Reviews (page 8 of 12)
3.5 La primera mitad es buenisima
Groovy
Really good and soothing as background music.
tung tung tung jorgur
If I could understand it I would love it. But since I can’t I still like it just not as much. 3 stars
Another fantastic listen of an album from a place other than North America or the UK. Very groovy and funky, played with a lot of passion. Once again it made me wonder how many great albums are out there not from primarily english speaking countries. The inclusion of this album definitely puts a good portion of the english language albums on this list to shame. Would love to get some more fascinating world albums to replace the other crap on this list.
Never heard of album or group. Cool production on ponta de lança. Great bass line. Good vocals. Hermes is musically pretty good. Hard to comment on lyrics when I have no idea what they’re saying. Moderately catchy I guess. Really cool sounds on o filosofo. Again Greta production on meus filhos. Musically this album is super impressive. This one is pretty catch too. Good harmonies. Plebeu is pretty cool. I like the chorus best on this one. Some weird sounds that they used tho, don’t like the moaning type deal. More weird sounds on Taj Mahal but they work a lot better with the rest of the song. This is the best one so far I think. Xica da Silva is cool too. Very chill. Good writing even tho idk what he’s saying. Guitar solo towards the end is sick too. Just a really good song again. Jorge is fine. A little repetitive. Usually I hate whistles but it works really well on camisa. Really good keys on this one too. Cavaleiro is fine. Good production again but forgettable. The weird creaking sound they use in all the songs is really annoying me. Just unnecessary. Title track is really cool beyond that. Love the horns. Catchy vocals again. Overall this was a fun album. Nothing life changing but a really nice listen. 3.3/5
Have never heard of this artist. I've been pleasantly surprised with a bunch of the non-English language albums on this list - so eager to hear this one. Thoughts after listening 3 times... First song ("Ponta De Lanca Africano") has a great sound and fun energy. It also slightly reminded me of the Songhoy Blues group that I heard on this list. They are from Timbuktu, Mali in Africa. Their album from 2015 is on this list. Don't know if there is a direct influence there but it's cool to notice it. "Taj Mahal" - funny - while listening to this I noticed that the melody sounded like that Rod Stewart song - Do You Think I'm Sexy. Looked it up and sure enough Jorge Ben sued Rod Stewart and the settled out of court, This was from a couple of years before that song came out. This was a fun listen. I ended up liking 6 of the 11 songs - the 2 mentioned above plus "Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu", "Xica Da Silva", "Cavaliero Do Cavalo Imaculado", and "Africa Brasil (Zumbi)" Liked songs on Spotify: 6/11 Rating: 3/5
Groovy samba. The first track is a classic.
Had a hard time connecting to this music and the vocals annoyed me a bit on a couple of early tracks. But then it gets kinda fun and feels like it could playing at a cool party. Overall music is absolutely fine, and I’m sure it moves many people. For me , fun but meh.
Very chirpy.
Groovy
3.5
I thought this album just sounded okay, nothing bad but nothing that crazy
Listened to on my Apple EarPods. I threw this on before a walk on a bright, sunny day, and the album certainly matches that vibe. It's a genre I'm not too familiar with, MPB, and even though it is in a language foreign to me, there are still many rhythms and melodies to hook your ear in and engage. It's not my favorite style of music, and I found the album to be a little repetitive at times, especially with the heavy use of the cuíca instrument, which while fun and upbeat sounding seems pretty limited in range, making it feel a little tired to my ears as it carried it's way through the full length of multiple songs. I found myself particularly stuck on the track "O Plebeu", with a smooth and relaxing "la la la" singing out over many portions of the song, and I ran that one back many times. This was an enjoyable listen, and I'd definitely go back to it, even though I didn't get super attached to it.
Interesting
langweilig
Feels mean to give this a 2 because there's nothing inherently wrong with it, it's just not that enjoyable for me, but I'll be kind because it's fine really.
Get it Jorge!
This got better and better as it went on, I need to give it another listen. 3 for now, but it could easily turn into a 4.
Its hard for me to rate albums I don’t understand but I’ll say this. This was a really well done record sonically. I love the funkiness/groovieness that it carries throughout. It’s one of those records that regardless of wherever you are listening, you are teleported to an entire different universe. I got this same feeling with a Brazilian Jazz record recently, and here we are again. Also, you’re telling me Rod Stewart ripped this dude off for a shitty pop song?? #loredrop
Muy nice :D
Better than I thought it would be
having fun while we learn yay an album that shouldnt feel any more foreign than the rest of anglosaxon music up to now, but it still does; despite living with this language just a few kilometers away, i understand less than I understand in any other english recording these rhythms invite you to move, bringing your hands together at chest level and taking little steps. i find the pauses for explanations amusing. very good vibes, but it feels like the songs dont go anywhere. entertaining from beginning to end
Didn't listen to all of it but really liked what I heard
Классный дядя. Мне понравилось!
This is great. Not as funky as i expected but well done.
Weird shit, i have no idea what's happening but it would be perferct for samba dancing.
Perfectly timed listen whilst I am currently rereading Pelé’s autobiography. This album, combined with a bit of April sunshine, transported me to the beaches of Santos!
I listened to this while ripping through the nurburgring in an R34 Nissan GTR on a racing sim. The two didn’t match at all but it was a great experience. Also Rod Stewart fully stole the chorus from Taj Mahal
This was groovy overall, but somewhat repetitive. Of course, I don’t know Portuguese, so the lyrics were lost on me. I truly loved all the auxiliary percussion throughout. So many fun sounds! My favorite tracks were Taj Mahal and Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado.
Fun album, dancy, funky, vibey
Saaaammbaaa , 2.999999991/5
lowkey peak
This was enjoyable, but the fact that the songs that came up on shuffle after I finished the album were markedly better/more enjoyable knocks it down.
pretty funky
I liked most of this album. The mix of beats was compelling. I enjoyed most of the vocals. I might listen again.
Good but liked it less than I thought I would.
Like it 3/5
Interesting mix of styles
This is fun - Ben's decision to use an electric guitar was a good one.
Day 224 Looking at the previous reviews, glad I wasn’t the first person to immediately look whether this was before Rod Stewart. Highlights Ponta de lanca africano Take Mahal
This was fun!
Started strong with a great funky vibe, but lost me at the third track. After that it was uneven, with a mix of pleasant and less interesting songs. As often with Samba / Latin music, it's musically solid, but a bit too sweet for my taste. Instrumentals are good, especially the electric parts, but the slightly corny singing kind of puts me off. I prefered the more African-sounding tracks, like Meus Filhos Meu Tesouro (I could almost mistake it for West-African music if it wasn't for the language). The last track, Africa Brasil, was also gorgeous. I doubt I'll come back to it, but I'm glad I listened once. I did enjoy the overall vibe of the album, it works better for me than the Astrud Gilberto record we got a few days ago. 6/10
Rhythmic samba-funk and MPB built on syncopated guitars, percussive grooves, electric bass, and warm, fluid vocals pulses with vibrant, organic energy. Listening feels like moving through a sunlit street festival where rhythms overlap and constantly invite motion. The result is lively and infectious, sustaining momentum with effortless groove inviting to dance but without doing it lost my interest soon.
Groovy, funky, fun 👌👌👌
Day 21 — Jorge Ben Jor — África Brasil (1976) Listened: Mar 19, 2026 Genre: Brazilian Funk / Samba-Soul / Afrobeat-influenced Pop Vibe: Fun Latin music infused with funk and pop Highlights: • Ponta de Lança Africano • Taj Mahal • Xica da Silva Impression: I enjoyed it despite not understanding the lyrics because of the relentless energy and funk infused into the music. Rating: 2.7/5 Keep songs? Yes Revisit album? Probably
So, two days in a row with an album by a Brazilian artist from the 1970s. I did like this one more than the others I've listened to. The music was much more upbeat with a funkier beat. It also sounded more modern to me with Ben using an electric guitar and the use of horns throughout. Still ready to move on to a different time period and genre, so fingers crossed that the next album the generator gives me is something different.
OK.... Didn't understand any of it but the vibe was solid enough.
c’est bien, mais sans jamais être exceptionnel 3.5/5
kind of sounds like chase scene music for a 1970s Portuguese cop show
It was pleasant but nothing stood out on this first listen - I might go back though as it was a nice album and might click with me later on?
Quite enjoyed this album, feels like a weaker version of "Clube Da Esquina". Probably inspired by "Clube" which is fine. 3/5
Surprisingly modern sounding for a pop album from the 70s. Fun.
Another one I probably would not have ever heard without this project. Obviously I wish I spoke Portuguese, but it's still pretty dang enjoyable stuff.
Really enjoyable. More stuff like this would be very welcome on this list.
its good but this isn't where I parked my car
3,5
Despite the obvious language barrier (Although I’m pretty sure I caught a “feche a porta” on one of the songs) I actually enjoyed this album. The beats are lively on every track and full of energy. I liked the use of a multitude of instruments and back up singers to make this cool sound. Not gonna lie, it reminded me of the soundtrack to the animated movie Rio on more than one occasion while listening but it was still a good break from the normal selections.
Brazilian funk? All right, I’m in. Got a little repetitive for me after a bit, but still a funkin’ good time.
Está bien incluir música brasileña en esta selección, pero no es memorable este interprete.
I thought I would like this one more than I did. The music is gorgeous, but I imagine this as a gold mine of tracks for a good playlist as opposed to a great single album listen.
Good album. I can't speak to the lyrics of course, but the instrumentation is quite interesting. Doesn't overstay its welcome. Would be open to listening again, even if it's not my thing.
Didn't understand a thing but straight vibes
Not bad
醒了
I find it difficult to critique a genere i'm really not familiar with, but this was a good listen
It's fine. Won't listen to it again.
Solid enough world music. Didn't leave much of a lasting impact.
I enjoyed this but it’s not something I see myself returning to. It definitely has a lot of great grooves and rhythms, and is extremely danceable, but for my taste it’s not something I would ever causally just throw on. I really appreciated the different blends of styles and genres between African and South American music, but for me personally they never came together to create anything wholly memorable.
Really catchy even though I have no clue what he is saying.
Having never been to Brazil, I cant really be confident of this statement, but I feel like Africa Brasil is representative of music in Rio at carnival time. This album is full of samba rhythm and party spirit and even makes a dancing impaired person like me want to move their hips. Strictly speaking this is a MPB or samba-funk album, which is a style of music I have never experienced before. It has lead electric guitar and strings. So appeals to a western ear. But add the Cuica (the hooting friction drum that you will absolutely know from other samba or carnival songs), cowbell and funky backing singers and the whole thing is just taken to a rich and fun place. Would listen to again. (3.000)
Yllättävän menevä ja kiva levy. Nollaodotuksilla liikkeelle, mutta yllätti positiivisesti.
Tässähän oli kiva meininki, kolmosta ruutuun
Good vibes, but not something I find myself coming back to.
Poucos artistas encarnam a musicalidade de um lugar como o Jorge Ben encarna o Rio de Janeiro, é impressionante como o som dele praticamente tem cheiro e imagem do lugar, brasilidade e latinidade reverberam. O titulo de Africa Brasil cai como uma luva o disco transpira o que é a afrobrasilidade, ele mescla figuras negras históricas como Xica da Silva e o componente da fé das religiões vindas da Africa como em Ponta de Lança Africano. Um discão onde o Jorge até se permite uma auto referência, um boa descoberta de um artista local que conheço pouco
One of the more enjoyable international records for me. Esp that Tah Mahal song LOL it’s Funky!
Not bad despite not knowing what they were singing about.
Nice
(4/7) a little too funky for my general lifestyle
Intressant med sydamerikansk funk och portugisiska. Stabilt sväng men många halvtrista låtar. Kul allmänbildande anekdot att Rod Stewart snodde melodin till Do you think im sexy rakt av från Taj Mahal.
Not awful, but not something I'd search out either. High energy kind of party vibes. I don't really like it for desk sitting.
I have no idea what he is saying, but the music is pretty groovy. It's got a classic latin feel, with a 70's vibe. Lot's of sax, synth, horns, with some bongo and symbols. I think if I understood it, I would like it a lot more. I find myself moving to the beat pretty often. Upbeat, groovy, dance music.
just like the bad bunny halftime show: don’t know what he said, but i enjoyed it.
Noice
I'll have to give this another listen. It was growing on me. I'd stop and listen if I passed them live at a festival. The playing is tight, they know what they're doing. Not really my go-to vibe though, especially the vocals.
Jorge Ben, África Brasil ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Album #17. I’d never heard of this album until I joined this and started the 1001 album generator. I’d seen it reviewed a few times and people have really waxed lyrical about it, giving it five stars. For me, it’s good. At points it’s very, very good. It’s just not really my thing. I like African-influenced music — I’m a big fan of Fela Kuti — but I don’t really care much for samba or that style in general. I don’t hate it. I just don’t feel much towards it. The positives: the vocals are incredible. Some of the songs, like the opener, “Xica da Silva” and “História de Jorge”, are class. And the repetitive rhythms are something I usually really enjoy in music, but unless the rhythm really catches me, it doesn’t bear repeating, if that makes sense. It’s an interesting album. I gave it a few listens when I had the time, but it didn’t click with me in the way it seems to for most people. Just my opinion. That said, I’m looking forward to more stuff like this. It was a completely new discovery for me, and I really enjoyed that part of the experience.
Interesting album. Cool grooves and catchy hooks.
Very fun
Those studio sessions must have been a blast. I want to know how one specializes in playing the rubber chicken... 3.4/5
I need to listen to this again, so many good grooves but I was a little distracted.
Not my thing, but thank fuck for something other than a shitty Brit pop record.
I'd never heard of the artist let alone the album but this was a lot of fun and really exciting and joyous fusion of music. Everyone talks about Taj Mahal from this album but that wasn't the one that landed best for me personally. Playlist Track: Africa Brasil (Zumbi)
There's quite a bit going on here, but works together really well. I have a soft spot for Portuguese and really enjoy the sound of it in music. I don't know what the lyrics are saying, but I appreciated the tunes and vocals a lot. 7/10
This was unlike anything I’ve listened to before but was a lot of fun.
Fine, but not something i will revisit.
I danced like crazy to this album
I'm usually more of a groove guy than a lyrics guy so this was cool. Cool music from someone I'd never heard of.
Very good vibes
This is great fun, and a reason I'm enjoying the journey of these 1001+ albums as I'd never known this existed until now. Didn't understand a word but it makes you want to dance. Taj Mahal is a banger and one I'll be adding to my playlists for a long time.
:)
This was such a fun album to listen to. Who knows what he is saying but it’s still a great time nonetheless.
Mouaiiiiiiiis
interesting. reminds me of davyd byrne work. rod stetewart story is crazy
3.5/5
First listen to this one. Pretty Cool.
Decent album, some good ones, hard to understand bc I only speak English
Started out funky and groovy, felt repetitive by the end. 3/5 stars.
Genuinely got me moving but I know other people who would admire this album
Actually heard this one before long ago, really sick MPB record. Very funky
helps with mood
Another album that fits into the category of not something I would ever seek out on my own but glad it was assigned.
Recorded in Brazil in 1976, released that same year. Good sounds, good rhythms. Well BUILT songs, basically from intros through the main bodies of the music. Defined as "samba rock" and also "samba funk." I would lean toward the second genre, good blend of elements that could have been produced in LA or New Orleans in the same era First song follows my rule of Opening Tracks, really grabs your ear. A few really good songs throughout, the only limit really bring my non-existent study of Portuguese. Alas, by the end of the album, a lot of the songs seemed like they were written/recorded with the same formula. It's a good formula, don't get me wrong, but kind of made them all a little less memorable for me. Good music, not great. Probably 3 1/2 stars, but 3 for this poll...
Really interesting background album. Couldn't understand a single word, which is fine. Guitar work is really great on this and I loved how lively the best and flow was throughout. Some fun riffs here and there.
3+
I would have thought this came out in the 1990s, not the 1970s. Impressive.
Did not understand a word of this, but had some pretty good grooves
Lowk a vibe
Ethnic African folk sounds. Interesting
This album is a lot of fun.
i can see at times when i really like it
groovy!
fun sound!
Here's an example of an album that I don't really feel qualified to talk about. Africa Brasil at it's samba-filled core seems like it'd be right up my alley. Maybe it's because I don't have the knowledge to understand the lyrics, but musically nothing really stood out here for me. Except the Cuica. The Cuica kills every time. Highlight: O Plebeu
#824. Decent. 3/5: good.
Do I like Brazilian bossa nova now? I guess I kinda do. A significant upgrade from my first experience with Brazilian music (Os Mutantes).
Listened Before? N This was unexpected! A very rockin' world-music album. I guess according to Wiki it's considered Samba Funk or Samba Rock. Whatever it is, I found it charming and groovy. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Ponta De Lanca Africano
Groovy
Nice beats
I enjoy hearing world music from time to time. This was enjoyable.
surprisingly pretty good. Not what i usually listen to but i enjoyed it quite a bit
This one was fun. 3.5/5
Pretty good. Not into it enough to warrant a 4 though.
Enjoyable good music. Nice to get something from somewhere other than the US/UK.
Good instruments and voice.
Nice. Very cool rhythms. Short but chill.
Not a huge afrobeats enthusiast but very summery and upbeat which I enjoyed
Really fun listen for not know a word he's saying. Good turn off the brain and have a good time album.
Smells of white boy critical paternalism. (I’ll like this so that they’ll think I’m progressive. ). Not bad. But not essential. 3. Just.
Hade högre förväntningar baserat på första låten. Sen höll den inte riktigt tyvärr. 3a i alla fall, från både mig och från pappa.
Can recognise it was good but wouldn’t reach for it again
I enjoyed this. The first song was covered by Soulfly years ago so I loved hearing that one. A nice relaxed production, top stuff
Fun
Pleasant. I would play this again for background music at a party to act cultured. joking aside, even though I dont understand the language, it's genuinely pleasant.
I liked this because, well, I like anything that's got some FUNK. "O Plebue" was super fun.
This is very much outside my wheelhouse, but enjoyable all the same. The book highlights how much Jorge Ben incorporated James Brown-style funk, which I can definitely hear in songs like "Ponta De Lanca Africano." I saved that one to a playlist, but I doubt I return to this otherwise. Glad to hear it though.
Wow, certainly an album to make you move and dance!
Pleasant listen but not rememberable
Enjoyable, but probably wouldn't think to put it back on again.
Majority of the album is hidden for some reason Nice and energetic
Cool funky rhythms. For which the album gets a 3. But I don't want to hear a load of singing (and even more talking)! In a language I don't understand. Call me a xenophobe I don't care, but I wouldn't listen to this again. I would actually say it's probably more because I don't particularly dig the fella's voice, because if this was Astrud Gilberto it would be added to my playlist.
The album starts and it is VERY funky. Some excellent playing all around. But, there is only so many times you can feature electric jug before it gets annoying. It started taking over songs, I couldn't focus my hearing on anything but that goddamn jug
3+ Stars (9/15)
Fun
Loved it, Brazilian essence felt throughout. Also, major heist movie vibes. Favorites are "Ponta De Lanca Africano", "Hermes Trisnegisto Escreveu", "Xica Da Silva", and "Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado. "O plebeu" was very sweet.
The part of the production that sounds like a rubber chicken is very distracting. I would like all the songs more without it.
Love the beats.
Good
Not what I’d normally listen to but very fun music
First song was awesome
This was a fun one. Not that I've got my finger on the pulse of Brazilian popular music, but I'd never heard of this artist. Chalk up another discovery thanks to 1001 albums!
A nice boppy listen. Good for work since it is French.
It was certainly unique but it suffered from everything blending together. High 3
A new band for me. Foreign language. Nice vocal and great beat. A good album.
Fun listen.
good vibes
reviewing the songs as i listen to them for the first time ever:: ponta de lança africano: interesting. not my style at all. i'm invested. hermes trismegisto escreveu: portugese sounds interesting. maybe i should consider learning it after italian and serbian. i have no idea what the lyrics mean but greek mythology mentioned ! o filósofo: the songs' melodies are quite interesting and nice but i honestly don't see myself listening to them everyday. maybe i'll crave them once in a while. meus filhos, meu tesouro: i'm enjoying this one more than the first three. but again, not something that i'd listen to on a daily basis. at least not for now. o plebeu: this album is really growing on me. taj mahal: again, i'm starting to really enjoy this genre, whatever it's called. i could've never discovered this album or this genre on my own. most of the album isn't even available on spotify in my country. xica da silva: it's a nice song that made me interested in the lore of chica da silva. i'll look into it. a história de jorge: might be my favorite song so far. cavaleiro do cavalo imaculado: i like the name. again, like all the others, nice and interesting melody that i'm not used to at all. áfrica brasil (zumbi): very nice start. i don't really have anything to say lmao it's not that different from the rest of the album. would i listen to this album again? maybe. maybe i needed to look the lyrics up. great experience overall.
This was somewhat difficult for me to evaluate. Most of the lyrics rest pretty high in the mix and cover the instruments. I don't mind that ordinarily, but I don't speak Portuguese, so all I have is the instruments to rely on. The vocals I don't understand being the most prominent feature, for me, isn't ideal. If there was an instrumental version of this album, I think I'd like it a lot.
it was okay, some of the instruments were a bit annoying
its quite good! probably won't go back to it but an enjoyable listen and something a bit different to what I normally listen to!
I heard a cover of the first track about 25 years ago. I didn’t know it was a cover until today. Great world music album with great drums and vocals. 3.8/5.0
Im a huge dummy. Classic English pilled American. I dont know languages i guess. I had this pegged as French but more like Ghana rsther than the European type. But its just Portuguese. Jesus. I thought i was listening to afrobeat type shit. But either way its good no matter how dumb I am. I love the classic McDonald's hi c straw ass instrument. Very funny but it fits too. The backing track other than that is pretty good too. Its maybe not my favorite thing but I got a couple songs outta this one. Worth
Brilliant! The mix of funk and Latin styles is so much fun. I found myself dancing to this more than any of the other albums I've listened to on the list.
If I could dance I think I would enjoy this album even more but it was still a fun album to listen to. And from an artist that I had never heard of.
África Brasil was my first exposure to Brazilian music, but it felt familiar. I heard echoes of the funk from my early childhood memories of the ’70s, backed by a steady rhythm. The call-and-response vocals evoked the image of a storyteller leading a participatory crowd, somewhere between sing-along and ritual. Not well-versed in Portuguese, I read the translations and saw themes of history, practical wisdom and soccer, all carried by rhythmic and hypnotic grooves.
Good feel from this album, unfortunately I don’t understand Portuguese, so the lyrics are lost on me, but it feels good
A fun album throughout I found. I mean I don't speak the language, but my head bobbed a bunch
Wow holy shit
I think I understand what a sound stage is now
Funky and unpretentious Track to Track: Cavaleiro Do Cavalo Imaculado
Didn’t understand a word, but it was enjoyable
not much I can say.
Not an artist I had heard of before. I know very little Latin American music. I enjoyed this. Great 70’s sound. Funky, full of great rhythms and Jorge Ben seems effortlessly cool . This is the kind of stuff I want to discover from doing the list.
JOGA BALLER RICHARLISON SUIIIIIIIIIIII
Ca change, ambiance SAMBAAAAA
C’est sympa
Interesting and upbeat. Great rhythms.
this was cool & fun & i liked it. aside from the one song that sounded too much like a rod stewart song??
This was a nice little surprise. Really good background music. I’ll have to investigate who he is and listen to the album again.
done
é bom
Cool background music. Sounded good,
Rann ljúft í gegn
That lalaaalalaa makes me kinda nervous. 3.5
Jorge Ben Jor en andere Música popular brasileira proponenten, komen steeds meer op mijn radar. Het gevoel van Afrikaanse ritmes in combinatie met de Braziliaanse affiniteit met swingende melodieën zorgt voor een extreem rijke pophistorie in het Zuid-Amerikaanse land. Alhoewel ik betere werkjes hebt ontdekt dit jaar in dit straatje - vooral verscheiden albums van Gilberto Gil en Milton Nascimento - is dit toch ook wel weer een fijne verdieping van mijn MPB spoedcursus. 7,5/10 Highlights: Ponta De Lanca Africano Taj Mahal
Goed voornemen voor dit jaar is om meer Zuid- en midden-Amerikaanse muziek te luisteren. Bevalt me altijd goed en wil de weg een beetje kennen in de Son, Salsa en Bossanova. Jorge Ben Jor komt dus als geroepen. Vind het een lekkere plaat. Vaste ritmes maar toch veel verschillende melodieën. Zijn stem is oké maar vind ik niet super speciaal. Album blijft wel interessant en sommige tracks steken er wel echt bovenuit. Ik vind A História De Jorge echt waanzinnig. Een super vol geluid door de blazers en de ritmes die maar door gaan. Hier heeft David Byrne goed naar geluisterd voor hij Remain in Light opnam. Maar in alle nummertjes zit wel een irritant geluid. Een uilenschreeuwtje, oehoehoeh. Die komt in meerdere tracks terug. In Taj Mahal is het meer een duif. En als je deze bewust opmerkt is dat best irritant... Verder ben ik enthousiast. Ik ga hier meer van luisteren. 7,5/10 Highlights Taj Mahal A História De Jorge
This was an alright album, nothing about it made me like more or less 🤷
Decent beat probs wouldn’t go back
this is the first time i've learned about the cuíca. i quite enjoyed it, and also hated it, swinging back and forth constantly. i'd welcome another album in this style of music for me to really decide on if I personally like the style.
Cool album.
Unbelievable that this is almost 50 years old. Cool sound, still fresh. Will listen again
Sicher ein Meilenstein. Für meine Ohren jedoch heute nicht mehr besonders spannend.
Some good grooves, and I see how it influenced Beck, but I don't understand Portuguese.
Pretty enjoyable but unlikely to return
Makes me feel like I'm in a rickety bus on a bumpy mountain pass about to get to a hidden waterfall while half the bus are commuters and have some chickens with them - I'm OK with all these things!
Jugador de futeball
Album Nr. 89 Interessant. Ich hatte mir aber mehr erhofft.
good album, not my style but definetly something that enriched my knowlegde and enlighted me in some things.
Interesting, cool, kind of out there
Kinda fun.
Had never heard of this artist before and it’s not my typical genre but the music was funky and had great swagger
This is one that needs more time, I enjoyed it but don't really know how much I love it and would keep coming back for me. This may be one to revisit my rating in the future so don't be surprised if a 3 changes to 4!
Cool sound right out of the gate, was hooked right away - good background music
Unable to understand the songs - decent background music
Sounds like spy movie music but I kinda like it?
Pretty decent. Nice to have something that wasnt from the US or UK in the 80's
Quite enjoyed it although it's not exactly my jam. favourite: "Ponta De Lanca Africano", "Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro", "Taj Mahal" 2,5
нормалек - 3,5. хорошо бы подошло в фильмы Тарантино.
Pretty good Latin music
Made me think of a rainforest for most of it, maybe what you'd hear in the background of rainforest Cafe. I guess it was ok. Kind of cool to hear original song that was later sampled to be do you think I'm sexy
Liked it
The older I get the more I realize I have no good discerning critical voice. So without good description, this is a cool album. Feels like it blends south american styles with African instrumentation which I guess is noted in the album title.
I liked this more than I hated it.
Very upbeat and fun
I enjoyed how upbeat it was. One song was 100% just a ripoff (cover?) of Rod Stewart's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy. Ultimately, the language barrier made it tough to listen in one go.
the squeaky noise all the way through this is a drum called a Cuíca which is played by rubbing a wet cloth against a rosined stick which is against the very taught skin of the drum.
It's cool....I don't know what he's singing about but the music has some grooves.
My assessment of this would be... not the type of thing I'd probably listen to again, but glad I did. I can see how it influenced a lot of music after it including perhaps Paul Simon's Graceland phase.
I had absolutely no idea with Jorge Ben was singing about, but I enjoyed the music.
Nice vibrant sounds, not really my thing.
Enjoyable still sounds fresh, good blend good music.
A lot of fun to listen to, tons of energy, good variety, language barrier be damned it was a great listen
Surprisingly modern sounding
Liked it and will listen to more. I knew Taj Mahal sounded familiar…
Love the musicianship but don't like Portuguese, it's a bit grating to my ears.
Pretty decent, prolly even better if I spoke Portuguese
Sounds good, but I don't understand the words
I understand the love for Africa Brasil, but something didn't completely click for me. I still enjoyed it, but there are other international/"world" albums that I've enjoyed much more. Best Songs: Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu, Taj Mahal, Xica Da Silva Worst Songs: O Filosofo
I thought I was going to love this after the first track. I liked the rhythms, but to me it was a little too caught up in American funk, which is my least favorite genre. The last track was also awesome. From my reading, this was the first album he leaned into the funk so I think I would like almost any album by this guy more than I liked this one, and may explore those.
Pretty decent good listening some average some good tracks. Artist deserves a place slightly surprising if this is their best
Chill ass beats
I was previously only familiar with the lead-off track, but this was great!
It was fine. I generally listen more to the instruments than the lyrics in music, and I have really enjoyed albums in different languages before(especially Spanish), however this one just didn't really stick with me.
Pre: never heard Post: cool afro Brazilian drum grooves and more melodic then I assumed
Great sound. Well recorded. A bit repetitive.
Not for me, but I can appreciate what this artist is doing.
Overall a funky and cool vibe. I locked into a percussion instrument that sounds like an asthmatic pigeon that is overly used throughout the record which is possibly the only reason for it's low score.
Interesting to experience, but there's not much I could latch onto here.
Never heard of this guy, and can’t understand a word he says, but this record is pretty solid. The fact that I’m on vacation and have limited access to streaming and the internet means that my comments are going to be very abbreviated, but I might return to this one. I’m enjoying it. 3.8/5
3,6
This was my second Brazilian album in a row. I have enjoyed both and thought that this one was even better than the one before. This album was fun and funky and great from start to finish. I am also super down with songs featuring the cuíca. I am going to have to check out more albums from this artist and Brazil generally.
fun but forgettable
This album is groovy, or as the kids would say Rizz in Ohio It's all about Ohio Squeeze two betas together and really all you'll have is alpha Sigma, grimace will shake yo ass to have the juice Rizzin' around in an all black goon Couple of skibidis ready to shoot, shit Edgin' and moggin' and goonin' and jeqlin' With 69 ounces of skibidi gyatts Fuckin around with the low taper fade They will turn you to Fanum and hope you be taxed Adin Ross, overload, Kai Cenat overdose Denny Cascade put the fries in the bag John Pork, get goated, bitch, it's a wrap Tierra my witness, I pray to looksmaxx Youngin and restless, mew streak in the past Key in ignition, edge on the gas None of you sigmas is actin' that jab MrBeast got the gyatt and a black shiesty mask Ray gun, goofy ahh, turn you into betacules Planet Goons, Planet Goons, I'll take you to Ohio soon Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah All these sigmas stealing my rizz can I get my edge back?
pedrada após pedrada após pedrada! the instruments used are strange but they work so well. the cuíca sounds in track no. 6 are amazing. I have no clue what Jorge is singing but it slaps.
Filled w the beats of Brazil - its cacaphony and its beauty - but not as consistently compelling as I expected
Vibey! I'm grateful for the variety.
Not really my genre, but fun and listenable!
It’s great.
It was cool, but I didn’t get it. I don’t speak Portuguese.
Pretty good listen, and a good example (like Metal Machine Music) of nominative determinism in album titles.
I liked it but i’m not sure I would seek it out again
A fun listen but not my favourite genre.
Great fun, I love picking up these world albums I'd otherwise never have heard of.
Don’t know what he’s saying but for one, I don’t need to. Great vibes on this one. Bet my cousin Zach smoked a pipe to this one once upon a time
More of a Samba Esquema Novo guy but this plays too. Even if I have no idea what's being said Portuguese is such a great language for song.
A jumping party throughout, a good listen with a lot of cuica, which is awesome
This was a fun album with some good rhythm. I honestly just don't see myself ever returning to it.
Never heard of this guy, this is what I signed up for! It’s cool to be exposed to new stuff. This was enjoyable.
Nice
First one's great
Own
World music funk. Kind of fun.
One of the bigger sleepers on this list
Really enjoyed the music - especially the first track. This is where I wish I could give half stars. I liked it more than 3 stars but not enough for a 4.
I tend to enjoy world music and this was no exception.
There are actually some highly catchy bangers on this, annoyingly so as 1) I was expecting to hate it and 2) I can't really sing along to them without sounding like I've tried funnelling too much food into my trap, as I don't know the slightest bit of Portuguese. However, there are also some very dated moments on here when it decides to sneak some synth work in. I suppose if I'm ever looking for a fix of some funky Nando's background music, this is where I'd be gravitating towards after the sample size of two albums I've heard, but how often will that itch present itself?
Good instrumentals
So, this is only my second album on this journey and also the second Brazilian one. I was looking forward to expanding my repertoire but at first I was worried I checked the wrong setting or something. There's a very funk vibe. Another album for listening with headphones due to the use of the different channels. I think I hear an organ or electric piano in the right channel on track two. Rhythm egg/maraca or some such and a bunch of instruments I am unqualified to identify but which are not the standard guitar/drum/bass. Okay, now I finished the album and I liked it okay. It's not my cuppa but I can get behind some of it.
Jorge Ben (and the 1001 Must Hear List) have a winner with this one. All songs listenable, the album improved as it progressed. Kinda like a softer, Brazilian Santana. He definitely had a good idea going electric; although this album is nearly 50 years old it holds up well compared to his earlier acoustic work which is bossa nova and sounds very dated. Africa Brazil comes in at (3.2*s)
Some really interesting vibes here. This made for nice background music. Another album that I’m glad I got to hear.
Nice
Haven't heard of Jorge before. Quite a nice album! And very Brazilian 3/5
Funky, although I have no idea what is going on here. And he has a lot to answer for, for providing the inspiration for Do Ya Think I'm Sexy (as seems beyond any reasonable doubt yer honour) 😐
The review I was forming in my mind while listening went something like, "one of my favourite non-English language albums so far, although it's giving ✨Sims music✨ in places". Imagine my surprise when the next track was... actual Sims music. But one of my favourite non-English language Sims tunes, so, go figure.
The music was really great here, but Jorge Ben Jor’s voice was shakey and painful in many of the songs.
7.6/10 really thought i’d hate this but the instrumentality and vocals are so so good. can’t understand a word but that’s what makes the songs so interesting, love the heavy guitar in each song, very latin. The lads clearly crazy which is what makes the music so fun. Fav song:cavaleiro do cavalo imaculado
Make you wanna dance
Ok
3/5 Ikke et album jeg nødvendigvis ville lytte til igen, dog har det en meget glad lyd, som alligevel er ret hyggelig.
An interesting soul-fusion album. It has a good solid groove to it. Pretty fun listen.
Fun album I enjoyed it 7/10
Fun international album.
I generally liked it. Won't likely go into my rotation but still was nice.
Mixed bag on this one. Some good, some bad, but mostly just not my cup of tea. Kudos to this site for actually including something wildly different though.
It was alright
Smooth, cool vibes. Equally fit for a chill dance floor or as background music
África Brasil is a vibrant, electrified fusion of samba, funk, and Afro-Brazilian rhythms that captures Jorge Ben Jor at the height of his creative power. It marks a major stylistic shift for him, moving from the acoustic samba-pop of his earlier work to a heavier, funk-driven sound powered by electric guitars, tight grooves, and layered percussion. The result is an album that feels both deeply rooted in Brazilian tradition and completely in step with the global music scene of the mid-70s. Standout tracks like “Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma)” and the reworked version of “Taj Mahal” are full of energy and rhythmic complexity, with Jorge’s charismatic vocal style tying it all together. There is a hypnotic quality to many of the songs, driven by looping guitar lines and propulsive drums, yet the album never feels repetitive. It balances cultural pride, dancefloor energy, and lyrical playfulness in a way that feels effortless. África Brasil is a compelling listen that bridges genres and eras, and it remains one of the most influential Brazilian albums of its time.
I don’t know a ton about whether this is good or not by the standards of the genre,but I liked it.
WE BUMPING THIS IN THE TAJ MAHAL🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Another album I've never heard of before. It's really good throughout. There's an interesting mix of genres on "Africa Brasil". Rod Stewart accidentally ripped off one of the songs from this album. "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" ended up borrowing from "Taj Mahal". 3 stars for "Africa Brazil".