Search - Lila Downs :: Shake Away

The Best Yet!

David Alosi | Napa, CA. | 09/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Lila Downs for several years, and I have seen her perform live 7 or 8 times. I first heard hear sing the song "Naila" on a compilation disc of music from Mexico, and I fell in love! I was studying Spanish at the time, and the music really helped me learn the language. She has an amazing voice, an amazing band, and she is an amazing beauty. I first bought the disc "La Linea" ( The Border") and then collected them all, including another new CD and DVD only available in Mexico at this time that shows a great concert in Spain.



"Shake Away" has more songs in English than any other disc, and a lot of guest artists including Mercedes Sosa, and the singer from Cafe Tacuba which, if you know these two names, illustrates the range of music presented here. A haunting ballad, "I Envy the Wind", is exquisite, I can't stop playing it. "Little Man" is a guitar and horn driven New Orleans style rocker. There's a version of Santana's "Black Magic Woman" and a beautiful folk song called "I Would Never". The range of her voice and the range of her music is exceptional. Not to mention the band, especially the harp player Celso Duarte from Paraguay (find a live version of the Iguana song!). Great precussionists too! This is an international band capable of rocking out, making you cry, and bringing you joy. Folk, Jazz, Rock, Latin, Cumbia, Traditional, even a little bit of rap...it's all here, with little bits of politics mixed in. Great stuff! See her if you have a chance!"

Lila Nails It

Juan Mobili | Valley Cottage, NY USA | 09/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know what brought you to check Lila Downs but welcome and thank your lucky stars if this is the first time you get interested in her. If you are interested in great women voices ... better yet in great female artists, this album is proof that you found one the best of her generation. So, If Jenny Lewis blew you away with Rabbit Fur Coat or you love Cat Power in general, this year Lila is the one showing them the way, even if more thyan half of these songs are in Spanish and some of the rhythms may be foreign to you.



Shake Away is probably Downs' best album yet, the sum of everything she's done right all along and more. OF course, Lila is not new to putting out great stuff and singing straight to your heart, it's just that here she does it all.



She rocks the house with her take on Black Magic Woman--along with Raul Midon--and she might just bring to the edge of tears with Lucinda Williams' I Envy The Wind, both in English and Spanish. Also, right up there with these two tracks mentioned, Tierra de Luz with the great Mercedes Sosa and Justicia accompanied by Enrique Bunbury, are standouts. And this is just the brightest diamonds, so to speak.



How refreshing to hear a voice and mind and soul, at the peak of its powers, more interested in material that will challenge her as she redefines it, rather than playing it safe or rely on duets chosen by marketing executives. Definitely, among my short list of great albums of this year."

Gran-Diosa Lila

J. Zavaleta Rincon | 09/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Soy un gran fan de Lila, practicamente tengo todos sus discos al igual que siempre la sigo en sus conciertos, todos sus anteriores discos son estupendos este nuevo trabajo es supremo, muy bueno, excelente, magnifico, que grata sorpresa escuchar su voz junto a Mercedes S, Enrique B. , me agrada que se proteste en sus canciones contra los abusos y humillaciones de nosotros los inmigrantes y en contra de los malos y corruptos gobernantes (Oaxaca, Mexico),, gracias Lila hoy te admiro muchisimo mas,,"