Congas, Chihuahuas & Rumbas 1940-1945 - Xavier Cugat

Advantages: compelling listening for Sunday afternoons, lazy barbeques, and rides back from the beach
Disadvantages: bizarre warble of a voice that may be a deal-breaker for some

...A quick note before the review: I am not interested in people leaving a comment telling me how they want this review to look. I am writing a review of my own oppinion, and do not want to write a long winded, self obsessed, hard to read thesis on how the CD lacks spunk and the socio-political reprocussions it may or may not have. This is a brief overview of an album, or artist, that you may not have heard before, yet have a passing interest in. Enjoy... I don't really remember how I came accross Xavier Rudd; his CD just seemed to arrive in my hi-fi one lazy sunday afternoon last summer. Think Jack Johnson or John Mayer meets a little psychedelic late-era Marley or T-Rex era Bolan. (Indeed Rudd covers "No Woman No Cry". and even does the song justice!) As a songwriter, Rudd is a spiritual kin to Jack Johnson, Donavon... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

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

...something much richer than simple Samba fusions and it becomes more difficult to locate the music in a specific landscape other than to say it is one where the sun is shining and the sound of rolling waves are nearby. Perhaps it is the Cape Verdean soul that eventually bubbles to the surface. InstrumentationPercussion plays an important part throughout the album. On the first track 'Dimokransa' I love the friendly sound of one of my favourite instruments; the cuíca - a Brazilian friction drum often used in samba. You will also hear the twang of the berimbau (track 2) - a Brazilian musical bow single-string percussion instrument; the scraping sound of the afuche (tracks 2 & 6) - a hand percussion instrument; the cajon (tracks 2, 4 & 6) - an Afro-Peruvian drum also used in the Cuban Rumba; The surdo (track 8 & 10) - a large Brazilian... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great consistency of high quality-lyrics, a few styles incorporated, contains some excellent moments in music history (namely the 'Stan' excerpt)
Disadvantages: A few weak tracks, some tracks are nearly identical to others, sounds boring first-time through, no positive thoughts

...made her more of an international star than her new album 'No Angel'. Throughout the 12 tracks of talent-showing moving songs, the Irish singer includes a number of different styles - from soft rock to ballads, from modern-rock-dance to rumba style. Each song is distinctive and beautiful in its own respect, so the album never tires. Not only does the music never grow old, but the CD itself features a large number of extra features, including an interesting booklet with bright colours, photo-album style pictures and the usual thanks pages at the back, a bonus track and an excellent layout. On top of this, the CD is enhanced, and has two videos on it (in Quicktime Format), continuing the chrome-metallic feel held throughout the product. Please note that these extra features are only available in the UK edition. A rather rare feature... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful