Reviews (page 2 of 13)
The funk transcends all borders and languages.
Definitely a cultural/language barrier here that restricts me from appreciating it as much as I likely should. Still, this album by Jorge Ben has entertaining instrumentals, rock influence, and vocal performances. Samba Funk and Samba Rock are definitely interesting genres to listen for in the future. Favorite Song: Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro Score: 83/100
This was funky and cool. I really enjoyed it. Maybe a bit too much of the Cuica for my taste, but strong album. 4/5
I am pleasantly surprised by this! Easily the best foreign album I've listened to for the 1001 albums challenge! I'm gonna give this a mid 4
I like listening to music like this, and getting to hear the unique composition styles.
I've never heard of this album or artist before. The opening track is pretty awesome...it sounds like David Byrne by way of Dr. John. And it's about soccer/football! The entire album is interesting and vibrant, all the way to the end. He's got a knack for catchy melodies. It has a well-deserved spot on this list. Glad to have been introduced to it.
The rhythm on this album is so good. It’s one that I want to give a 5. But without Portuguese, that’s rough. But you know what? Beats transcend language. 5 Boolean: True
With a cover like that, how can this be anything but incredible? I mean, no, I don’t understand anything he’s saying, but music is a universal language. Or something. Obviously I’ve heard of Jorge Ben Jor, formerly known as just Jorge Ben; I don’t live under a fucking rock. And this is a very good argument for knowing about him closely: the vocals are passionate and smooth, the grooves are deep and funky, the vibes are wonderful. Some favorites are opener “Ponta De Lança Africano,” which has some real great and catchy moments, and opens the album sooooo well. There are many songs that I could frankly listen to for 10+ minutes: “Taj Mahal,” the obvious centerpiece of the album, cultivates such a beautiful, rhythmic, funky vibe that I’m deeply compelled to love, and I truly genuinely wish that “Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro” was 15 minutes longer, just a perfect groove. Jorge’s vocals are absolutely incredible on “Xica Da Silva,” such a beautiful, spectacular song. “A História De Jorge” is so lively and fun and funky, I love it! There really isn’t a weak link on this entire album; pretty much every single song is a candidate for the best track. And the album pulls so heavily from deep funk in a way that not quite understanding all the lyrics doesn’t even detriment one’s listening experience, in a way it enhances it by forcing the (non-Portuguese speaking, in this case ME,) listener to focus more on the smooth, confident vocals and immaculate playing. It’s a digestible length, not too short but not unreasonable. Absolutely incredible, groovy, funky samba album. Highly, highly, highly recommend. 9.7/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES REASON: PHENOMENAL ALBUM BY AN INCREDIBLE AND VERY CULTURALLY IMPORTANT ARTIST
Decent listen
I had a marvellous time listening to this on a beautiful, crisp fall day.
Huge vibes… just not sure they’re my vibes
Beautiful album; I am definitely listening to some songs on this record again. The only part I didn't like was the background vocals; they sounded too much like a cringy preschool Christian song
This is why I started to follow this website - to discover new gems that are classics and fantastic and I’ve never heard before
me lo compraria
I enjoyed it
interesting vibe
Jorge Ben - África Brasil (1976) V good all the way through. Samba rock album. Very funky. Always wondered what that instrument that sounds like a monkey was ( also heard in the White Lotus theme song). It’s a cuica. It can be heard all the way through this great album Also sounded really good given it was made in 1976 A very strong ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fela?
3/10
This is the best African influenced Brazilian funk album I've listened to all week! Seriously though, fun album, with crazy good rhythms. I feel like I should be drinking a cocktail and dancing in a conga line or something instead of reading and replying to emails.
Vaikea keksiä tästä mitään järkevää sanottavaa. Ei ollenkaan huono levy ja varmaan tärkeä teos omassa genressään.
Aldo Luiz – cover art Jorge Vianna – final art Orlando Abrunhosa – photography Unrecognisable portrait, so Aldo put big type on it. Nothing to dislike about the music, nothing to like either.
Somewhat liked it. It felt like forced shout singing.
This is awesome. So vibrant and energetic and groovy. It's just.. cool. Very easy to listen to. No idea what he's saying but it's a vibe. Already recommended it to my friends. Banger album.
Wasnt sure what I was getting into, didnt expect to be won over like this though. Incredibly brazilian with a lot of soul, I'm sure I'm coming back to this one.
Incredible!
One of the great Brazilian albums. The production is superb: everything sits exactly where it should, and the whole band — percussion, bass, that electric guitar — moves as a single body around Jorge’s voice. Nothing is decorative. Samba, funk and rock fused so completely you stop hearing the seams.
Wel grappig ofzo, niet heel bijzonder verder
It was okay as background music, wouldn’t really seek out again
Pretty good pretty good
I have not heard this before. I said it before, I love Brazilian music from the 60s and 70s with psychedelic influences, and I also love funk music with African influences and I love it when it kicks ass and this does all that. And you can rock out to it.
This is a very fun vibe but pretty much the same thing throughout
Albumiño exelentiño
Brazil continues to impress on this list. Great listen.
Had not heard this record from the Brazilian artist before. Among his records that I have heard, this one has more of a western focus at times, which might make it a more palatable listen to some people. However, in overall quality it is far behind 'Fôrça Bruta' and 'A Tábua de Esmeralda', which I believe are more iconic records of his discography. 7/10 [SWAP]
Not my favorite but a decent listen
Yeah that was good. I vibed the whole time.
3.2 2x interesting but Erika doesn't like camisa dez due to Flamengo hah
Rätt najs. Men hade kanske önskat lite mindre konstiga ljud, cow bells ä allt vad fan det är.
next up is africa brasil, a MPB album by brazilian artist jorge ben jor. a bit meatier and heavier compared to his past work, probably the most notable thing about this album is jorge's incorporation of the electric guitar, this is the first time he's choosing to go for electric instead of acoustic. some very groovy and lively musical tracks, really. a lot of written material is no doubt very personal to the guy, essentially using music as a way to fixate and communicate his favorite themes and interests. brazil really seems to be one of the best countries when it comes to classic music selections. like i can't say i'm surprised that i'm rating this so high, but it really really says a lot, there's a lot of brazilian subgenres that consistently just pump out some of the best music you've ever heard in your life. and this one is no exception, it's very nice.
Really enjoyed this samba funk rock fusion album from an artist I'd never heard of before.
Jorge Ben Jor’s Africa Brasil is an interesting and energetic album that blends samba, funk, soul, and Brazilian popular music into something that feels distinctly its own. I liked it overall, especially the way Ben Jor brings African influences and themes of Black identity and heritage into his music without sacrificing the warmth and groove of his sound. There are some really engaging moments here, with the rhythm section and guitar work giving the album a strong sense of movement. At its best, the music feels lively, loose, and infectious, and there’s a lot to appreciate in the way Ben Jor combines different traditions. That said, I did find the album a little tiring at times. The consistent rhythmic intensity and relatively similar atmosphere across some of the tracks made it feel somewhat long, and I occasionally found my attention drifting. Still, there’s enough character and originality here to make it an interesting listen, particularly for anyone interested in the connections between Brazilian and African musical traditions. Overall, Africa Brasil is a fascinating and groove-heavy record with a strong cultural identity. It didn’t completely hold my attention throughout, but I enjoyed exploring it and can definitely see why it’s regarded as an important album.
It's a good album, however it's not my favorite. It incorporates a lot of Rock music and it was definitely better than I thought!
Absolute banger of an album!
A bit different from anything I would normally listen to. However as a one off its OK but probably wouldn't listen again
Reminds me of the Tiki jungle noises album. Lots of monkey-like noises. I might be into monkey jazz!!
Enjoyed this. Will probably listen again.
This album is awesome. Groovy and funky. Even though I can’t understand the lyrics myself from a bit of research they seem to carry a lot of weight, talking about race, poverty and colonialism. A brilliant discovery
Enjoyed this a lot more than I should have, it's funky. Will be coming back to it
Meh. 2/5
no estaban todas las canciones en spotify
Funkeh, certainly transcends the monotony of world music I find the cover really creepy, just me?
Holy moly this is it, funky as hell had me dancing in the car the entire way through will be back to this 4.5
Interesting. A bit of bossa nova, fun rythms overall, nice to have in the background, but I wouldn't choose it purposely to listen to it.
i can’t say this is my first taste of brazilian pop. but it’s (usually) always a pleasure to get an international album, especially in a language or genre i’m not familiar with. i liked most of the songs but near the end of the album some songs had this reoccurring sound in the background that, honestly, reminded me of the bird sounds on some of the rio soundtrack. but in this instance, it was unbearable, leading me to skip one of the songs before it even hit 10 seconds. but it was good overall. 3.5
Enjoyed this. Fun and upbeat. Fave was Ponta de Lanca. Also liked Tahj Mahal and Cavaleiro.
Great! Some World music again!
I had a tropicalia album two days ago that barely got 2 stars from me. This one is almost getting 5. Turns out, I needs the funk.
very enjoyable, i've always liked samba every now and then and this was especially nice while cleaning today.
Jazz, but not too bad.
Excellent album, great beats, and made me want to dance around the kitchen, lol, I’m liking the blending
put this one on the back burner as I was pretty busy today. Still going to give it a listen though!
Fun and easy to listen to. There’s some great grooves on here.
I have no idea what they were saying, but I followed this album into a full afternoon of Brazilian tunes on Spotify and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Extremely cool
Not my vibe
It's nice, actually. Pretty chill.
Bossa nova plus a few extras. Fun and energetic.
Fine background music
pleasant
A very good time, made all the better by the incredibly catchy and energetic rhythms on each track. Well worth a listen and likely one of the more distinctive experiences from this list.
Not my vibe
So vibey, added a few to the summer BBQ playlist!
favs: ponta de lança africano meus filhos, meu tesouro taj mahal xica da silva rating 1.7/5
My third Brazilian artist inside of a fortnight and this is probably the best one yet. Surprisingly bluesy and funky, with a really full sound to it without being overstuffed. Sadly, it’s probably not an album I would choose to reach for, but I would enjoy it if someone else put it on. Just in case anyone else has a moment of going “Wait… Isn’t that…?”, I looked it up and Rod Stewart did apparently “subconsciously” borrow the melody for one of these tracks, but he did at least then donate all proceeds to UNICEF.
This was great! Had no idea what to expect. It's funky, lively and fun. Surprised that some of these songs were not sampled in late-90s house tunes, though I guess Rod Stewart did in 1978 with Do Ya Think I'm Sexy.
Very decent album, wasn't expecting to like it
Always into hearing new stuff once.
Taj Mahal’s chorus is the same melody as “If You Think I’m Sexy” by Rod Stewart. There’s an instrument used here I’ve only heard in the Austin Powers soundtrack that always makes me laugh/pleased. The first half was all real solid then I kinda just tuned out.
Loved this! I got way more of a 60/70’s Cuban vibe more than an Africa Brasil vibe but what do I know about music?!
This album might just upgrade your life. Hear me out. Are you cooking dinner? Are you doing the dishes? Are you logging in to pay for your electric bill? That's sounds dull AF, fam. Now pop on África Brasil. Turn up the volume and let the people know. You may be doing chores but you're still down. Okay, it's in Portugueses but there isn't going to be a pop quiz. And yeah this record is older than Star Wars. But you know what else is old? FIRE
Heerlijke plaat
Love the vibe on this album and the fantastic musicianship. I don't understand a lick of Portugeuse but this sounds great!
I really enjoyed the grooviness and felt that this hit the mark of being creative, catchy, danceable, and well executed all-around. The moments where the group vocals were integrated were often my favorites. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Xica Da Silva, Ponta De Lança Africano, Title Track
Some strong musical moments for sure, though did not feel connected or moved.
Africa Brasil is definitely one of the strongest albums I've heard so far. Every song on this record is brimming with life, joy and emotion. What especially stands out is Jorge's voice, which is quaking with emotion throughout all of the tracks. The guitar work and especially the drumming are also big standouts. A beautiful fusion of music of Brazil and the African diaspora.
Cool Latin album had me singing along to words i don't understand
the entire album is such a great vibe. I would absolutely listen to this again and I would buy it if I came across it...and..I have listened to it again, and I have already bought it. My standout tracks are Hermes Trismegesto Escreveuem and Cavalerio Do Cavalo Imaculado. 4 stars
eeeee interesante mezcla de musicas, pero no resono en mi interior, se que tendra su lugar, o no. no auto
This is really the kind of album you do want to get on the list, type of work you want people to hear unlike endless stream of below-mid indie rock offerrings. This is really something - a unique combination of western styles mixed with brasilian samba - one of a kind sound. I have already rated this at 4.5 on RM and thank God I have already discovered and grew into this wonderful music. Probably 5 stars just as a statement, great work!
Good flow, non-English and interesting instrumentals
Pleasant, but this list becomes weirder and more scattershot by the day.
Fun and funky would definitely be the words to describe this. I’m currently on holiday in the Mediterranean and this feels like the perfect summer album for this holiday, I saw someone say this is why this list is so great as you discover albums like this that you would never have found on your own and I agree! This is a great album
4/5. There’s something slightly eerie about the album cover of this one to me. I think it’s the slight blur of the shot making it ever so slightly uncanny. As for the album itself, this is some really good MBP. Brings in some electric guitar which gives it that sense of edge that you get from similar artists like “Novos Baianos” while also including some funk and samba elements too. Lots of great instrumental grooves and jams on this thing whether that be the opener “Ponta De Lanca Africano” or “Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado.” One of the better new discoveries for me on the generator so far for sure.
A couple of months ago, I've accidentally stumbled upon a Chico Buarque album. That turned out to be my defining moment of musical exploration in 2026, as I have been in love with Brazilian music ever since. Among my new listens was also one of Jorge Ben Jor's albums, Força Bruta, which I absolutely adored as well. It goes without saying that I was ecstatic when I saw this album was my listen of the day. Oh my days, this exceeded even my highest expectations. What an incredible, life-affirming album. Different from what I expected, somewhat of a reinvention with its blend of numerous different styles, but it's executed perfectly. A 40-minute eargasm. My plan is to expand on the genre by the end of the year, but I doubt there are many albums better than this one, or even on the same level. Construçao is still my favourite Brazilian album I've heard so far, but maybe that will change with further listens, this one came pretty close. Favourite track: Ponta De Lança Africano (Umbabarauma)
Why aren't we talking about this all the time?
What the hell just deadass the best stuff ever
One of those rare nice surprises in this list. I’m not sure what’s going on but it’s a great sound. And then I realise I’ve heard Taj Mahal before - prompted by the Malcolm Gladwell piece on plagiarism. Worth a read too.
What a great time! I loved all the funky instruments i think theyre quite common in this type of music but theyre so fun. Would probably give it another listen if given the chance. I saved two songs: taj mahal and meus filhos, meu tesouro.
Such an interesting sound and I’m definitely adding a few to my regular rotation but some didn’t hook me as much as the others. That’s the only reason it’s a 4 and not a 5 for me. Some of those songs are an 8 on their own though. Amazing work.
Fun and groovy! Language barrier is a thing so i can’t rate it too highly, sorry. Standouts are tracks 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8.
Rich and intoxicating samba straight outta Brazil. Jorge Ben always makes amazing music and this is no different. I love the amount of detail in the sound. Every single instrument radiates with warmth that takes over my body and makes me wanna dance. The amount of musical layers is absolutely mesmerizing, there is always something to latch on to and I totally love it.
What a cool album I’d never heard of before.
Yikes
One of my fave albums this app has shown me!! Love the genre blending and at points it reminded me of scritti politti!
never heard of jorge ben jor before. but i LOVED this. totally full of energy.
What a thrill of a record, a real party. Opening with "Ponta de lança africano (Umbabarauma)" is one hell of a mission statement. This is definitely encouraging me to check more of his work, because wow this is glorious. Another reminder for me to dig into MPB at some point too.
Fun upbeat album. Very lively
Not my style
Seriously fun, seriously funky. You can't not have a great time listening to this
Happened to have just heard it for the first time a few weeks back. Hit even better on a second listen. Playlisted.
Enjoyed
Not my thing
Sanaakaan en ymmärtänyt mutta aivan helvetin hyvä meininki
Loved it, especially the funk
3.7
This was alright but it didn’t really capture me. It was rhythmically interesting but it all tended to blend together and pass me by.
A surprising listen. Not an artist I’d heard beforehand and so had minimal expectations and was impressed with the fusion of afrobeat funk influences with more traditional Brazilian samba. There were large chunks of it that made me think of a Fela Kuti/Seu Jorge amalgam but there was the odd dud from the middle of the album onwards (‘o plebeu’ sounds like I’m stuck in a 70’s Brazilian gameshow hell). I have to talk about the cuica though. It’s the first time I think I’ve listened to it used so frequently on an album unironically. I get that it is traditional to this style of music and adds a rhythmic and melodic accompaniment but Jesus Christ it didn’t half get on my nerves towards the end. Good album nonetheless.
meh
derrama personalidad, estilo y una proeza musical brutal en cada segundo de su duración
Pleasant surprise. Nice and chill
Sure beats the fake blues of the Yardbirds. Crazy how diverse Brazilian music is.
Another album that single can single handedly make the entire list worth going through. An awesome mix of funk and rock into this perfect blend of dance music that also carries it beyond. The usage of distinctly different percussion instruments throughout, the backing vocals and the little chirps and tweets in the background give the music a rich life that feels like your drifting through the jungles of Brazil. Jorge's vocals are fantastic to the ear even if I can't understand him, it all comes together in one beautiful package, this is the kind of music I could listen to for the rest of my life. I will be excited to pass this album and artist along to anyone with an interest in funk or world music.
Wonderful album, made we wanna dance at work all day
Good beats on this.
This all sounded like it could have been on the soundtrack for the movie "The Secret Agent" or maybe a 70's porn movie.
3 - Fun!
Brasilianische Popmusik
Really fun nice vibe whilst driving!
Nice surprise
Enjoyed more than I thought I would
I know this album by heart. I've listened to this album a million times. I still don't know Portuguese but I love every word of it. "Taj Mahal," "Xica da Silva," "Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma)," just all of the songs are ingrained in me for the past 20 years. I was so lucky to find a copy of this when I was in college and I'll fight people over this album. Automatic 5 stars, one of my desert island picks, Top 3 albums. (5/5, would rate it even higher if possible)
This just doesn't quite do it for me. It's fun, it's a step out of the regular culture. It is groovin. But it just doesn't quite seem like something that is to my taste. Either way, I don't quite finding myself tune it out as much as I have the lesser albums that cause my interest to wane. It is musically interesting and a good lick of world music to widen my palette I suppose.
2/4
I liked this! Very funky and fun African Brazilian jazz.
pretty good fun danceable music
Did not like it
I don't really care for samba or rock
I've listened to a couple of other albums by Jorge Ben and enjoyed them, but wasn't super crazy about them, but I really enjoyed this one. It is really funky and super fun. I recognized the first song from either Sepultura or Soul Fly. I will definitely listen to this one again, very fun album. Low 5!
Good.
Cool sound, does not feel like it's from the 70s at all. Not racing back necessarily, but a great listen regardless. Can't decide whether this is a 3 or 4.
Beautiful Brazilian album
This was fun! Great afro-samba beats throughout - unsurprisingly the African and Brazilian sounds combine into a great melange of rhythm, and JBJ has a lot of confidence on the mic. It's world music that's actually World Music and not baffled language for 'not in English'. Took me a couple songs to grok onto what it was doing but once I did I had a good time. Taj Mahal is a real standout - it does better with that smooth beat than Rod Stewart did later on. Fav tracks: Taj Mahal, Xica Da Silva, Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado
This is The List. I had no prior knowledge of Jorge Ben Jor and now I am a fan. I was enjoying this album, with the retro disco-meets-Santana feel when I learned that this album is older than I am. Hermes Trismegisto was a bluesy disco swinger, O Filosofo sounded a lot like Velvet Underground. Taj Mahal is straight up If You Think I’m Sexy from Rod Stuart, just a Portuguese version. My key song was, appropriately, A Historia de Jorge, which not only had a great vibe but a good jam. This album was awesome!
Random thoughts: * great album for a hot weekend * several of the melodies felt or sounded familiar. I’m wondering if traditional pop music lifted the melodies and I’ve heard them elsewhere * this reminded me of the city of god soundtrack. I’ll have to play that one too. * the fusion of samba, African, and funk was a perfect concoction * I’m gonna have to pull this one out again * btw - Jorge Ben wrote Mas Que Nada which is one of Brazilian music’s most famous tunes
Upbeat and enjoyable. However, it's not my type of thing overall, although I can appreciate its strengths. Favourite Track: Taj Mahal
Very good, I enjoyed this Three cheers for Jorge Ben
Not my thing at all
Rytmisk med mycket trummor.
Fun album.
Almost wanted to give this four stars , it will in the app though. This is really kind of rocking and funky in a way I didn't expect and I think the African and Latin rhythms really give it its own flair. Weird note the ending vocal na na refrain of "Taj Mahal" I swear to goodness sounds exactly like the chorus to "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" which came out 3 years later. 7.8 ★★★½
This was quite funky, but Brazilian music is not my favourite. 3.5 stars
MPB isn't my favorite genre, but this brings in some electric guitar and funk elements that are pretty cool . Highlights for me were "Ponta de Lança Africano", "Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro", and the title track. 3.5 stars.
Not my favourite Brazilian singer but some lush funky carnival vibes and Taj Mahal is a corker of a tune - covered on Paulinho Da Costa’s Sunrise which is possibly an even more essential album. Melody of Taj Mahal also copied by Rod Stewart on his 1978 single Do Ya Think I’m Sexy and put to excellent use on Lisa Lougheed’s Here I Go Again which appears on her synthpop album Evergreen Nights and on a couple of montages in the 80s cartoon show The Raccoons. 3.5 stars.
Now we’re talking!! I don’t know what genre is this but I love the energy of it!! Sounds very Brazilian and I would love to get more albums like this!!!!
every song sounds like the perfect needle drop for an establishing scene in brazil for an iron man movie, extremely fun highlights: ponta de lança africano hermes trismegisto escreveu o plebeu taj mahal cavaleiro do cavalo imaculado africa brasil (zumbi)
Good beat. Got very samey and wished I knew what they were singing.
Weird brasilian music
Hmmm….acceptable funky rhythms
Funky! No clue what he was saying but I did enjoy it!
First listen
Fuck Rod Stewart
ok, reviewing the reviewer, but y'all are absolutely cooked, I knew this would have a lower overall and some random Neil young b side. This is maybe the most organic and original sounding album on this whole list. His voice is stunning the band is amazing, it's emotional and beautiful from every angle. Buy y'all like "nahhh give me some coked up folk singer's 10th album from 1978". Because he was all like "hey hey, rock and roll will never die. burn out, don't fade away" -Embarrassing.
Great album to be introduced to brazilian music
Hell yeah, so vibey and love this aesthetic. 7.5 / 10 Best track/s: O Filosofo, O Plebeu, Ponta De Lanca Africano
#209 Heard Before? No! I think of myself as a casual tropicalia fan, and I know "Mas Que Nada" and "Pais Tropical", but all these songs are new to me. Notes: - great use of cuica (among other instruments)! percussion heaven! on this list, any break from standard drum kit is welcome. - i would prefer it if the production were a little more dry and punchy, but it's not distracting. - at the risk of exaggerating, these are some of the most consistently exciting (if somewhat crowded) arrangements I've ever heard. a constantly mutating, often unpredictable mix of instruments, with passionate lead and joyous backing vocals. - the horns! the synth! the whistles! - i could easily write a whole essay about the song structure here. balance, economy, variety, hooks - it's got everything. - on my third listen, I'm still running into surprises. seriously under Jorge Ben's spell. all the complexity and subtlety of so much of the music i love, but without the glum-faced pretention. i understand there are serious and important lyrical themes here, but they are delivered with fervent feeling and surrounded by danceable jams. powerful. - when in doubt, more cuica! Verdict: Wow. Blown away. Easily the first truly wonderful surprise I've had from this project. Listen Again? Certainly, plus I've got more Jorge Ben Jor queued up right now.
Love me some Samba
Mostly fun, again no idea if it's good. And got Rod Stewart to give royalties to UNICEF so that's good.
Nice album, I don’t know what head singing about but it doesn’t matter because band is great.
I put this on as I was doing work outside, and it was perfect for that. It's pretty funky. 6.5/10
With the chants and callbacks it rides a line between being catchy and too repetitive, but overall it had a fun energy that I enjoyed
love Jorge Ben Jor. Keep the Brazilian music coming all day. I love the female singers in the background. I dont recall ever hearing this album, but I've heard the first song somewhere. The other version he's recorded of the second song is my favorite song of his, "Hermes Trismegisto E Sua Celeste Tábua De Esmeralda." This album is noticeably more funk-inspired than that one, with electric instruments and aggressive grooves. Strong 4 to a light 5
I was very glad to see this one pop up! I can't remember when or where, but at some point probably 10 to 20 years ago I read that this album was excellent; I never managed to find a copy, though. The 1st song I already know (and like), since it was the first track from one of the first releases of David Byrne's Luaka Bop label, "Brazil Classics 1," which was released in 1989 (and which I acquired soon thereafter). The other tracks are new to me, but uniformly excellent. If you look at the Wikipedia listing for the album, you can see that there are a lot of musicians and, in particular, a lot of percussionists, who play on this album. Although I've started learning a little Portuguese on Duolingo, I understand very little of the lyrics, but maybe that's not a huge deal, since I mostly ignore lyrics anyway (even if they're in English). Anyway, given the high quality musical enjoyment throughout this album, it has to be between 4 and 5 stars for me, and I think I have to give this one 5 stars. It feels like an album that would stand up to many listens, and reward frequent return visits.
The chances of me liking an album that's Brazilian and from the 70's are very high. This was no exception. I also already liked Jorge Ben, but I hadn't heard this album before, so this was a treat. There wasn't a song I didn't enjoy. Some were more simple and poppy, but still quite fun to sing and move along to. Some were really funky and turbo charged with Samba. I will be revisiting. . . .
Fun Fun Fun
BEFORE: I've heard of this guy but otherwise I am going in totally blind, which is exciting. The only Brazilian music I listen to on the regular is Sepultura. Let's go! AFTER: Straight off the bat, way more bluesy and psychedelic than I expected. This is pretty awesome tbh. Catchy as hell and the second half of the album is particularly strong. I wish I understood Portuguese. I didn't take detailed track notes but just let the vibe of the album wash over me given it was all new. There is a lot going on - traditional rock instruments alongside a huge range of Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban percussion, keys, brass, Ron Burgundy jazz flute etc. Also I did recognise one of the tracks, Xica Da Silva. No idea where from - maybe a DJ with much better taste than me? HIGHLIGHTS: The whole album is a lot of fun - kinetic, funky and full of passion. My favourite tracks on first listen were Ponta De Lanca Africano, Taj Mahal, Xica Da Silva. A Historia De Jorge, Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado and Africa Brasil (Zumbi). This will be going into the rotation so will be interesting to see what else emerges. LOWLIGHTS: Nothing that stands out. I enjoyed some tracks more than others on first listen but I think the quality here is pretty consistent. I guess if you don't like the overall vibe this might be a tough listen, but that also means that you're probably a knob. VERDICT: An easy 5 stars. Magic.
I like this album and would maybe listen to it while trying to get work done. Upbeat and dancy enough to keep my brain engaged without the distraction of understanding the words. Not earth shattering and probably not one I will actually revisit much in the future
369/1089 really liked this one. Some really fun and funky Samba. This will be returned to for SURE. this’ll make for great reading music. and the score will only go up i think faves: Camisa 10…, A história de jorge, Meus Filhos…, Ponta da lanca africano 75/100
Boom! It has been a while since I have dug into world music and this album is a straight banger. I've never heard of this artist but I can't wait to dig a little deeper into his music. This album is a grower and a show-er. Can't wait to dig in a little deeper.
This feels very over-produced. There’s so much going on that the rhythms get lost under it all. Excellent musicianship though.
Banging
Nice.
Fuck yeah this guy rocks. Makes me excited for next year's world cup.
This is the album that’s probably surprised me the most, no idea what was being said but it was fun listening
Good backgro good foreign background music und listening to music
I enjoyed this despite not understanding a single word of any song. 7/10 Top song Cavaleiro Do Cavalo imaculado
Excellent! Very enjoyable.
I've been meaning to listen to this one in a while; it didn't disappoint! I must say however it was a lot more "rocky" than I thought it would be - the album cover had me under the illusion of a much more sad, downtrodden sound (perhaps the lyrics were where the music wasn't I don't know). I will be re listening for sure!
Sounds great, a refreshing and varied album thats funky, inspired and uses world instruments very well. I wish i could understand the lyrics though. 4.0 (sorry for no reviews too depressed)
It’s certainly very pleasant to listen to- upbeat, rhythmic, dancy type stuff. Feels like music you’d hear in the background of a movie set in some exotic locale, be that South America, Africa, or the Caribbean. It has that salsa/samba flow to it, some ska-like parts, and even kinda funk. It was a nice departure from the stuff I’ve been listening to lately, even if I wouldn’t add it to a playlist necessarily. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Es de esos discos que puedes imaginarte la escena de la pelicula en tu cabeza mientras lo escuchas. Vaya joya la de Caballero con caballo inmaculado.
Unforgetable.
Great music, really enjoyed it.
It might have been ok, but I cannot stand the sound of the cuíca, which is used on nearly every track.
This might be my favorite non-English album of this entire project. This album fuckin' ripped. Loved listening to it, and I hope to return in the future.
Fun sound
Solid stuff.
🔁 could loop
Send help, the groove got me
I could listen to this album on repeat
The MPB bug just left me funny enough, but it was sick and I'll probably have it on repeat in a few years.
This is one I would have never discovered on my own. It was a fascinating listen, even if it won’t necessarily be something I’ll revisit.
Was expecting another generic coffee shop background music thing. This was totally different. Brilliant!
This was so much fun, out of some of the international albums I’ve listened to so far this really did it for me. The production and instrumentals were awesome, although I can’t speak Portuguese I could feel the emotion in what he was singing. These are the albums I was hoping to come across by doing this list, something I would never come across normally but so glad I got the chance to dive in
shoutout Brazil
Vibes: immaculate. This was a fun listen
YES!!! Few things in life are as breezy and joyful as some Brazilian Funk!! Fun album from front to back, and special mention to the cuica player who was using it in ways I've never heard before! Love it! Standouts: Ponta De Lança Africano • O Filósofo • O Plebeu • Taj Mahal • Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado • Camida 10 Da Gavea
Great breezy listen, perfect for driving or walking around on a sunny day. However, it didn't change my life or impress me too much.
The first half of this album in particular had some really good beats.
Interesting, but not for me
Fun.
Pretty good Samba-infused Rock (or Rock-infused Samba). Also, very political like most of these very famous Brazilian albums are. I do wonder why is it the political albums get championed the most by non-Portuguese speakers. Just a curiously thing I've noticed. Either way, that doesn't really matter if the music is good, as is the case here. Key tracks: Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma) Taj Mahal
Review - a really good Brazilian album. Didn't know Taj Mahal was a cover (had heard Masayoshi Takanaka's version), also hadn't spotted that Rod Stewart ripped it off. Score - 7/10 Need to listen? YES
If I hadn't have just come off Kate Bush's The Dreaming, there is a solid chance I would have DNF'd this. But after that meticulously curated unlistenable mess, I had to at least accept that this had some groove to it. I wouldn't say I hated this, but it's also a long way from something I enjoyed.
Interesting.
O Brasil é o melhor pais do mondo. Realmente ame demasiado este álbum. Lo disfruté muchísimo.
Getz and Gilberto wish they could be this fucking good
I enjoyed this a lot. No idea what it was about, but it was nice to listen to.
I actually got this one just before we started this as a group. I loved it. It’s an absolute vibe. 4.5
Banger after banger after banger etc so funny taj mahal got ripped off and became "do ya think I'm sexy?"
fonkayyy
7 - GOOD
Ponta de lanca africano - 4 Hermes trismegisto escreveu - 4 O filosofo - 3 Meus filhos, meu tesouro - 3 O plebeu - 3 Taj mahal - 3 Xica da silva - 3 A historia de jorge - 3 Camisa 10 da gavea - 3 Cavaleiro do cavalo imaculado - 3 Africa brasil (zumbi) - 4
Love it! Great vibes
I've gotten to the point where these albums aren't impressive to me. Funkiness can only take you so far, and yeah, it's far from a bad album, but I just don't get any enjoyment out of listening to this.
I've heard Taj Mahal before but for some reason never went to listen to the artist - damn that's a mistake! Anyway, better late than never. This is very good.
Has a funky samba sound I liked, though they did start to run together by the end.
Amé.
Very good and groundbreaking album. The way he merged african music and samba is top notch and edgy at the time. Think he overused some sounds but they made sens for the songs individually so not sure what to think about the rating
Braziliero vibeess, nije lose, al nema svih pjesama na spotifyu
Bra! Mysigt album att lyssna på. Dansigt och svängigt. Jag blir genast på gott humör.
really fun brazilian album, some actual bangers
Me in the shower when I control the shampoo dead with a first touch
This album is awesome. Groovy and funky. Even though I can’t understand the lyrics myself from a bit of research they seem to carry a lot of weight, talking about race, poverty and colonialism. A brilliant discovery
9/10 This sure was an unexpected album. I really felt the passion in the vocals, and the instrumentation was very smooth, fantastic use of the drums and trumpets.
Woo doggie, what an album. The chants, the beats. Barely understood a word of the lyrics but vibes had me. Ponta de Lanca Africano and Taj Mahal were my faves.
Great stuff. Super interesting fusion of different genres. 4.5/5.0: Excellent
extremely fun album
Heerlijk. Samba met meer rock invloed.
Some nice music with a quality vocals by Jorge Ben Jor. Smooth rhythms and danceabke tunes.
Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma) - 4/5 Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu - 3.5/5 O Filósofo - 3/5 Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro - 4/5 O Plebeu - 3/5 Taj Mahal - 4/5 Xica da Silva - 4/5 A História de Jorge - 3.5/5 Camisa 10 da Gávea - 3/5 Cavaleiro do Cavalo Imaculado - 4/5 África Brasil (Zumbi) - 4/5 Not my cup of usual tea but it's a fun jaunt. A good mix of Brazilian popular music and African theme to create some latin-funk-worldbeat fusion that fun to listen to throughout. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Ponta de Lança Africano, Taj Mahal, Xica da Silva
I enjoyed this album. It was fun and refreshing.
starts out pretty strong also african vibes, but way funkier
Complex yet accessible Perfect blend of funk/samba/rock influences
Pretty high energy and fun. The list actually has a pretty good selection of music not in English which has made for some fun listens. That bass in O Filosofo was a highlight for me.
Liked this quite a bit, but wasn't totally blown away.
I didn't understand it but I enjoyed it. 4/5.
De repente quiero ir a brasil
LOVED!
Wow! After a run of bad to meh albums this is a breath of fresh air! This almost seems to me like what it would sound like if Sly Stone was born in Brazil.
Very cool guitar.
Bit of a mixed bag, with some tracks perfect for a summer BBQ/party and others just a little too innovative for that vibe. Worth checking out other material though - and also this genre
Listened, but wasn't really into it.
Uplifting and funky album. Reminds me of 90s soccer.
A joy
새로운 느낌의 음악이었다. 뭔가 전통적인 느낌이 많이 나는 듯한 느낌이었다. 음악 자체는 나쁘지 않았다. It was music with a fresh feel. It seemed to have a strong traditional vibe. The music itself wasn't bad.
I really like his voice, the funky songs are kinda mid so far. Two songs in. These middle songs nice I love the o plebeu la la la la la part. A historia has a great rhythm in the beginning Not usually a fan of boogie or anything like that but this was a solid listening experience. I would play this at a party it would be cool 2nd to last song absolute banger
Really a 4.5!! This was such a fun listen. There is so much life and energy to this album.
Groovy yet energetic
Second time through for this. It’s wonderful. Don’t need to know Portuguese. Music is a universal language. 4 Boolean:True
I don't understand a lick of Portuguese and this is still a great record..Brazilian and Funk classic.
Die afrikanischen und südamerikanischen Beiträge zu dieser Liste konnten mich bislang nicht überzeugen. Bei einer Kombination aus beidem bin ich also skeptisch. Aber das ist echt gar nicht schlimm. Auch nicht super, aber geht im Vergleich schon.
Ich schwanke zwischen „interessant“ und „unerträglich“.
Halte ich für gut, Gesang mag ich aber nicht immer.
By coincidence, this album has appeared during the World Cup with Brazil playing Morocco over the weekend in an entertaining game. This would have made a decent background noise as I always turn the commentary off. I'll play this the next time Brazil are on at a sensible time! Cool album with rump-shaking beats. Good stuff!
This was a pleasant surprise, rootsy and funky. Like a Portuguese language samba JJ cale. Loved how he would sit in a groove and allow the band to lock in. Also surprised to discover the tune to do you think I’m sexy was originally here in the song Taj Mahal. One of the hidden surprises of this list
This was really fun! The opening track was my favorite.
Sommervibber.
This had rhythm and soul, and I felt it while I was working, which is a good sign since the last two albums I listened to weren't hitting. I can understand Portuguese, but that doesn't matter; the listening experience was a vibe! Good rec today.
Good, laid-back summer music
Destaca este listado por la abundancia de artitas americanos y británicos, es decir la mayoría es en inglés. Fuera de esto, hay mucha world music y sobre todo música brasileña. Sería necesario revisar la escasez de música, latina, pero sobre todo en castellano o al menos mediterránes (italiana y española). Artistas como Sabina; Radio Futura o Serrat, obviamente Rosalía, parece imprescindible que estén aquí. En cuanto al dosco que nos ocupa, es importante, de gran influenci por ejemplo en Byrne, pero prefiero el sonido tropicalia y mucho más Clube da Esquina.
Cuica labai gera. Gaila, kad pusės dainų nėra prieinamų.
Brazilian soul is certainly an interesting choice of album for a Friday. It is a really good album, mixing American style rock, funk, and soul with traditional African-influenced Brazilian music styles. The songs are very upbeat and catchy while sounding like something entirely unique. Lyrics seem to be a weakness of the album, but my understanding of Portuguese is too limited to be sure of this. I do, however, really like this. I find it to be a really enjoyable album that you can just groove to without having to understand it. This might be the best album I've had all week(sorry Stereolab & Parliament fans, this is just better than both of those were- and they were pretty good albums themselves, though flawed). This album is ranked #8 of 18 albums for 1976. Other 1976 albums rated by me: Joan Armatrading(10/18)-4
This album is very enjoyable, with some pretty nice jazz moments and a mixture of different latin musics. I've loved listening to it. It's been a very beautiful musical experience, full of joy and different sounds. It's a pretty interesting album, with some bits of experimentation and fusion that match the music in here perfectly, giving it also some wonderful layers.
A fun album that further cemented my sense that Brazil in the 1960s and ‘70s was vibrant for its music as well as its football (in spite of the military dictatorship). As much as ‘O Jogo Bonito’ was more myth than reality for those teams, this almost feels like a sound track for that vibe- free flowing, fun, and well executed. I’m not sure I would place this any higher than ‘nice background music’ though ultimately. A good listen, but stuck in my head more for the vibe than specific moments.
Another great album from Brazil in the early 70s. This was a fun, lively album collection of beautifully written songs. 'Ponta De Lança Africano', 'Xica Da Silva' and 'Taj Mahal' were my favourites.
This is the kind of album for which I’m really glad this list exists. There’s very little chance I’d have ever listened to it had I not signed up on this website, but I’m glad I did. It’s a really fun Brazilian album, with a cool and (to my British ears) unusual samba-rock sound, in which the percussion is a big highlight. I can’t say if the lyrics are any good, but I thought the vocals sounded pretty solid too. I probably won’t listen to it often, but I enjoyed it quite a bit, enough for a strong 3 stars.
taj mahal really good song
Loved this, the sort of thing I was hoping to find more of in this book. High 4 but boosting to remind myself
I genuinely enjoyed this album. I love Brazilian music and I love learning about Brazilian culture.
Pretty fun songs, got my feet tapping.
Interesting. Never heard of before.
Ai a brincadeira começou a ficar séria de verdade. Jorge Ben é monstro sagrado, e África Brasil é um dos discos lançados na época em que o Bem estava em seu ápice criativo e de construção musical. Top 5 discos do Ben pra mim, e que sempre seja louvado aonde quer que ele apareça. Um dos maiores artistas vivos de todos os tempos na música mundial.
wel leuk! maar na een tijdje heb ik er wel genoeg ervan.
portugees klinkt als frans en spaans gemixt..
It surprised me how much I liked this album.
Only good vibes and something portuguese that is not a bossa! Feels like a random inclusion with the rich brazilian music scene but oh well
Not my jam but pretty cool. Won't relisten.
Nice
Fun samba rock. Might return to it in the future.
Muito bom. Algumas músicas eu já tinha ouvido sem saber que eram dele.
Couldn’t understand a lock but I didn’t hate it. I am sure he’s a legend in Brasil
Interesting mix of cultures.
This was really good. Another one that I've never heard of before that I discovered through this. Probably listen to it more and it's ranking will probably go up as I digest it further
I need to listen to more Brazilian music, the instrumentation on this album is so cool and it's super catchy. Favourites: Ponta de Lança Africano, Taj Mahal, Xica Da Silva
This had a fun rhythm to it and I think it does a good job of representing The Samba and MPB genres. 7/10
I mean it was pretty good. I don't think it's a genre I'll revisit, but it's fine.
This was fine. Won't list to it again, but "Taj Mahal" was good 2.5
Vergonhosamente, é a primeira vez que escuto um álbum inteiro do Jorge Ben. Gostei, achei bem vibes carnaval, tranquilo, até bem clima copa com várias referências de futebol. Preciso ouvir ele outra vez prestando atenção nas letras, já que como ouvi trabalhando acabei captando mais a vibe e o ritmo. Em termos de vibe e ritmo, achei gostoso mas não teve nada que me surpreendeu e que foi diferente para meus ouvidos como o álbum do Otis, por isso estou entre dar 3 ou 4 estrelas. De todo modo, acho esperado não ter nada surpreendente, afinal deve ser familiar exatamente pela influência basilar que Jorge Ben tem na música brasileira - nada mais justo.
3,5