Reviews (page 5 of 12)
Favorite Track: Ponta de Lança Africano
Funky afrobeat rhythms and jazzy Brazilian melodies, it's a very natural combination for high energy psychedelic dance music that goes hard. Hands down my favorite of the Brazilian albums on the list so far (no coincidence as it's as much Lagos as Rio sounding). Even though this is as good as it gets I still don't like Portugese singing - something always feels off key and off kilter about the harmonies and phrasing. But this just has so much percussive force, infectious groove, soul delivery, and sheer charisma to the performance it's undeniable. A highwater mark of global funk.
I wore out a Sergio Mendes album that I “stole” from my stepdad. Loved that album. I wish I would have found this album sooner.
I love this sound.
A fun sound, that was probably a big influence on K’naan.
An enjoyably riotous and interesting piece with samba, funk, African rhythms and rock influence. A toe tapper throughout.
jeg elsker når der kommer et godt world album fra en kunstner, jeg aldrig har hørt om!
From the first bars I knew this was going to be right on my wheelhouse. Funtime tunes for sunny days. I had no idea about Taj Mahal. What a treat!
Samba-rock is a thing, I guess. Gotta love the humanity’s propensity to look at any genre and go, “How can we make rock out of this?” Not complaining. Wasn't expecting to like this album, but it pleasantly surprised me. It's chill yet incredibly fun, lush, and energetic music with an engaging atmosphere. I don't understand a word he's saying, but the vocal delivery is very passionate and endearing. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Chill
loved the rythm
Ewok celebration the album
This damn album right here goes hard as damn hell yep
Wow this really blew me away
i like this guy and his music is nice as hell!
An artist I was not at all familiar with prior to this book. A world music fusion of funk, samba, and rock. Terrific songwriting and orchestration. Maybe a little less cuica on some tunes? If you want to know what created David Byrne, this is it.
Great rhythms and vibes.
Shit's tight. Love some syncretism, and just attention to craft while doing something new.
Fun!
Free-flowing sound, groovy and lighthearted. A joy to listen through!
I hoped this was going to be bossa nova and was slightly disappointed when I discovered it wasn't, but had a great time with it anyway. I never would've heard this without the generator I have no idea what the sound or instrument or whatever that sounds sort of like a monkey that's on tracks like Taj Mahal is called but I love it, reminds me of old games like Super Mario Sunshine (upon further reading I think it's a cuica). Such a unique instrument that is never used in western music For anyone automatically giving this a 1 for not being English (or any album, for that matter), grow up Highlights: Ponta De Lança Africano
Kom skemmtilega á óvart. Mjög góð vinnutónlist.
Jorge kom skemmtilega á óvart. Mjög hress og skemmtileg plata.
Great voice, enticing instrumentation, varied songs with great energy throughout.
África Jorge and Brasil Ben, an unstoppable duo
Do not understand a word of Portuguese but this album has a vibe that goes seriously hard. Wowza.
Pretty fun and mostly vibes,since I do not get a single word of Portugese? Good 3.5/5
Absolute bop, samba is where it's at. Weird how I had never heard of Jorje before this.
First song sounds like a fifa song . I do quite like the drums . I don’t quite understand this language but still bopping . Some of the songs I am wondering why he thought it was a good idea to make .the bit at the start of Taj Mahal sounds like Ollie Widdis’s laugh . I did quite enjoy it , a couple songs added to playlist but I would listen to some of them again. Also rod steward got do ya think I’m sexy from Taj Mahal ! What a scoundrel
never heard of this guy before or this album but very pleasantly surprised, i really like it! very easy listen, something i wouldnt like put on because i love a certain song on it but would put the album on as a whole while on a walk or like a nice lil summer hang out with people. overall, yes i enjoyed.
Pretty good. The whistle, or whatever that was, being in every song and playing the same thing, was just too repetitive to enjoy 100%.
I especially like the first 4 songs + Xica Da Silva. Groovy beats. Great melodies. Good stuff!
I really liked this. I have no idea what he’s singing about but the beats were fresh and fun, and I loved all the layers of instrumentation. It felt very creative and joyful.
Sounds exactly like youd expect. A wonderful mix of African and brazilian music.
cool asf
Really enjoyed this album. The Latin/samba beats were great. Even enjoyed by my Son , which is quite the endorsement apparently!!
Really quite enjoyed a lot of this. Nice to hear something different but also with some good beats and musically a lot was very listenable.
Great stuff. Plenty of funk with samba beats and a very distinctive sound. The first track is great and the whole album is an all round fun listen.
Better than Coldplay
This is a little hard to rate. The music itself is amazing, but I don’t speak Portuguese. 4 (5 if I could understand the lyrics)
7/10
Beats were amazing, I'm so glad I listened to this
Cool album. I love polyrythms and world music to spice up my listening. I’m also a lyrics guy so the language barrier knocked it down a little. But definitely had the meditative grooves that a I crave every once in a while.
I’m so glad I discovered this album. Brazilian funk with African influences – what more can you ask for? This album is super groovy and catchy. One element I really like is how the funk adds playful and quirky vibes to some of the tracks.
I always struggle with albums that are recorded in foreign (to me) languages, but there are some great melodies and captivating sounds on this album.
☀︎fun ☀︎ça me donne envie de danser
that's a sweet album. i think i'll get it on vinyl
Thus guy had some absolutely CRAZY grooves, and when listening I felt like I was simultaneously a spy carrying out some kind of heist and like I was busting it down at some party. Once Jorge finds a momentum he likes he starts running with it and then all kinds of fun instruments and vocal backings join along to great effect. You don’t even need to understand what he’s saying to know exactly what this guy is about.
Brazilian smooth flow.
The opening track was converted by one of my favorite metal bands, Sepatura. I had no idea it was a cover. Knowing the words was a weird experience. This record rocks. The rhythms are so good. I just wish there weren't fade outs.
Yep love the energy on this one, mid 4
This was a pretty sweet sounding album. I usually have a hard time connecting with music that isn't in my native language. But the sound is so beautiful. I can especially see its influence in jazz fusion of this same time period. It's cool hearing the instruments and flutes and everything come together as well as with the vocalists. Not something revolutionary in terms of music theory, but the sound is very classic-sounding. 3/5
This was a lot of fun. Great when you need something different.
Great vibe!
Wow!!! Looooooove
A cool blend of genres on this, soulful beats
I haven’t been super into Latin music, but this had a sick groove from cover to cover
LOVE
bit same-y but i grooved
Loved this
I didn't know Brazilian Phonk, uh I mean Funk could be this good. A 70's Brazilian album did not sound appealing to me, but man this is super fun. Gives me world cup vibes, total summer feel. Genuinely such a fun listen!
Before: No clue what to expect here. Maybe a bossa nova/choro type album based on the title? Mr. Jorge Ben Jor looks so babygirl on the album art hehe Standout tracks: Ponta De Lanca Africano Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro Least favorite tracks: O Filosofo Xica Da Silva A Historia De Jorge During/after: Ohh this is fun! This record has a very strong opening track. It sounds like summer and is just a lot of fun and easy to listen to. Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro is really neat too because of the switch from the soulful vocals and guitars back to the faster beats. Taj Mahal was fun, but I was surprised to see that it was by far the most streamed song from this record. I think my favorite was the opening track. I LOVE Africa Brasil (Zumbi), the last track of the record, for its driving melody and vocals. I listened to the first half(ish) of this album on my commute to work and there was something very vibey about listening to this while I drive through mountains and palm trees and the weather warming up and the sun is coming up earlier. The call and response throughout this record was fitting and added to the summery feeling. I'm a big sucker for lighthearted music that sounds like summer, and I don't think that this album would have hit the way that it did if I listened to it for the first time in the winter or fall when the weather is chillier. I have a summertime playlist and lots of these songs were added to it. I never would have listened to this record on my own, but I'm so glad I heard this. It's so feel-good. After doing some digging, I learned that most of the music on this record has very meaningful lyrics and focuses on deep topics. I don't speak any Portuguese but could tell that the title track was full of rage and was about revolution based on the sound and the names of countries throughout. 4/5
Holy frick this is cool.
Soulful and funky
I have a hard time connecting to foreign language albums but the music was brilliant
Favorite track: Ponte de lanca africano other picks: taj mahal, xica de silva
Very mellow music, enjoyable in the background
Jorge Ben apparently went electric on this, tho I doubt he generated as much dissent as Dylan when he plugged in during the mid sixties. As for the music, the merging of American funk/jazz with Afro-Brazilian modes works brilliantly well. What seem to be specific allusions to the American scene, but which may be entirely native to Brazilian expression, aggrandize this album to further heights. For instance, the incorporation of cute and drunk yelps (instrument unknown) on many of the songs parallel the ones heard on Herbie's 1973 'Watermelon Man.' Unfortunately, the Spanish and Italian I have can only help me a bit in recognizing what he's talking about lyrically - but as for a sonic experience, it's all excellent.
funky
sounds pretty dope. Frankly, I love this Portuguese is such a beautiful language that lends itself so well to music. O Plebue reminds me of the Portuguese part from frank sinatra's girl from ipanema, which is my favorite part of the song.
First introduction to samba and it was so fun the whole way through. Really groovy but chill at the same time. You can feel the culture through the instrumentals and his carries you through the whole thing
A SOLID. DESERVED. FOUR. THIS WAS GREAT
Pre-listening thoughts: I always get nervous with the world entries on this list. Especially with our last one being Jah Wobble’s asinine album. Post/during listening thoughts: Jesus Christ finally a world album that deserves to be here! It’s not bogged down by crappy production that dates it, it’s not intensely boring, and it’s DEFINITELY not borderline appropriation by some chode named Jah Wobble. Why are the good world entries so few and far between???? My enjoyment of this album was dampened only slightly by the fact that my stomach dropped out from underneath me and I had the worst poop of my life. Maybe that Mudhoney song “Let it Slide” finally caught up to me. 7.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: yes. This successfully broadened my horizons Fav tracks: Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu, O Plebeu, A Historia De Jorge, Africa Brasil (Zumbi) Least fav tracks: n/a
Quite cool and refreshing
In the immortal words from American Bandstand, "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it." There's a lot of energy flowing through this album. I really got into the first song and was excited to hear the rest and it did not disappoint. Ponta de Lança Africano and África Brasil (Zumbi) were my favorites.
Really enjoyed this and could see myself revisiting it regularly
Fun vibes, most songs of this album was about a soccer player. It did not have a stand out moment like Girl from Ipanema but it was great nonetheless. 8/10
more like jorge ben MORE, amirite
Africa Brasil by Jorge Ben Jor is fucking fantastic. The production and mixing on this album are absolutely top-notch; every beat, every groove is crafted to perfection. The vocals are lush, with harmonies that blend seamlessly into the vibrant, colourful soundscape that defines the record. There's a richness in the textures here that just makes the music come alive. It's like you’re right there on a sunny Brazilian beach, feeling every pulse of the rhythm. On the positive side, the overall vibe is infectious. The album's fusion of Afro-Brazilian rhythms with funk and soul creates an atmosphere that's both uplifting and deeply soulful. Jorge Ben Jor's delivery is effortless, and the way he layers his vocals over the intricate percussion and guitar riffs is nothing short of brilliant. Each track radiates a certain joie de vivre, and you can't help but get drawn in by the energy. However, I've got a slight gripe, the album is criminally short. Yes, it's average length by standard measures, but for me, it just went so fucking fast. I was left wanting more once the final track finished, which is a damn shame given how much quality there is packed into every minute. In my perspective, Africa Brasil is a gem that deserves all the praise for its stunning production and the sheer magic of its sound. It's an album that lifts your spirits and makes you want to dance, even if it leaves you longing for a bit more. A solid 4.4/5 stars in my book, a short but incredibly vibrant musical journey.
Man I wish it were summer so I could really vibe to this, but it's helping melt the winter snow still. Excellent grooves throughout. Finally some good fucking food from outside UK.
I want to go to the party where this is being played. I want to go to this world.
I really liked this. It’s funky and groovy and has that Afro-beat feel. It also has a lot of tribal sounds that are really great. This was a good time.
I love Brazilian music!
Love this. Raw and very interesting considering what was going on in funk / disco at the time. Melanie believes some of the jingles were copied by other artists and that jorge Ben should invest in better IP lawyers
83/100. África Brasil by Jorge Ben is a funky, groovy, and fun record. With great vocals, infectious rhythms, and vibrant energy, it maintains a high standard throughout. The album blends Brazilian music with funk and soul.
4.5
4 stars
all good. kind of amazing actually
i had the shittiest day today and i still enjoyed the hell out of this. thats how you know its good.
Fun Afro beats
Awesome african/brazilian sort of blues, fantastic energy throughout, very upbeat and lively, fun guitar riffs
Very good! One song was definitely already familiar to me, probably from a movie?
I've never been to Carnival in Brasil, but this sounds like Carnival in Brasil to me. Fantastic Afro-Brasilian sounds. It sounds so alive.
Hard not to like this one
This album was wildly groovy, and I understood nothing. After the last french album thought I was toasted, but this was actually super dope. Probably going to be something to get in a flow state to because I can't understand it!!
I don't speak Portuguese, but this was really fun. Really enjoyed the vibe
Damn man, the vibes are vibrant here. Very nice album front to back. And bonus - I feel so damn worldly having listened to it! In fact, I think I'll go make a black friend after I'm done.
It kicks off right and has nothing but great vibes throughout. There are a couple of turns here and there I’d prefer not to have taken, but it always got back on track.
This is good shit
Upplyftande, varm och bra musik med stabila baslinjer, roliga ljud och starka melodier. Man vill dansa och sjunga med.
very funny. Beautiful music.
This was great fun. No idea what was being said but the tracks were bangers. Love a good bit of world music!
festa no brasil on a dark, gloomy day in singapore where i was pondering how fucking quickly life has passed, and how i missed so many integral moments of the closest friends in my life after moving to the us (including the first homie in my life i know having a kid) this was very welcome hermes trismegisto escreveu was peak.. funk? rock? samba? all of the above? xica da silva was next favorite pretty sure camisa 10 da gavea is about a footy player. whistles go crazy. and my heart ACHES for the day i can finally head to brazil. for some reason i've always felt a strange affinity to brazil since i was young and i thought rio was a bird. perhaps it had to do with the fact that half of the chickens in singapore are imported from brazil, as i've discovered with daniel
rhythmic and passionate brazilian record. the percussion is what gives this album its energy. sounds like the soundtrack of a latin american movie in the 70s. seems like it’s an underrated classic. xica da silva is my pick
Didn't have access to a few songs but generally really enjoyed the album. Some songs didn't have the dynamism that I initially thought they'd have but still pleasantly surprised to hear the fusion. I think more listens are necessary, super funky and rhythmic. 4.21 rating rn.
An enjoyable listen.
Really enjoyed this album. Although frustrated by not understanding the lyrics despite best attempts to get translation online. Can fully understand how Rod Stewart lost the Taj Mahal plagiarism verdict, although fair play to Rod for donating royalties to charity. And can hear how this album has inspired and be used on many other samples. A definite 4 maybe 5.
an exciting fusion of soul and funk with latin grooves and musical styles that i really enjoy.
Funky samba! Loving the diverse instrumentation. After a long stretch of guitar dudes, I needed this.
this one surprised me, very catchy and fun! got a little tedious near the end. 4/5
really love the album and the groove! i hate the fact that most of the songs in the album are not available in spotify
Thought this was very nice!
The musics very melodic, and has a really good foundation of background instruments. It would definitely get me dancing if I knew how to. I do like the slower paced beats like the 2nd song, Hermes, where it almost feels slick, like the sort of music that would play during a cruising scene of an 80s police flick.
onbekend album... dat plots niet zo onbekend meer leek (umbabarumba van soulfly en disco samba van two man sound hoorde ik onder meer passeren)... toffe ontdekking maar stem mocht wat minder flegmatiek zijn
Couldn’t understand it but they pronounce “que” as “qeee”
First half is great. Last few songs are the weakest.
Very good and fun
Another artist I am completely unfamiliar with. This is a fantastic album even though I can't understand most of the words. Samba mixed with funk that creates some tremendously engaging music. I enjoyed listening to this album very much. Interesting to hear the part in Taj Mahal that Rod Stewart lifted, "unconsciously" or not, for Do Ya Think I'm Sexy. Seems pretty blatant.
Pretty good; jazzy, funky and a bit strange. Lot of repeating sounds through the different songs was quite cool
Sounded very modern. Super funky. Will definitely be listening again
Really pleasant surprise, great vibe
I have no idea what's going on, but it's got rhythm - and the honking Muppets! At least, that was the interpretation in my head... And if it's good enough for Rod Stewart to rip off, it's good enough for me! If you want my Muppet and you think it's honking, come on rate this album now!
Obviously I don’t speak Portuguese but some of the songs were very catchy. I saved “Ponta de Lança Americano” and “Taj Mahal”.
This album is like Samba mixed with funk and African beats. It feels exotic and refreshing after having a week of fucking indie and britpop garbage. The only thing is that the excessive use of cuica drums becomes annoying after a while. It sounds like someone trapped a flock of morning doves in the recording studio. It's use reminds me of the Goron City theme song from Ocarina of Time. Favourite songs: Ponta De Lanca Africano, Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu, Taj Mahal, Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado Least favourite songs: O Filosofo 4/5
Jag ser med denna lista hur mycket man förlorar genom att för mesta dels bara lyssna på västmusik, egentligen gör denna lista också det mistaget för man sätter sig mycket mindre in men de man får är utsökta. Önska jag förstodd texterna dock så det är väl nackdelen
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.
That was good. There was a lot going on musically so it took more than one listen. I especially liked Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma), Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro, and África Brasil (Zumbi). Not something that I could listen to at work since it makes you want to move. Unfortunately it sounded like the theme song to CHIPS slipped into A Historia De Jorge, but overall I enjoyed this album.
While I don't find Portugese to be the most melodious language, this definitely had an upbeat, street party vibe that I enjoyed. Thanks for putting this on the list.
Nice album, but I don't plan on adding it to my Tidal library. Hence, four stars.
This was a great surprise.
I likes it a lot, tropicalia.
top to bottom, this album slaps. i didn’t understand a word of it, but i loved every minute. highlights: “ponta de lança africano (umbabarauma)” “o filósofo” “xica da silva”
Absolutely loved this.
Really fun sounding album. I don’t speak Portuguese but I know a good time when I hear it.
3.5
I'm not super familiar with African Sounds, but this reminds me of Paul Simon's Graceland (also, obviously influenced by African musicians) and that makes me happy. Fun album, even if I have NO idea what they are singing about. Still worth a listen.
It’s a fun album. Grooving all throughout. The fusioned elements work really together the influences both on the album and that it has had on music are clear. For better or worse we would not have Da Ya Think I’m Sexy without this
An absolutely wonderful blend of genres that has you falling deep into the groove. If I had this album in my possession back in high school, I'd be the coolest kid in town, and it wouldn't even be a contest.
Jorge builds a beautiful bridge between Brazilian and African musical traditions in this vibrant fusion of funk-powered samba-rock.
Energetic and fun. I've saved it to my favorite albums list for when I need an afternoon pick me up.
7/10… Samba-Rock / Bossa Nova
Loved most of this, and liked the rest of it. Mostly just relieved for a break from the usual on this list.
Really good instrumentals. Intricate and engaging rhythm. Horn section is tight. Hard to say for lyrics not in my language. Not repetitive at least.
Pretty cool even if I don’t speak Portuguese. A few songs sounded familiar so I think I will need to dig into this deeper.
OK, the opener "Ponte De Lança Africano" slaps HARD. Don't know the first thing about Jorge Ben, but it's fun to see someone I reckon was already prominent in the bossa-nova and samba-adjacent Brazilian scene explore those sorts of afrobeat-infused funk-rock territories in 1978. The rest is never as impressive -- on a first listen, at least -- but this album is still a great find. Fun to see that Rod Stewart ripped off "Taj Mahal" for the vocal melody of "Do You Think I'm Sexy", by the way. And the eerie synth lines found here and there are also a nice, original touch. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5). Number of albums left to review: the 80-ish extra LPs listed on this app, included because different past editions of the book have mentioned albums that have since been dropped in subsequent editions. Number of albums I'll keep in my own list: half, approximately Number of albums I *might* keep: a small quarter, approximately (including this one) Number of albums I won't keep: a large quarter
Surprisingly good beat driven funk
Definitely the best non English speaking album I’ve heard Ponte de lança Africano was such a good album opener Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu manages to carry on its energy very well! O Filósofo was a miss for me, not horrible but I wasn’t huge on it either. Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro, took me by surprise going from piano track to funky explosion O Plebeu Is fun Taj Mahal is alright feels like a good finale to side one Xica da silva and A História de Jorge work as a great one two punch and Camisa 10 da Gávea follows from it nicely slowing down the pace a bit Cavaleiro do Cavalo Imaculado Is the one where he ‘lets loose the most’ in my opinion, unhinged salsa banger Then África Brasil (Zumbi) is a good closer. My only problem is that he over uses this cuckoo clock sound throughout the tracklist still a 4/5
Jorge Ben Jor always brings the right energy to the function
Funkaristic fantasticness. I don't know if Jorge Ben is friends with George Clinton, but boy do I wish they are.
One of the first times on this list that I was introduced to something I had never heard or even heard about. I am glad for the illumination that has shed my ignorance. It is clear that this album influenced the sounds of the albums by the American band Talking Heads, from the first track "Ponta de Lance Africano", even if David Byrne didn't later include a cover of the track on his 1989 compilation album BRAZIL CLASSICS BELEZA TROPICAL. This was a fun album for me. I enjoyed the Brazilian Pop from the mid-70s that was a refreshing change from what was going in 1970s American and British music at the time. Rhythmically driven as you might expect from Brazilian music, it also has lovely vocal melodies, with joyous backing vocals. Hard to feel down or with lack of energy while listening to AFRICA BRASIL.
Not bad. Pretty rocking for samba!
I took me a while, I really like it but maybe some sounds are not exactly my style. Super groovy 4.5
Lots of energy and fun. A joy to listen to.
upbeat, portuguese
I have a particular soft spot for chill south american music. If I haven't mentioned it before Tagua Tagua's Inteiro Metade is one of my favorite albums of all time. I wonder if Jorge Ben Jor is an influence. Anyways this thing is solid all the way through. Meus Filhous Meu Tesouro and Xica a Silva aremy favorites. There's a lot to dig into in this well. I liked it well enough to explore some rainy day.
This was great. I know there are some serious lyrics in here from my extremely poor Portuguese but the whole thing just feels like a good time. I think this album also has the biggest use of the cuica drum I’ve heard ever. It’s a fun little addition that is very Brazilian. I liked “o filosofo” and “taj mahal” the most. I wonder if the song “a historia de Jorge” is a self hype song, because if so I like that he was making those in 1975. In any case, this was a good listen and it’s cool that we got someone other than Joao Gilberto (who is great too of course) from Brazil.
Great vibe start to finish. Sure to get the foot tapping.
Like! 4/5
Y'know, first of all, besides how good of an album I think this is, I gotta say, it does make me pretty happy just that the Randomizer finally gave my group a samba album that has nothing to do with Getz or Gilberto. Seriously, as much as I liked them (except BEACH SAMBA, honestly), it's just nice to move outside of the 1960's, y'know? And, yeah, like I said: I think this is a good album. I mean, it was good enough for Rod Stewart to rip off for "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?". As it's one of those "world" albums (as in, "it's not from America or Europe"), I'm not really sure what the lyrics are about. The top review of the album on this website tells me it's some pretty important stuff, although I don't think it really matters if you actually know the lyrics or not. Like, sure, it's probably better if you don't pull the "Y'all don't wanna hear me; you jus' wanna dance," but as just an album to dance to, absolutely, it's great. Like, sure, I don't think any of the songs really evolve once they get started, but I don't think that's a problem. As long as you can lock into its groove, that's all that matters — and fortunately, I can, especially because of its samba and MPB rhythms. It's a pretty solid 4 for me. And, uh, I don't know what else to say that I haven't already. It's just good, funky samba music — and, again, it's not BEACH SAMBA. I can't think of anything else I would've asked of this album.
Great!
Yes this was great! Will listen again.
What a great groovy album. Absolutely brilliant way to start the morning, puts a smile on your face when walking listening to this.
Not my first taste of Jorge Ben Jor, but this album is new to me. Goes without saying that I enjoyed it, but is it the best one to represent him on the list? The electric, rockier style dilutes a bit of the 'Brazil-ness' of his earlier work, IMO. I guess I'm pining for more of the feather-light acoustic guitar that underpins Mas que Nada and Take It Easy My Brother Charles. Still, there's still plenty of joy to be found here, especially on the tune that Rod Stewart nicked. 3.5 - rounding up for the artist more than the album.
я походу был в прошлой жизни черным. а возможно ещё и бразильцем.
Whoa, this was amazing! I had heard some of these tracks, probably most sampled in later electronic songs, but didn't know where they came from. This is easily one of my top foreign language albums so far.
slinky, swinging, uplifting
I really liked the monkey instrument
Fun! 4/5
3.7
Yes yes yes liked this a lot
I was pleasantly surprised by the musical themes of this album and it was a nice discovery. It has a nice distinctive sound, but also tries to align with a more modern (at the time) rock and roll sound.
I love getting albums like this. I've never heard of Jorge Ben Jor or would have ever had reason to listen to his music. But this sort of rock + Brazilian flavor is outstanding. You can feel the energy surging through the speaker and it's engaging even without speaking the language
3.5
This was pretty unique, but I found it very enjoyable to listen to. I need to do some research about this before I have a full opinion though.
Really nice vibes
Nikad čula, ali po svemu sudeći, imam jako velika očekivanja jer dosta brijem na afrički funk lately. Dosta kul, druga stvar mi ima baš dobar gruv. I taj portugalski baš daje neki novi, drugačiji štih, lajkam. Uh, treća i četvrta su mi vrh. Taj Mahal isto dosta dobra. Ma svaka stvar mi ima nešto ful dobro, čak i ako mi nije cijela napeta. Jao ovaj space moment u Đoletovoj povijesti je baš jeben dosta 🔥 Orguljice isto vrh! Baš something different, bio mi je gušt slušati! Meni je ovo 4/5, 8/10 👌🏻
7.5/10 Dosta zanimljiv album. Nisam puno ulazio u Brazilsku muziku osim par artista poput Eumira Deodatoa koji mi se odmah zavukao na prvo slusanje, ali i ovo dosta dobro sjeda. Najdraza stvar mi je Taj Mahal, koju si je Rod Stewart posudio za Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, ali ako cu usporedjivati mi je i puno draza od poznate obrade. Odlicna, Meus filhos, Meu Tesouro mi je odmah iza, odlican gruv! Generalno, nema mi losih momenata na albumu, neke stvari su mi bolje od drugih ali sve skupa mi ostavlja bas dobar dojam. Osim ganjanja lopte i ulijevanja straha u kosti hrvatima na prvenstvima, Brazilci znaju i odlicne albume snimit. A tek Brazilke kako plesu, pihh. Odmah sam se sjetio onog meme-a - Come to Brazil! Moze, evo me.
Enjoyed the rhythm and mellow sound - did not understand the lyrics at all but that's OK
It was pretty fun and upbeat
Ma che simpatico
che mood gigantesco
Not at all my usual kind of album, but enjoyed immensely and would def even listen again
funk is one of those genre i think about and assume is trash but then i actually listen to it and it's peak. i'm really feeling this album idk why this is so good the groove on this album is crazy. i have know when if I'll ever relisten to this but this first listen was very enjoyable. one of the best samba albums i've ever heard
This was super enjoyable and maybe because I couldn’t understand the language (I’m usually a lyrical person) . I was just going with the feel of the music and the sound of his voice .It seemed like he was saying something emotional or meaningful. For all I know the lyrics are m trash but the music certainly wasn’t. 4/5
I liked it even though I couldn’t understand a word
I keep saying this any time interesting world music comes up, but this is why I signed up for this. Brazilian Samba mixed with funk I'd never normally stumbleupon. Just a chill time, solid chair boogying and it has the song "Taj Mahal" that some might recognize as the song Rod Stewart ripped off for "Do You Think I'm Sexy?"
Loved this, wasn’t expecting the melody on Taj Mahal! Stolen by Rod Stewart / N- Trance?
Nice album! Even slightly weak tracks like O Plebeu have plenty going on in the background to keep you interesting. I particularly enjoyed the back end around A Historia de Jorge and Cavaleiro do cavalo imaculado.
Un sonido fresco, cargado de pasión y ritmo, su música no se detiene en instrumentos, coros, y el insesante tambor africano. Me gustó mucho.7/10
First time ever hearing this artist, and I really enjoyed this album! I don't speak the language, so I have no clue what he's saying, but I do like the rhythms and music! My Top 3: 3. O Plebeu 2. Africa Brasil (Zumbi) 1. Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro
Funky fresh and dynamic. Love the introduction to these beats.
Chill, groovy, and soulful Brazilian funk
In another language and still loved it!!
Swingin!!!
Very different but I loved it. Great drumming, they definitely have a sense of rhythm. Singing was nice too.
Couldn't understand a word, but very funky and enjoyable
Fun and upbeat. Slight jazz vibes interlaced with salsa overtones
Love it! Right up my street. Sounds like a lot of people liked the little melody in Taj Mahal.
Hyper sympa ! Bonne découverte
Pretty groovy stuff. The tunes are fun, the instruments are funky, the sound is very rich. It's exactly what you'd want out of a Brazilian funk album.
I only speak Spanglish, so I have no idea what Jorge Ben Jor is saying in these songs. I am not sure it matters much either. I found myself singing along with no idea what I was saying or moving along to. Panta De Lanca Africano could mean "The Land of Africa should wear pants" and it doesn't matter because it's just a vibe and catchy as hell. I spent time trying to figure out why I liked this album while listening to "O Filosofo" and decided there was a Stones-y "Waiting on a Friend" vibe to the song. I often don't know what the hell the Stones are talking about, especially with some of the 70's output, but the riffs and feel of the song causes me to enjoy it. There is a reason Rod Stewart stole the riff to "Taj Mahal," for his disco song. That reason is there's a lot to enjoy on here. I haven't heard any of his other work but the guitar driven songs with the background vocals...this is a really pleasant surprise and I'm putting this album on my personal list...just as long as the songs aren't offensive when translated to English.
Perfect energy for a dull Monday morning commute. Got me ready for the day. Am album who’s energy can jump out of the music is to be celebrated, well done.
have you ever seen the movie Rio because this is what ponta de lanca africano the album reminds me of because their are parts of the movie that have music that kinda sounds familiar to the music that is used in the movie and this album gives a peaceful feel because of the voices and how they use the instruments to add to it and makes it more peaceful it kinda reminds me when in Rio Rio was flying and music started playing ponta de lanca africano is a great album and i would recommend that you listen to this because it is good if your trying to meditate or doing some work
do you like songs that are different languages. Well you will surely love this album. I liked the instrumentals and I loved the drums. I recomend it 7.5/10
Beautiful song structure and addictive rhythm.
This was so much fun. I’d happily listen to this pretty much anytime.
Loved it. Great running and dance music.
This album is one that demonstrates how good the 4 star tier is from this list. I enjoyed it greatly. There are some absolute bops on it. It's an album that really has me reconsidering if music from the 1970s in just about any genre or type of music is just to my taste no matter how much I want to shake that image and understanding. When I give this albums 4 stars, it is only because after a few listens today there are a couple of tracks that pull this from a 4.5 to something just slightly lower and have me rounding down rather than up. I try to keep that 5 star assignment to stuff that I find truly sublime for one reason or another. This record is close, but not quite at that level.
vibey
This album is hoppin'
I've been really consistently impressed with albums from the global south that take American musical genres and incorporate them with local musical traditions to make something new. This reminded me of how Ali Farka Toure and Songhoy Blues took American blues and mixed it with African Music. American funk and Brazilian music sound so naturally together. The musicianship and production on this album are excellent. This album went by really fast, but I want to hear it again sometime soon 4/5
I had never heard of Jorge Ben Jor before, so it didn't know what to expect. Basically, this release doesn't disappoint. It has a lot of energy and fun. Not sure what the songs are about but it doesn't matter since you just want to get up and dance
Very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this without understanding a word being said. This list is really making me realise how much good music Brazilians have made.
Snilld, fíla mjög vel.
Nice! Especially last two songs.
I came into this album expecting it to be like the other Afro-Latino music I got on here. This one was a bit different. Jorge Ben Jor has some chops. Fun listen, would for sure return to the standouts, and wouldn’t mind listening to the whole thing again. Standouts: Ponta De Lanca Africano, Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro, Taj Mahal, Xica De Silva, and Africa Brasil (Zumbi).
First listen Saved 7/11 Top track: Xica Da Silva
-damn I actually love 70s Brazilian music sm. thank you os mutantes and Jorge Ben Jor for introducing me to this and the cuica drum -holy shit Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado is so good -Favorites are Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro, Xica Da Silva, and Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado
Enjoyed listening, impossible to sit still. Favourite track is Xica da Silva.
Wouldn't put it on all the time, but it's really nice to hear in the background when I need to focus. Added a point because my husband adored it.
Solid, funky, great rhythms
Really glad I got to meet this album!
Cool vibes, very entertaining album. Well deffo be listening again soon.
Tremendous fun.
Profoundly funky. A different type of groove. I enjoy very much
This is why this project is genius. Yes, of course it's great to have an excuse to listen to Fleetwood Mac or the Rolling Stones in album format rather than just individual tracks, but the real joy is finding an artist in a genre that you would never have listened to otherwise. And this absolutely SLAPS
very groovy
good album of samba rock
really joyful Xica Da Silva was my favourite
Proof again that you don’t necessarily need to understand the lyrics to enjoy the performance. Although even if all the songs were, “death to the colonizers!” it was still a lot of fun listening to this.
Fun, upbeat African beat throughout. Did I hear the sound of the chorus to “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” on one of the songs? Definitely influenced several artists of the time.
20240823 Jorge Ben Jor – Africa Brasil 4/5 Back from my busy period, I have to write reviews from a couple of overdue albums, and this one is the first. This was quite a nice surprise of a reveal. I had very low knowledge of Brazilian music apart from very known artists like Caetano Veloso, or some soft-pop songs recommended by Spotify; and it has been a very good introduction to some samba-rock fusion. It is a very energetic and melody-rich album, with a very contagious rhythm through and through. The most outstanding quality of the album is the perfect mix between 70’s rock and Brazilian music, with some notes of African sounds. Some of the songs are very funky, while others are closer to “pure” samba, being the last the ones I have enjoyed the most, like Taj Mahal. If I have to talk about negatives, the sound can be a bit overwhelming for a continue listening; and the “rock-ish” songs work worse for my taste. In summary, a great album I will gladly listen more closely in the future, and a reference to be introduced into Brazilian music. Favourite songs: Meus filhos, meu tesouro; Taj Mahal Least favourite songs: Pomta de lança africano (Umbabarauma), África Brasil (Zumbi)
really enjoyed
9/10. I love fun and ethnic albums. :)
For as open as I try to be, it’s rare that a foreign album really stands out to me. But it’s a great experience when one does. Being able to get such a clear view into other cultures like that is amazing. And I will never not be open to hearing the unique ways these people make music. Because it’s very often drastically different to how Americanized music is generally approached. Some of the most interesting music I’ve ever heard came from these places. So I was happy to see that this record had generally positive reception from most. Unfortunately a lot of ignorance tends to follow records like this due to people’s inability to perceive or get into anything that isn’t in fucking English. That will never be an issue for me. It just adds another level of originality you can’t find elsewhere. Beyond all of that, this album is full of an energy I rarely find in music, but I relish in every time I do. This really took me back to when I started doing this, and hearing the Fela Kuti live album for the first time. Because this feels like a fusion of the best elements from those performances and something like Clube da Esquina. Seeing African and Brazilian musical history come together like this is very powerful. It really is the best of both worlds too. Super funky instrumentals that have the great complexities and writing quirks of popular Brazilian music. If people don’t allow the language barrier to affect them and prevent them from hearing this, it’s a very worthwhile listen. Rating: 7/10
Fun and danceable. I’ve never listened to Brazilian music before but enjoyed hearing the Portuguese. May not give it another listen but it was good for to hear something new.
Nice
Gisterochtend geluisterd en vandaag nog een keer. Erg fijne en vrolijk swingende muziek. En wat me opvalt: het voelt helemaal niet gedateerd aan. Dit had dit jaar ook gemaakt kunnen worden. En dat is reteknap.
Muy guay!!!
Its lovely
This is just as good as his older masterpieces, but in a different style. A
The first song is killer diller, and I would credit it for single handedly reviving David Byrne's career (after he put it as the lead-off track on a Brazilian music compilation he put together that got a lot more attention than his solo records had up until then). The rest of it is very good, too, but that first track - apparently about a soccer player? - is kick ass. Note also the melody of Taj Mahal - Rod Stewart must be a fan! 😅
Camisa 10 da Gavea, Africa Brasil (Zumba) are too slow
Very nice!
4/5
This was pretty good! I probably never would've listened to this without this project, so I'm glad I heard it, but I probably won't revisit it. It was nice music for listening to while I was doing work.
I really liked this album. I was expecting something very different, and what I heard was something that sounded more modern, experimental, playful. Parts of it reminded me to the tongue-in-cheek Cornershop debut, for example. I will definitely listen to this album again.
Excellent groove and vibe!
Good all the way through; will definitely listen again
Good vibes. Was worried as we've had some awful Brazilian music, but this was enjoyable.
Just really enjoyable and something a bit different
Fun
Loved it!! All the layers of sounds. So so So good What a delight!
Smooth, great vocals, and made me want to move. A great discovery!
This album still sounds fresh and relevant; I was surprised to hear it came out in 1976. Psychedelic-tinged funky Afro-samba may be the best description. It feels like it almost has a hip-hop influence, but I supposed it’s just the blending of Brazilian/african/funk rhythms and sounds. Really enjoyable grooves and beats from the percussion and bass. Hard to not want to move to this album. Some catchy vocal lines over the top, even if I don’t understand them. There’s a spirit and light-heartedness that shines through the music. Solid album.
I'd never even heard of Jorge Ben before I was assigned this album. After listening, it's clear that I have some more research to do.
A welcome change from the last few albums that I listened to on this list. Above average
Very funky and soulful. I like it.
This album becomes a million times more enjoyable than it already is when you imagine Glep from Smiling Friends singing the whole thing.
I may not speak the language but the emotions come through anyway. This album was very fun. Good grooves and rhythms. Favorites were Ponta De Lanca Africano, O Plebeu, Taj Mahal, and África Brasil.
This list needs more world music.
This is Brazil, with some lousy lyrics.
Excellent, will Re listen
Another awesome brand new artist courtesy of the 1001 project! Really fun funky samba. The fact that it was sung in Portuguese didn’t matter at all!
legit lit
AlienDance
I didn’t understand 99% of what was said. But it didn’t matter. The grooves, man, the grooves. This was such a fun album. I’ve had a decent amount of music out of Brazil during this project and it’s all been so creative and interesting. It hasn’t all been amazing, but it’s been different and interesting, and I can’t help but appreciate that. This album is alive with funky bass lines, locked in drums, and enthusiastic vocals that all come together to make this a fun, punchy, and funky 40 minutes. I’d gladly listen again. It’s always fun to hear genres that we think of as American or western taken on by a culture that itself is so closely associated with its own genres. The result is often a fresh take on a genre we think we own and know inside and out. We’re often proven wrong. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Ponta De Lanca Africano, Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu, Xica Da Silva, Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado, Africa Brasil (Zumbi)
Honestly, Africa Brasil was really good for what it does. The songs are very catchy and upbeat in all the right ways. It also kept introducing new elements as the songs went on in a way that felt natural and not sudden at all. Jorge's singing was also really good too with his voice always managing to fit every song very well even if i can't understand the lyrics due to them being in a language i do not speak. I did feel like there were maybe a few times where i began losing track of what was going on but part of me feels that wasn't really the albums fault and it kinda just being my fault. All in all, its a pretty great album. Best Song: Africa Brasil (Zumbi) Worst Song: O Filosofo
Love Jorge Ben
Groovy, funky, and soulful. A good exercise in perspective to compare popular South American 70s music to what I have been listening to from the same era for my whole life.
It has almost a classic rock/funk flavour at times, sometimes more Motown but always with a Latin and especially Brazilian sound layered throughout. I enjoyed it very much.
Samba rock, MBP, Funk. Energetic and uplifting, infectious vibes. Love the fusion going in. Impossible to have a bad time. Light 4.5/5
This was really enjoyable Brazilian pop/samba. Upbeat and despite the lyrics being in Portuguese, quite catchy. Standout is "Taj Mahal".
While I could not understand any of the Portuguese, I liked the sound and his voice. I just made up the meaning in my head.
I enjoyed it. It was good. I thought in one of the songs he sounded like Sting but Brazilian Sting. The sound was upbeat and they all sounded happy.
I enjoyed this even though I have not learned any more Portuguese between this album and the last Brazilian group we listened to. It was very upbeat and joyful sounding and pretty funky too. Even though I couldn’t understand a lick of what he was saying I enjoyed it.
Quite enjoyed listening to this while I worked out-kept me interested & enjoyed all the different sounds & instruments
Wild and fun! I added a couple songs to my playlists.
Had never heard of Jorge Ben Jor, glad he showed up though. My musical journey certainly enjoyed this bit of funk, so much more than I thought I would!
I didnt get what the songs were about but the rhythms were infectious. Funky 70’s jams!
Reminds me of Quincy Jones.
Super funky and soulful!!! Really enjoyed grooving out to this!!
Really enjoyed this one! Loved the vibes. Didn't even care that I couldn't understand a word 4 ⭐️
It bops.
I haven't heard about this artist before but I thought a Brazilian samba-funk album can't go wrong, and I was right. It was very groovy and enjoyable, I loved it a lot!
I love the multiple musical layers of this music and how it all blends together. You can tell there's a lot going on, but it doesn't sound muddy at all. I don't know how I'd describe this type of music, but it is definitely what I envision when I think of Brazilian music. I really enjoyed this little discovery. Ponte De Lança Africano had a nice hook to it with the minor chords. Meaus Filhos, Meu Tesouro was a fun, catchy romp.
that was properly good, im kind of torn between a 4 and a 5
This was super enjoyable and I really wasn’t expecting to like this at all. Either a four or a five I’m not sure I’ll decided tomorrow
high marks as i didnt understand a word but was groovy as he77.
No clue what this guy is singing about, but man is this shit funky.
Another album I really liked but will unlikely ever hear again just because of my typical genres unfortunately. Nice groove throughout
Not what I was expecting. It felt more like a funk album, which I didn't mind at all. Whatever is African or Brazilian feels secondary or like it was sprinkled on top of a base layer of 70's funk. But I thought it was great. Right from the opening licks of Ponta de Lance Africano. It dipped at times, like when I got to Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro, A História de Jorge (felt both derivative of other tracks and like it was trying too hard), or the title track (too spastic). But plenty of other great tracks in between, including Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu, O Filósofo, Xica da Silva (best song on the album next to the opening track), and Cavaleiro do Cavalo Imaculado (what pace!).
Fantastic album with tons of great hits. The musicality is unique and uses a wide variety of instruments and sounds. There are better Jorge Ben Jor albums but this one is still great!
Not bad
Interesting fusion of samba and rock styles. Funky grooves!
Loved this. Had no idea what he was singing about, doesn't matter. Great vibes
Tough to hate this, strong funk influences with a Brasilian flavour. great sound 4*
Muy funky, instrumentalmente muy rico y variado y me gusto mucho la voz!
Agradable mezcla de samba y funk, necesito aprender portugués
Cool Rhythms