World > Latin World

Advantages: Easy listening
Disadvantages: Spanish lyrics

...1999) I had heard of Buena Vista Social Club for many years but only recently I dug out this treasure and started to appreciate it. Sometime ago I saw the documentary film about Buena Vista Social Club on FilmFour; I was so captured by the music in the film that I ordered the CD album straight away from Internet. Ry Cooder, the producer of the CD, said in the introduction, "In Cuba the music flows like a river. It takes care of you and rebuilds ...
...umm umm... 13) Buena Vista Social Club * * * * * Believe me, this jazzy piano piece really flows like river. I loved it! 14) La Bayamesa * * * A patriotic song about a woman who burnt down her house to prevent the enemy taking over. ♪ But she can hear her homeland crying out… ♪ She has left everything, she has burnt everything… The CD is sold with a 48-page booklet describing the background of the tracks, plus the lyrics ... Read review

Advantages: Good Music
Disadvantages: Needs improvement

An interesting album of cover tracks. The band are from France and have recently made it onto the scene in the last few years. Some songs are better than others. I would recommend this album as an easy listening record. It's something you can relax to in the evening. Tracks JOY DIVISION : Love will tear us apart (feat. Eloisia) DEPECHE MODE : Just can't get enough (feat. Eloisia) TUXEDOMOON : In a manner of speaking (feat. Camille) THE CLASH : ...
...not a) love song (feat. Melanie Pain) DEAD KENNEDYS : Too drunk to f**k (feat. Camille) THE SISTERS OF MERCY : Marian (feat. Alex) XTC : Making plans for Nigel (feat. Camille) THE CURE : A forest (feat. Marina) MODERN ENGLISH : I melt with you (feat. Silja) THE UNDERTONES : Teenage Kicks (feat. Melanie Pain) KILLING JOKE : Psyche (feat. Sir Alice) THE SPECIALS : Friday night, saturday morning (feat. Daniella D'Ambrosio) ... Read review

Advantages: Gets Everything Moving!
Disadvantages: None

...programme on television about the Buena Vista Social Club, I was inspired to buy this CD. And, I was not disappointed! I don't usually buy music from this genre but I was soon dancing around the room 'shaking my booty'! - not a pretty sight!! The front CD cover shows Ibrahim, wearing a leather cap, looking as though he's had a great deal of life's experiences and enjoyed them along the way! The plastic CD cover is also covered by a cardboard one. ...
...until he appeared with the Buena Vista Social Club, that he gained a more international recognition. The album was mixed in Havana by the same group used by The Social Club, and so you get the same feel for the music - they know what they are doing! Other artists and musicians have been invited to perform on this recording and so you get a good mix of sounds and a wide range of talented people - mainly from Cuba. Ry Cooder has produced this album, ... Read review

Advantages: Fast, lively, talented, rare sounds
Disadvantages: None that I can think of except it might be difficult to understand lyrics

...a little bit about the band as I notice there is a distinct lack of reviews about them. Taraf de Haidouks are the Buena Vista Social Club of Europe, they're unbelievably talented musicians from a small village in Romania. The band line-up changes and they are forever willing to experiment with other musicians. Having been to a few live concerts of them myself, I can say that they are very open, friendly, talented and create a vigour and excitement ...
...on to the album - Band of Gypsies was recorded in Bucharest in the year 2000, it was the 4th album put out by Taraf De Haidouks, looking to integrate other Balkan styles they invited Kocani Orkestar (from Macedonia), Filip Simeonov a clarinet player from Bulgaria and percussionist Tarik Tuysuzoglu from Turkey to play alongside them on this masterpiece. Apart from the aforementioned songs, there are also a collection of live songs taken from a concert ... Read review

Advantages: Not a bad song on the entire disc - it's that good
Disadvantages: No follow-up album in sight just yet, despite rumours to the contrary

...the world, should have. Thankfully no relation to current tabloid-favourite Lindsay Lohan, Irish singer-songwriter Sinead Lohan's second solo album "No Mermaid" contains a whole raft of memorable and accessible songs. "No Mermaid" was actually something of a departure from the artist's first CD, 1995's "Who Do You Think I Am?". The earlier work was much more folkier, the songs based on more traditional arrangements. Forr her follow-up, this seemed ...
...To date, however, there's been no further news on this, which is a shame - Sinead Lohan has a fine voice and deserves a wider exposure. In fact, I regularly pick "No Mermaid" out of my collection at the expense of more recent purchases, it's that worthy of repeated listening. Twelve fine tracks make up the album: 01. No Mermaid 02. Don't I Know 03. Whatever It Takes 04. Loose Ends 05. Whether Or Not 06. What Can Never Be 07. Believe It If ... Read review