Search - Zero Accidents on the Job :: Luaka Bop 10th Anniversary: Zero Accidents on Job

Still Bopping

07/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"David Byrne's Brazilian music compilations are some of my favorite, so when I ran into this Luaka Bop album celebrating 10 years of existence, I didn't hesitate too much. I really didn't know what to expect, and hoped I wouldn't be disappointed. Well, I simply love this compilation of great songs from all around the world. What a break from the stuff played over and over and over on the radio! On disk one,entitled "Steamy Hits", some songs, like Brimful of Asha, are more famous, but there are some great discoveries on this album such as the bird-like female vocals on Rafiki, or the unlikely, but very melodic, pairing of David Byrne and Selena on God's Child. One of the tracks has the unexpected talent of Ry Cooder playing a very different style than what you'd expect- In Jing Jing he plays a very Asian-themed pop song with Soukichi Kina...and you will definitely want to polish those platforms and brush out that big hair wig once you listen to Clinton's People Power in the Disco Hour. This CD has songs from Brazil, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, India and more...and that's only disk 1...Disk two, entitled "Slow Jams" is obviously more mellow, and more laid back. Despite the predominance of Portuguese language songs, there is still a balanced amount of world-music artists, such as Susana Baca (who has a lovely clear voice) and Los Van Van. Tom Ze's Um Oh e um Ah is kooky and delightful with its senseless lyrics (not because of the language!), and Cesaria Evora's Sodade is filled with bittersweet beauty. The only selection I did not enjoy on this album was Waldemar Bastos "Sofrimento"- although he has a very moving voice, and the topic of his song-a suffering earth/people-is relevant and thoughtful, it is just too depressing, if you understand the Portuguese lyrics. When I heard "our earth is dying" over and over again, accompanied by other sad comments I just had to skip to the next song. A different song should have been chosen to showcase this artist's talent. It's just out of place here. Listeners will certainly discover new sounds and artists they'll enjoy. There is always a risk when buying a compilation consisting of artists you don't really know well-and it's immensely rewarding when you discover your gamble payed off! I highly recommend this compilation!"

10 years is just the beginning.

abarcelo | Bloomington, IN. USA | 09/26/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike most `world music' labels, David Byrne's Luaka Bop is not so much interested in `traditional' music from distant places and cultures, but in new paths in `popular' music created outside mainstream American/UK pop & rock styles. In other words, the bands that Luaka Bop signs are considered `alternative' even in their homeland. Almost every track in this compilation is awesome, for it compiles music from some of the most amazing musicians in the world from the sixties until today. Psychodelia, funk and folk get fused with traditional sounds from India, Venezuela, Portugal, Brazil and other places. Luaka Bop was the first label to bring into america the soundtracks of both the Cuban Revolution, and the Raji dances in India. It gave us both Cornershop and Los Amigos Invisibles, and for that we must be very, very thankful."

Musica Sin Fronteras

Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 12/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"David Byrne, former frontman of "Talking Heads" fame has his stamp all over this CD. He is the executive director but the man responsible for many of the original CD's this music was taken from. He is even featured on a soulfull duet, with of all people Selena. Many of the tracks featured on this compilation are songs taken from Byrne produced CD's where he has tried to expose the world to alternative and roots third world music. Luaka Bop is his brainchild and the artists featured are as diverse as the cultures they come from. Get out your passport as you hop from country to country, jumping continents all across the globe. Marshall McCluhan coined the term "global village", he percieved it through a visual medium, Byrne's global village comes via music, not tv. There are some real quirky numbers here, oddities represented by alt rock, funk from the grandfather of funk, the other Clinton, Cuban jazz by "Irakere", it's all here, never a dull moment. You'll never be bored with this CD as it changes artists and styles constantly. Since Byrne has a penchant for digging up "old" music, some of the featured songs are up to thirty years old. One would think it wouldn't work alongside such contemporary remixes as those by "Fat Boy Slim" but it does. This is cutting edge meets old school, a Renaissance man's revision of musical history. There are so many great cool songs that it is hard to single out any. The CD is a double disc and is broken down into "Steamy Hits" and "Slow Jams". Of the two I prefer the "Steamy Hits" but both are excellent. Lots of artists to "discover" here as after you find something or someone very appealing you'll ineveitably buy a whole CD. Susana Baca comes to mind and it just a matter of time for me. The booklet has mini reviews or quotes from the top music rags like Spin and Rolling Stone to illustrate the nature of the featured CD the music was taken from. This CD is at bargain basement price(26 songs=over 2hrs.) but will take you to the rooftop for a musical vision of the world, especially the third world."