"This album is heavily orchestrated and borders on the musaac-y side of samba. However, a few redeeming tracks like "Girl from Ipanema", and "Agua de Beber," with Astrid Gilberto, and "Surfboard" make it seem like it fulfills that "lounge" part of your music collection. It also works as a nice subtle CD to play during a late night dinner party or better, a seduction. Mind you, play it low so the musaac undertones don't distract from the atmosphere it helps to create. However, if you're a samba purist, stick to Jobim's earlier work, before Brazilian Samba was "discovered" by American producers."