Search - Various Artists :: Bar Lounge Classics V.1

Could This be any less original?

bordersj2 | Boston | 09/22/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is the perfect example of all that's wrong with the commercial compilations. It's a cookie cutter compilation that's supposed to have some of the cutting edge (this is a 2001 release) tracks in the bars, lounges and etc. through Europe circa 2001. And this is the import so you're supposed to say: "hey, that's great. If its imported from Europe, it HAS to have what's in, right?" Sure. But problem is, this is more like a rip-off of their OWN series that they released a year later titled "Rio Lounge", which was really like a rip-off of the Nova Latino series, which of course was like a rip-off of the Brazilectro series, which... well, you get the picture.



It does have some impressive artists and tracks - Minus 8, Funky Lowlives, Boozo Bajou, Vincenzo & Rivera, Yonderboi (not once, but twice!) and even Basia among others chip in with some great tunes. This is a good double disc set and I'd be hard pressed to not recommend it if you haven't already heard the great songs by these artists. But my biggest problem is that I just so happened to pick up the Rio Lounge series that Sony put out in Germany and whaddya know? There's Yonderboi, Minus 8, Boozoo Bajou, Vincenzo & Rivera and again, even Basia among others. Yes, the Bar Lounge Classics series has a bit of a latin feel and I hoped that I misread the title and it was supposed to be a tribute of the best songs from all of their series. But again, this came out in 2001. The first Rio Lounge came out in 2002. And to take it a step further, if you pick up the 3rd Rio Lounge, you'll not only find a few songs from Bar Lounge Classics, but songs from the previous two Rio Lounges!?!?



My recommendation? Get it if you haven't heard the tracks but I implore you to get it on the cheap. And be VERY careful of overlap should you pick up any of the Sony label's compilation series into nu-bossa and bar/lounge cds. I want to say that the other Bar Lounge Classics that came out are a step up but in reality they suffer the same issues as this and the Rio Lounge series. Same artists, same redundant tracks, nothing new. Pick up the superior Bargrooves series instead. And if you like the more commercial nu-Brazil tracks, pick up the vastly superior Nova Latino or Brazilectro franchises."