Reviews (page 6 of 12)
How do you say "smooth" in Portuguese?
I weas surprised by this album. It seems like a great album to clean the house to, nice mix of energy and groove.
I tend to enjoy foreign music, and this is no exception. Very upbeat.
A fusion with funk is sort of exactly what samba needed. Funk complements samba so well and opens up a lot of possibilities for experimenting, of which there is a healthy amount on this album. Without alienating his album from either genre, Jorge successfully blends two genres while expanding both of their possibilities. There’s an incredible amount of range, beautiful production, great writing, and I have no idea about the lyrics. Almost as good as his earlier couple records. 4/5
Fun
Funk + Rock + Portuguese lyrics = A surprisingly great album! 4/5. Did not expect something like this to be on the list, but I'm glad it is.
No clue what they were singing about. But that rhythm section can churn butter.
I don’t have much to say about this album except that it was a really fun international album. It was funky and jazzy and had some great backing vocals and production. Ponta de lanca Africano and xica de Silva were my favs.
God I love Brazilian music! I think it’s perfect in its own right. But it’s not something I am likely to listen to everyday.
A great vibe, don’t know what the guy is saying but it doesn’t matter does it?😂😂
Really dug this. Might’ve liked it more if I understood French. Every world music selection to date has been nice. 4
4.2 impeccable, great fusion of western and Brazilian styles of music and the riffs are so catchy faves: ponta de lanca africano, taj mahal
Very enjoyable, an accomplished album from a talented artist. Begs to be listened to in the sunshine.
I really enjoyed this and definitely have to revisit it sometime. I didn’t really have favorite songs but I think they would stand out more if I re-listened to it.
Interesting album. Since my Portuguese isn’t that great, I obviously can’t say much about the lyrics. I did enjoy it though, and could see listening to it again or possibly more of his stuff.
I listened to it three times out of excitement for how good it is, but I might have worn myself down too quickly. Still good, though!
Echt tolle Musik. Das Album hat mir sehr gefallen und ist eine schöne Entdeckung.
Very fun and funky. Favourites: ponta de lanca africano, o filosofo. Thank you to Jorge for joining the noble fight against british rock (prayer hands emoji), I appreciate the rare non western addition to the list. 4/5
Very enjoyable album, perhaps the vibiest one yet. I liked almost every second of it, even though this isn't the type of music I would usually listen to. Especially a nice change from the last few British albums + Antichrist Superstar, just something very nice on the ears. Frankly I don't understand why the album is on the list, but that doesn't really change my rating (and I don't think it should lol). 4/5, but on the low end—the rating this time is based almost fully off enjoyment rather than any deeper analysis of just about anything. No favourites, the whole album kind of blends together but in a good way.
Bro COOKED with this. I feel so happy and content while listening, I just love getting into completely new genres of music that I would've never listened to before. Instrumentals were banging too. Favourites were basically the whole album, but especially Xica Da Silva. Easily at least a 4
Vibes
Any album that the flow for da ya think I’m sexy? Was stolen from is good enough for me.
I liked this! I liked the sound effects in the background (not sure how to describe them), although they did feel a little repetitive after a few songs. This was pleasantly fun and funky. I would listen to this again.
Couldn't understand a word of this but I really really enjoyed it. Very upbeat funky samba thing
I liked it…reminded me of the first time I heard King Sonny; no idea what they’re saying, but the music is infectious…
Now this is fucking great! The album title sums it up really well. It reminds me of 1993 when World Music was all the thing. Thus has pit a big smile on my face and nothing to do with watching the wife grooving along to it. I think I need to move to Brazil. However I'm scared of all the guns and drugs out there. A well deserved 4
Love the style. I could have done without the shouty parts, but it wasn't a lot, so it's alright
1001 albums day one i’m not one to listen to a lot of music outside of spanish and english so i was pretty interested in how i was gonna feel about this one. for this review i’ll be doing a track by track review, ending with my overall thoughts on the project. track one: ponta de lança africano any doubts that i had about the project were immediately erased with this opener. instantly did it have my attention, i was hooked. i am a big fan of just about everything this song has to offer, and i love the background vocals that accompany it. after hearing this track, i have very high expectations for the rest of the album. 8.5/10 track two: hermes trismegisto escreveu this one definitely didn’t hook me immediately as much as the opener, but i suppose that should be expected from the second track. i enjoyed the spoken word during the first moments of the track, but i definitely didn’t love it. however, as the track progresses it reveals itself as pure funk with almost a little reminiscence of pink floyd. i definitely didn’t love this one as much as the opener track, but as it grew i definitely l liked more and more. 8/10 track three: o filósofo this track had me a little worried for the rest of the album. there is a woodwind(?) or some kind of instrument playing repeated notes throughout the entire song and it gets annoying pretty fast. i also really do not like the singing on the song, like at all. it feels very sluggish, and not in a way that previous singers have been able to pull it off. just sluggish. hopefully this is just a small detour and the album continues on the road the first two tracks were traveling upon. 5.5/10 track four: meus filhos, meu tesouro this song immediately picked things up for me. the singing was already so much more favorable to me, and the intro had me waiting to see what was going to happen next. what happened next did not disappoint. once the drums kick in, this song just keeps going and going and never stops. they bring that woodwind noise back in from the 3rd track, but unlike last time it’s not as repetitive and feels like it contributes a lot to the mix. definitely my favorite track so far, i really love it. 9/10 track five: o plebeu while this song is a lot less impressive than the others i’ve praised, i don’t necessarily think that’s a bad think. this track coming after the fourth works really well as it adds a playful vibe to the album after the more “dire” tone that took place in the fourth. i really like the synths on this song, and while i’m not usually a fan of la la las i like how they work on this song. the song is playful, and that’s really it. it’s not trying to be anything bigger than that, and i think that’s fine for where it is on the album. 8/10 track six: taj mahal keeping a similar feel to the fourth track, taj mahal makes me feel even better about track five. i think that the playful tone provided from the previous track was crucial to this song working. even if this song feels very similar to the fourth, i can still appreciate it equally because of the small break the song before gave me. that being said, this track still holds up really well, i just wish that flute solo at the end was drawn out long than 5 seconds. 8.5 track seven: xica da silva i really like how this track starts out. they take no time getting the song started, and i love that. at first, i thought i would find the metronome annoying but after a while it just kinda blended with everything else in this mix. this song was the first since the opener track to remind me how great the backing vocals are on this album, especially with how much they stand out on this song. overall, the song carries a great vibe and really doesn’t have any negatives. it’s just a genuinely good song. 8.5/10 track eight: a história de jorge the title alone had me pretty interested in this track, i’m happy that i wasn’t disappointed. the song takes home to one of the best vocal performances on this album as well as some great synth worked accompanied by saxaphone. the outro is also really catchy. this song is just a straight banger. 8.5/10 track nine: camisa 10 da gávea while this is one of the slower tracks on the album, i still enjoyed it a lot. that being said i don’t really much to say about it. it doesn’t really offer anything new to the album and just feels like a bit of a drag. 7/10 track ten: cavaleiro do cavalo imaculado i was beginning to reach a point in this album where i couldn’t really appreciate much of what was happening anymore. however, track ten really turned that around for me and had me genuinely enjoying a song throughout it’s entire length. this song features some really cool high speed percussive elements that are hard to not find cool. 8/10 track eleven: africa brasil (zumbi) the title track. if i’m being honest, i’m not sure what i was expecting when i first went into this track. the album isn’t very ambitious throughout it’s entirety (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but i love big grand outros so i wasn’t sure if i was going to get that). yet this outro really blew me away. the intro of the song features a piano intro followed by an instantly intriguing instrumental to accompany the lead singers AMAZING performance. the vocals on this last song are really what make it, but the instrumental is just that cherry on top. i think this song was the perfect way to close out this album. 9.5/10 i’m happy to say this album did not disappoint. while it had it’s lows, it introduced me into a new genre of music that i’ve never really dove into and can now appreciate. the highs were also, very very high, when they did happen. favorite tracks: ponta de lança africano / meus filhos, meu tesouro / africa brasil (zumbi) least favorite track: o filósofo OVERALL SCORE: 8/10
muito divertido
Thoroughly enjoyable. Added.
Banger after banger this is going into the rotation
I like the instrument that sounds like someone is washing the window
Ik vind dit erg leuk! Soort Braziliaanse masayoshi takanaka
Thought this was great
Vibey. Thanks it’s been like a million stinkers in a row…
This is a very fun album. Great energy and instrumentation
I have no idea what they are saying but I like the way they say it
Os gringos que não gostaram desse aqui não sabem o que estão perdendo! Ótimo álbum do Jorge Ben Jor, com elementos afro-brasileiros e afro-estadunidenses.
That’s the stuff. B+
This is a bop.
It didn’t feel like I was at the Taj Mahal, but it did feel like I was in Brasil.
usually not my style but this was pretty funky!
Really hard album to track down. I ended up accidentally listening to a song, "Magnolia" off of another album and loved it. The songs are carefree, and Jorge's voice is quite soothing.
This turned out to be a really good album. I'm glad to have discovered it!
Groovy
África Brasil Never heard of this or him. Wasn’t sure what I was expecting but I thought it might be some Afro-Brazilian jazz thing. I purposefully didn’t read anything about it before listening, so with some trepidation/fear/excitement/anticipation I put it on, and was very happily surprised to hear the first track is a kind of funky Afrobeat groove. I love the layers of percussion propelling the rhythm, augmented by the bass and guitar riff. No idea what he’s saying but I do like the sound of Brazilian Portuguese with all the shhs and jsss. Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu has an even more funk powered groove but with a more overtly samba/bossa nova vocal melody. This is good! Taj Mahal - Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?!?! I sort remember hearing about this, that Rod nicked that melody from here, and also the string line from another song, but claimed you were allowed to do that, or something. Can definitely hear elements of Barry Manilow and Copacabana in A História de Jorge too. Really liked Camisa 10 da Gávea, I guess that’s about the Brazil no 10 shirt? The one after, Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado is a superb groove. I was listening on my headphones while doing some housework and it made me dance around. I wouldn’t have looked out of place at the Carnival in Rio. I was already wearing the headdress and thong which helped though. Super. I don’t want to know what he’s actually singing, I just like the sound and trying to guess what it’s all about. What’s with the Cuckoo Clock sound on some of the tracks? I throughly enjoyed this! Without this 1001 album thing I doubt I would ever have heard of it let alone have listened to it, so I’m very glad I did. It was even better on the 2nd listen. The groves are excellent, and the Brazilian element takes it in a slightly different direction that is pretty novel to me. By the 3rd listen it lands comfortably in the 4 zone. It’s got great tunes, grooves and rhythm and it’s incredibly fun and joyful. A foot tappin’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tengo como materia pendiente escuchar más de Brasil. Es un semillero de artistas sumamente diversos. Y éste tipo va en esa línea. Lo desconocía por completo pero lo que es innegable es que ya desde la primera canción hay algo. Un groove tremendo. Es un disco bailable. Lo imagino para una reunión con amigos, bailando mientras se cocina, bailando después de comer. Lo obvio es caer en la imagen diurna de playa pero también lo siento nocturno. Un muy buen trabajo.
I really liked this one! had a great energy to it that I dug much more than I expected. great stuff.
Good vibes
Time for (what I believe to be) my third Brazilian album! I liked the debut album from Os Mutantes as well as Arise by Sepultura, so how does Jorge Ben's "Africa Brasil" compare? It's also really good! I guess there's just something about the Brazilian albums I've gotten so far that appeals to me. What appeals to me with this album is the sound. It's funky and I love it. The singing and writing are also both pretty good, even if I can't understand it. Though, from what my browser's translations gave me, there's some substance in these writings. Overall, given the quality and the apparent cultural impact that Jorge Ben has in Brazil, I think this is a worthy inclusion in this list. 4/5.
Think I might have done this one a disservice. Didn’t have lot of time yesterday so ended up listening as I got ready this morning . It’s getting a 4. Funky is a win for me
The grooves were tight!
Super funky and gets your feet tappin'! Definitely worth a second listen.
Pretty nice album
Nice vibe, smooth and make me want to move
There is something so musical about the brazialian language <3
This album is a complete blast. Great rhythms, songs that pull you in. I'd sing along if I spoke a lick of Portuguese. Loved it. 4 stars
Continuing my reductive comparison of artists I feel like this has a slight Serge Gainsbourg influence (or maybe the other way around), mainly with the cuckoo (?) noise. Another good Sunday chores album.
Really enjoyed this album
3.8 - this was a nice surprise. Instrumental parts were sick. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I actually thought his voice ruined it a little. I loved the beginning, but it started to feel too similar towards the end.
This was quite fun
Africa Brasil is a 1976 album by Brazilian artist Jorge Ben Jor, who was known as Jorge Ben at the time. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest classics of Brazilian popular music, and a landmark in Ben’s career12 The album showcases Ben’s switch to electric guitar and his incorporation of both Afro-Brazilian and American funk music styles into his sound. The result is a vibrant, energetic, and groovy fusion of samba, funk, soul, and rock that reflects Ben’s African roots and his admiration for black culture12 The lyrical themes of the album are diverse and often playful, ranging from soccer to mythology, from history to romance. Ben reworks three of his earlier songs: “A Princesa e o Plebeu” (The Princess and the Commoner), “Taj Mahal”, and “Zumbi”. The latter is a tribute to Zumbi dos Palmares, the leader of a 17th-century quilombo (a community of escaped slaves) who resisted colonial oppression and became a symbol of black resistance and freedom13 The production of the album is crisp and clear, with a tight and talented band that includes José Roberto Bertrami on keyboards, Dadi Carvalho on bass, Gustavo Schroeter on drums, and several percussionists. The album was produced by Marco Mazzola, who also worked with other Brazilian legends such as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Gal Costa14 The influence of Africa Brasil is immense and lasting, both in Brazil and abroad. The album is considered one of the precursors of the mangue beat movement, which emerged in the 1990s and blended regional rhythms with rock, hip hop, and electronic music5 The album also inspired many artists from different genres and countries, such as David Byrne, Rod Stewart, Ambitious Lovers, Soulfly, and Manu Chao126 In conclusion, Africa Brasil is a masterpiece of Brazilian music that showcases Jorge Ben Jor’s creativity, versatility, and originality. It is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates funk, soul, samba, or world music in general. some of the standout tracks of the album are: Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma): This is the opening track and one of the most famous songs by Jorge Ben Jor. It is a catchy and funky tribute to an African soccer striker, with references to Brazilian culture and mythology. The song has been covered and sampled by many artists, such as David Byrne, Soulfly, and Manu Chao Taj Mahal: This is a reworked version of a song from Ben’s previous album, Ben. It is a lively and upbeat song that tells the story of how the Taj Mahal was built by an Indian emperor as a monument of love for his wife. The song became controversial when Rod Stewart used its melody for his hit song “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” without crediting Ben. Ben sued Stewart and donated the royalties to UNICEF Xica da Silva: This is another reworked song from Ben’s previous album, Ben. It is a soulful and sensual song that narrates the life of Xica da Silva, a former slave who became a powerful and wealthy woman in colonial Brazil. The song was composed for the soundtrack of the film Xica da Silva, directed by Cacá Diegues These are just some of the highlights of the album, but I recommend you to listen to the whole album to appreciate its diversity and quality.
Quite fun.
v bossa vibes — simultaneously liked it a lot but it was also a real struggle to get thru (bc i got bored sometimes) 5/7
awesome jams
Funk, African/Cuban beats, love this album!
6 / 10 Mezcla rara de Samba - Funky - Guitarra Eléctrica. Aún así buena instrumentación .
Just back on this album now. Never heard of jorge Ben but I'm a fan, wish I understood a bit of Portuguese though! Good voice, funky tunes.
Never Heard of him but I liked him, the rhythm and the lyrics
i can’t rmb most of my notes now but i enjoyed the blend of influences in this
Vibrant, bright, energetic and really well developed for its time. Great production as well. Eccentric and diverse musical themes coming from a variety of influences. I don't have anything bad to say with this albo and I'm gonna re listen to it often!
Jorge Ben albums are always a lot of fun, and this one blends his sound with a Herbie Hancock-esque funk that just complements it so well. An utter delight
already listened twice!
Once again, not understanding the lyrics is probably working in the favor of this one for me. In fact, I recently stumbled on this quote from Henri Lopes: "Whoever speaks one of our languages can understand them all, and I could easily have followed the songs of these nubile maidens. But a song always sounds better if we don’t understand the words." So, I'm digging the grooves. Love the Brazilian percussion. Appreciate the squeaks and dog barks (or whatever's going on there). Vibing on the repetitive melodies and lyrics. Bass lines were slamming, even if the tone wasn't always incredible. "Taj Mahal" had a vocal line that sounded like Rod Stewart's "Da Ya think I'm Sexy" — or the other way around, as this predates that by a coupe of years. Where my Kid Rock review mentioned how that idiot was a riff killer, this guy's vocal contributions add to the party and swing of the album. A 4-star may be a little generous, given my limited understanding of the genre and language, but it lifted my spirits, and that deserves something!
This was a real treat to hear. What I loved is how this made me feel small and insignificant---in a good way. The world is so large and full of cultures and music and sounds and languages I've never explored. Jorge et al put my own troubles aside for 40 minutes and I was thrilled to hear all that big sound come together. Taj Mahal was a nice standout but I really loved every single song and suspect this will be on the background playlist if I ever throw a big party!
Catchy, fun Brazilian funk music. The album is one big vibe throughout, and while nothing sticks out, it is a very enjoyable listen.
groovy
01) Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma) - 9,0 02) Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu - 8,5 03) O Filósofo - 8,0 04) Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro - 8,0 05) O Plebeu - 7,5 06) Taj Mahal - 9,0 07) Xica da Silva - 8,5 08) A História de Jorge - 7,5 09) Camisa 10 da Gávea - 7,0 10) Cavaleiro do Cavalo Imaculado - 7,0 11) África Brasil (Zumbi) - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,91 (79/100) Another one I have to listen on You Tube. It started interesting but towards the end it started to sound a bit repetitive. "Taj Mahal" is the only song I know, it's played frequently on my local radio station. We also know it as the song Rod Stewart sang as "Do ya Think I'm Sexy".
Alright, this was an interesting entry. It opens with some really solid funk/rock and has a rad overall feel from track one. Very cool Funk/Reggae/Rock vibes throughout with implementation of traditional and modern instruments in ways that blended nicely. Highlight Tracks - Ponta De Lanca Africano, Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu, Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado, Taj Mahal, Xica Da Silva Less Liked Tracks - O Filosofo
Do I think the Taj Mahal is Sexy?
da ya think I'm sexy? well yes, in fact
"Africa Brasil" by Jorge Ben Jor, released in 1976, is a vibrant and rhythmically captivating album that transcends language barriers through its infectious energy. Even if the Portuguese lyrics remain elusive, the dynamic and rich musicality of the album offers a universal appeal. Ben Jor's fusion of samba, bossa nova, and funk in tracks like "Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma)" and "Xica da Silva" creates an irresistibly danceable atmosphere. The album's Afro-Brazilian influences are palpable, contributing to its unique and engaging sound. For an album to captivate a listener who doesn't understand the lyrics speaks volumes about its musical prowess. "Africa Brasil" earns a resounding 4/5 for its dynamic rhythms, cultural richness, and its ability to transcend linguistic barriers, providing a thoroughly enjoyable musical experience.
I actually LOVED this album. It was so groovy and the vocals made me want to dance even more. I had never heard of this album before but it felt like I could enjoy the songs as if they were up there with my faves. I really want to save my 5/5s for AMAZING albums so I give this a reluctant: 4/5
nice fusion
Ponta lanca has been a favorite since high school. Oustanding song. The rest of the album was disappointing. Nice funk sounds, but not nearly as smooth as the first track.
Probably won’t listen again but enjoyed listening to it this time.
Really enjoyed jamming out to this on a sunny day. Primed for a low-key day party dance. Impossible not to groove. Fave track: Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado
Great groovs, added to the library.
Pretty catchy! I don't know the language so it's a bit like easy listening, but still good.
"Africa Brasil" by Jorge Ben Jor is a captivating album that seamlessly blends samba, funk, and Afro-Brazilian influences. Released in 1976, it's a musical journey that showcases Ben Jor's unique style and rhythmic prowess. The album's fusion of genres and socially conscious lyrics make it a timeless and influential piece in Brazilian music history.
Pretty good. Up beat and catchy but smooth. Foreign language so good background music. Not really my usual thing but I liked it.
A funky little slice of Brazilian and African music. I can't understand a word of it, but enjoyable nevertheless. 4/5. Favorite Track: Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro
Gave it an above average review. The musicianship was brilliant but hard for me to appreciate the vocal aspects not knowing the language.
Fun!
Very catchy
Really happy to have expanded my knowledge of Brazilian funk and Tropicalia. This definitely feels like the kind of album Questlove would recommend. The first two songs are absolute bangers. Learned that Rod Stewart used Taj Mahal sequences in Da Ya Think I’m Sexy. An energetic album.
Really dig this! At least a 3.5 for me. Kind of a surprise.
Really good Way more funky than I was expecting Easy listen 4
Best one so far as of 1.1.24 I like very funky
I admit, it was a cool and relaxed album
Was pleasantly surprised by this from the first note on. I've rated my previous tropicalia album as a three star. This one gets four but there's been a decade of evolution between the two albums
Breezy, fun. 3.5 rounded up.
Anything brazil I eat up right away. Opening track grabs u right away with the hypnotic drums, catchy lyrics, and the dope classic rock style guitar. O Plebeu is a vibee
This is the first album on this last I had never heard of - knew of - in any way aware of... This is Jorge Ben's fourteenth album - a seasoned artist who apparently adopted an electric guitar and elements of American funk for this album. I know very little of Brazilian music - this is of a dated funk/soul style - great vocalist and back-up singers in an r&b/motown-type sound. He integrates a range of latin rhythms with the other elements of a big funk band - a horn section and strong keys.
Discoveries like this make slogging through the scores of mediocre albums on this list worth it.
I've never heard of this artist before but I enjoyed it. Don't think it was life changing but I'm glad I was introduced to him. Got some cinematic vibes to.
Funky
I've heard this once before and I think if I gave it another couple serious listens, it would really start to click with me. Even now I was seriously getting into it on that last run of songs, the energy is palpable, from the instruments to the wild vocals. It's just natural that music not in your own language can take a bit more time to digest since there's no hooks or choruses to latch onto, but this one is definitely going into the memory bank as something to revisit.
Good to groove to, really enjoyed this
Me gustó escuchar otra cosa que no fuera rock 100%. Sonidos latinos, con alma y política.
FUNKY
There's an obvious language barrier but the rhythms and vibes are great. 4/5.
Next 5 songs played by my Spotify Algorithm: Secos & Molhados - El Rey Sergio Sampaio - Sinceramente Los Sebosos Postizos - A Jovem Samba Milton Nascimiento - Para Lennon E McCartney - Por Que
Dont be silly. Brasil is not in Africa!
Beautiful music. Makes you want to get up and dance. Grooving, vibrating, flowing, pulsing music for the soul. More alive and vibrant than many albums here, Jorge Ben Jor sings with passion and emotion. From the little I can find in translation, it seems he is a mystic, searching deep the ancient mysteries. And a bit of a political provocateur, calling out injustice and corruption. A welcome addition to my world music playlist.
Wat een lekkere muziek zeg, word er helemaal vrolijk van Haha huh Rod Stewart heeft de melodie van Taj Mahal gebruikt in 'Da ya think I'm sexy' 🤯 Ja heel nice album, luister eigenlijk niet vaak dit soort muziek maar zou ik meer moeten doen 5 nummertjes opgeslagen, would buy!
Album klinkt als vakantie in de oren
6/11, 55%
Pretty joyous and funky.
Great brazilian music
I enjoyed this a lot and understood nothing.
Brilliant vibes!
Absolute vibes. What a brilliant Portuguese bop selection
Fun and danceable songs in his native portugiese. Very nice listen
It’s a shame that Rod Stewart didn’t rip off any more of this album, otherwise his late career might actually have been good
Brazilian world music. Good.
I love O Plebeu. The vibe of the album is so chill and sunny. No idea what he’s talking about but that’s fine with me.
Komplette Album nicht vorhanden
hino
Now this is a solid jam. I can get down with some bossa-nova style and solid funk. Some tracks and effects were a bit off-putting for my ear, but others had such a strong foundation they were irresitable.
An absolute vibe. Two of my fave genres blended together. Definitely will be playing this next summer.
Guy has a great voice. Ton of energy on this album with fun beats. Seems like it’s great for dancing or just a good headphone listen
Wow, this was surprisingly good considering I have no idea what the words mean. Great grooves that combine rock, funk and latin sounds. Sounds very contemporary despite being almost 50 years old. Foreign language rock music is pretty unusual to hear in the US, but this proves it can be really, really good.
A mix between scorpions and Sex Pistols. Some of the shredding was out of this world but otherwise my great music.
Very cool
Heard before. Taj Mahal has been staying in my rotation since the first time I heard it. Feel good album. + Ponta de Lança Africano + O Filósofo + Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro + O Plebeu + Taj Mahal + Xica Da Silva + A História De Jorge Voa Jorge, voaaaa
Such a fun album, really enjoyed it.
I didn't know a single word he said but I vibe with it. 8/10
Was not expecting this one. I’m a big rhythm guy so not being able to understand the lyrics didn’t bother me. The album had some really great new sounds I’ve never heard together that really harmonized well. The monkey drum got me good. Added Xica da Silva and Taj Mahal to my personal playlist. Had me singing and listening on repeat 8.5
Fun! First album I was previously unfamiliar with, though I'd heard the first song on an old Luaka Bop compilation CD I owned. Great energy and just enjoyable stuff.
Fun! First album I was previously unfamiliar with, though I'd heard the first song on an old Luaka Bop compilation CD I owned. Great energy and just enjoyable stuff
I love it !!! Too bad it’s not available in spotify. Great production, great voice, smooth melodies. Stand out track: Taj Mahal
Fav: Taj Mahal LF: O Plebeu Goos vibes all around, mid 8
This is cool. Never heard of it. Kind of a wild mashup, definitely world music, great energy, nice vocals, interesting instrumentation. I'm a bit more than 100 into the 1001 and am discovering I definitely have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to world music.
Enjoyable. Very much my jam. This listen was my first exposure to this album and artist that I’m aware of. Sounds like something that would be in a Wes Anderson film, if it hasn’t already.
Really good actually. Can't give it a 5, but its a really nice listen and fun to hear
Some heist music rn Killer instrumentation, most of these drum breaks have such a good pace and intensity to them. outside my realm but crazy listening experience. the outro title track is some explosive transcendental stuff, the raspiness of his voice is matched perfectly with the fast drums. Idk what that whooping, bird call sounding instrument is but it’s used perfectly throughout this album. Favs : O Plebeu, Xica Da Silver, Africa Brasil Least fav : camisa 10 da gavea Overall: 88/100
So so so fun and full of bops! Saved Ponta De Lanca Africano, Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu, and Xica Da Silva, but nearly all the songs were memorable and enjoyable to listen to. The moment the album was over I actually re-listened to about half of it. I only wish this was in English and not Portuguese so that I would be more likely to revisit it, but then perhaps I wouldn't find it as appealing. Would love to sing along to the songs though! I would give this a 3.5 if there were half ratings, but bumping up to a 4 because of how much I enjoyed my listen.
Never heard of this guy before, but this is a fun and enjoyable album. I definitely see why he sued Rod Stewart; Do Ya Think I'm Sexy owes a big debt to Taj Mahal.
- Do I have the proper knowledge of cultural context to really judge this? Probably not! I know very little about Brazilian music, nor Jorge Ben Jor's place within its pantheon. I could not tell you what makes this album, specifically, as significant as it apparently is. All I can say is whether or not I enjoyed listening to it. And I did! - Jorge and his band really lock into a groove here. I'm reminded of Sly and the Family Stone, or Funkadelic, or 60s Miles Davis; not in terms of sound, really, but in the way that all the musicians involved seem to know exactly how to play off of each other. You could imagine any of these songs spinning off into a 15 minute jam session and still being great, because there's a palpable energy to these people making music together. - I wish I understood the lyrics; they're quite foregrounded in a few songs and apparently his satirical bent was one of Jorge's claims to fame. I should try and find a translation later. - Great album! I will definitely be listening to this more.
Really makes you want to dance. I liked it.
I loved this. Sounds so familiar yet was brand new to me. Can see it as a high influence for Japanese jazz fusion.
Fun!
Hatade i början men blev nice
nice vibe, not a huge fan of the french but overall catchy
Fun
Great opener. Good vibes.
Brilliant fusion of bossa nova and more traditional western music
This is a super cool record. Favourite tracks: Ponta De Lança Africano, O Plebeu, Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado, África Brasil (Zumbi). Tag Mahal totally has the same melody line as Rod Stewart's Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? I'm not the first person to notice this, of course. Naughty Rod.
Album 150 of 1001 Jorge Ben - Africa Brasil Rating : 4 / 5 Good funk. Although I didn't understand a word that was said, the music was awesome. This is one that wouldn't usually come to your attention. Recommended.
Vibes
Enjoyable
Solid album. I really enjoy the percussion.
Gostoso! Great example of what Brazilian music was during the 70s.
Dare you to listen to this and not 💃
Groooooooves
One of the funkiest albums I’ve ever heard Favourite tracks: Ponta de Lanca Africano, O Filósofo, Taj Mahal, Xica da Silva, Camisa 10 de Gavea
No idea what he's singing but I'm here for a funking good time, and that's what I got. I can always rely on the Sth Americans to make me want to move my hips. Not sure when I might listen to this again but it's now on a World playlist for that time.
Some interesting rhythms going on here. Had already heard the Soulful version of the first track, which I didn't realise was a cover until now. Can see the influence on later (Max fronted) Sepultura and Soulfly in the drums at least.
Really enjoyed this album. Great beats and vocals.
Definitely the BEST world album on this list. Great music, great funk, Lyrics - no idea, but damn fun to listen to and sing along with at times! Umbabaruauma! Gol! Great football song. I remember hearing that Rod Stewart's Do You Think I'm Sexy borrowed the melody from Taj Mahal. After hearing I definitely get it. Standouts: Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma), Taj Mahal, Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu, O filosofo, O plebeu, Xica da Silva, Fantástico! Loved it. 4.5/5
Well, this was a welcome surprise. Great energy for a summer Monday. Put me in a better mood immediately for a drive to work. Listened a second time thru the funk, good vibes and clean instrumentals all came together to create such an awesome album. 4 stars!
What a joyous listen. Fun, funky and some great melodies - so good Rod obviously nicked one of them. Really lifted my journey up this morning.
Definitely ahead of its time. Drums are constantly moving, guitar/keys are very unique.
This is what this list is all about. I never would have heard of this album otherwise and it's fantastic. Don't understand a word, but I vibe with every minute of it
Interesting Rhythmic Patterns
I couldn’t understand all of the lyrics but it’s still a fun album. I was dancing the whole way through. My only complaint is the squeaking in the background of several songs, I hate that sound.
Fun and funky! I want to revisit this one.
-excited to listen to some brazilian music tbh -haven’t heard a lot of it before -i like the vibes of this first song -i like the horns in the background -he also has a nice voice -love when phones have little dooo do de dooos in the background -O filósofo is really really good, probably one of my favorites -OOO THE GUITAR IS OUTTT -meus filhos, meu tesouro is ALSO now a favorite -like the different sounds being used in the background with the instruments and singing
Never heard of Jorge Ben Jor before, but this is great. If there’s such a genre as ‘samba rock funk’, then I think this is it. Reminds me a bit of Elza Soares at times which is no bad thing, and I suppose not very surprising given theyre both from the same place. Surprised to hear Rod Stewart ripped off Taj Mahal for ’D’ya think I’m sexy’. He agreed to donate all the proceeds to UNICEF which is nice. Will be returning to this.
Incredibly funky. I thought this would be more like a lot of the generic World music included on this list, but there are more rhythms, beats, and instruments than you could shake a stick at. Makes you want o dance, and puts you in a great mood.
This was a very nice surprise, not sure I had listened to a funky samba album before. Thoroughly enjoyed the upbeat nature of the album, great for a Monday morning. Will definitely listen to again. Highlights: Ponta De Lanca Africano Xica Da Silva A Historia De Jorge
When the album started, I wasn't quite expecting the guitar to be such a major focus, but nearly every riff here is super catchy, and the samba style really lends itself to this blend of music that is familiar yet all its own. That final song being so aggressive comparatively puts a nice bow on this extremely well made package. Perhaps the language barrier makes this a tad repetitive, but it is a repeat of only banger after banger, so that is hardly a knock against it. Rod Stewart can eat his heart out when it comes to Taj Mahal, quite frankly. Sick of artists "sampling" (or in this case straight up stealing) amazing music and making it obviously worse. I believe George Harrison when he says he unconsciously lifts a melody from a song, not the "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" guy.
wow! jorge ben jor's áfrica brasil sure was lively, despite it not being a live album. it isn't easy to create that kind of natural energy in a studio. but i found myself clapping, bopping, dancing along to these songs. i had a good time listening! each song was distinct from one another, yet the album as a whole was a fusion of jazz and funk. and then in the final song, ben jor threw us a curveball with that beautiful piano! a joyful listen. worthy of being on this list!
This was, simply put, a fun album to listen to! It was very funky and full of Latin flair. I loved the addition of tropical sounds on this album, as well. Jorge's vocals were great and added to the overall great and fun vibes of the album. No two songs are alike and yet the energy manages to stay consistent all throughout. I would definitely go so far as to say that this has been one of the best albums under the 'world music' umbrella that I have heard on this project thus far!
Nice mix of pop with Brazilian influence. This record makes me a bit more open to worldly records. I enjoyed a good chunk of it. 6,5 out of 10
Genre-mixing Brazilian artist hoovering on the edge of the Tropicalia movement.
Not the kind of music I would normally listen to, and I didn't understand any of the lyrics, but it was fun, upbeat, and I enjoyed it.
Catchy hooks. I have no clue what they are singing about, but its catchy.
I really enjoyed this! One thing I notice when venturing outside the 'western blues-inspired' world of music is that there is often less emphasis on vocal performance and that's true here. This guy is a fine singer - on pitch, soulful, etc but for me it may as well be Raffi singing here haha there's so little emotion compared to the 'english language' greats like Robert Plant, etc. He did get going on the last track Africa Brasil thought that was a fantastic recording.
I love Jorge Ben Jor. Honestly, I do prefer his earlier stuff (Take It Easy My Brother Charles is an anthem). But I appreciate the transition in his style that this album represents.
3.5 Rod Stewart stole Do You Think I'm Sexy from the Taj Mahal
Afro-Brazilian Samba Funk!!!!
I found this pretty catchy. I wasn't overly focused on it, but it was definitely enjoyable.
interesting
Unique. I enjoyed it.
Ik moet eerlijk toegeven dat ik er niet bepaald zin in had toen het machtige algoritme me deze huiswerkopdracht gaf, maar de muziek valt me enorm mee moet ik zeggen. Ik betrap mezelf erop dat ik regelmatig met m'n voet mee zit te tikken op de maat. Ritmisch erg lekker, funky, een prettige stem. Als kaasminnende tatta ervaar ik dit natuurlijk ook als exotisch en daarmee lekker zomers. Alleen die apengeluiden, gemaakt met een soort Zuid-Amerikaanse rommelpot waarvan ik het bestaan tot vandaag niet kende, zijn wel op het randje van irritant soms. Maar dat hoort er nou eenmaal bij. Prima. Voor een paar linkse deugpunten staan we wijd open voor vreemde culturen natuurlijk. 4 sterren, mede ook om landgenoot Vinícius een hart onder de riem te steken.
This hit the spot! Opens and closes with bangers, has a fair few between. I’m largely unschooled in Brazilian psychedelic rock, and would like to more about the sounds than Wikipedia will tell me, for example which did Wham pinch? Bookmarking this. Listened to this three times, probably would’ve listened to this more had I not been pushed down a King Crimson wormhole by companions.
I really enjoyed this album. I've heard a bit of Jorge Ben's music in the past and liked it a lot as well, so I was excited to get this album. It's inspired me to go check out more of his work. He's great at blending and crossing between genres, so I'll be interested to hear more. Standout Tracks: Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma), O Filósofo, Taj Mahal, Xica da Silva, Cavaleiro do Cavalo Imaculado, África Brasil (Zumbi)
This album as a whole was absolutely amazing, the way Jorge Ben Jor uses his own language to sing was amazing And for instruments, everything worked do well and it felt soulful. Overall : This albums was really good and I might be coming back to it
Funky beats with ladies singing the chorus. Portuguese lyrics. Overall pretty exciting and chill too.
Really nice pleasant album. Will definitely listen again as background music Saved tracks: Ponta De Lanca Africano, O Filósofo, Taj Mahal, África Brazil (Zumbi)
Originally a samba artist, Jorge Ben would join the growing popularity of MPB, Brasil's own modern take on bossa nova and samba. This particular take on MPB draws influence from Funk, which has hit it's stride over in the states. The result is fun, high-quality music from Brasil!
4 star nice
Great album. 20 albums in and this is the first one I’ve previously listened to front to back. It’s both varied and cohesive. Lots happening. Jorgen Ben sings, chants and talks over a varied and fun soundscape. Not quite a five for me, i miss a real standout track that I want to come back to again and again, but a great album nonetheless.
I liked this a lot, wished I could understand the language. It had a unique vibe of having one foot firmly planted in an ancient tradition and the other in the future.
"África Brasil" is the 14th studio album by Brazilian artist by Jorge Ben. It was a switch in his music with more electric guitar and incorporating Afro-Brazilian and American. Other artists including David Byrne and the Ambitious Lovers covered songs from this album. Rod Stewart lifted the melody from "Taj Mahal" for "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" resulting in the royalties being donated to UNICEF. Good move. Ponta de lança africano (Umbabarauma) starts the album off with sort of a bluesy guitar. A funky beat. There's a groove going. Great backing vocals which are throughout this album. The song is about an African football player. "O Plebeu" is a reworked song. An easy groove and more great backing female vocals."Taj Mahal" is another reworked song. It has a dance beat and horns. It's quicker. Oh, yeah, the vocal chorus is "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy." A great, fun song. "Xica da Silva" is a little slower driven by percussion and drums. The melody reminded me of The Style Council. More great vocals. "Camisa 10 da Gávea" has a Caribbean rhythm. There's whistles. A great melody. This sounds like a number of David Byrne and Talking Heads' songs. This album was really an enjoyable listen. Jorge has a tremendous voice. It's easy to keep your head bobbing. The songs are mostly rhythm driven and funky at times. The guitar adds layers. Recommended for just about anyone.
This was fun. I'll probably forget about it in a week, but I enjoyed it.
Another great listen. I don't really know enough to critique or comment on these albums, but I love having them on while I work and will return to them for cooking and date nights
Liked this album, did not know it before except for the Rod Stewart semi-cover, but the mix between Brazilian samba and American funk works well.
Pretty groovy album. Love the night feel and the funk jams. 8.5/10 Favorite Track: Xica Da Silva Least favorite Track: Africa Brasil (Zumbi)
New one for me and wow this is really good. I'll be going back to this one for sure.
I wasn’t expecting to like this at all and liked it a lot! Some good funk with African rhythms. Didn’t understand anything but enjoyed the vibe.
Much better then i was expecting. A solid groove and a great funky sound.
I got this in a VMP subscription on vinyl and I remember liking it a lot more than I expected to. On second listen, I started to really like it. It's obvious that it's not standard pop music of US/UK and I can't understand any of it, but it's interesting and that's good enough for me.
My only other experience with Jorge Ben is Mas Que Nada and Forca Bruta...I can't say as a whole that I like this project as much as either of those, but it's still a pretty fun, eclectic album.
Excellent album. This is one you put on in the car when you're slow cruising around town. Not sure how else to phrase it, it just sounds so cool.
Very happy and fun album with a lot of good funk.
What a delightful mix of instruments and rhythms from Africa, Brazil and the funky parts of USA from one of the biggest legend of the genre(s). Jorge Ben (Jor) delivers endlessly pulsating tracks driven by his recently found electric guitar. The album is packed with catchy tunes, but especially the start with numbers such as 'Ponta De Lanca Africano', 'O Filosofo', and 'Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro' is captivating. Also nice to hear 'Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?' hidden in plain sight on 'Taj Mahal'.
would listen again
Amazing opening songs and tailed of a bit after that. But enjoyed this emensly
One of those joyous gems that this list is all about
Joyous fun. Very groovy. No idea what the lyrics were on about, but it sounded good. A little to heavy in the cheese.
This was an unexpected joy.
Nice and lively
Rating: 7/10
This was dope. Nice that Amazon rolled right into Seu Jorge.
Despite not knowing Portuguese at all, I definitely enjoyed some tracks. First, second particular I played on loop for a few times. Some songs are hypnotic.
Upbeat, fun and funky mix of Brazilian trpoicalia with western song structures. It works a treat and is instantly likeable. Rating: 4.5/5 Playlist track: Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma) Date listened: 10/03/23
This was awesome. Loved the vibe of the album!
Fun album!
I'm not the biggest fan of Portuguese artists just because I didn't grow up with that language. I grew up with a lot of Hispanic people around me but not really Brazilian. I did enjoy this album a lot though and I think it was a good first dive into music from Brazil.
dálítið kaffihús. en frekar skemmtileg innsýn í tónlist sem ég þekki ekki. griselda tekur búta héðan. fjarki.
Very good, one to get on vinyl if possible.
2023/03/01
Nice to see some more international music finally! Made updating my spreadsheets ✨funky✨
A non English album! First one in months. I loved this one. It’s just great
This album honestly blew my mind! The guitar! The melodies! The passion! Discoveries like these are what makes me love this project so much. I have to look this man up. (Also apparently Rod Stewart stole the chorus melody of da ya think I’m sexy from him?! Damn the more you know 8/10 Fave: Xica da Silva
Same as always, I love Latin jazz! Is that actually what this is? Not exactly. It's definitely got the Latin flair, and some jazz elements, but at times it even sounds rock-y. Apparently this was Brazilian pop music at the time, which is so cool to think about, this being the standard radio fare there. Very cool. Love the little whoops throughout, often reminded me of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man." Side note, but damn, I can't wait 'til we get Head Hunters, I'm 90% sure it's on this list. I only pulled a few tracks out from this album, but this is one is the kind of music I'd never say no to. I always appreciate getting albums from other countries (that aren't the UK). Favorite tracks: O Filosofo, O Plebeu, Africa Brasil. Album art: For a portrait shot, not bad at all. I like that it's a little blurry, he sounds like a guy with a lot going on. Simple but effective. 4/5
Combine Afro-Funk and Brazilian samba? Works for me!
heat.
Amazing album, sadly could not listen to it fully on spotify... I love the instruments used; cuica. And the inspiration it provided to other artists such as Rob Stewart. Huge fan, and an amazing taste of Brazilian creativity.
8/10 - from what I heard it was very good
I really enjoyed this, it was great fun
Funky Stuff. Though the Album cover is somewhat unsettling.
This album was awesome. Very different from alot I've listened to. The drums were immaculate and the frequent use of the monkey sounding drum is perfect. Really enjoyed.
very good
I’m not much into World music, but the grooves on this album were good.
It’s exciting to get more non-English music today. The album generator seems to have made a good week for that as I also had Miriam Makeba just a few days ago. I’m only familiar with one Jorge Ben song, so I’m excited to hear a full album. Songs I already knew: Taj Mahal Favourites: Taj Mahal, Ponta de Lanca Africano, Cavaleiro do Cavalo Imaculado Today’s album was another rump shaker which is never a bad thing. I couldn’t understand the lyrics, but I could feel the passion coming from the vocals. The instrumentation was interesting throughout, with occasional use of less common sounds, such as whistle. Overall, the music made me want to dance at times, and play football at others. Overall, a very good album that I enjoyed.
I don't understand a lick of Portuguese but dang if it isn't a really sexy language. Despite not being able to follow along with any of the lyrics, I almost gave this a full five-star rating just because it was SO funky and fun. Really the only thing holding it back from perfection is a matter of personal taste. I can't stand the repetitive hooting and shrieking of samba whistles. I full accept that it's part of the genre but it's also stupidly annoying and I can't abide it.
It was great. Seriously fun. If only I knew Portuguese..
fun, yeah fun, pretty okaay, some silencec but yeah, a solid 4 i guess
Very impressive album with some far out creative sounds that make you feel like you really missed out on something special when this was going down in 1976. I mean can you imagine dancing to this live in '76? I bet it was hot hot hot!!
This is way better than I thought it would be. Lotsa fun, super dynamic and full of energy. No idea what they're saying but would've loved to've been part of this party.
Lots of fun. High energy. If I knew what was being said, this would be a 5.
This was completely new to me, but I really enjoyed it and gave it two full listens. Very funky and groovy, I especially enjoyed "Ponta De Lanca Africano", "Taj Mahal" and "Xica Da Silva". I'd see myself listening to this again, it would be a good one to play at a party or just while chilling. I only wish I understood the lyrics!
Love some cuica. Groovy as all get out, but not a repeat listen.
Not sure what they were saying but I liked it. Give me some more of that please.
Great
Brazi music! I enjoyed this samba music especially after having just reminisced on my own time in Brazil during Logan Bird’s missionary farewell! Vamos!
This album feels really good. The cuica roots it in that quintessential Brazilian sound along side the blues and funk. Cool that it marked a shift for him to electric guitar.
Funky as all hell.
Really happy music, when you feeling down, it cheers you up…
Jorge Ben's 14th studio album (1976). África Brasil represented a milestone in Ben's career with Ben's switch to electric guitar and incorporation of both Afro-Brazilian and African-American funk music styles into his sound. Known for its funkiness, África Brasil is one of Ben's best-known recordings. Rolling Stone Brazil listed it as one of the 100 best Brazilian albums in history. Nice & funky sound. Liked it.
Taj Mahal!!
This album was really cool. Appropriately named too, with the mix of African and Latin American sounds in the musicals. Favorite track: O Filósofo
Really good. Probably even better if I understood the lyrics… but delivery and music as a vessel… excellent
Like this a lot. Upbeat, just great.
Funky cool sound. African mixed with funk rock.
That was very enjoyable. I thought I was hearing Rod Stewart for a few seconds.
This is a really fun album. I like the blend of traditional acoustic instrumentation with the electric guitars. I have t really been exposed to Brazilian music outside of bossa nova and a taste of samba, so I’m a bit out of my depth here. I’m glad I got the additional exposure. I’m giving it a 4 because to me, a non-Portuguese-speaking person, the album felt a bit like a cluster of decent songs that didn’t feel all that unified. Id happily be disproven or get a better explanation for why the album format doesn’t work the same way in this cultural milieu
Täähän on ihan todella jees! Pari vanhaa tuttuu biisii Jorgen muilta levyiltä, mutta on kyl sulavaa. Ihanaa vaihteluu myös perus poprockille. 4/5
Nice listen whilst working
Very cool sound and not what I was expecting from the album cover. I love it. Very cool and has a tinge of "badass" in that guitar throughout the album. This is a really cool addition to the list and I'd love to hear more of him. "Taj Mahal" and "Ponta De Lanca Africano" are early favorites!
leuk, de samba zit er goed in Ik kan me voorstellen dat ik sommige nummers hiervan nog 'ns beluister
Love the grooves here! Fave is Historia de Jorge
This was a really fun album
I mish mash of so many styles. I wasn't expecting some of the sounds coming out of this. It took me a bit to get used to but I got hooked when I realised this is the missing like between Fela Kuti style Afro Beat and the stuff Talking Heads infused into their music
Timelessly excellent funk and samba. All 70s music should have been this rich and compelling. Sounds contemporary still.
Groovy
The selection of World Music in the 1001 list that I've gotten has been... lacklustre... to put it politely. But luckily I now know that albums like this one have been included as well. 40 minutes of incredible funky, danceable and high tempo afrobeats and samba. Especially the second half of the album with Cavaleiro Do Cavala Imaculado as the final highlight have made a great impression. Great album from, apparently, one of the icons of Brazilian music. I will look into some more of his repertoire.
7/10. Pretty cool album, not sure how I feel about it guest starring The Watermelon Man from the third track onwards.
Somehow I had heard the first track of this album before. Overall I liked it but couldn’t get super into some of the sound. 7/10
Pretty cool, kind of rock, kind of reggae, kind of R&B.
Interesting AFro-Brazilian album. Kinda jazzy
Really good
Not my favorite album from him but super rad production. Deserves more love for sure
Solid
4, exceptional
It starts out with a blues riff, a drum fill, and then... bam... three percussionists. Then by the chorus we have five. And it's like that for most of the album. Under every song, a tapestry of rhythmic interplay. The guitar parts are fairly simple, but the urgent strumming often makes it act as part of the rhythm section (sometimes more so than the bass guitar, which seems more often to be serving to highlight the melody). I feel like we're so used to music that tries to make a small number of drums feel huge and fill the space, so this aspect really stands out. The wikipedia article for the album lists 15 musicians under personnel, 11 of whom play some sort of percussion instrument. Unfortunately one of those is the cuica. Maybe it's culturally ignorant of me of something, but the incessant monkey hoops of the cuica really just add way too much cheese to some otherwise great music. I don't mind when it comes to the forefront briefly, only to sink bank along with everything else, but frequently it's just too prominent in the mix. The production is treating the monkey like a vocalist, and the instrument (or how its played here at least) isn't melodically complex enough, or rhythmically accurate enough, to benefit the songs when it takes center stage the way that it frequently does. That aside, there are some great songs on this, especially in the second half. I love in both Taj Mahal and In Cavalerio Do Cavalo Imaculado, how the tempo is fast from the start, but the vocals start out relaxed, before matching the tempo and urging the song on. His vocals shake as he's strumming his guitar too. Your pampered modern fave is recording 20 different takes straight into a mic without a guitar in sight, old mate here is recording his guitar and vocal in the same take! (Is this recorded live? Surely not. That many percussion instruments would be a nightmare you'd think.) Xica Da Silva, the way the vocal contributes significantly to both the rhythm section and to the melody. The pacing of the lyrics in the chorus, the way the bass weaves in and out of it, and the rich backing vocals when they come in for the second line. I'm feeling emotional typing this. This song is so good. The closing track Africa Brasil (Zumbi) is a highlight for it's dirty dirty bass, and the growling vocals. It's an interestingly dark closer for something that frequently had a party feel for most of the album. I might not listen to the whole album again, but I've definitely added a few of these to some playlists. Really fun listening.
Really fun record to sit through! My fave tracks are probably "Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma)," "Taj Mahal," "O Plebeu," "Cavaleiro do Cavalo Imaculado," "Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu," and "África Brasil (Zumbi)."
First song got me boppin. I was expecting another samba/salsa type album but this is funkier so far. I actually added 3 songs to my spotify even though I don't speak spanish above a 3rd grade level. Super groovy and catchy melodies. Taj Mahal and Ponta De Lanco were insta-adds.
Прикольный альбом, необычный. Люблю африканские завывания.
A light 4, not my favourite Jorge Ben Jor album but still some great bops
I don't know Portuguese, but this was still enjoyable.
World music at his best, great utilisation of so many instruments. Love it
What a refreshing selection in the 1001 challenge. Finally a bit of samba, where the rhythms are creative and polyphonic and where the arrangements contain plenty of synth and wonderfully well-used brass. Very happy to have discovered this album!
Bacana!
This was an interesting and very fun album to listen to. It's a very successful mix of Brazilian sounds and Afro-funk, that just puts you in a good mood.
when I listened to the last album, this is the exact kind of album I thought I might prefer to see in this list. really neat. first full album in portuguese I've ever listened to, I think.