Reviews (page 6 of 7)
Cool grooves, dated midi sounds, never listened to something like this before
Fun listen
Upbeat, fun, and happy! I don't speak the language, so I can't say what they were singing about, but it sounded uplifting and improved my day, and it sounded like the performers enjoyed it too. So there's nothing not to like!
I'm glad they put some foreign-language stuff on the list as some of it has been good or at least interesting. This one still qualifies as "interesting," but I can't call it good. Not my jam.
I'm glad I listened to it.
That was a unique and interesting listen. The individual tracks were good but resulted in an o.k. album experience. 3/5.
As other reviews have called out, the fake horns were a little detracting, but I did like the rhythmic variety between tracks.
An outlier from the normal and usual stuff on this list. I had never heard of Baaba Maal but appreciate his inclusion. This album was great, and was a very pleasant listen on a lazy weekend morning.
wasn't too impressed with this.
‘92, more soul than ill ever have in one album
no basta pq me revolendas musica tribal africana
Lo que me imagino con el tag "African World Music". Bueno, pero nada especial.
hilariously dated 90s synths cheapen what could have been a cool African world music exploration with some legitimately good singing. A slog to get through overall, sadly.
Altid rart med noget opbrud, lyder ikke som ret meget vi har haft indtil nu. Jeg havde nok ikke behøvet alle de 80'er syntheziser trompeter
Synes i princippet det er rigtig fedt at Afrika er repræsenteret på den her liste! men synes også at den her plade blev temmelig ensformig, selvom det egentlig er super catchy
Ikke lige for mig. Pænt syntetiske instrumenter.
Not for me - good luck to you if you like it, but I couldn't finish it
Really enjoyed this
Interesting alnum. Not generally my style
Appreciate the listen, but can't connect with this very much. Will I listen to again: 0%
Bopping in the sun but it didn't grab me
This just felt like a dude doing pretty standard African style music and there was nothing exciting about it, like at all. 2 stars
Good range from Baaba Maal.
This seemed fine. Nothing really objectionable but that's a slow bar. I didn't find this inspiring but it's also not in my native language and so that's a reasonable explanation for why it didn't click.
Thought this was fairly average as background music, not much really stuck out to me. Musically it sounds a bit dated, and I don't really have any reference points for the lyrics. Not really much to draw me back for another listen!
Ok sound. Seems like what I would expect from the genre
Ok
Quando fui ouvir este álbum não esperava por um álbum tão diferente. Todas músicas puramente africanas com muito poucos traços de instrumentação mais comuns. Torna-se um pouco repetitivo para alguém que não esteja culturalmente inserido. Mas este é um álbum que representa algo que eu respeito, manter a sua própria cultura. No geral tem alguma graça, mas cansa por ser tão diferente, a melhor música foi o Danibee. Por representar algo que eu respeito atribuo um 5 ao álbum. Nota: 5/10 21/05/2024
pretty cool
Great African rhythms! 3.75
Very 80s Afrobeats, sounds like something Paul Simon would listen to then decide to do Graceland
Song 4 was surprisingly ‘modern’ Song 6 got a good vibe. 7 This is good. Not something I’ll revisit, but a pleasant listen. 4 star
An amazing album, full of energy and complex time signatures.
I really enjoyed this album. I wish there were more non-Western, non-English albums on this list. This is the kind of stuff I want to experience, not every crappy electronic artist that ever came out of Britain. This album is eclectic and a lot of fun. It ranges from (what I assume to be) very traditional Senegalese sounds to tracks that fuse indigenous and Western traditions. The Arabic influence is also very apparent throughout the album in instrumentation and singing style. His guitar playing is fantastic as well. Hamady Boiro is a Western-funk-rock influenced song that I wasn't expecting after the first few tracks. It's catchy as hell. Anyone who likes Western-African influenced 80s pop (think Talking Heads, Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel, etc.) would enjoy this song. The Peter Gabriel connection isn't surprising once you realize they're both involved with Afro Celt Sound System. There are a few more tracks like that on the album, like Gidelam. Olel could be a song off the "Weekend at Bernie's" soundtrack ... take that as you will haha. It's very fun. It also reminds me of Vallenato music from Colombia, and I wonder if there's any historical connection there via the slave trade. I was surprised to find that Tidal had the English lyric translation to Daande Lenol, which is just a lovely song. I wish I had more clue what the other lyrics meant and some cultural context about the album and the artist. Given his association with Afro Celt Sound System and his soundtrack work on Wakanda, it makes sense that he's made this very Western-biased list, but I wonder how he's viewed in Senegal and Western Africa. But just taken in isolation as a pure listening experience, this was a great one. This is one of those albums where I definitely plan to dig deeper into the artist's other work. 5/5
Ihan mielenkiintoinen levy kyl. Jonkinlaista afrikkalaista musiikkia, mutta suht modernia. Aika iloista kamaa. Ja kesäistä. Ja rantasta. Tosi monipuolista ja vijassa kappaleessa sähkökitara soolokin. Parhaat: Yela, Daniibe, Minuit.
It was ok at the beginning, but then it fell off incredibly hard towards the middle. This is the first album I couldn't finish.
It’s 2016, I get dropped off in a field in the middle of Dover, DE. I’m fresh off a breakup and full of adrenaline and can’t wait to get hammered and dance around. I find my buddies’ campsite and Josh who’s been awake on a Molly binge for 72 hours nearly has a stroke when I show up. My trusty fake ID and the bit of cash from long hot days at the deli get enough drinks in me to kill a small village while I’m inside the festival grounds. There’s some trend where girls are daring their friends to make out with strangers, so I’m snogging random women left and right. I find my new fwb and her friends and jam with them at Blink 182 (the Matt Skiba era L) and then lose them in the crowd immediately after. With no service, having lost everyone, and unsure how I’m going to get a ride home, I wander into the Mumford and Sons crowd. They quiet the crowd and announce that they have a special guest coming out to perform…and they bring out BAABA fucking MAAL. Thanks for coming to my TED talk about the time I saw Baaba Maal IRL at Firefly in 2016. 2/5 album
It’s a 1. there’s no other way to spell it out besides give this a 1 and never talk about it again. at least Ben had a good review
Remind me of holiday but not my thing
Coole afrikanische Klänge
I was skeptical at first but I’ll be damned if I wasn’t dancing after a few songs.
Not really my thing. Couldn't get into it.
Beautiful
This was a fun album, some nice rhythms snd vocals
It's good. I like Baaba Maal, and with this being his first solo work, it's more significant in his discography. But even so, it's still just 3 stars. I won't feel the need to revisit this. It was good to hear once, but I'm content with once.
Ethnic music.
So much great music around the world. This feels experimental and new simultaneously
cool
A very pleasant discovery, but there were stretches where it faded into the background for me.
Incredibly pleasant listen - feels like the kind of surprise at a music festival that would be very welcome.
I don't think primitive is the right word in the case of this album. It's definitely something odd and not what you expect. But for a 1992 African modern/folk music it's pretty good. 3.5/5.
3 Ok.
This was some fine background noise today. While I didn't understand the lyrics, I would have liked to see an interpretation of what was being sung about in Segalese.
not my vibe. at all.
good worldbeat
I didn’t really hear anything special in this.
It sounds really good but it’s too damn long. If you shave like 3 to 4 minutes off some of these tracks, it would be phenomenal.
African music, lots of bongos. I thought some songs were too long. Stand-out: Daande Lenol
Awesome world sounds on this one. Pretty easy to listen to. Some songs feel funky and some feel pretty tropical. I little hard to fully connect to it due to the language barrier but still something I could appreciate.
This one was fun! It was 100% what I imagined it to be. Cool drums, cool keys, and really fun guitar. Probably won't revisit, but fun experience!
Charming sound, very unconventional, and sometimes a bit sloppy, but full of raw talent. Very cool grooves and great mesh between the instruments, lots of them with cool sounds rarely heard in Western music, but still with a Western feel to the structure of the songs. Definitely a neat world music feel and fun to listen to, but not really my thing. A solid three stars.
Not for me
Like it less than I thought I would.
Catchy moments, and interesting instrumentation.
wasn't hugely my kind of thing and I'm not sure I 100% "got it" but I did like it. 2.8.
My second album from him on this list. I think I liked Djam Leelii a little better. This one includes some of the cheesy 90s synths that I'm not usually a fan of and they sort of take me out of it a bit. I love the vocals though, great singning. I only wish I knew what he was saying. After this album I can say that I am a Baaba Maal fan. His music isn't something that I would put on to actively listen to but I would definitely play this around the house or while working or something. I'll give this one another 3/5.
Favourites: daniibe, lem gi. Overall enjoyable but a little too long. The drums were my favourite part of most songs. I like that I had a chance to listen to a genre I normally wouldn't listen to. 3/5
I mean like it was ok, not something I would've liked to listen to for an hour though. Wasn't unenjoyable, just went on for too long for my tastes. He has a nice voice and the instrumentals were nice, the album was chill. 3/5.
I am so serious I fw this album heavy. If I had rated The Go-Go's Beauty and the Beat a 5 (which I should have and regret short selling them now), this could also very well be a 5. Just a really unique sound, very otherworldly at times, and it just all fits together so nicely and I loved it. Added to library and checked out the song he did with Mumford & Sons, which I also liked. 4
Captivating otherworldly music
The opening notes had me thinking Lion King, but (thankfully) it turned into something else. Still, not my bag. It's like it borrows the wrong parts of American pop music and injects it with the wrong parts of African jams.
It's a shame that there's no Wikipedia entry for this album, only a profile of Baaba Maal, as it's hard to know why this particular album was selected from his apparently extensive discography. And his story is fascinating, with a lot of interesting connections to Western artists (Brian Eno is everywhere!) and his work on soundtracks (like "Black Panther") or collaborations with other big names like Taj Mahal (for a Fela Kuti tribute album). But this album doesn't have any of that, and I don't really even feel like I can appreciate whether his music on this album is more traditional or more innovative in Pulaar/Fula culture (although the non-lyrics music seems largely modern, and sadly in a horrible 80s/90s synth- and drum-track mire). I guess it's fine? I liked "Yela" and "Daniibe", more from the sound than whatever the lyrics meant; everything else is kind of lost on me. I was often reminded of Babatunde Alotunji's "Drums of Passion", even though they're different generations and cultures and countries, of course. Looking at the entry for this album from the 2005 edition of "1001 albums you must hear before you die", it appears that the draw for this album was the collaboration between Simon Booth and Baaba Maal (and the editor particularly (perhaps solely?) liked the track "Daande Lenol", which ironically is named after Maal's band, but mixes in all the usual world-music suspects), and how this was a sort of launchpad for Simon Booth to explore world music and later form Afro Celt Sound System (without Maal involved at all). So I guess this album was included more for Simon Booth than Maal, although the editor notes that "Maal continued his pop fusion with varying degrees of success"?
feel like a location scout reviewing this: not something I would listen to regularly but rather use strategically for atmosphere or in a particular setting.
Funky at times, cringy synth at times but alway annoying, bleating vocals. It’s odd that this guys has as many albums on here as Madonna.
Loveddddd
Very interesting, haven’t listened to much of this kind of music before. Some pretty awesome tracks
I can't do much with world music. I just don't like it. With this in mind, I didn't think the album was too bad. But I don't think I'll listen to it again. 2/5
I like it. I'm not very familiar with this style of music. Couldn't keep my attention all the way to the end, like most albums really. I liked it better than his other album on the list. Favorite song: Hamady Boiro
2.5
I only listened to the first part of the album. It is not something I would likely listen to again but, it was enjoyable
Ritmos africanos. Un poco rollo. Pero venga, ni fu ni fa por salirse de los estilos trillados.
Senegalese music. Termina mejor que empieza.
4 stars, grooviness.
boh
Jaja
💖 hamady boiro 🗣️ 6️⃣
I couldn't get into this album. I started listening to it three different times but never got more than a few songs in before my brain found better activities. Then, when I started the album again, I didn't remember any of the tracks that I had listened to in the previous 48 hrs. Not bad, but oh so forgettable.
Unique and fun. Not like most music I am often exposed to, but quite enjoyable. I feel like one of the songs (Daande Lenol) had an Irish feel to it, but maybe that is just in my head. Would love to come back to this one for a few more listens.
I expected to hate this but not at all. Mellifluous gentle African. funky.
Hard for me to rate fairly but I can say I enjoyed it and found it interesting
Very nice mixture of world music with modern (90s) elements.
Very unique. The first album I’m sure I never would have listened to without this list!
Not my style
Seriously...
Vibesy
Wouldnt have listen to without 1001 albums but is a nice chill complete album
toinen baaba productions. senegalin supermies, tästä tykkäsin paljon vähemmän. välillä laittaa niin h***an mahtavia perkussioni/bassoilu elementtejä että joutuu polvilleen palvomaan afrikkalaista.. ei kuitenkaan pysy konsistenssi ja monotonisuus tulee tunnin aikana ilmiselväksi, tylsiä syntikoita tai antiknopfleresque kitaratyöskentelyä. en piittaa vokaaleista, välillä liian loisteikasta instrumentaaliin verrattuna, tonal difference smh... varmaan uskomaton kirjallisuus, mutta ei jaksa kääntää.. GOOGLATKAA PORTAL RADIO SONG JA SITTEN KUUNNELKAA LEM GI BIISI TÄSTÄ ALBUMISTA.... ANOTHER WESTERN KUSIAIVO STEALING AFRICAN MELODY!!!!!! yela
EXT. WESTERN AFRICAN MARKETPLACE - DAY The sun casts a warm glow over the bustling marketplace, where vendors and shoppers weave through colorful stalls adorned with vibrant fabrics, spices, and handcrafted goods. The atmosphere is alive with the sounds of chatter, laughter, and the rhythmic beats of traditional music. You get the idea of what this is in the first few minutes. You don’t need the whole hour.
Respect the diversity but no I didn’t like this album.
Probably the first world album this site has suggested that didn't stick with me. The voice is a little grating to me after awhile. Instrumentation/production is generally good and his voice isn't bad I just think it's not for me. Just doesn't connect .
Fantastic.
I found this interesting but not compelling. I'm glad the 1001 included it, as it's really different from anything else I've listened to recently.
It’s OK. Not really my thing but I’m glad I was exposed to it.
Vilken skit!
- interesting instruments, very surprising for me - nice way to preserve traditional music for wider audience - catchy and accessible. if you have never listened to african music you will vibe to this
Proof that you don’t necessarily need to understand the words to find music a total joy.
It's fine.
I just listened yesterday and already forgot whether it was good.
Interesting to find something different, but not really my jam for some reason. All songs sort of gelled together and they were lacking any hooks, so it was hard to single out any favourite ones. It passed me by a bit too much unnoticed to warrant any higher rating.
Not bad but not great either. I thought it started off strong but got worse the longer it went on. Like with most music styles I'm not really familiar with I feel it's hard to review the album without the genre. Still i enjoy "Bombino" which feels a bit similar to this. For now this gets a strong 2 star.
Pretty good album, much less popular than others on this list (go figure). Music was fun and sometimes funky, but I felt I was missing something not understanding the lyrics. It was a little hard to connect with these songs, but I liked listening to them. 3.5
Ok
World Music eben. Auch irgendwann immer das gleiche.
Cool vibe
First really international record. Just couldn't connect to it at all. Definatley can hear western influences here certain bluesy grooves, certain Caribbean reggae vibes. The closing song was the standout here. Made it a 3 star album. Nice guitar solo.
Hello Africa
I enjoyed this quite a bit but likely wouldn’t put it in regular rotation.
Nr. 147/1001 Yela 3/5 Toro 3/5 Daande Lenol 3/5 Hamady Boiro 4/5 Daniibe 3/5 Gidelam 3/5 Olel 3/5 Sy Sawande 3/5 Ndelorel 3/5 Lem Gi 3/5 Minuit 3/5 Average: 3,09 Really fun and interesting listen. Nice mixture of traditional african music with other genres.
trash
Just like the last Baaba Maal album (from just a few years prior), I was only able to find lyrics for a minority of the songs, but I was really interested in them! Themes of love and freedom and community and Senegalese history, a cool hypnotic instrumental backing, incredibly precise and powerful singing, what's not to like! I'm guessing this is going to be another album that's going to get very low ratings from listeners who can't be bothered to look up lyrics or consider music from other cultures. Lol.
This is exactly why I joined this site, to discover hidden gems. A solid 4/5 and that's my first impression.
Senegalese music. Termina mejor que empieza.
I liked it. Cool African beats.
Repetitive.
a unique fusion of world music and other elements from other genres makes for a supper special litsen.
Pretty good.
I liked this album. My first time listening to African kind of music. The instrumental in the background gave a real wierd vibe to it but it was a good peaceful one. Even the vocals although I can’t understand him they add to the mystique feeling. Id rate this on the higher end of the 3 star album as some of the songs I just couldn’t get into but I’d say half of them I liked. I don’t know if I’d actively listen to them again but if they came on I wouldn’t complain
Cool sound! I enjoy listening to albums not in English l.
Too much wailing for me to be able to enjoy it. I like this album cover though.
Pretty enjoyable. Listening to Vieux Farka Toure recently kinda spoils it though, since Vieux is much more enthralling.
Love
Some good songs. Some annoying songs. In my memory the album was a bit better.
The singing is not easy to digest, but after some listening some pearls reveal themselves. I loved in particular Sy Sawande.
I guess it’s good? I did enjoy listening to it, but it is not very likely that I would choose to listen to it again.
Something really relaxing about this kind of music to me, but I've also heard better I guess? It's a solid 3.5 though, definitely enjoyable.
Some jammin tunes
yo what the fuck this is sick. Was not expecting this type of thing to be on here. Based off of vibes this thing is awesome. Very hard for me to dislike, despite obviously not knowing a word of what is being said. Fav songs: - Hamady Boiro
I personally like Afro-centric beats. I knew of it from before Paul Simon brought it mainstream in "Graceland." There is something raw and emotional in it that makes it timeless and peaceful. I did struggle a bit with the language barrier in some songs, because in some the lyrics seemed so important. But otherwise I don't think it matters as you let the music in.
I had a good time. Didn’t have time yesterday to listen through twice and I’m not always reliable off of just one listen but the songs were varied and interesting with some cool fusion vibes happening and I finished the album despite being quite busy which must’ve been a good thing - right?
Although I didn't enjoy his voice so much, this is the kind of music I'm looking for when I open this site daily. Something different from the standard that touches on sensible themes and has historical importance, especially when it is unknown to me. This Lam Toro album meets all points.
Some interesting parts but overall just not my thing
So I got Youssou n-dour a week ago, album from I think 1982, and loved it. Seems a fair comparison then to this from ten years later and the same country. The 90s can often sound way more dated than the 80s these days. When Hamady Boiro started I thought Spotify had accidentally switched to The Police. Daniibe gets back to a more enjoyable 'authentic' sound but then halfway through Sting bursts back in with his bass. Sy Sawande breaks this pattern and stays good all the way through, the obvious album highlight for me. I also enjoyed Ndelorel. I see Baaba has one more album slightly earlier on this list, hopefully that is better, I am infinitely grateful for the inclusion of these albums in the list amid a sea of white guys with guitars, but this was mostly a miss for me.
Enjoyable listen
Yela - 8/10 Toro - 8/10 Daande Lenol - 7.5/10 Hamady Boiro - 7/10 Daniibe - 6.5/10 Gidelam - 7.5/10 Olel - 7/10 Sy Sawande - 7/10 Ndelorel - 7.5/10 Lem Gi - 6.5/10 Minuit - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 82/110
Not bad
3.5 - Not something I'd actively seek out again but it made for a nice hour of listening. I especially love the djembe sounds and, of course, Baaba Maal's amazing tenor. The cheesier synthesizer sounds somehow add to the charm. A couple of tracks towards the end find the whole ensemble really jelling - "Ndelorel" and "Lem Gi."
Nice to listen to. I heard English folk in the guitars, and 90's synth stuff. Unusual to hear this in a different musical context.
I don’t know anything about African music but this is pretty cool
Poor one
It's nice to have some different music, although this album did become a little repetitive.
Some great rhythms and melodies, but it lost my attention eventually. Nothing to knock specifically, maybe just not the vibe I was looking for at the time. Fave track: Yela
I enjoyed the rhythms and vocals on this album, and it made me pretty curious about the artist and previous records they have made. But I didn’t like the production. I thought it was dated and detracted from an otherwise curious find Two and a half. Fave track: Daande Lenol
I love getting albums from all over the world! This was fun and engaging to listen to.
Es interesante las fusiones de musica tradicional africana con estilos como funk, r&b, hip-hop, etc. Todos los temas se deben a un elemento protagónico y esto lo hace bastante intelegible en cuanto al arreglo se refiere. La voz principal presenta bastante reverb en todos los temas.
Música tribal africana pero con instrumentación y arreglos contemporáneos (de hecho el disco es del '92). La calidad es buena pero no es mi tipo de escucha, safa para un rato o el estudio.
There's a lot of problems with this album. First of all I find the production really inappropriate for the genre. It's like they tried to make his music "exportable" by using a thin pop production that was typical in the early 90's. Also the albums is way too long and way too samey. Nothing works.
"Okay, let's add some international artists on this list'' *Adds one of the most boring album from a great Senegal artist* I can't do this anymore.
Baaba Maal is a great singer with a nice delivery, but the songs and their production/artistic direction is killing this album soul to the very core. Very pop, synthetic, fake, no surprises or risks, so easy listening that it becomes boring to death.
Baaba Naah
Jeg er slet ikke world nok til det her - blev nødt til at slukke ved track 4 og den funk-agtige tilgang. Jeg troede vi havde rock og punk-kategorier. Totalt miss her
Den ryger nok ikke på igen
this was an interesting one. i'm not the hugest world music person, but i definitely keep my mind open. language barriers don't usually dissuade me, and it was the case here. this album was not mind blowing to me, but had some really interesting moments. at times, it kind of felt a little new-wave-y??? which was cool, but otherwise nothing that stood out above anything else I've heard from the continent of Africa so far in this project.
I wasn't able to get much from this one. Some of the guitar work sounds like it could build into something interesting but I can't point to anything that stood out. Some of the effect work seemed very out of place.
Some fun energy here. Not a fan of the synth stuff.
Pretty cool! Loads of fun grooves and I really liked the prominent talking drum runs in Lem Gi
Glad I heard this, but im not listening again
Nice to see music from other continents; the album is nice but not overstanding
Not my cup of tea
Obviously a great musician, but not my vibe
Loved that it was different!
I really liked this album. It has hints of Paul Simon's, Graceland, and great instrumentals. I really enjoyed the tunes even though I didn't know what was said! Relaxing as I was elevating my foot...perfect combination.
It was cool, probably won’t listen to this album at length again though
Meh, its not bad by any means, just very African and not sure when I would listen to this album entirely … I like his newer work where he collabs with several other artists
A F R I C A This music feels good, great for chopping a bunch of tomatoes. Obviously, unsure what's being said, but you can feel a general sense of goodwill, a positive sentiment from the lyrics, and that's gotta be good for us, right? LA LA LIIII LA LA LAH LA LA LA LI LAHHH
This is what the list is best for - I would’ve never listened to this otherwise. Opening song was crazy
I wish I could translate his lyrics. I didn't need to with Sy Sawande, he was singing with so much regret it was heartbreaking. I finally looked up a translation of the title " I'm Sorry." Perfect.
Some enjoyable music but don't understand any of the words! That matters.
This was enjoyable. Incredible voice. Strikes me the production was a bit westernised and synthetic. But I enjoyed the discovery
Mjög þægilegt áhlustunar. Þarf að skoða þennan artista betur.
interesting music genre
Broad mix of R&B, ballad, dance, pop, and unique Senegalese beats. A rich tapestry of sound and feeling. Extra props for multiple singing in multiple languages so fluently.
I really loved this album, I absolutely love world music. About half way through there were some very distracting synth horns? But the rest of the album was so beautiful I’m still giving it a 4
This was interesting - I quite like a bit of world music and reading the entry in the 1001 book made this getting into the selection a bit more sense and understandable. It was the bad synth instruments that let it down for me - its not aged well and I would have rated it higher if real instruments had been played.
Beautiful for what it is. I would have never listened to it without this project, but just not for me.
I was transported to another world when listening to the album.
Ok.
Welp, I don't speak the language, so I can't evaluate the lyrics (except for the final track, "Hamady Bogle," which is so-so and kind of silly). But musically, it's not bad. Another album that just fades into the background.
It’s difficult to properly critique albums like this, because criticism is, at least partially, about being about to place a piece of art’s place within cultural context, explaining the trends that have led to it’s creation and whether or not it works as a continuation of, break from, or subversion of those trends. The albums that I find easiest to review are those which I have a personal connection to, those which I have something to say regarding the political, cultural, or social context, or those which I disliked enough that I can really rag on them. I know precious little about Senegalese history or culture, and even less about Fula, the language Maal speaks. So with the exception of Minuit, which is in French, I wasn’t able to even guess at what the themes of each song was. In some ways, I feel incredibly lost with this album. But in another way, the beauty of this record really does transcend my need for understanding. Like Classical or Jazz, the timbre and melody are enough to make me feel the music on a more instinctive level. And that instinctive level is telling me that this is just great music. Sometimes it’s fun to overthink and to intellectualise, try to make sense of everything, or come up with rational explanations as to why you enjoy things. Other times, it’s fine to just admit that this sounds pretty and funky, and that I enjoyed listening to it. It’s fine to have fun
Vraiment pas mon style 😬 1,5
Interesting blend of west African music & electronica but it doesn’t quite hang together
Starting off, I think this might have the lowest "Plays" on spotify of any album I've listened to so far for this project -- around 15k streams per track, which is pretty crazy for an "Album You Must Listen To Before You Die." However, it is also an album not from the USA/UK/Canada, so I have to give it bonus points for that, a bit refreshing for sure. On to the actual music. This one is a bit frustrating to me, I think Baaba Maal sounds very talented but I agree with some other reviewers that I think the "crossover" attempts with more western instrumentation are a bit cringy in hindsight. I like the songs that are more "rootsier" than the songs that have like a rock 'n' roll band behind him. Like for example, I was really feeling "Daniibe" until that 90s seinfeld slap bass came in and I audibly groaned. Ehhh now the very 90s sounds are starting to win me back over, the MIDI(?) in "Olel" is pretty fun, and harkens me back to like SMW soundtracks, or 90s Grateful Dead "Drums>Space" jams. Oh I bet Mickey Hart LOVED this album. (OK for any other Dead Heads out there doing this project, yup they did perform together at least once, at the 2006 "Jammies" awards at MSG [which I did not realize was a thing, wow they should bring that back.]) A little further research finds that they actually played together three times that week, alongside Phish's Mike Gordon! And... Walter Cronkite?? https://phish.net/setlists/mike-gordon-april-21-2006-grand-central-terminal-new-york-ny-usa.html I'm getting way off track. What is that guitar whaling doing in the background of "Minuit" lol. Very weird record from 2024 standpoints, but it's really won me over I think. OH GOD I just downloaded the 1993 mix and this is SO MUCH ROUGHER. THE RAPPING INTRO over "Hamady Boiro" jesus man.... 1992 mix (the one on spotify) is infinitely better. "Its the african music called yelle"
Giving some fun vibes. 3.
This album didn't make me feel one way or the other. Which, maybe I should rethink my rating scale because music should bring out emotions, even if that emotion is hatred.
Excitant comme du Jean-Michel Jarre
Another 5/5 African album. That continent just does not miss!
Whenever an African album appears on this list, you’re in for a treat I was expecting something similar to his magnificent debut - and the he totally surprises you with synths and pop vibes and… But of course also some wonderful West African rhythms. To me it’s not quite as good as his debut, but Baaba Maal is still one of those artists whose discography you should definitely dive deeper into.
This may be a good music. Personally I just don’t get it’s traditional rhythms. For me it was a bit boring.
unique cool funky trippy groovy awesome and cool
Much better than I was led to believe by the reviews. Enjoyed the sound and the vibe.
fun afro pop
2+ Stars (6/15)
Didn’t listen to but a few sec. Not my style of music.
To be honest, I’m not that impressed. I can jam to this for the most part, but it’s not all too innovative. Lots of rehashing here. Production is not top tier either. Nothing atrocious about it, but certainly nothing to write home about. 3/5
Not my vibe
ew.
C’est pas d’la bonne musique de Noël
This is some beautiful and compelling work. Love it when this project brings me into cultures, styles, and places where I would not likely think to venture on my own.
Great voice. Nice sound. I enjoyed it.
Not for me
I liked this. I'm going to have to revisit it during the summer though. I think it will hit better when there isn't snow on the ground 3.5/5
Dope Senegalese music. Very accessible with pop hooks, cool instruments, and a modern clean production. Probably the least impressive of this list. Long and repetitive, relying on too many gimmicks that don't last the lengths of each track. Favorites: Toro, Hamady Boiro, Olel, Lem Gi
2 certified total bangers and the rest is a bit of all sorts. Hard to focus as one track is great then the next is total madness. 2.8
Amazing album. No skips.
No way katoin historian kommentteja ja mul oli winter in america väärä albumi :D:D:D Mitä vittua mää kuuntelen :D 😂. Tää oli aika vibes mutta ei sovi itelle töihin kyl. Jossai afrikkalaises rantaravintolas toimis kyl . En ymmärtäny sanaakaa mut ”aijaijaijai” oli tulkinnanvaranen
1.5 - I feel bad, but I really didn't like this album. This type of music is just really not for me, which is okay. It's not made for me.
Powerful griot-style vocals and an array of Senegalese instruments like djembes, talking drums, fula flute and kora paired with nylon-string classical guitars, electric bass, full drum kits, the cheesiest keyboard sounds, epic guitar shredding and high-tech production techniques to create a pulsating polyrhythmic ambience. The vocals carry the drama of the songs with classic call and response story singing while the backing music tends to settle into a trancey groove that builds and intensifies then chills out as instruments come in and out to add layers or perform solos. There's a such a fine line for artists like Baaba Maal before they slip into the lucrative boomer birkenstock and tie-dye 'world music' lane, losing contact with the living musical traditions and youth audiences that actually animated them. Oddly here its the most dated 'inauthentic' keyboard/synth stuff (like Hamady Boiro) that grounds this in actual West African popular music of the 80s/90s and keeps it wierd and interesting enough to be mostly on the right side of that line.
A whole new world.
Love the uplifting tracks. Well done!
1. yela - 1.5 2. toro - 1 3. lenol - 1 4. hamady - 0 5. danibe - 0 6. gidelam - 0 7. ollel - 0 8. zauuande - 1 9. ndelorel - 0 10. lem gi - 0 11. minuit - 1
Agréablement surpris, j'aime bien minuit et hamady boiro C'est de la musique africaine mais avec des éléments de rock du coup c'est cool même si parfois l'instru est redondante 3.5
Some things on here sound quite nice but it's just not got me. A generous 2 because it at least has a groove.
Had its moments, a slightly harsh 2*
Listened to this in the bath and the wife shouted in to ask if I’d joined ISIS
This was more enjoyable than I expected. Most of the time I felt I was listening to the credits on a 90's comedy featuring a beach town, but even that wasn't so bad.
Ok
Canciones con ritmos étnicos, sin mucha complicación. No destaca especialmente ni me ha aportada nada
It’s okay. Not my favorite from Africa. Lots of singing. Very good production. Not great for mixes. Neutral for me.
Wow… this made me an instant convert. There’s something in here which I had never heard before, a sound that’s so energizing and different. And his voice… so emotional, resonant, fully present. It seems like most people bounce off this record… that wasn’t the case for me, not at all. I was obsessed immediately. Ran to find all his songs. There are very cool things in here that I will be thinking about. 4/5
its good but i dont fuck with that voice that much. I grew up with african music and i heard many albums i prefer more than this. But all love and espect to Mr Maal.
Has some killer guitar work at times but it gets a bit trancelike.
Gotta get myself to Senegal, they make some good shit. This was amazing
Fun album, but not my cup of tea
I wanted to like this. I really did.
I usually default 3stars on world records. This however was a bit unlistenable
I made sure to listen to at least a minute of each song and I'm sorry but not only could this be less relatable to me but it just wasnt even allat. It's not anything pleasurable to listen to, and for a project collection of exclusivity western music it's already lied including this
Not for me
Sounds like the authentic version of a Paul Simon Afro-derivative album. Good melodies, good arrangements. My mind isn't blown but it's good.
I liked it, this is the first album I had no context for. Different but had a great sound
Album 225 of 1001 Baaba Maal - Lam Toro Rating : 2 / 5 Listened to this last week on the playlist and again this morning for background music as I buzzed my head and turned an unruly beard into a goatee. Background music is about all it can be for me. I didn't dislike it. Certainly an interesting listen. __________________________ Baaba Maal (born 13 June 1953) is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.Maal sings primarily in Pulaar and promotes the traditions of the Pulaar-speaking people, who live on either side of the Senegal River in the ancient Senegalese kingdom of Futa Tooro.
Baaba Maal combines traditional and modern and comes up with something joyous and life affirming. Uplifting in the gloom, a talented artist shines.
I'm generally here for West African music. I love the rhythms and harmonies and sheer verve West African artists usually come to the table with. But this is a long-ass album and everything started to blend by the end. Chop two or three tracks from this thing to tighten it up and ensure it doesn't outstay its welcome and you've got an absolute winner in my books. As it is, I can only offer 3 stars.
African music is way out of my wheelhouse, but I started getting into this a bit as it went on, especially when it had more western sounds incorporated into it. Not bad, glad I heard it, but not something I'll likely choose to listen to again.
cool aber nit meins
Good album, but not something I'd listen to often. Through this music I found Wanitwa Mos & Nkosazana Daughter's Makhelwane album, which is really engaging, especially the track Majwaleni.
Not my thing, album cover looks cool.
# 105 : Ok if you're into African Muzak…. Plucky guitar with African (Senegale) lyrics. Sounded pleasant. Same whiny old songs throughout. Interesting in its own way. Cool sound though. Listened : 08/11/2023
3/5. I have no negative reactions to this album but I am out of place here, considering I am not familiar with language, it is just hard for it to be a classic because of this barrier for me. I really enjoy the diverse selection of instruments so it was at least a unique and enjoyable listening experience.
Senegalese excellence for a Thursday morning
Makes ya wanna go to Senegal, right?
I.. Don't quite get this album. Let it be the culture disconnect, I suppose. There are some really fun bits in this album, but most of it just has a rhythm that gives me slight anxiety.
Its pretty good actually
Different but some great moments.
When I first began the 1001 albums journey, I was excited to discover albums I wouldn’t have otherwise. This one fits that bill perfectly. This album had some bangers in it for sure! I’m glad I was able to listen to it.
Enjoyable upbeat songs as well as tracks that sit with Baaba's impressive voice. The king of album I would put on while chatting up a new friend in my living room in order to appear more cultured than I actually am. Favorite tracks: Toro, Hamady Boiro, Gildelam
As much as I'll never be a great fount of knowledge on African music, every second track on this is joyfully funky, and I got on with it!
An ok "world" album that was kind of ok as some background noise. I can appreciate the talent that Baaba Maal has but it's just really not my thing in the slightest. Best: Yela Worst: Sy Sawande
I think I'd like to spend more time with this album.
Passionate vocal energy, rhythmic. Not something I'd listen to a lot, but a lot of beauty in this.
Couldn’t get down with it
I loved the acoustic instruments in this, and there were some wonderful and vibrant melodies. The electronic areas of this record haven't aged well though. I also found a lot of the tracks too long and boring.
Interesante le daría otra escucha… pero no es música fácil
3-
This guy's voice is piercing. It's a "no" from me.
I would need a meme of an old man with an odd dentured smile, sitting at a table with a coffee mug and laptop, to accurately describe my thoughts on this album's inclusion.
Glad I gave this one a chance, I didn't really jive with the first song but ended up enjoying this album a lot! Baaba Maal's got some pipes!
Ok tier
58 mínútur af lítið eftirminnilegri tónlist. Ekki leiðinlegt svo sem, en þörfin til að spila aftur er engin. Það var bara lokalagið, sem er um Mandela og er á frönsku, er það eina sem mér fannst töff við fyrstu hlustun. Tvistur.
Originally was memeing on how how absurdly niche this was but ended up being alright
pleasantly surprised. strongest at its more african inspired / fusion tracks than the more straightforward piano and guitar tracks.
I felt like I was listening to The Lion King soundtrack. Fine it its own right, just not my jam.
Upbeat, good vibes album. I enjoyed listening even though I had no idea what was being said
Although the last album was desert blues, I still felt a bit fatigued by African music once I got done with this album. But that could also be because I thought that this one was overlong and a bit boring. There were a couple of tracks that had some cool instrumentation and if it were a half hour shorter it’d probably get a 3 but unfortunately I was getting that irritated feeling I get from 2 star albums by the end.
I found Baaba when I was randomly searching the Western African section of the CD store looking to expand my Western African music. Yup - this hit and miss approach was the 1990s equivalent of the Spotify algorithm. He has an excellent voice and there are some decent guitar rhythms. His attempt to fuse didn't quite make it but it's still quite good. I'm rounding up
Baaba Maal has a rich, distinctive voice that works best when it's showcased as a lead instrument, as in the openning track and "Dande Lenol". I like the more traditional arrangements that are rythmic and disjunctive at the same time. When he approaches more traditional funk it's less interesting.
I generally do like African artists but I find Baaba Maal's voice a bit too high pitched and shrieky. The music accompanying his singing is quite good, but when he starts singing I cringe a bit. I prefer other African vocalists like Youssou N'Dour or say Salif Keita who are lower pitched.
A musical journey that showcases the Senegalese culture. Baaba has an interesting, soulful voice. The instrumentation transports the listener to a paradise. Nice experience, for once in a while
Nice voice, occasionally good rhythms, but not the rootsy African stuff is not my thing.
This gave me a headache. Bl. Bm. Bs. Bad length. Bad music. Bad sound.
It's like wearing the championship shirt of the team that lost last year.
Bad except for Hamady Boiro
Not really my kind of music. Not bad overall, and some catchy songs too!
Sure why not
Nice music! Chill stuff.
This music isn't really my style but it's definitely interesting
Undeniably atmospheric and interesting in places but not a lot I can connect with.
This is the second Baaba Maal album that we've had. Not sure he really deserves two albums on this list. I still don't speak any Pulaar, so this was more or less a mystery to me. Last track in particular was cool, most of the rest washed over me, although at least on this album there was an interesting mixture of styles and genres beyond the generic 'world music' style which we had on his previous album. I think it just scrapes a 3, might be better if I could understand it.
I go into today’s album somewhat anxiously, only because foreign language music naturally loses a lot of meaning for me when I can not understand it. Based on the track names, this will be a language I do not speak (I really wish I was a polyglot). But let’s listen to the music before any judgments are made! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Toro, Olel To repeat the above, I can not comment on any of the lyrics here as I did not understand it. There were parts that sounded French, and some mentions of Mandela, but beyond that I’m clueless. As for the music itself, it was quite varied and enjoyable. There were the standard African music elements (which I understand is a very broad concept), with also some influences from ska and occasion rock elements. His voice is nice, but I wouldn’t say it’s astounding. Overall, this was decent.
Great singer, pretty corny music
Hard to rate. On sound and feel. Wasn’t my thing.
started off not really clicking with me despite how amazing his voice is and a love for music with similar timbres but by the end of the last track I was in a daze and hadn't realised how moved I was for past however many minutes. Then checking the release date and it was early 90s??? Who the fuck produced this it sounds so crisp and massive. The mixing on this was ahead of its time for sure, ranging formform beutifully crisp sounds of the more stripped down tracks to big soaring ones that almost sound like something that Mike Dean would produce. So sick wtf
capable music by capable artists. all groove. groove me to heaven. great vocals and ululations. i likey, but it bored me to sleeeeeepppp. they are sleepy town national hotline, maybe tone it down from 58mins to like 37? not my cup o tea.
Baaba Maal is a powerful vocalist and one I am already familiar with though not this album. I found myself enjoying it overall and leaning in to the welcoming world vibe, but a little disappointed that it lacked some of the stark power and originality of a track like 'Call to Prayer' from his 1989 album Passion Sources: (https://open.spotify.com/track/6HZUz12ZVCjWey8at477Qq). I find the starkness of that album's second transporting me to another space with its slight flute(?) accompaniment. This album is more approachable, but seems to curtsey a bit to Westerners.
One thing that I did not anticipate by participating in 1001 was that I'd get tired and bored of traditional music and along the way develop an openness and tolerance for international music. In addition, I've also come to understand that the music and not the words are what I enjoy the most. Tho, it would be nice to know what he's saying. Lam Toro is a great album that was casually playing in the background while I worked today. And, when it was over I played it again. I think that's the most basic definition of a good album. Well done. Again, I have no idea what he's saying
Baaba Maal's "Lam Toro" was definitely an enjoyable listen. I may not understand the Pulaar language, but the album delivered a vibe that transcended language. That said, I'm not sure it stood out from other West African music that I've heard. I couldn't tell you what differentiates "Lam Toro" from other works in its genre. Although to some extent music transcends language, the language barrier is perhaps somewhat to blame for this feeling. And lack of exposure. But it all adds up to make it hard to go above a 3 despite my enjoyment.
.
Sadly not a big fan of this :( I like a lot of the traditional instrumentation and stuff, but I dont like how they add cheesy synths and stuff all the time. I heard his other stuff is more traditional, so maybe I will listen to that sometime.
Warm and comforting.
There's a cool worldbeat/fusion vibe here that I dig, even with the very dated production on it.
A little bloat on an otherwise enjoyable album.
Not my typical cup of tea: It's not bad to say I'm a massive fan of world music but it jst doesn't confide to my usual listen habits. I really wasn't enjoying this album until the very last 2 minutes of the final song which bloody slapped. The guitar in that rescued it from the dreaded 1 but I still don't even remember that.