Clube Da Esquina

Partly of my hope with doing the 1001 albums was to find a hidden gem that I hadn't heard of before... I think this is one of them. From my first listen, I enjoyed it, no idea of the lyrics meaning, but felt really good. Musically it's a great mix: vibrant, pleasant, upbeat, dreamy and (in places) hauntingly beautiful.

Beautifully vibrant album. Every track manages to twist and turn through several variations within 2-3 minutes while maintaining a core sound throughout the LP - it's immediately clear the influence this has had in Melody's Echo Chamber and other dream/psychic rock projects of the like. Amazing that this was recorded in 1972 as well, each instrument is layered so well in the mix it sounds modern as can be.

I've been listening to this album for a few days now trying to put into words what I feel when I hear it. The whole package is a very ambitious release by the duo. I love the mix of mild psychedelia with what I assume are some traditional sounds. I've read tat Brazilian music takes more of its influence from European and African sounds than what we attribute to a Latin American sound and I think I agree. This is one of those albums that I've seen on lists of albums worth checking out for a few years now but it wasn't until last week when I finally heard it for the first time. I've fallen in love with it. Even the short tracks that seem like they could be developed more seem right after a few listens. I'm not sure if I could pick a favorite yet, although lyrically (yes I looked up tranlations) I'd say it was O Trem Azel (The Blue Train). I will be listening to this a lot more in the future. I feel like I could keep exploring this for months and still discover more to love about it.

Rapaiz, bom demais isso daqui, dá pra chorar três dias com esse album, meu amigo.

Never heard of Milton Nascimento nor Lô Borges nor this album. Genre: Música popular brasileira Very pleasant sounding. Nice experience. Almost bought this for $5.99 on iTunes, but they only offer the 15-track edition, excluding six songs from this double album. Am I missing something? Without a translation of the lyrics, it’s difficult to assess the artistry as a whole, but the sound is novel (at least to my ears). Some similarities to Sérgio Mendes, without the dramatic percussion of Brasil ‘66. On some tracks I felt frustrated not having a translation of the lyrics. Intricate chord structures, very nice progressions, avoiding the temptation to overdo; chiefly composed for voice and guitar. There are some tuning and pitch problems (serious on the orchestral backgrounds especially harsh-sounding on “Um Gosto da Sol”), and ‘buzzing’ on the acoustic guitar. But overall, the instrumentals are entrancing and satisfying, with great variety. Vocal quality is okay, a little too airy, weak on the Iberian ‘moorish’ fluctuations and trills, and lacking in both range and timbre. It’s satisfactory for a jazzy sound, but not stellar. Falsetto particularly weak. Recording technology not up to British or American standards of the time, but that’s to be expected. Is it me or does Portuguese lack a poetic sound? I wonder how these songs would sound in German. 😁😁 In sum, this is a good album, and I’m glad I was introduced to it. 3/5

This has to be one of the best unknown albums on this list. It's a double albums that needs to be a double and is not padded out by filler. I love the genre hopping between folk, psychedelia, exotica and even baroque pop. Superb in every department more people need to hear albums like this.

I didn't envision giving full marks to a foreign language album, but my appreciation for this grew as I listened. He has the voice of an angel and switches genres competently and with ease. The lyrics I looked up were meaningful. One of the songs was banned in Brazil for being too revolutionary; when you listen to it, it sounds like a happy-go-lucky flower power tune. The contrast is super interesting to me. Best track: Paisagem da Janela

Like eating delicious foreign cuisine for the first time: these are flavors I had no idea existed, but now that I’ve had it, I can’t get enough.

Was okay to start with, but then really began to grate

The production on this album is incredible. The vocals are clear and sound very close and intimate. The music itself is beautiful both melodically and harmonically. Chord structures are intricate and the songs themselves are suite like in their changes. In terms of genre, this album infuses jazz, classical, and western folk into Brazilian music to create something truly unique. This album pays tribute to earlier musical forms (like Bossa Nova) and weaves them into more contemporary styles to create a truly unique piece of baroque pop with tinges of psychedelia.

Clube da Esquina is one of the masterpieces of brazilian music. An MPB classic, with nods to psycholdelic pop, rock and some experimental moments. The vocals by Milton Nascimento and Beto Guedes are the hightlights, specially because their voices are in contrast. When this double album opens with "Tudo Que Você Podia Ser" you already know that you are in for an incredible ride and that the artists involved are in the peak of their creativity. "Dos Cruces", "Me Deixa Em Paz" and "Nada Será Como Antes" are also worth noting.

If you liked this, check out the history of rock in Latin America documentary on Netflix. I’ve got a corresponding playlist on Spotify too. If you didnt like this, also check out that documentary and then maybe you will

In the aftermath of the Tropicália movement came a sprawling yet consequential album that helped the Brazilian music scene remain fresh and forward-looking. For Clube da Esquina, and its iconic album cover, vividly captures the imaginations of Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges and ensures that they are also worthy of consideration after the wildly creative deluge (and forced defections) of Velsoso, Gil, Costa, Zé, et al. It may feel overlong at points and the language barrier is insurmountable but this is still essential listening regardless.

Shame on me for being Brazilian and never listen to this whole album. Sure, I know some songs but listen to them completely was a very nice experience. Sometimes Milton Nascimento makes me sleepy (mainly his new songs after "Clube da Esquina"), but this album is completely the opposite, it makes me fells with a lot of energy. I don't know if this list includes more Brazilian albums or even Brazilian artists, but this one was very pleasable

I don’t know what he is saying, but I have no reason to doubt him. Can’t say I’ve heard anything quite like this, and I like it

What an absolute joy. After the first 11 songs, I found myself thinking this was a candidate for the most surprising 5 on this list. But it turns out, the issue was there were still 10 more songs to go. This is probably just nit-picking, and we should probably evaluate double albums differently anyway. It just went a little too long. A few tracks reminded me of the theme song to "Chico and The Man", which is a compliment. There's elation to be found all over this album. This was made some 15 years before Paul Simon raped and pillaged from the genre to make Graceland. And somehow this sounds fresher and more alive.

I enjoyed the beginning of this album, and it was even a possible 4 stars for me. But then by the end of the (very long) album it felt like the artist was just making noises at me. I want to justify giving this a 2 with the analogy of an artist painting a beautiful painting and then finger painting all over it with the remaining of the paint on their pallet.

Another classic. I am due SUCH a run of duffers. As a long-time Tropicalia convert, I'm surprised I only stumbled across this album last year, through some random conversation. But that's what happened, and now it is a staple. I adore the Quarteto Em Cy cover of Tudo Que Você Podia Ser, did not know it was a cover before hearing this album. But what a trip we go on listening to this. Can't adequately explain how good it is. A journey in every song. Absolutely wonderful. I like the story of the two kids on the cover too. “I was eating a piece of bread that someone had given me, because I was starving. And I was barefoot. But I never knew I was on the cover of a record. My mother will be thrilled. We never had a photo of me as a boy.” Faves, Tudo Que Você Podia Ser, Clube Da Esquina No2, O Trem Azul, Um Gosto De Sol, Nada Sera Comp Antes.

incredibly good what the hell

A 1972 'música popular brasileira' record that furthers post-bossa nova elements through its excessive panning production and midtempo expressions. The distinct tonal characteristics of the acoustic guitar and delicate vocals flow naturally throughout the entire record, providing vibrant cultural visualization through diverse compositions. Contributing majorly to popular Brazilian music, 'Clube de Esquina' shapes up to be a compelling contribution to MPB through organic presentation and easy listening.

Brilliant but needs a lot more listening

A hidden classic- well worth the time to revisit

Didn't understand a word anyone was saying. 5/5

An absolutely inspired album. I wasn’t at all expecting the diverse assortment of songwriting prowess on this record, but it’s an absolute masterpiece. Leaving aside the obvious exoticism of foreign language works, this album would be incredible wherever it had originated. It doesn’t draw too heavily upon a “traditional” Brazilian sound, which really expands its sonic palette. The songs take centre stage here, not the novelty of world music. While the album is about an hour long, none of these songs overstay their welcome and they really catch you off guard with how contemporary they manage to sound despite this record appearing in 1972. It’s simply brilliant, and while it hasn’t achieved the same commercial acclaim as some other Brazilian offerings, it really needs a reappraisal.

Really enjoying this album after my first listen. Some impressive musicianship, and this Latin-infused psychedelic, progressive blend is so interesting

The one track I really like is O Trem Azul. Aside from that, I like the vibe of the album, but nothing else stood out as a really memorable song.

¿Pero esto qué es?¿Me invento unas letras y me invento unas melodías y las uno, tenga ritmo o no?Un 1 en toda regla.

Totally enjoyed this. I had never heard of this artist. Reminded me of Buena Vista Social Club but more melancholy.

I didn’t know what to expect from this album but I loved it!

The cover of this album is remarkable. My interest was piqued immediately. What is it about Brazilian music that is so listenable? Is it the amazing percussion? The sound of Portuguese? Those rhythmic guitars? Maybe it’s all of that and more. This album had a lot of unique twists on the Brazilian sound and seemed to experiment quite a bit with styles and sounds that gave this great variety. It went in directions I didn’t expect. This is something I think I could have only discovered here. I love it!

Really fantastic, ethereal and rocking at the same times occasionally.

I'll listen to anything Brazilian.

This is the shit I came here for. Fantastic. Loved this.

Great use of stereo in this one. Loved the production. Lots of cool uses of different instruments. All in all great album

Something about music sung in Portuguese that just sounds different. The instruments, vocals, harmonies, and theme are on point here.

Classic

Loved it. The soul of the guitar was something special.

What an interesting record. So many twists and changes of direction in most of the songs. It's a strange mixture of pop, classical, psychedelia and whatever the Brazilian version of flamenco is, but it works for me and absolutely loved it. One of the best things I've heard this year. A low 5.

Very chilled and laid back I really enjoyed it!

Very niceee

After a batch of albums that I couldn't listen to more than two songs comes this masterpiece. I have no words to describe the greatness of this album.

je songe à déménager à Rio

Este es el mejor disco que ha salido en esta lista hasta el momento.

PREFS : Tudo Que Você Podia Ser, O Trem Azul, Nuvem Cigana, Cravo e Canela, Dos Cruces, Um Girassol Da Cor De Seu Cabello, San Vicente, Clube Da Esquina N°2, Paisagem De Janela, Me Deixa Em Paz, Saidas e Bandeiras N°2, Um Gosto De Sol, Lilia, Trem De Doido, Nada Sera Como Antes MOINS PREF : Cais

Hermoso álbum. Creo que es lo que tengo que decir, disfruté todo y es quizá raro porque combina algo que uno pensaría al pensar en Brasil, pero al mismo tiempo no suena "local" solamente, no sé bien cómo explicarlo (CANCELADO). De todas formas, muy bonito. Entre mis favs: "Paisagem da Janela", "Trem De Doido" y "Nada será como antes" 9.5/10

What a great album. Lots of elements that we see get used by other bands in later decades, different types of songs all over, real fun to listen to

At its best, sublime, and at its worst a bit generic. Overall, love the mix of Brazilian folk & psych-rock. Have to remember this one for a midsummer road trip

Brazilian Spinetta ┏(･o･)┛♪┗ (･o･) ┓ pero también (⌣́_⌣̀) tudo bé

Not heard or thought about this album for years, listening to it again made my day

Had never heard this before but loved it! Sent me down a Brazilian music wormhole. Trem De Doido has an amazing guitar part.

Melhor álbum de todos os tempos amo demais

love it this album go crazy

This was a cool album! I wasn't 100% jamming on it, but i suspect that if i had any degree of Portuguese fluency it'd be 5 stars for me, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.

Pretty genius.

good

"Clube da Esquina" is a double album by the Brazillian music collective Clube da Esquina and credited to Lô Borges and Milton Nascimento. It also features arrangements by Eumir Deodato and Wagner Tiso and conductions by Paulo Moura. The music is generically classified as baroque pop, folk and pyscychedelic pop but more specifically MPB (Música Popular Brasileira or Brazillian Pop Music) which is post- bossa nova combining jazz, rock with Brazillian samba, samba-canção and baião. Yes, this album incorporates many styles often within the same song. This album is extremely important in the history of Brazillian music. "Tudo Que Você Podia Ser" begins the album with an acoustic guitar. It's melodic pop with a hint of samba. Nascimento comes in with a clear, powerful, tenor voice. This would not sound out of place as a 70's country rock ballad. The drums are more prominent in "O Trem Azul." Both acoustic and electrical guitar. Vocal harmonization. A 60's pyschedelic pop feel. Beautiful sounding. "Cravo e Canela" has a Spanish acoustic guitar with subtle bossa nova beat. The soft-loud-soft dynamic. I immediately thought of Paul Simon. Maybe, when I next hear Paul Simon I will think of these guys. "Um Girassol Da Cor De Seu Cabelo" starts out slow and melancholy with its the piano and beat. The drums kick in with strings and we're in Beatles territory. The drum picks up the pace and now we're into something entirely different. An album highlight. "Clube da Esquina" is mostly instrumental with an urgent beat, subtle guitar and background vocals. The vocals are in the background and more part of the instrumentation. Wow, I feel like I'm placed in 80's/90's alternative rock. "Paisagem Da Janela" has a simple beat and sounds like a simple, happy and poppy 60's song. Nice harmonies. Alright, we got a Latin beat in "Me Deixa Em Paz." Tenor voices of Nascimento and Alaíde Costa reaching high octaves and also using falsettos. The bossa nova beat kicks in a little harder. Lô Borges takes over vocals on "Trem De Doido." Hey, this is rock and we're back to the 70's. Great drumming and a Carol's Santana-esque solo. This is a great album. I don't know if I've heard an album that switches styles within and between songs so flawlessly. When a song starts don't expect it to end there. The variety: baroque pop, samba beats, pyscychedelic pop, 70's rock and pop and 80's/90's alternative music. And then you add Nascimento's incredible tenor voice. Yeah. A album everyone should hear.

CLASSICO BR!

This had many more different looks than I was expecting

no notes. i just really enjoyed that.

This is possibly the most conflicted I’ve been on rating an album so far. The political climate of 1972 for Brazil underscores a lot of this album, and there’s a passion throughout it that’s so easy to feel, but probably very hard to understand in 2024 without an innate knowledge of the subject that I just don’t have. Let me be clear: I’d be a moron to not acknowledge that this is a good album. It does not sound like it came from 1972 at all – there’s an exploration of so many genres here that it feels like the album had an incredible vision of what music was gonna be for at least the next 20 or 30 years, if not longer, and it’s all carried by two things: guitar playing that simply feels timeless, whether it’s acoustic, electric, or bass, and absolutely passionate vocals by Milton Nascimento & Lo Borges that you can feel even through the language barrier. My confliction is not “is this good or bad” – it’s do I give this a 4 or 5? I feel like I can’t give it a 5 because of that language barrier, and how I don’t think I can fully enjoy the album because of that, but I’d also probably be a moron to not give it a 5 out of pure trust in how cathartic this album must have felt in 1972, and how well it’s aged into modern times; so many of the other 70s albums we’ve heard have occasionally had mixing issues or choices that clearly dated them. If we were going by 10, it’d be an easy choice to just say 9/10 and get it over with, but for a 5 point scale, I think I have no choice but to round it up, just out of respect for nailing everything it tries to do.

Captivatingly beautiful. Or beautifully captivating. Either way, beautiful and captivating. It's feeding my soul today. I love it.

This album was many peoples first introduction to Brazilian music. This album is so soothing and listenable, timeless. Since I don’t speak Portuguese, the album plays like an instrumental work. The soft lyrical singing is like a fine tuned instrument. I love this album and am glad to be reminded of it so I can add it to my current rotation of music. It's perfect.

Amazing vocals, can feel the emotion in the voice. Highs and lows in terms of energy throughout the album, great listen. 4.5

Trem Azul is one of the best songs ever made.

Nicely done, very chill, reminded me of Japanese pop in places.

Buenísimo.

5.0 + I get lost in the echoey halls of this pan-genre masterpiece, mesmerized by elastic guitar fingerpick-strumming, reverb-laden vocals and a panoply of jungle-like percussive splashes.

floats along very nicely indeed

This is an amazing album. I listened to it dozens of times during COVID. Perfect intersection of post bossa Brazilian weird. Some of the songs are so moving! It’s a beautiful listen up close, and also a great backgrounder. A classic! 5/5

So many gorgeous songs. It took me three lisitens before I realized I had heard O Trem Azul before, being covered by Elisa Regina. I loved the call back, it gave amazing context.

A great album that shows how much is going on in Brazil music wise. Is this tropical rock or how it's called? Maybe even better.

Wistful, intimate, warm, and ethereal. From pop to rock to folk with touches of bossa nova, Beatlesque psychedelia, and full of lovely arrangements and orchestrations, ‘Clube Da Esquina’ is wonderful. I have no idea what Milton Nascimento or Lô Borges are singing about, but I know that I want more of it.

Really cool album which is hard to describe. A very unique blend of sounds with each song providing some serious surprises.

Was not expecting this. Smooth, ecclectic, not hanging around. A new little joy that I'll be revisiting.

Awesome

Wow this is awesome! Never heard this before but 5 stars for the beautiful guitar voicings. Definitely coming back to this one.

Beautiful easy listening. Rightly on this list.

Good

Got into this album a couple years ago after listening to Wayne Shorter’s “Native Dancer” album a lot. Love his voice and style. Really cool tunes and arrangements. So many songs on here. The title track is my favorite and Cravo e Canela (there’s a really great live Flora Purim version!)

Loved this one, very diverse, from laid back to melancholic to even Beatle-esque and a real beautiful last song. Full 5!

that was a really fun album with some beautiful compositions overall just a really beautiful experience I’ll give it an 9/10

Lovely

Holy shit, this is awesome. The singing, the influences, the gorgeous chord progressions, and how ahead of it's time it feels. This is a powerhouse of a double LP with both singers bringing their S+++ game. Perhaps it's a little long, but it's hard to notice when every song is a banger. The Beatles influences are clear, but Borges and especially Nascimento take those influences and run, making one of the best pop albums I've ever heard. You can hear influences that inspired pop and rock bands all the way up through the 90s, and the fact that there's some that won't like this because it's not in English is a crime against themselves. I don't understand a single word and it's already a five, so imagine what the lyrics bring to the table. I adore this, were it not for Kimono My House this would be my favorite album so far.

o homem voz, baita som e letras, BR esqueça tudo

God I fucking love this album. First album so far that I’ve listened to already. fuck this album is gorgeous. Clube da esquina No2 sounds like absolute heaven. I haven't listened to the album the whole way through in ages and hearing the second half particularly is so refreshing and glorious bruh. this is exactly what a double album should be. broad range of bangers, chunes and emotional rollercoasters. if only I knew what they are on about. when he says asi vivamos seperados in dos cruces 🔥 (basically the only lyric I know cos its the same as in spanish). Paisajem da Janela is such just a feel good swayyey dancey vibe. This album stands beside Songs in the Key of Life as one of the all-time great double albums bruggy. Holy fucking shit when the bass comes in and the instrumental changes in track 13 what the heck. This album sounds so fucking good it's insane. Get your best headphones and fucking get auditory heroin for an hour. fucking god trem de doido is gorgeous. this album sounds so modern for 1972 its insane. what te fuck. also this album cover goes fucking hard. album of the fucking life. I wish trem de doido was longer that was insane. this is easily the best album on the challenge yet. im sorry replacements im sorry Hendrix this is just it. it is insanity how good this album is. oh yay this song title is the same as in spanish. track 20 nothing will be like before. ill try figure out lyrics. he'll nah there's no lyrics on Spotify. this arrangement is gorgeous. I know I've used that word many a time here already but its bleedin true wow. What an album!!!!!!!

Hippie vibes

Big fan of this one! Wasnt sure what to expect, but i recognized the album cover instantly and knew this one is highly regarded.. I love the singer-songwriter and traditional aspects of this record, but it also uas exceptional production, and feels cinematic at parts, which really surprised me. Will definitely listen again, and a few songs are going in to my regular rotation Faves: Todo o Que Voce Podia Ser Dos Cruces

Production: 16 Songwriting: 15 Innovation: 15 Bangers: 20 Emotional response: 18 =84 This was BLOODY GORGEOUS

Ég fann ég þurfti að hlusta tvisvar á þessa, og mun koma að aftur. Opnunarlagið er djöfulli gott, og lögin sem fylgja í kjölfarið mörg hve frábær. Góð grúv, óvenjuleg hljóðblöndun og fullt af óvæntum tvistum. Æði! Plötur eins og þessi eru það sem gerir þetta verkefni verðugt þess að sinna.

Probably my favorite album coming from Brazil

Discover this album a couple months ago and it's already on my playlist. One of the best if not the best brazilian album

Holy SHIT this is already beautiful. Obviously I don’t speak Portugese(?) so i have no inkling of what’s being said but it is PRETTY DAMMIT. It’s also so stylistically diverse and some of the guitar work especially is what some indie bands are still doing today. 90% of this album could be released this very second and it would not seem out of place.

This is really quite wonderful. Milton's voice soars beautifully, sometimes strangely, above this beguiling mix of surprisingly western music that is sprinkled with splashes of Latin flavour. It is different, yet familiar.

brasilian! and quite lovely :) work on the portuguese kid :)

This is the kind of album that is a bit hard to review, simply because it wasn't written for or out of my cultural context. There is much to like here for me. The instrumentation is excellent. The singing is good. But man the entire thing is just so different from what I would normally listen to. I think it probably deserves 5 stars for what it is.

Альбом очень жизнерадостный настоящая бразилия

Unexpectedly awesome, tracks were varied but equally good. My favorite was Nada Será Como Antes

Great album with great sadness.

With flubs, it feels live, musicians in the moment. Interesting and beautiful chord progressions and melodies Strange production choices.

Bonito disco.