Search - Sergio Mendes :: Oceano

Anos Dourados

09/16/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sergio's latest CD is great. Gracinha's voice is still magical and the ballads in this CD all have that warm tropicalismo like feel to them. Caetano and Hermeto Pascoal are also featured on this album. One of the master's of Bossa Nova once again has made another great album-- a must have if you enjoyed Brasileiro!"

Inconsistent in quality and concept..

bilahn | Minneapolis | 06/05/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Oceano" begins with a bang-- the outrageously terrific "Rio de Janeiro", a song guaranteed to catch your attention with its evocative rhythms and color, and terrific vocal in Portuguese. This is a song that really brings to mind the tropical color and passion of Rio. Next is the atmospheric "Trilhos Urbanos", another song that brings you to a sultry oceanside balcony in Rio at sunset. Unfortunatley things go downhill from these first two great songs. Oceano is too much a pastiche of styles, with different singers, much of it on the sentimental and sleepy side. Magdalena is probably the best of the rest, but it is too repetitious. Some of the songs verge on lounge music. Sergio Mendes, in his various incarnations, has always been an artist who is quite variable in quality. At his best, he is very good indeed, but other times, unfortunately, he is rather forgettable. This is probably why he has always had a status that is rather hard to pin down. Still if you can get a cheap copy of "Oceano" I would recommned it if only for the first two songs."

Smooth

AlitaP | Maryland, USA | 10/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent jazz mix with smooth vocals. Especially enjoyed the tracks in italian and spanish. Upbeat selections are nicely mixed with love songs."