Reviews (page 4 of 12)
Will listen again - highly enjoyable
I mean this is great and without this whole site I wouldn’t have found it. Great funky and fun tunes, I couldn’t care less that I don’t understand the lyrics, the vibe you get is all you need.
Cool background music, a few songs are really vibey. Portuguese still sounds like Russian to me.
Amazing! Most all genres of modern music are dependent on music from Africa. This shit was produced in 1975. I can the roots of so much music that followed and it still holds up today. Fuck yeah! This is why I suffer through the questionable shit!
I can get down
shaken my ass to who knows what he said!!!
I don’t have anything crasy to say
8 / 10
tuff, I do not speak any Portuguese but absolutly loved this banger of an album.
9/10 this album was so good and fun but the last song wasn’t my fav
There were a Brazilian good songs on this one All jokes aside I really enjoyed this album. Every song was fun as hell and it just makes you want to move. Love the instrumentation as well. I’m sure it would be even better if I actually understood the lyrics but I’m sure it’s not that important Out of all the albums we’ve had where I didn’t know a single song beforehand this was probably my favorite. Thank you 1001 albums
Is it wrong for me to say I don’t really vibe with this music because it’s not in english? The music is groovy and fun to listen to, but I feel like I could enjoy it more if I knew what he was singing. Forget the last statement, Taj Mahal is the best song on the album hands down, I was going to give it a 3, but this song makes it a 4.
I have to be completely honest I have never listened to any form of Brazilian music before, so I feel like I have nothing to compare it too. And, of course, the lyrics are completely lost on me. So all I really had to go on was the beat, the melody, the rhythms, and the general vibes, of which there are plenty. As something of an introduction to this genre, this album is incredible. While I though the first half to be amazing, the second seemed to be trying the same ideas but to a lesser effect. Camisa 10 Da Gavea has a great counter melody on flute, but just doesn't have the same intensity as some of the earlier tracks. The last two songs redeem things a bit, with Cavaleriro de Vacalo Imaculado returning to the high energy and the finale closing it off with a chorus of layered vocals. I had a great time listening to this album and now I want to listen to more of his music, especially considering this is his 14th studio album, and other similar artists. Did I need to hear this before I die? Definitely
hit the whip and neigh neigh to this
7/10
8/10 Best songs: Ponta Da Lança Africana, Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro, Taj Mahal '70s Brazilian samba meets African beats. As someone who doesn't really listen to any of this (and has little prior experience with it), I'm surprised by how much I like it. It's a good album.
Had my head bobbing almost immediately. A masterclass in layering percussion with some fantastic grooves and energy. A few songs gave me kind of a Paul Simon Graceland/Rhythm Of The Saints vibe, but this record stands on it's own. One of the rare times I'd say maybe it's a little too short as the closer left me wanting more.
Quite good fun. Hadn't heard it before.
Great fun. Such a strong opener but the album doesn’t then let up. A fascinating mix of sounds that just seems to work.
8/10 19.01.2026
The 1998 World Cup was my first proper football tournament. Bouncing between the Beeb and ITV, I don’t think I missed more than 15 minutes of the whole thing. Scotland out in the group stages; Ronaldo’s swallowed tongue (and R9 boots, which I pestered my mum for a pair of); Zidane’s towering, masterful performance in the final. (Over the past 27 years, any memory I might have had of England’s run has been almost completely eclipsed by the strength of my enthusiasm for Sainsbury’s petrol station’s commemorative player coin collection.) Airport 98 might, then, be the first TV advert I fully remember having an opinion of. (27 years later, the very idea of a kid having a “favourite advert” is faintly ridiculous; we simply don’t anymore have the monoculture to support such a notion.) And while the ad’s iconic soundtrack of “Mas, Que Nada!” is neither on this album, nor is it Ben’s original recording that features on the Nike spot anyway … that’s sort of beside the point for me. Because it’s there that this record takes me. To a time when the whole world felt so extraordinarily exciting. In crucible of the 90s, football and entertainment melded together in a way that’s now totally irreversible … but it strikes me listening to this record that, without the borrowed cultural capital of creators like Ben, that might never have happened. As metonym for carnivale Brazil – that arresting phantasmagoria of colour and sound that just means “party” no matter what language you speak – Ben is unsurpassable. Of course it was one of his compositions that Wieden+Kennedy used to land the idea of football as a form of physical poetry. Africa Brasil is full of transcendentally fantastic party songs (what else would you call something with this much cuica?). Ben’s delivery is forward to the point of cheeky at times and always, always maddeningly cool. (There was a moment listening to “Taj Mahal” where I laughed aloud at the thought of Rod Stewart trying to get away with stealing Ben’s melody … representing as it does a sort of historical tragedy of self-esteem for we Northern Europeans.) I really enjoyed this record, and loved discovering Jorge Ben as an artist. Turns out something of his universe-level cool has always been with me; I’m delighted to be able to put a name to the feeling. Obá obá obá.
1. Porta de Lanca Africano - very upbeat, i enjoy the rhythms. a lot of fun. 2. Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu - what language is this? 3. O Filosofo - i love love love the squeaky sound. i assume this is portuguese but theres smth french sounding in his pronunciation. 4. Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro - gorg gorg riff at the beginning. 5. Taj Mahal - this is a good one !! bit dooo you u think im sexy tho .. idk what that songs called but it sounds like that one. im really enjoying this album. GOOD fucking album
Loved this album. I've never heard of it before, and it gets you in the mood to party and dance like nothing else.
Fun
Taj mahal fire Would.listen again
⭐⭐⭐⭐ En positiv överraskning. Kul och annorlunda och förvånad hur många lyssningar den fick men kan vara att det kändes befriande med det i sammanhanget ovanliga Brasilianska soundet. Det är första spåret Ponta De Lanca Africa är det som jag tycker bäst om. Skulle jag se detta albumet ute i det vilda skulle jag nog överväga att köpa det för att ha något annorlunda i samlingen. Betygsätter det som en svag 4.
I like it. Super funky
Fun, engaging, smart
Eu gostei disso. Me dá vontade de ir para o Brasil e me divertir muito com o Bolsonaro, ou com quem eu encontrar primeiro.
Cool world music. Great rhythms, just an enjoyable background listen for me.
Fabulous, listened while at the gym. Makes me wanna learn to dance.
um dos meus artistas favoritos, jorge ben nunca erra. apesar disso, sei que ele tem álbuns melhores!
Brazilian folk,good fun
Tropical, groovy, and playful. Simply fantastic. 8/10
theres two major things that bothered me very much in this album that was the way he sings have absolutetly nooo range besides sometimes calm and sometimes not and the use of repetition in the songs that im yet to figure it out if its intentional or not. besides that the lyrics itself and the story behind each one of them plus the genial mix of genres and instruments and such its just perfect and as a brazilian myself that was quite an experience as a listen. it would not be an album that i would listen winlingly again but it would be an album that i would love to discuss with people because it actually left an impression on me on the first listen!
cool as heck
I've listened to a number of Jorge Ben's albums before, and always found him pleasant but lacking an engaging, or 'gravity' quality to his music. That is a personal and subjective opinion, and to confidently feel so, I also acknowledge that I'm continuing to form that opinion when listening to him without understanding possibly enough of his cultural context, or importance for the music. Also I fully acknowledge that my Portuguese comprehension is minimal. Brian Eno and countless others in Ambient and Experimental spaces have proven that music can exist with validity as purposefully dis-engaging, and have enough intention and innovation to easily supersede 'elevator music' epithets. My previous gripe with Jorge Ben Jor is that in everything I've listened to, he's rode a line between seeking engagement (this is music from a singer, songwriter, and entertainer) and air of casual relaxation, which works for relaxation but fails to draw me in. It makes me uncomfortable to be presented with a clearly thoughtful and talented singer's inherent plea to be listened to, while also having a vocal quality that says 'just relax, it's not important'. These two poles exist in Bossa Nova, and for me it does work. It's just something about Ben's voice and delivery that comes across almost milquetoast. That being said (and said fully overly-harshly, but necessarily to make a point), his music has always been oozing with talent and musicality. No shortage. Hence, my discomfort; I'm handed a paradox and Ben says 'do with it what you will.' And, I'm like 'what if I can't be bothered? Does that make me a bad guy?' Listening to Africa Brasil changed my opinion greatly. His voice still immediately presented the same subjective problems that I've felt previously. His voice grew on me though. In fashion that I admire greatly and put on a highest pedestal, this became an album that started off as take-it-or-leave-it, and slowly drew me in. It drew me in to the point of Xica da Silva, which is a track I have loved from DJ sets, but never (due to no effort on my part) identified as Jorge Ben. Tracing the line from 'meh' to slowly revealing a world that I have been to before and felt excitement, fascination, and comfort in, was a wonderful journey. It is also a journey that I know this album will offer me in repetition over many listens. I should probably give it 5 stars for that quality alone, and to Jorge Ben, for 4 stars, I am sorry. While I now eagerly await future journeys of discovery with his music, I'm still currently, as a subject of my own sometimes mal-informed or naive tastes, not there yet.
Felt like I was on a vacation in Brazil, good vibe music. I loved the first song in particular.
Albums like this is why I wanted to do this! This is fantastic!
Before listening some research cs idk who he is. Jorge Ben Jor is from Brazil, the father of samba rock ok cool. Dudes 86 and still performing wow. Great opening sounds like it will be a fun album. I get a vibe from this album that it would be perfect to experience live. There are a lot of live elements so it does put you in that space perhaps that's why he still performs because that's when his music really shines. I'm in the middle of listening/researching and this is almost like a historical artefact - the storytelling element is so prevalent. The Afro-Brazil experience with his own personal inspirations and stories of love, football and joy. The soundscape suggests it wouldn't be about such deep topics but I think that's what makes it so enjoyable. There is something so empowering as well in the reinterpretation of preexisting material (though I haven't heard it yet). Fav songs - Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro (so fun), África Brasil (Zumbi) (the ultimate embrace of the shared culture it is so refreshing to hear in this perspective). 7.5/10
Definitely a very seasonal album, but surprisingly fun. Infectious groove and overall great composition.
Great album. Great beats, great vibes. A much needed reprieve from the relentless torrent white men.
Sykt bra Så gode Vibes på trysil
Jorge Ben is a brilliant musician who should never be overlooked, and this album is further proof of that. While it is not my personal favorite of his catalog, I still enjoy it a great deal. I lean more toward Fôrça Bruta. The blend of Brazilian samba-rock with funkier Afrobeat influences makes for a consistently engaging and enjoyable listen. That said, it does start to feel a bit repetitive toward the end, partly because I do not understand the lyrics, which limits my connection to the songs. Even with that personal drawback, it is a strong release and easy to recommend. 8.5/10.
This was awesome! I think my only issue is knowing the time and place for this
This was really fun! The album was a nice cohesive listen. Enough contrast to stay interesting, and everything was well executed.
This reminds me of wonderful Christmases past at the Davidson's listening to a Brazilian jam band and having a great time.
There is so much joy emanating from this record.
At no point did I have any idea what was happening in this album but it was so fun to listen to
At least you don't have to worry about the meaning of the lyrics when I don't know the language! I don't have anything against this album, but I probably just wouldn't listen to it on my own. I like the unconventionality though. The funky vibe reminds me of my father, I like the groove. You could probably dance to a lot of these songs.
Goated, actually added to library. Don’t remember any details but it made driving through snow bearable.
I liked this. Not sure what he's talking about or what's going on, but it seems like Jorge Ben here is having a good time.
Á𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭 is a vibrant showcase of MPB at its most rhythmic and infectious. Jorge Ben blends Brazilian grooves with strong African influences, building songs around driving percussion, hypnotic guitar lines and a deep sense of forward motion. The album feels both rooted in tradition and effortlessly modern, powered by repetition, groove and warmth rather than complexity. It’s confident, joyful music that proves how naturally Brazilian popular music can absorb and transform African elements without losing its own identity.
I enjoyed listening to this record. I had never heard of it and I thought that it did have a pretty original sound. The Samba/Funk fusion is definitely original and I want to spend more time with this record to see if I can really start to enjoy it.
It’s fun, it’s groovy, it’s engaging. I could listen to this album at a party, I could dance to it, and I could do a days work to it. It’s just good stuff. Never heard it before but it’s definitely staying in the library. 4.5/5.0 Best Song: Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro
So much fun, Jorge Ben is fucking class. Imagine not being able to shake your white boy booty to this.
chill
Love this album
I couldn't understand a word he said and I didn't care. This music is fire.
It's good can't understand what they're saying tho
Where samba meets rock. Too bad it’s in a foreign language.
Nicely composed album
Lots to enjoy in here 😀
I lowkey loved this!! Fav: Ponta De Lança Africano
oh this is fire. wish i could understand the lyrics. big fan of that sound that repeats itself over and over in all the songs. shower soundtrack of the day. from now on i'll say my 3 fav songs from each album :) meus filhos, meu tesouro xica da silva áfrica brasil (zumbi) this is my FAV
different than what i normally listen to but kind of awesome. really cool mix of sound, nice signing, and good beats. listened to while reading so wasn’t paying too much attention but it was great background music rating: 7.8/10
Yeeeaaah this is the type of stuff I'm here for, big fan Highlights: Xica Da Silva O Plebeu Ponta de Lança Africano
Surprisingly fun listen. Upon seeing the title and album cover, my mind went to the Cubano albums that I was given previously that I did not care for. However, this one is quite different. I can't understand any of the lyrics, but I do enjoy the groove a good bit. Each song has a good groove, easy to make me dance. Each song has a very full and original sound. I would have appreciate some variance in the tempo of the songs, as they all are right about the same tempo. But this also provides an album that is easy to groove to, front to back. O Plebeu mellows things up a bit, but still a very similar groove to the other songs. Shoutout to the cuica in many of the songs here.
Noice
An enjoyable album, a pleasant surprise.
Good world music.
8/10 hermes trismegisto escreveu 12/19/25
I'm getting more out of this album with each listen, lots to love here but it hasn't hit the sweet 5 star point yet, pretty sure it'll get there with time.
Love the Brazilian, western fusion. Quite the album to listen to while driving home through a blizzard and shoveling 2 feet of snow off my driveway. Loved the cuica (monkey drum) but at times I thought they could have done without it. Less is more and in this case they had too much of it. 7.5/10
I’ve seen this album art before… I’m sure I’ve listened to some of this. Love bossa nova, although this ain’t bossa nova, just Portugués music. From the get go this is a vibe. Yeah. I will definitely be listening to this album again, saved. This slaps. Very much in the same genre realm as the Sergio Mendes album I constantly listen too. Idk what to call this genre but it’s so fun. The little squeaky horn sound this makes me happy. The album most definitely builds. Last two songs are crazy. I had to stop listening and jumped back in on those two later, it was a bit jarring tbh. It’s funny the title song is my least favourite. Sooo last two songs not for me, but the rest of the album is top notch. 4.5
Glad I heard this. Reminds me of City of Good soundtrack (I'm well aware that it predated that movie, but it's what I, a white boy from the USA heard). I loved it
Really liked that Taj Mahal song
Pretty good! Better if I spoke the language I'm sure
Overall rating: 8.5 (somethig fun, not really for my everyday) Favourites: Xica da Silva, Ponta De Lanca Africano, O Plebeu
Great
4.18/5 Stars Top Songs: Hermes Trismegisto, Taj Mahal and Ponta de Lanca
Frisch
Need to listen again but on a first listen it was awesome.
Instead of yet another Bob Dylan album, give me more of this kind of stuff, please.
Yeah this is a lovely time! Perfect for a hot summer day. Great.
Tog ett tag att.komma in i det, men jag vibeade verkligen med det! Mycket sväng, mycket catchighet, cool musik helt enkelt!
Really liked this even thought I didn't understand almost anything. Never heard of Brazilian funk but I was digging it.
keen to give it another listen
This is the first one I’ve gotten that I had never heard of before. It was pretty amazing.
Did Rod Stewart credit Jorge Ben Joe? Hope so. Actually a banger album. Can’t fight it. Nothing stood out as a real high or low point. Just really catchy tracks that I’d happily spin while road tripping, working, cleaning, or just kicking back.
Not always a big fan of this style of music, but something about the electric guitar sounds on this album really hit the spot with me. Loved the rhythms. The vocals are lovely and smooth. Really great, vibrant, funky energy. Even without understanding what is being said i still didn't get bored listening and i will definitely groove along again sometime. No one favourite track. 8/10
5. unique flavor and fun background music
very energetic playful album. Vocals are excellent. not a native speaker but still very enjoyable. Songs like Xica da Silva and cavaleiro do cavalo imaculado are going my playlist
- loving the rhythm and the bass line - What language is this?? Brazilian? - Taj majal- i this not th same phrase as “if you want my body and you think I’m sexy” - this album is actually a vibe. I honestly would listen again like in the summer or somewhere tropical
Surprised me, very catchy
Sounds good
One of the best examples of what Brazilian music can be. Rich in musicality and variety of sounds. Many songs from this album are part of the Brazilian collective imagination. It's albums like this that make me proud to be Brazilian.
Good vibes only!
Pretty rich and gripping to the ears, never a dull moment
Just a 40 minute party. No ballads or slow songs needed here, just a bunch of jams. This has a real tropical feel to it, at least in part because of that chirping cuíca drum that's on most of the tracks. Yet it also feels familiar to an American listener with its electric guitar and funkiness. I think it does a good job of integrating non-Brazilian sounds without losing the samba rhythms and other traditional Brazilian music at its core. "Taj Mahal" is the clear standout, though many of the tracks do blur together a bit. This limits my enjoyment a bit but not enough to give this a solid 4.
Very very nice. 4.00-4.25/5
Combines cool Latin jazz, American R&B and rock with some seriously funky Brazilian samba. I was very surprised by how good this album was, I think there were maybe 2 songs that were just okay but the rest were sooo good.
Lige det!! Beste sang: Taj Mahal
infectious
Älskar portugisiska!
Helvetes piss och skit och MÖG vad man lagt sig fel på de andra plattorna då. Men det hade man ju kunnat räkna ut med stortån, man lägger sig alltid för högt på de första. Vill för mycket som en annan Kim Tjockström. På denna njöt jag från första till sista rotvälskan. Detta är mitt år 0 och han skall heta FÖYRA!
Really good. Upbeat, funky vibes. I especially liked the horn sections.
Pretty fun stuff. Nice grooves and uplifting mood. I'm not super familiar with this kind of music since I don't live in Brazil, but it's pretty lively and even a bit complex musically.
The song Taj Mahal has a riff that seems to be the precursor of Rod Stewart's "If you want my body, and you think I'm sexy, Come on, sugar, tell me so". Turns out yeah, and Jorge successfully sued Rod. Good on him. Anyway this album is a lot of fun. 4/5.
Not my usual type of music but thoroughly enjoyable to listen to something entirely different. Beat heavy African samba. Similar to White Lotus theme in parts.
Album No. 0055 on my list. Never heard of the guy before, but like this album! Nice rhythms, nice groove, nice guitar work. I don’t understand a word of the lyrics, but I don’t mind really. “O Plebeu”, “Taj Mahal”, and “Xica Da Silver” were my favorites. 4/5 stars!
Sounded ok, wouldn’t relisten.
I know Jorge Ben Jor for a while. I discovered him the first time i wanted to learn more about bossa nova and samba. This project didn’t disappoint. Amazing samba funk and for me a little samba rock fusion.
Really fun, enjoyable easy listen! A bop!
This rips holy cow
This is another "brand new to me" artist, one I'd never heard of before this morning. I have so far been enjoying the world music albums that have come up on the list, so I felt today would be no exception. What I found while I listened was that this wasn't at all an exception to that trend. This was very enjoyable to listen to, regardless of the lyrics not being at all understood by me. He had a fun voice, and the background vocals were infectious. Musically it was also very fun, with many styles from the 70's but much that would fit in well in the present day. There weren't any standout songs, nor were there any that I didn't like. It was a very consistently enjoyable record.
A fun listen, it's an interesting sound with great rhythm. I enjoyed it.
pretty good, i like understanding where this type of music comes from
This had some great energy. I would definitely listen to this again.
Much better than expected
Wow, this album surprised the hell out of me. I had never heard of Jorge Ben Jor, but this album is full of incredibly produced 70s rock with lots of wonderful melodies and funk-inspired grooves. Easily one of my favorites that I have been introduced to through this project. 4/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I didn’t have low expectations, I just had zero expectations at all cause I had no idea what this was. But as I’ve learned this is some sort of Brazilian artist, who is wildly musically gifted. That’s the big stand out as someone who doesn’t speak the language is that the music is excellent. The wide range of instruments combined with the super fun and party atmosphere, I just really liked this album. I have no idea what went of the songs are about cause I didn’t really look into it, so there a small disconnect obviously. But I don’t think that’s a huge negative because the instrumentation is so colorful and bright that I mostly just get lost in the great rhythm. That being said it is one vibe throughout so there’s a few songs that don’t punch as hard as others, and I didn’t save everything on the album, but if you like Brazilian music, this album is a must!
That was really good.
Yessss
oooooohhh i vibe with this holy shit this is awesome 1st track - OHHHHH YEA I LIKE THIS hmmm im thinking likt 7/10? very good start 2nd track - good filler 7/10 3rd track -bro i love portugese 7/10 im not gonna rate by track any more i fucking love this this is my shit omg i can tell why taj mahal is the most listened to track 9/10 YEAHHH i love thisss yay yay yay idk like a 8/10
Fun! Great beats! Awesome voice!
This is IT. There is a bright energy that this album carries straight out the gate. Bossa Nova roots with an electric guitar works extremely well. A very "pop" sounding set of songs - makes for a very danceable album. You can really hear the passion in the lyrics during the final song Africa Brasil - where he references Zumbi a key figure in Afro-Brazilian resistance. A very powerful album.
Do I have any idea what’s going on here? No. Do I love how funky it is? Fuck yes!
music. instruments. emotion. beat.
Effortless groovy and funky. Love it
4.5
I enjoyed this a lot. A high four from me.
This was new to me. I can’t understand a single word, but I’m really getting into it all. I love the sound. This will be spinning again. 4/5
love the vibe !
This was really groovy
Słuchając tego albumu wspominałem swoje ostatnie podróże do Brazylii. Jest w tych utworach coś, co dla mnie stanowi kwintesencję Brazylii - pozytywny nastrój, radość z życia, wspólnota, zabawa. "Taj Mahal" to już dla mnie w ogóle jest instant powrót na karnawał do Sao Paulo. Nie wiem, czy to była ta wersja, czy jakiś cover albo po prostu sample, ale ten fragment, gdzie on tylko intonuje (to "tyyy-ty-ty-ty-ty", które robi z chórkami) to leciał wszędzie, jak byłem pierwszy raz w Brazylii. A bawiłem się tam przednio. Przywołuje też wspomnienia podróży po Rio w tym roku, to był dobry wyjazd. Fajnie buja, jest tam dużo do posłuchania, naprawdę sztosik.
Begining was amazing but the second part of album was kind ahrd to listen through. But it could be ME thing. Still amazing album.
Damn, african-latino-samba-electricgroove-funk? I fuck with that.
I don’t know enough about the style of music to offer much insight, but I enjoyed this. Bits of funk scattered here and there, some psychedelic rock. Would be interested to hear more.
Often times I find it hard to see how the 60s became the 70s stylistically, but I think looking at other countries view of US music and how they meld it to their own musical context is a great way to see the transition in slow motion. Great Funk/Hard Rock opener that would feel at home between James Brown and George Thorogood in a pool hall. 2nd track is full funk. That transitions to mellower sounds in track 3. U can almost feel a growing regional sound as the tracks progress! Brazil!!!
Brazilian funk, for a great mood.
ξανά, αρκετα καλο
3 songs in, this is awesome. I don’t foresee it being able to push up to a 5 and it’s definitely more than a 3 so I’m just gonna call it there and put it into rotation.
good high vibes
Cover 4 Interesting and fun listen. Ended really liking a couple of songs and even looked further into his discography. Very cool.
Very cool.
enjoyed the samba beat
I like this, low 4
Peng LP, would be cool if I understood what he was ramblin’ on about. In all seriousness, cool topics addressed such as slavery, racism in Brazil, and of course football..? Funny combination. Overall, great instruments, and probably socially important.
Incredible. First time listening to it and I was blown away.
Very good, one of the best I've heard from Jorge Ben, amazing grooves on here.
Liked this more than I thought I would. Very cool beats, great guitar on some of the tracks. Kept playing the first song on repeat. Really glad to learn about this one.
Veldig nice og velzig nytt
4/10/2025 I have no issues with it, its a good album and a good vibe. Spotify listeners: 3.4 million
I remember listening to this years ago and wasn't crazy about it. But listening to it through again, I really dug it! Great musicianship, fun album. Will be listening to more of his stuff. Highlights: "O Filosofo" and "O Plebeu"
Starsky & Hutch in Rio de Janeiro vibes
No idea what it is about, but awesome sounds. Want to learn more about A História De Jorge.
Do you need to hear África Brasil before you die? I’m not sure. Would you be better off for hearing it? Undoubtedly. There’s something that a lot of Brazilian music taps into that no other region seems to do nearly as well, that balance between the euphoric pop song and the more ballad-oriented slightly sadder number. You don’t need to know Portuguese to have a lot of fun with this, which is something a lot of people pass it over for immediately. What’s the point in listening to an album that Brazilians love for its lyrics if I can’t understand them? Well pal, you’re not Brazilian, get over it, and there’s probably plenty of albums you can understand the lyrics to that you can spin. But let’s not limit this review to a critique of those who don’t ‘get’ it. I’m sure I don’t fully ‘get’ it either, but I had a lot of fun with this on while washing the dishes. That’s all you need really, isn’t it?
This one caught me by surprise in the best way! Knew nothing about him, but really dug the samba meets soul + funk mash-up. Favorite tracks were the first: "Ponta de Lanca Africano" and "Taj Mahal". Sounds very bedouin to me, getting some mulatu atsaske vibes.
Funky
Great rhythm section and backing vocals 3 1/2
Awesome addition of the sound coming from Brasil.
Fun and funky as hell. Another one I'd have never discovered without this challenge so I'm prepared to round up what would probably be a 3.5 on the 'pleasantly surprised' factor.
Pu
I put this album on while I had some friends over for dinner. It really fit the 'dinner party' vibe that I wasn't necessarily going for. I actually quite enjoyed the album, my ears perked up for 'Taj Mahal' (though I quite enjoy that dreadful Rod Stewart song, so no comment from me!). But, I don't have a lot else to take away from it. Everything kind of went smoothly. It sits in the albums that I would put on in the morning on vinyl and then make a coffee. I'll keep an eye out for this one next time I'm raiding the record bins. Look out, NZ op shops! 4 Stars.
This album is like walking along a road on a Saturday afternoon, and stumbling across a group of friends kicking around a soccer ball. They are all very talented, but there is one guy that is head and shoulders above everyone else. When he gets the ball, he immediately showboats with flashy dribbling to get around defenders. But it's not like he is showing off. He is doing it out of pure love of the game. This isn't arrogance, it is art. The weirdest thing is, he's not even wearing shoes while he does it. Quite a few people have gathered to watch now, as this guy is putting on a show. He is obviously enjoying himself, but you can't tell if he is enjoying the crowd's admiration or if he is just enjoying doing what he loves. There is an attractive girl standing off to the side of the game, and whenever he doesn't have the ball he is playing up for her. Grabbing her and doing swift dance moves with her, laughing and joking around with her. Then the ball comes his way, and he is back rainbow flicking the ball over defenders. At one stage he stopped for a couple of keepy-ups, only to end with a bicycle kick at goal. The shot misses the goal, and he gets up and laughs it off as if it was nothing. You do notice the first person he looked at after getting up was that girl. Is she his girlfriend? You're not sure. But she is enjoying the attention. You know where this is going. Good for him.
I had no idea what was going on and enjoyed it.
Funky afro fun that simultaneously sounds like a police chase and a cocktail bar on the beach
Didn't expect to be listening to Brazilian music today. It's something different, which is always good. Pretty funky. I like it.
Very nice, this. Another glorious chance to test out my Portuguese in places, which I always like, if only to ensure I stay humble. Musically, it was a lovely blend of south American rhythms with quite western instrumentation. Strange that the best song is seemingly a homage to an Indian landmark, given all that, but we are all one world, and let's celebrate that.
It was enjoyed I suppose
Never heard of the artist before, can't understand a word sung. But I can feel the rythym and soul in it.
I've enjoyed that, some good tunes and beats, will return to this for sure
Macht richtig Spaß! Schönes Sommeralbum :)
great album
Made me want to mow people down on the interstate (in a good way)
Interesting album I’d never otherwise have listened to. Taj Mahal particularly catchy.
I really enjoyed the beats!!
It was a fun listen. I would listen to this again, especially with the portugese lyrics.
Love the guitar! Wish I knew what was being said but I can feel the vibes. Very funky and smooth blending of genres. Perfect for a morning bike ride on the coast.
Great vibes, but probably not something I'll come back to. Glad I listened to it, though!
A bit more world music. This was a vibe. No idea what the guys saying or if it’s an African language or Brazilian Portuguese but I liked it.
Just a really fun time. This goes straight into rotation.
Lowkey vibrant.
Funk y samba, una mezcla excelente. El bajo en su máxima expresión
Had fun time listening to that album, nice one!
Really fun and exciting to listen to. Some of the songs reminded me of Remain in Light I wonder if Talking Heads were influenced by this artist. I will try listening to more of his music
I loved this albummmmm
Starting off great. Recognized "Ponta De Lança Africano" from a mixtape given to me in the '90s. This bodes well. Apparently Rod Stewart yoinked the melody for "Do You Think I'm Sexy?" from "Taj Mahal". And no Rod, I don't. This record grooves hard! I also appreciate that most of the songs are in the 3-4 minute range. It's going on my cookout/picnic playlist for sure.
some dope Brazilian shit. I could dive a lot deeper into this genre.
Didn’t know what to expect going in but this surprised me. Really liked this album, especially the first track. Lively throughout
I heard a rumour Brazilians really love this guy
funkadelia baby
Bylo to fajn.
while not my favorite of his work, it's always a treat to see something non-Western on this list. and Taj Mahal is such a great song. Brazilian music is great deserves to be one of the 1001? Jorge Ben should have like, 3 albums on here
This one immediately grabbed my attention. There were also a few songs that shuffled on after the album that I enjoyed.
Immaculate vibes
Pretty good didn't understand the spanish tho
very interesting sounds. this album incorporated lots of unique tones into its beat. In addition the rough vocals were a very good complement to the specific sound of this album. It was also especially interesting to have some variety in language. I look forward to the next non-English album on this list!
58/1001 Jorge Ben Jor - Africa Brasil Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ What can I say, I really enjoyed this on first listen. Combining samba with funk and some call and response, it's a constantly engaging listen. I could easily envisage sitting at a beach bar, this being played and having a few caiprinha's and having the time of my life.
Класна весела музика, мені ще сподобались тут футбольні референси, як, наприклад пісня присвячена Зіко.
a very funky and groovy album with its rhythms on point! i do wish some of the tracks on here were on spotify because i really liked the closing track.
I feel a profound happiness when I hear the monkey drum <3
This album is a vibe, and so different to the usual stuff this website has been throwing out. more of this please!
Fun
This album is a lovely mix of funk, soul, and latin that I would have never discovered if not for this project. Wonderful sampa rock record that's sound and influence is heard today!
Ça, j’aime! C’est définitivement le genre de son qu’il manque cruellement dans cette liste excessivement anglo-centriste. Je trouve juste qu’il manque un peu de juice dans la section groove, j’aurais mis plus de funk dans la bass de certaine track. Je mets à réécouter aussi
Best new to me album/artist in weeks.
Fun and lively!
Funky, cool, a 41-minute dance party. Has all my favorite qualities of 70s music.
Ponta De Lanca Africano // O Filosofo // Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro // O Plebeu // Taj Mahal // Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado // 4.5/5
absolutely delighted to discover more world music! i've listened to brazilian jazz music before but definitely not this SUPER GROOVY and fun to listen to! feels like summer
Honestly, I was really digging it for the first few songs and then the novelty wore off. I still think that the first few songs and maybe a few in the middle are great. The squeaky straw sound bites and the whistle trill trying were fun if a bit gimmicky.
Really cool but not my style at all
One of the most fun listening experiences this daily album challenge has provided me. The sheer musicality, rhythm, and funky energy just exploded. Sadly, the second quarter of the album lacks a bit of power; the other three quarters are perfect.
Funky, kinda like it despite not speaking Portuguese
This was such a fun album to listen to. The vocals fit the music wonderfully and not being familiar with the artist or the genre it kept me guessing and I really enjoyed that
This was a damn delight. Extremely lively, interesting, and complex throughout. Don't have enough experience to grade it relative to other exemplars of the genre, but I would definitely throw this on to hang outside, at a get-together, or just cuz.
this is so entertaining to listen to, even if I have no clue on what's being said
this and a spicy mango marg.
This is the second awesome Brazilian album the generator has been kind enough to bestow upon me. I can't understand the lyrics but I think I read my favourite song is about a football player. I'll choose to remain ignorant. Also there is no such thing as too much cuica.
> The Beatles
Passion! When I think of the music from Brazil I think of samba, I think of bossa nova, I think about the language and the percussion. This record is something else (although the percussion is absolutely delicious.) A very passionate and intricate display of local sounds, maintaining a modern feel after decades. It's hard to believe this banger is from the 70s, it could have easily been produced in the 90s-00s, so I feel it ahead of its time, or better yet, with an excellent air of timelessness. Excellent use of funk and afro-beat to compliment the local sounds. Critiques? Maybe a track or two could lean more on the memorable side, but this comes from someone who barely understands the language. Otherwise, as a project in its entirety, it's pretty solid.
Out of all the foreign language albums I’ve had so far, this was my favorite.
Loved this album, thought it was great. I do like some me some good world music and this fits the bill. I listened while stuck in traffic on the way home and I didn’t care it took ages to get to where I was going to!
This is pretty much why I’m here. Revisiting Boston is fine, but this was cool. I’m a fan of Brazilian music like Astrid Gilberto and Os Mutantes but don’t have a particularly deep well to draw from. Liked this record a lot and the samba soul sound. O Filosofo was a particularly great cut.
4/5 - I needed to hear this because I am unfamiliar with the genre and this was a fun, easy listen. I wouldn’t have guessed this was from the 70s. Taj Mahal and the song after it were standouts for me.
Jorge had me dancing, chilling, and imagining myself sambaing in the Brazilian sun. Never enjoyed a song about a footballer so much since "Oooh, Ahh, Paul McGrath". Great energy and joy - well recommended.
Surprisingly good. i dont usually enjoy international music, but this is really good. Very melodic and funky. 8/10 Favourite: Ponta de lança africano (Umbabarauma) Least Favourite: O filósofo
Fun beats with African/brazilian beats
So good!
Surprisingly good vibe
Really pleasant, even with the few moments that came off as a little weird.
Nice vibes
Really great listen. Incredibly skillful and really unique. For all I know he could be singing about skinning live basset hounds. Still a total vibe. I'm glad this list introduced me to Jorge Ben Jor! Fave songs: - Ponta De Lança Africano - Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu - Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro - Xica Da Silva - Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado - África Brasil (Zumbi)
I heard so much amazing music when I was in Portugal that I never managed to catch the name of, and this guy's the exact vibe. Really enjoyable listen.
Pretty fun, I liked the beaT(s)
Loved this album! I have not heard it before. I know Jorge Ben for his classic album called A Tabua de Esmeralda, but this surprised me. I will keep listening to him :)
I put this on for a morning run and had a great time. Great version of Taj Mahal on this (maybe thats the original recording? The one on my playlists is a lot longer...)
Not my usual taste in music, but in fact very good. Very Swaggy 7.5/10
Fun & funky, great vibes. Added to my library.
Very vibey I enjoyed the mood it set
great vibez. 4.5
Trop cool
A surprisingly enjoyable 1970s Brazilian romp. It's a delight discovering the origin of Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" - especially when that track isn't even the best part of the album.
Was groovy baby
Awesome album. Really cool groove
So fun and lively. Wished I'd checked it out sooner.
I feel like any music with a strong emphasis on percussion like African inspired or Brazilian inspired music is an automatic win for me and this album is heavily focused on Brazilian percussion with African style backing vocals and it works really well. It’s very energetic and catchy and though I can’t understand the lyrics it really doesn’t matter because it only really acts as an instrument itself. The electric guitar aswell as a western inspired funk addition really makes this album aswell, it’s carried by both this and the percussion, I read this is Jorge’s first time using an electric guitar for his albums as well which is clearly a good decision on his part, although it would be interesting to see hear his more acoustic ones in comparison. I noticed a Herbie Hancock watermelon man whistle noise on a lot of the songs aswell which was cool. Anyway, a very fun album, overall, 7.5/10.
These albums are the reason I wanted to do this. A little gem I'd have never found by myself.
This album is delightful. Jorge Ben’s music is unique and this album is just a great blend of his Brazilian style and African beats and singing. I think if any of his music is added to a soundtrack for any popular movie he would gain a bigger following in the States.
Never heard his before. Loved it.
Couldn't understand a thing (language barrier) but the music had me grooving throughout. It was a superb fusion of samba and funk (love the bass in songs like Xica da Silva and Historia de Jorge). I don't know if I'd come back to it per se, but the quality of the production and uniqueness of the music pushes this to a low 4 for me. This music is just good ass vibes.
Straight through, this album was a delightfully unexpected ripper. Ponta De Lanca Africano is straight jam to open things up. Hermes is a bit funkier in tone -- has a nice swagger about it. A lot of swag in here. Love the shiftiness of Meus Filhos. Didn't take note towards the backhalf of song names, but this was a hoot. Solid 4
This had some really fun noises going on in the background the whole time. Gotta love an album that just makes you bop around the whole time while listening to it. Especially Taj Mahal that song was catchy as heck. Just a great fun album that brought some samba variety which is always nice to mix into this list
The percussion on this album was incredible. SO much going on in pretty music every song to get down to. I also really like that hooting sound they have in the background for most songs. If anyone knows what instrument that is please tell me. Also thought I heard a didgeridoo at points but could be wrong. Obviously had no idea what he was saying the entire time but I was doing was I picture was samba in my office at certain points. The last song definitely felt different in an angry way but still finished strong. Surprising 4 for me here.
What a party beat! Fantastic album of great tracks to boogie with.
A nice blend of funk and afrobeat, perfect for driving on a cool morning of a summer day. There's funky guitar riffs with lush modulation, interesing use of percussion and jazzy melodies to keep it fresh. No need to skip anything, just vibe.
It was a beautiful day and this music worked perfectly for it.
I loved this it’s so vibey. Bonus points for being the first album so far with my name in a song.
Good and interesting
This is fun!
Curiously muddy. Lacking dynamics. Backing singer doesn't lift it. Loads of great rhythms and grooves. Didn't feel the samba so much. Even Taj Mahal isn't as good as that brilliant live version. Nevertheless, four-to-the-floor Brazilliance!
The music and vocals are good, I just don't understand the language. 4 stars or B-.
Good start. There will be a language barrier throughout the album but the beat and rhythm on Track One has hooked me in. As track 2 starts, I realize that this album was recorded in 1976. It doesn't sound dated as some music from the 70's does. Interesting. Nice use of horns on this one, as I'm sure will be a running theme. A bit slower pace on Track 3. Curious about the high-pitched instrument in the background. I'M AN IDIOT. The high pitched "instrument" i was curious about on the last track is featured on this track and it is clearly someone's voice. Duh! Track 4 is a nice mid-tempo number. Another mid-tempo track for number 5. So far I'm enjoying this album more than I thought I would, considering I don't understand the lyrics. Track 6 is the most played song from the album on Spotify and it did not disappoint. Although I still like Track 1 the best. Track 7 is another mid-tempo song. Not bad but not memorable. (edit. I spoke to soon. The 2nd half of the song took off. Not bad at all.) By George Track 8 is a standout. It's got everything. I enjoyed the psychedelic elements is the middle. Such an upbeat song (without knowing why they were singing about George) Track 9 slows us back down a bit. Funky drums keep this song moving. Pump up the jam. Track 10 is bouncy and jaunty in the best ways. In the conversation for my fav of the album. The title track to finish off the album. A very full sounding song, like they used all the instruments featured in the album and put them all together. Solid track for sure. Overall, I really enjoyed this album. Outside of my wheel-house, but there was a lot to like about it. Perhaps I'll learn Portuguese and get a deeper connection to this music. But for now, I don't think I would skip any of these if they came up on my shuffle. 3.6/5
I'm 129 albums into this, and this is the first hidden gem I've drawn. I haven't heard this (or even heard of Jorge Ben Jor) before, but this is the first truly worthy entry into the world music section. Funky, fun, soulful, and poppy, I'll definitely listen again and will probably add a copy to my collection. Nothing too deep, or life-changing here, of course, (particularly to an English-speaker, but it does pay tribute to Brazilian football legend Zico which is as good a reason for a song to exist as any in my book) and the playing and production is tight and soulful rather than revolutionary, but definitley the kind of album I would have hoped to encounter in this list. My only real complaint would be that there is way way way too much cuíca playing. No, seriously, put it down for the next track, please. And Rod Stewart deifintely ripped off Taj Mahal on Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? the cheeky beggar.
Very fun, summery album! I don’t know what genre this is, but I love it!
Today I learned a drum can make monkey noises.
I really dug this. Very cool sounds (I love a good guiro) and fun grooves and just a happy, cool-sounding record. I had no idea what he was singing the entire time, but I didn't care because it was just so much fun to listen without understanding. I listened to it twice -- four stars.
It's hot where I live. But take a cooler full of ice, a bottle of good rum, some limes, and plant yourself in an Adirondack chair while this album is blasting on the patio and, VOILA, instant good vibes, instant good mood. I could go on about the rhythms and beats, but the best thing I can say about this disc is I started out drinking alone, and three songs in three sets of neighbors were in my backyard with their coolers.
Completely new to me, perfect for a hot summer’s day
Solid album. Very vibrant sounding and each song sounded very enticing and compelling. I don’t usually listen to a lot of non-English albums so I’m glad I got exposed to this one.
Infectious energy and incredible vocals. Had never heard of or any music by Jorje Ben before, so this was a treat.
Doesn't matter what language he's singing in, the music is so joyous anyone could enjoy this. 4 stars.
Favorite Track: Meus filhos, meu tesouro
A really nice listen that's easy on the ears, something I can definitely see myself having on in the background. Sadly it didn't make me lose myself in the music as much as I lost focus after a while, but a positive experience overall.
Good
Funky fun!
Groovy and cool surpasses language barriers.
Favorite: Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado
I want to know the correlation between people who give this album a 1 or 2 and people who only have post punk 5's on their summary page. If you're not having an absolute banger of a time listening to an album from a genre that's on this list like two total times I really don't know what to tell you - maybe you're one of those soulless psychopaths that only likes 'deconstructed music' and can't appreciate when an album is just plain fun.
This one brings the sun into your living room
Nice. Never heard of him before. Favorite song: cavaleiro do cavalo imaculado
The opening bars of Ponta De Lanca Africano hit and....wait a second...I know this song. Hold up, Soulfly covered this guy? Soulfly covered this song, sure enough. I'm not sure I'll ever go back and listen to this again as it's just not my thing really, but it's quite good and I can recognize the talent.
Obrigado, this was excellent
Ricura. Cuica y descanso del rock genérico. Nada más que decir. Nota: 4.0
Even early on a Sunday morning, drinking coffee and trying to ease into the day, Africa Brasil by Jorge Ben Jor got me tapping my foot, swaying and dancing in my chair. Well, not so much dancing but wiggling around a bit. The beats and rhythms are just too damn infectious. The language barrier makes no difference. I really like most of the album. There were a couple songs that were just okay. They were close to the end of the album. The standout track for me was Xica da Silva. This is a pretty easy 4 rating for me. 4/5
Me esperaba una bosa nova y me he llevado una sorpresa. El estilo mola muchisimo, es algo para escuchar en cualquier situación chill. Agradecido con este album
Very good album
A new experience for me music wise and despite not being able to understand the lyrics I actually really enjoyed myself.
Brilliant upbeat record with fantastic rhythms, hard to go wrong blending African and Brazilian music with a nice blend of funk.
super intresting, my first time hearing of him and this album. amazing beat, amazing groove, beautiful melodies.
Liked it a surprising amount, although i liked a lot of his other stuff More
Jolly good time, this one
I had to read up on this album to understand some of the sounds. The drum work is really cool and Taj Mahal is a great example of the unique sounds found on this album.
There is skill on display here and certainly some good pop sensibilities. Good album construction and production. It didn't hit for me on first listen, but it grew on me. In the right mood, probably an early morning coffee mood it would really click.
This album rocks and rolls. It’s groovy and funky and jammy. A very fun listen but not sure how often I’ll revisit.
A really solid album. I love the somba sound. It was really consistent throughout, and I would really enjoy listening to the whole thing again. Also, did Rod Stewart just straight up steal "Taj Mahal" for "Do You Think I'm Sexy"?
Enjoyed.
This had more highs than lows so I'll hang a but of an extra star on it