Angola - Traditional Music From Angola - Various Artists

Advantages: Uplifting and joyful
Disadvantages: For a debut album, it's hard to fault

.... Musical InfluencesLargely due to her background, Mayra Andrade's music is a mixture of international influences, in which traditional Cape Verdean rhythms and song-forms are fused with Afro rhythms, Latin melodies, Brazilian samba and Bossa Nova, jazz elements and even some French chanson. At first I thought the Brazilian rhythms to be the overriding influence, no doubt due to the contributions of Brazilian percussionist Ze Luis Nascimento who makes up the main trio of performers alongside Cape Verdean guitarist Kim Alves and Cameroonian bassist Etienne Mbappe. There are two other Brazilian guitarists, Tarcisio Gardim and Nelson Ferreira, who perform on some of the songs. Other Brazilian influences come from Mayra's work in the past with Chico Buarque and Lenine. But after a few listens it is clear that this album offers something much... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Music, lyrics, beat
Disadvantages: none

...from the United Nations. His commitment to peace was also recognised after this death when hundreds of thousands of people, including the Prime Minister attended his funeral. The Jamaican government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit, and in 1991 his birthday was made in to a public holiday, Bob Marley Day. Marley’s musical importance generally and the importance of ‘Exodus’ cannot be minimised, with him the wave of reggae artist that followed in his wake, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Aswad, Black Uhuru and many others would not have had the impact they did and I turn the impact of Reggae and Ska on modern black dance music might have been less than it is. Time Magazine voted Exodus as ‘the most important album of the 20th century’. While many including me might dispute the worth or validity of such an honour... Read review

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Advantages: Outkast track is superb
Disadvantages: First movie's soundtrack outclasses it

...Firstly, if Barbershop Quartets aren't really your scene, this soundtrack can perhaps change your perception of the type of music commonly associated with middle aged men dressed in red and white striped suits, armed with harmonicas and over grown moustaches (obviously because it's the Barbershop 2 film). This soundtrack compliments the film well, (as soundtracks from musical films often do) and proves to be an enjoyable listen for the casual listener, though if you're looking for traditional Barbershop, look elsewhere. The album features leading hip hop artists like Mary J Blige, G-Unit, Outkast and Floetry, as well as new artists such as Anthony Hamilton. Overall, the sountrack is not really worth the price if you have the first one, and can soon become overplayed. But what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in the excellent... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful