Brazil: Essential Album

Not the best quality. However, I like the music so I listen. A good selection of familiar sounds and some new songs that have not made it into main stream US music.

Great speedy delivery. Got this for someone's Christmas gift. They absolutely loved it and are now collecting Brazilian Music.

Just as expected

I admittedly did a review on this one several years ago but have found myself returning to the album, and wanted to upgrade the review. This is a double disc set of tunes dedicated to a variety of different BRazilian musical styles and musicians. No stone is left un-turned in this one as you've got everything from axe to bossa to bossa nova to MPB and Pagode on down the line.CD1 is well stocked with quality. Tania Maria's popular cross-cultural hit "Come With Me" features, and you've got a delightful little Astrud Gilberto (with Stan Getz) song "It Might as Well be Spring". But I think the real gem on that album is "Cena" by an artist you won't hear much about outisde of Brasil (or even in Brasil nowadays). A terrific song... that sort of moves like a soap-opera... "You get jealous and make a scene..." You really do have to know Portuguese to get really get the song. There are several others that I enjoyed on that one too. Disc two's just as nice with stallwarts Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Two real highlights to me though were As Meninas track "Para Raio", remake of an old classic. It's so light and breezy - I like Monica's voice and this album got me into their music. As Meninas changed their group name to "Nois 4", and be careful as they are VERY different from the probably more popular Axe/pop group "As Meninas". I also liked Quarteto Em Cye's "Milagre". I mean the harmonizing is so perfect!I recommend this one if you can still find it. It was a delightful two disc set that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is a bit older though... pushing on 8 years or so. But it's still got some great tracks and artists. Jorge Ben, Lenine, Timbalada, Joyce, Djavan, Daniela Mercury, Maria Bethania, Chico Buarque, Novos Baianos and loads more appear. Pretty wide spectrum of music, so check it out! This album reminds me of a few other samples before and after it, like "A Night in Rio", or the "Beleza Tropical" series and countless others out there. Maybe I'll do a guide for them if it's wanted.

some of the songs are great and very popular but other sare not, some of the songs are just okay the sound its poor and thats why i gave it only 3 stars.

I love Brazilian music it's so vibrant so sensual and so pure when you play this sit down and pretend that your cruising Copacabana or ipanema oh what a pleasant thought

lovely album, and very prompt delivery. Anyone who is keen on learning about Brazilian music and a lead into the culture will enjoy this.