Gracias - Omara Portuondo

Advantages: Romantic, makes you think of summer holidays
Disadvantages: None

.... Featured vocalists are Company Segundo, (89 years old), Omara Portuondo (the only female vocalist on the album), and Ibrahim Ferrer (70 years old), who is my favourite on vocals. The overall flavour is one of romantic dance (salsa) / party music, with some lounge music ("Dos gardenias") in there, even a little hint of country music with the steel guitar on "Orgullecida". The lyrics, with English translations (all songs are, quite rightly, sung in the native language), are in the excellent booklet, but the songs so beautiful, it really doesn't matter about understanding the lyrics. The perfect introduction to Cuban music.... Read review

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Advantages: Easy listening
Disadvantages: Spanish lyrics

...you, my life… 6) Y Tú Qué Has Hecho * * * A little song about a tree (it's got feeling) and a girl. ♪ On the trunk of a tree ♪ A young girl filled with joy ♪ Carved out her name… 7) Veinte Años * * * * A sad song sung by the only female vocal (another elderly singer called Omara Portuondo) on this album, it would bring tears in your eyes. ♪ How mournfully we watch our love ebb away ♪ Heartlessly a part of the soul is torn away… 8) El Carretero * * * * A hard working peasant is going to work. ♪ Ride on up the mountain… ♪ Work the mountain, cultivate the plain ♪ Reap the fruits of your labour… 9) Candela * * * * * How a hot babe turns the whole town on fire! This amazing song is very intense, and it will make you shake... Read review

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Advantages: Classic
Disadvantages: Marketed as a best of - what?

...about 2 minutes in and the vocals start. Lyrics are as usual, they don't make a lick of sense unless you're int the right "mood". This definetly belongs on the best of. The CD closes with 4 live trakcs that were b-sides. Gardenia, Thumb and Freedom Run are all classics and belong here in their album forms; its not that Kyuss aren't a great live band, just that live recordings almost always lack something. Conan troutman is a fair track, a bit chaotic for my tastes. In the end Freedom run (live) if a fitting end to Muchas Gracias, and indeed to Kyuss' album career; they dissipated into bands such as Queens Of The Stone Age, Slo Burn, Unida, Hermano, Mondo Generator, Fu Manchu and many others. There were rumblings about the band reforming a while back, when Josh, Nick and Brant were together, but John Garcia seems to be the uncooperative... Read review

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