liking but overall very solid listen. 7/10
The great thing about this list is discovering new types of music. African music is very underrepresented and what little there is suffers in the vacuum of the Touré name. I don't know enough to give a fair critique of this album, but it is pleasant enough to listen to and something I will definitely add to my que for a revisit. 3.5/5
Urrrgh I think I wanted to like this more than I did, but I just found it dragged and did not draw me in at all
Love the guitar playing and soul but his story is better than the music in my opinion, still awesome though.
I just can't get a grip of this stuff.
At first I was like wow! But then it got too monotonous until it started to improve and get more interesting towards the end. I have never heard about this artist before, so once again this list proved it's existence for bringing me new experiences.
This is music that would require a lot of cultural knowledge, understanding the language and tons of context for all kinds of things. I don't mind not understanding the language, but not understanding the musical cues and rhythmic communication also, kinda defeats the purpose of reviewing or rating music in the first place. My rating is purely from "how am I enjoying this as an aural canvas" standpoint.
Afro-beat? I'm in. There's a curious touch to this--half percussion, half vocal. Neither dominates. What is he singing? Don't know, don't care. There's a haunting, pensive edge that reels me in.
This is perfect music for a lazy Sunday afternoon, when you’re not feeling particularly with it. It washes over you in waves, soothing to the soul.
I guess this was good. Hard for me to tell. I enjoyed it to a point, but it was more of an exercise in patience than me enjoying the music.
I enjoyed this. Cool grooves and great performances. The production isn't my favorite, so I'm not sure how often I'd want to pop this on. But i dug it. 3.5 rounding up
I really enjoyed this. Really drives home the power of music to communicate across languages and culture.
Quite liked a few of these songs, some interesting beats and guitar bits. In general it faded into the background a bit but Baaba sounds like an interesting guy and I reckon it would be quality live.
Mildly diverting but I'm not sure this is the genre for me. Seems pretty influential, from a read of the Wikipedia.
Didn't mind this, it's nice to hear some less western music, but tough for me to relate to! I got a bit tired of it by the end, but it was nice enough. 2.5
Listened to this while playing Imperium: Legends. I won! There were parts of this that I liked, but mostly it wasn't my jam. There were a number of times where I thought "I feel like Vampire Weekend loves this album"
Afro pop
Fun Afro-pop
musica africana molto interessante e per ritmi strumenti e cori. Sono partito con un 4, per arrivare con l'ascolto ad un 2. Bello a piccole dosi ma troppo lungo
This is what I wish there was more of on the list. Unfortunately, I don’t have any knowledge of the cultural significance of this album/ artist. But even without that, I found this very enjoyable. It is another world music album that suffers from leaning too much into western culture, and seems to lose authenticity in doing so. But it’s still very good.
Not really sure how to rate this. I enjoyed the vibe though.
Whenever I tell a friend to try music outside the english language, this is what I mean. Beautifully written and composed. Daniibe is probably my favorite track on this. Love the percussion throughout. Vocals get a bit much here and there but my ear just isnt used to it I'm guessing
Right up my alley. A little too pitchy sometimes but the music was great. Especially loved that corny ass 80s track in the middle of the album
A good vibe and beat to the music and though I'm not that familiar with music from that part of the world, I can appreciate it for what it is. No sure, if I love the dated "modernization" to the traditional sound, but it was enjoyable enough to listen twice. I'll listen to more of his records before I pass judgement.
Interesting mixes
Un autre album de Baaba Maal qui m'a épatté. Vraiment son style m'accroche beaucoup. La variété de son est vraiment intéressante et sa voix est tellement bonne. 8.5/10
It was really good and i have not know anything about the musician or any songs but they were good
Not for me
good musicianship but i did not groove to it
Well this was certainly interesting. While it's not something I would generally listen to, or will again, I can appreciate this is well done.
It would have been nicer to have a couple more of this sort of style of album on this list. I wouldn't say it is mind blowing, but it is interesting and different. I like that is from Senegal and not another generic britpop album.
Very unique sounds and singing style that makes me even further appreciate the diversity of music. The tones and melodies used are a bit distracting for me and it can be difficult to get through this record in its entirety. I pushed through to give it a chance, and glad I did, but I don't think I'll be coming back to this one. It was an experience though.
There were a couple of decent ones in here but the voice was a bit overpowering.
Pretty cool actually. Nice rhythms would put it on again.
favourite song - yela favourite lyric - idk idk the language cover - 5/10 album overall - 5/5 i want to eat it
Its a cool album. Not the same thing I listen to everyday so a good change. Well produced, wish I would understand but musoc is beautiful and harmonies are great. Not for my playlist but I feel it is a great album maybe a little too popish
I feel bad sometimes when I have to do international albums. On one hand, I love the challenge of finding some music in areas I never would have thought of looking. Not every banger has to be sung in English. But then when I get this types of albums, they don’t really keep my attention and this album is no different. There are parts of this album that I liked. I actually did enjoy some of the more dates aspects of the album (the synth effects and everything else that makes this album unapologetically 90’s as hell). But none of it could keep my attention for long, and I just lose interest before the final track. Baaba Maal is talented. I can’t deny that. But that can’t justify this nearly hour-long slog. Favorite track: Olel Other hits: Sy Sawande, Toro, Hamady Boiro
This feels like it should be more interesting and fun than it really is. I felt like I should be experiencing emotions, but wasn’t. It provoked the concepts of exuberance and joy without delivering them: Some long songs, but they don’t really change or develop or progress much. So while there are some interesting - guitar riffs, vocal melodies, rhythmic grooves, random fusion-y toned bass, cheesy synthy horns, unique instruments and sounds - to catch my attention, but it was rarely enough to hold it.
Interesting. Not something I'd listen to often
I liked it for work, but I wouldn't sit to listen to it
This is #day94 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... please excuse me, but I just can't agree that this should be on the list of albums you must hear before you die. This isn't simply boring, this is also fucking irritating. I was like 80% through, and I had to stop. It's a 1 out of 5, of course. Looking forward to #day95.
Y'know I did enjoy it at some moments, but overall I just don't feel like I can give it higher than a 2. It's really hard to compare "world music" to the rest of the modern popular music on this list. Music like this is pleasant and nice but doesn't have a lot of the attributes present in the kind of music I like
219/1001 🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑
Nothing particular novel despite being a genre I haven't heard previously.
de chor isch jo meeega geil. sowiso mega sphärisch und groovy glichzitig irgendwie mega cool. toro cool. sehr happy im verglich. daande lenol wird hert schneller, d bassline isch geeil d melodie woner songt sind seehr cool. uuud noch vier minute chunt fängs schlagzüg haha. geil. hamady boiro isch uuultra funky. slappt. daniibe geile titel. zerst redt er und denn RIPPT er e melodie. song seeeehr cool. baut uuuhuere uuf. ich lieb s fake saxophon uf gidelam. git mir sehr elohainu. au afoch wie jede 16tel usgfüllt isch mit öpisem mega en coole bode. olel isch chli so wie ich mir westafrikanischi musig vorstell zs de 90er. digitali synthis, die clean gitarre, sehr upbeat, eifachi wiederholendi harmonie bass macht viel, sehr nice. aber begeisteret mich jetz nöd. er singt afoch haaammer. Ndelorer und Lem Gi sind beidi recht inoffensive aber no cool, aber ide 90er sind d albe z lang worde, CDs hetter sölle chürzer sii figg dich Herbert von Karajan. uuh oke minuit isch französisch und ich verstoh zum erste mol waner seit, no schön waner seit. uuuuh e-gitarre lesgo? goht no hard. mandela is free. ich vergiss mengmol wie langs apartheid no geh het und wie essenziell de mandela als figur gsi isch. yo isch er am shredde? maaad.
LAMM ok ich find so gsang immer sehr cool aber s erste lied het mich nöd mega gecatched toro findi denn wieder sehr cool, über die cool perkussion und sis funny lalalalalalaaaallala hamady boiro isch zumindest musikalisch rechr "westlich" hmm ich finds na cooli musig aber es lauft eifach chli iwie minuit iscb na en coole schluss zum album jjjoooooooo es isch cool aber nöd meh, han vlt währendem butze au z wenig druff gachtet?
Took a while to grow on me but I liked the sparse, atmospheric sound. No idea on the lyrics but that meant the vocals became more like another instrument, which worked well. May even come back to this in the future. 3/5 for now
The kinda music that plays in an adventure movie when they go to a hot country in the Middle East
Cool but no idea what to do with it.
Not for me
So I definitely see significance here. At some points I was definitely vibing along to it and really enjoyed but I think overall it was hard to find incredibly interesting just because it’s a different language. I definitely see its popularity though.
Mixed bag at best. Some of this was straight up disappointing - e.g. the first two tracks especially "Toro" aren't necessarily bad but there's a sterility and dated sound to it that just prevents me from making any connection. Actually track 6 "Gidelam" IS bad. Track 3 "Daande Lenol" is more of what I'd like to hear. I don't know, overall I was expecting something different... maybe it's my ignorance which I'll fully cop to but the attempted melding of genres ends up occasionally sounding cheesy. I do think much if not most of it stems from the arrangement and production. Anyways I'm nowhere near knowledgeable-enough about Senegalese or even African music but my limited knowledge can't help but compare to MC Solaar or Amadou and Miriam which I like infinitely more. Baaba Maal isn't getting to me. 4/10 2 stars.
I found this album a real slog to get through. The songs feel repetitive and almost every track starts to sound the same after a while. There’s very little here that grabbed my attention or made me want to keep listening. It’s supposed to be energetic and lively, but I just found it dull and uninspired. Nothing really stands out and the whole album feels forgettable. I was ready to move on long before it ended.
Cool sound, not something I usually listen to, would most likely enjoy more if one knew the language but it's still good!
I don't have a lot to say about this album, since I don't have a lot of context for Senegalese music from the early 90s, but the music is all solid and he has a nice voice 4/5
weird! african!
Qua muziek ligt dit niet enkel buiten mijn comfortzone, het ligt zo ver van mijn comfortzone dat je het niet eens meer ziet. De "white man's burden" denk ik maar dan, ook al is het als zelfverklaarde progressieve moeilijk toe te geven. Baaba Maal kende ik al, maar enkel en alleen omdat hij als feature stond op een album van Mumford & Sons. Best wel een toffe muziek. Maar toch is dit te ver buiten mijn Westerse rocksmaak. 2.5
Happy sounding, up-beat tunes, though I didn't understand a word so the lyrics could be really offensive for all I know. Anyway, I dig the vibe and wouldn't be annoyed if this happened to be playing in any lift (i.e. elevator) in which I happened to be travelling.
An interesting listen. Definitively not my normal listen, but was pretty good background music to start my day.
great album by senegalese artist
If it wasn't for this 'challenge' I would likely never have listened to this album. Though, I'm not sure that listening to it changed my life in any noticeable way, I did enjoy the hour I had with it. Single Serving Friend, as Tyler Durden may have said. It wasn't by any stretch the imagination a bad album, and I did enjoy it, but I also found it very hard to listen to an hour of vocals in a language I didn't know. so I'm going to give it a 2.5, and round it up to 3.
It’s tough to listen to an hour long album that isn’t in a language you understand. Definitely affected my listening experience. That being said, I didn’t hate a lot of what was going on. If someone had it on in the background I’d probably be vibing to it but I wouldn’t actively put on this album myself. 2/5
delicious lamb toro, my favourite
Not for me
I love African music - I know that's far too broad of a statement; I'm not versed enough to be able to place countries/regions/styles, but I really do enjoy it. Listening to this album, I thought - wow! This really reminds me of the Black Panther soundtrack/score (which I love) - I should see if it's specifically because it's Senegalese, or the types of percussive instruments used, or what is it exactly that sounds so similar? Turns out, the first thing the composer did was spend a month with Babaa Maal, who was one of the main advisers for creating the music of Wakanda, and whose voice is featured in the score. I often struggle to find the words I want, but I always trust my ear. I will absolutely listen to this again.
Det her er virkelig ikke en type musik jeg har hørt meget af. Grundstrukturen er meget rytmisk, mange meget gentagende riffs på hvad der virker som en blanding af vestlige og senegalesiske instrumenter. Det er ikke svært at høre på, men ikke lige min stil. MEN den får et ekstra point for at være et virkelig, virkelig fedt indspark på denne liste. Generelt er UK og USA SÅÅ overrepræsenteret, så det er dejligt at blive præsenteret for noget fra resten af verdenen.
Interesting sound with a mix of African and Islamic world influences
I liked this a lot. Good find for me. Would I like it more or less if I knew what the lyrics mean?
Not too crazy about this one
Needs more variety in the voice
not for me
This album threw me of the deep end to say the least. African music isn't something I have listened to at all (except for some Cristpher Tin songs). So this African singing with soothing background noice or pop rythms was like a whole new experience that I truly loved. Experiencing something new in ways of music doesn't happen very often so even tho I probably wont play this on repeat in the future its something I will carry with me.
This was not for me at all. Some moments of nice music though
Not terrible but this is just not my thing. Some of the backing music was enjoyable but the vocals kept taking me out of it. 2.5/5
I wish I'm musically nerd enough to be interested in all the quirky stuff of this album.
not rlly my vibe but it wasnt bad or anything. 2.5/5
I learned 3 things from this album. 1 'Lalala' is universal as a non-lexical vocable. 2 Baaba loves him some reverb. 3 Pulaar is one of 14 official languages in Senegal, and is the most a laaden.
I honestly didn't enjoy this, but I also have no frame of reference for the intentions. I have very little idea of the music scene this comes from, and I don't understand the language. There's a lot of very interesting things going on, but I'm out of my depth with this one.
I guess I really like world music. This was a really good album. Definitely will be coming back to.
The vibes are continuously killed by the terrible synth sounds.
Cooler erfrischender Sound aus Senegal. Aber einmal ist dann auch gut und die Platte ist gehört.
I found that the task that I was completing while listening to this album could not have been better. This uplifted my spirits.
He has a distinct sound - strange how the world seems less open to music like this now. Daniibe my favourite track
No offense to Baaba Maal or the country of Senegal, but why is this on the list, and why did I have to listen to it now? I mean, I just got the other Baaba Maal album like 8 days ago. I'm kind of burnt out on Baaba Maal. Not only that, but this album really doesn't seem to be nearly as impactful as Djam Leelii. I mean, this album doesn't even have a Wikipedia article! The last time that happened was with Koffi Olomide, and I gave that album a 1, largely because it has seemingly no reason to be on the list. Fortunately, I will not be giving this album a 1 because I do respect this album. I don't think it needs to be on the list at all, but I respect the album. There are definitely things to like about it. The sound is okay, as is the singing. I don't know what the lyrics say because I couldn't find them anywhere, but I'm sure it's not too bad. The album's not too repetitive either, which is a point over the Koffi Olomide album. I don't have anything else to say really. Lam Toro is fine, I guess, but I really don't see why it deserves to be here. High 2/5.
I liked this a lot. Don't know much about the music but sounded good. 3.5
this was mostly enjoyable, but not my bag
This was pretty good. I liked his voice, but probably wouldn't listen again
not today, sorry
I've been left with 0 lasting impressions
I wish more of the album was like "Olel"
Really fun. Some great bops, really nice guitar
When it comes to African-World Beat, I don’t have a context to judge the quality. I will only say I liked this and he has an amazing voice that speaks from his soul. I felt a whole lot better thinking this sounded like Wakanda when I found out he helped develop the score for Black Panther. This was good and my ranking is only because it feels right. I apologize if the ranking is lower than it should be. Sometimes a Merlot can taste like Welches when you’re used to drinking Welches.
I continue to explore African music and this is a nice addition to my knowledge and expanding tastes. While this isn't up there with Fela Kuti it is still pretty damn good. I'm going to need several listens to see which tracks stick with me. However, if you have not already heard it, check out Baaba's collab with Mumford and Sons called "There Will Be Time". That is an amazing song!
Intense ethereal afropop magic
Mal was anderes, aber doch sehr gleich klingend die Songs.
schwer zu beurteilen
ja klingt nett, aber nicht so in der musik drin, also klingt alles recht ähnlich
Interessanter Vibe, mal ein anderer Sound, hat mir gut gefallen, auch wenn ichs mir nicht nochmal anhören würd.
Despite the production’s tendency to 90s new agey world music tropes that have not aged well, the Kora and guitar and rhythm parts are effective - though Baaba himself is a bit atonal and goaty.
Rating: 6/10 Pretty decent, but probably won't remember this. Liked the African rhythms with folk instrumentation.
Vibey
I’m a fan of African music, and this is a great one. If these beats don’t get you moving, you might want to get your hearing checked.
Hier en daar leuke maar ook taaie momenten. Ik weet er te weinig van, kan het niet beoordelen. 3
Nice but wouldn’t put it on
Proof that Music and Passion can transcend language
Not the first African album on this list. Unfortunately this one is only suitable for background music. Nothing irritating but also nothing interresting about it.
This might be my first time ever willingly listening to worldbeat music. Pretty interesting getting a taste of traditional music (in this case, originating from Senegal and Pulaar-speaking regions) mixed with pop. Despite not being able to comprehend the Pulaar language, the rhythms are pretty soothing and the tracks feature a different mix of musical styles & instrumentation all throughout. The instrumentation definitely sounds of its time too (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, the 90's were an eclectic time for music in my opinion). Some tracks dragged on a bit too long for my liking, though.
Good vibes and energy. If your in the move for something different, this is it.
I found this album very relaxing and I would probably throw it on again!
4/5
Meh. I liked the music, not the vocals so much.
nice enough.
If his voice sounds familiar, that’s because he was tapped for both Black Panther films as part of their music. Such a good voice that carries so much weight to it. I’m shocked he showed up on here but well deserved. Hamady Boiro even opens with a similar drum beat to some of the BP themes.
Shocked to see that this is number two from Baaba Maal? The other was a collab album with someone else. Anyway, a welcome departure from the usual fare, very cool textures and sounds all over this thing. Great album, I'm grateful that we're still getting a few cool, unexpected picks this late. That said, do we have any big hitters that haven't appeared yet? Favorite tracks: Yela, Daande Lenol, Hamady Boiro, Gidelam, Olel, Minuit. Album art: Just a floating head with some script text. Nothing special really. 4/5
some cool African drumming and melodies, nothing grabbed me as outstanding
will listen soon
It was ok but nothing I remember now. Maybe I will listen to it again maybe not.
wippppee
I'm not averse to world music, in fact this would have scored a lot higher and would probably have been in the may buy it category. If only it was an instrumental album. I understand and fully realise it was in a foreign language, but his voice was SO caustic that most of the time it rendered anything that may have been intended as actual words into indecipherable wailing. And meant that what would have been a solid 3 pushing up to a possible 4 for the music is relegated to 1, but only because 0 isn't available.
That was really enjoyable! Will need to listen again to appreciate it fully. I hope it doesn’t matter that I don’t know what he’s singing about. I’m sure it’s nothing bad!
I liked this. It's not my normal go-to music, but it's very good. It has great understated guitar playing and, combined with his stirring vocals, gives this an uplifting vibe. It might even get a second listen sometime in the future. A well deserved 3 stars.
J’ai tout aimé de cet album tranquille et solide. Voix polymorphe, percussions, arrangements jazzés ou africains/orientaux, sobriété et maîtrise.
Albumi #26, 22.08.2024 Maailman musiikkia.
O.K. but not my jam🤷♂️
Nah just not my bag
First listen. Ok.
Good album and great to see this list not have white british men represented for once. Good composition and production, worth a listen. 3/5
i couldn’t listen to this album, i just really disliked it. would not listen to it again.
Virkistävää kuunnella tällaista afroakin! Hyvin toimi ja meni jalan alle. Ehkä tuon ajan soudit vähän oli miinuksena mutta ehta nelonen minulta 4/5
Aurinkoinen levy tiistaiaamuun! 4/5
meh, idk if i need to hear this before i die, but i guess
Pre-listening thoughts: So I have once again never heard of this artist but this is my first non-English album. It kinda snapped me back to reality that there are in fact albums in other languages and by people from other countries besides the UK and the US. Like so much of this list is so western focused it’s crazy. Made me realize how unbalanced it is. Post/during listening thoughts: so obviously I do not speak Pulaar so I will have no commentary on the lyrics. I do agree with some of the other reviews that some of the production dates itself and is very distracting. The vocals are impressive and overall the melodies are ok. My thing is I have no knowledge of the culture or language so I’m sort of at a roadblock in terms of actually *getting* it. And that makes me wonder like did I need to hear this before I die to gain an appreciation for a different culture’s music? Or is this like a really bad pick (not bad ALBUM bad PICK there’s a difference) from said culture’s music and I’m getting screwed over by the editors of this book to think it’s semi-representative of this subset of African music? Who can say. Why is he mogging on the album cover tho 4/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: ?! Fav tracks: Hamady Boiro, Ndelorel Least fav tracks: Minuit, Lem Gi
Look I'm sure this is a good album but after the second track I saw there was still 50 minutes to go...nah.
Kinda silly, didn't really interest me. Was not bad, but he could've been recording videos of himself saying "subscribe to keemstar" instead, so he gets a lower score
meh. more unique songs than the last album of his we listened to but still not much to care about
Not really our thing. Baaba Maal is an impressive musical figure and is deserving of a lot of respect, but this album wasn't for us.
Taking me out of my listening comfort zone here. I listened to the whole album and didn't have a problem with it. I personally was hoping for some grooves, but that's just not what his music has to offer it seems. I wouldn't normally seek anything like this out and Lam Toro didn't convert me, but I'm glad I listened
I have no frame of reference for this. The voice is clear, the performances are precise. Musically, this is solid. Is it a fantastic representation of Senegalese music? I dunno. So many albums on this list that I had to listen to were questionable additions, to put it charitably. Did I like it? Yes. Is it great? No idea.
This was a fairly interesting listen that I enjoyed pretty decently. But even though it was a decent time, it felt just so frustratingly token being on this list. It felt so glaring that the author thought "I've done nothing but 70's-80's classic rock for 90% of everything here... I better throw in some random off-the-beaten-path album to make it seem like a more well-rounded list, before I get back to more classic rock". And this was what was arbitrarily chosen.
Really enjoyed this one. Not an artist I'm familiar with; hailing from West Africa and not a genre I listen to, but found his voice calming and the songs well constructed, to create an album well worth a listen. 4/5
Quite mid
Enjoyable vibes but outside of my world. 90's West African music
4 Stars
I appreciate the vibes being emitted in the studio today
This was really good stuff but not rating it too high because I won't be coming back to it later
I am vaguely familiar with Baaba Maal, largely due to various collaborations he has done for many years. But I haven't ever listed to an entire album of his before. I really wish there was more information available on what was meant to make 'Lam Toro' a significant release. From a small amount of reading, it doesn't seem to be among his most popular albums, just one release among his early years. So I'm taking an educated guess at what I'm meant to be hearing. Maal is clearly bringing traditional African music (specifically, that from Senegal) to wider audience and introducing what sound like early experiments merging it with Western instruments and composition. More than a decade into the world music movement, it's maybe not the most successful blend of worlds, but refreshingly, it gives dominance to Senegalese music. You'd be forgiven for missing the Western elements altogether, if not for the heavy use of synthesizers in some songs. It's not always successful unfortunately. The electronic sounds on 'Gidelam' in particular are dominant and sound like a cheap Casio keyboard that a 10 year old might learn on, but not really used by serious musicians. It works a lot better when those sounds are subtle textures to accompany more traditional sounds. Fortunately, that's the majority of the album, minus a few misses. 'Sy Sawande' is a personal favorite. There's enough here to make me curious to explore Maal's discography one day.
This was an interesting listen, although I am not into world music that much it was still fun to follow along. I definitely like some of the funkier bits. "Hamady Boiro" was my favorite track.
Hoy toca directamente una rareza: por su artista, por su origen, por su género. Me encanta cuando éste reto me sorprende con músicas fuera de la norma. Disco tranca, que atrapa con su exotismo y simpleza a cualquier oyente que desconozca tanto el idioma como la cultura senegalesa.
This album has such a happy and joyous vibe. I found myself dancing to many of the songs here. The music is great and has such a strong rhythm section. I like the bass playing on it. Baaba Maal's voice is beautiful. Likes songs added: - Ndelorel
Started off ok but quickly lost interest The dated 90s production really does it no favours
This is super interesting and I like it! and I fuck with the album cover’s font. I really like the instrumentation. This is easily a 4/5 album. I like the percussion in “Gidelam” and “Olel” a lot. This is just good vibes! “Sy Sawande” is very bright and calming.
Interesting, fairly enjoyable. Nothing really grabbed me though.
79/100
This was my first exposure to music from Senegal. There is a wide range of musical styles within this album, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of them - very moving and beautiful.
Mal was nicht amerikanisches oder europäisches, aber richtig umwerfend wars nicht.
Really nice production. I like the large rhythm section. Last song is awesome.
Preferred his previous album
Nothing to report. Listened to it while cooking dinner. Had some Paul Simon sound to it
Plus one for not being British, but nothing that blew me away
Ok “Minuit” got me
never heard of hime before this, enjoyed it, quite relaxing
Lam Toro is a studio album by Baaba Maal, originally released in 1991. Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist. I only know a little bit about African guitar, primarily about Tuareg and other Sahara-based music. I was interested to delve into Maal's style of Senegalese music. I was somewhat disappointed by this album. I mean, the songs themselves are alright, some of them are pretty good. I just could not get into the production. This thing is massively overproduced. I think Maal would've benefitted from a more stripped-down production style that highlighted his voice and guitar playing more, like Imarhan does. There's just too much unnecessary cheese added here, like synth effects and slick bass lines. It just makes the record seem dated. Take that away, and this album becomes much better.
Nothing against our good buddy Lam, but, seeing as I don't know what he's singing about, I am having a hard time getting into the groove! One thing I don't understand is the complaining people have done regarding the "simple" production, bad synth sounds et al... I say; what-ev's! 3 Stars just to bat par!
Enjoyed more than I thought I was going to
A decent listen with some fairly enchanting cuts and some vaguely haunting and pleasingly and lightly swinging ones too. And it gets better as it goes along. But as with much world music, not a great deal sticks or obtains purchase. The vocals might be varied a bit more. So it’s interesting but only somewhat. Also some unfortunate synth choices make for a dated sound. Best tracks: “Sy Sawande” and “Lem Gi.”
All over the place stylistically, but I’m loving everywhere it goes.
7/10. Pleasant experience. This style of music is really great. Not as vibrant as Fela Kuti's music, but it's great!!! :)
It always feels good to listen to something a bit different. His voice was a bit too nasally for my liking though. Great instruments and sound.
This is a really good album with an interesting mix of African music with more western styles.
Hard to evaluate, but interesting
A language barrier is always going to make connecting with music harder. Lyrics are a large part of what draws people in and helps them relate to the music or artist. But I try to not let that affect the listening experience too much. I’ve heard plenty of music in foreign languages. The problem is pretty much all world music is in a foreign language. It’s definitely been one of the most consistent genres for me. But that’s because it’s been consistently very middle of the road and average for me. I don’t love it or hate it, minus a few exceptions. I’m not sure how the name Baaba Maal didn’t jump out to me, since exactly a week ago I heard his collaboration with Mansour Seck. And the only reason I remembered who he is was because when I put the first song on, his voice sounded really familiar. I looked it up, and found out he had done work for both of the Black Panther soundtracks with Ludwig Göransson. That realization, and listening to this album made me come to the conclusion that Baaba does actually have an amazing voice. It must not have come through on that previous album as clear, because I barely remember him being apart of it. This is easily the most interesting and enjoyable piece of world music I’ve heard on the list so far. As I mentioned previously, his voice really does shine through. What you hear instrumental wise is a mix between the more traditional Senegalese music like I heard on that other album, but still mixed in modern electric guitars, and something that deviates much farther away from that. The best way I can describe is like it has a hint of 80s cheesiness. There are some synths and horn parts here and there. But they sound cheap, and just don’t fit that Central African sound, and especially not Baaba’s voice as well. It was the first time where I would actually rather hear the former over the latter. And since a good portion of this is made up of those songs, it loses a lot of appeal for me. I don’t know, maybe one day I will find a world album that really blows me away. Rating: 5/10
There’s so much JOY in these songs. You can tell how much Maal enjoyed creating and singing them.
The music was great, but I couldn't take his voice
Took me a while to get into it, being that it is in a different language and I'm not too familiar with the genre, but I liked it. Groovy. Shout out to the track 'Sy Sawande' which helped me vibe with the album a bit more.
Loved coming back to this one. Amazing sounds.
Kind of fun to listen to something totally out of my wheelhouse. I could see adding a song or 2 to my playlist