Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 14
 a review for Brasil '66 fans June 25, 2008
artanis65 (Washington, DC)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
It's been around 40 years since Mendes reached an artistic and commercial peak with several classic albums that successfully mixed bossa nova, jazz, and pop music. Those albums still sound fresh today, thanks to the terrific songs, latin rhythms and some sparkling arrangements. Since then, Mendes has experimented with mixing his Brazilian sound with folk rock, funk, dance music, hip hop, and on "Encanto," some r&b. As someone who prefers the work he did with Brasil '66 to anything more recent, to my ears the album is pleasant though generally forgettable with the exception of a few wonderful tracks.
Unsurprisingly the best tracks are those with strong melodies by Antonio Carlos Jobim, in particular "Somewhere in the Hills" and "Dreamer," both of which are direct descendants of the sound of Brasil '66. "Dreamer" includes both Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, who sounds remarkably like she did when she was fronting Brasil '66. This is a genuinely stunning track and easily the best on the album. Natalie Cole sings "Somewhere in the Hills" which is appropriately jazzy and is one of Jobim's strongest melodies. Other Jobim tracks include "Waters of March" which Mendes has covered several times in the past. It's a singer's song, and sounds a little rhythmically stiff here, as it has in his previous efforts. "Morning in Rio" is also good, with a more Brazilian styled melody and a nice trombone solo.
The rest of the CD is listenable, but not such that I ever want to hear most of it again. "The Look of Love" is an unnecessary remake of a good song. What made the original great was a sensational big band arrangement which has been dropped in favor of a hip hop arrangement. I liked the Brazilian styled funk of "Odo-ya" and the mellow "Catavento" with Mendes' wife on lead vocals. On the other hand, "Funky Bahia" and "Lugar Comum," the latter of which features an Italian rapper doing a little snippet of "Volare," are disposable pop/hip hop songs.
If I could get into Mendes' head, I would try to convince him do an album of Jobim and Marcos Valle songs with Herb Alpert and Lani Hall and a small jazz/bossa combo. It might not sell a million copies, but it would be an artistic triumph. If you're an unreconstructed fan of Brasil '66 as I am, I can recommend this with reservations. You might be better off just downloading a handful of tracks. But "Dreamer" should not be missed.
 Incredible Album July 27, 2008
Mark H. Sandel (Denton, TX USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I haven't listened to S.M. since the 60's. This is a fantastic collection and I can't stop listening to it; even my teenagers are hooked. The Look of Love includes one of the lowest, deepest bass lines I have ever heard (in a real song)...it rattles your gut. Highly recommended...I don't know anyone that wouldn't enjoy this music. Totally infectious.
 VERY NICE....BUT NOT QUITE AS NICE AS TIMELESS July 31, 2008
A. Atakora (NJ)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Sergio and Will.I.Am back at it again. This album has a much stronger Brazilian backdrop than Timeless did; and the organization, content and structure of the album are a little more mature. Featured artists such as Natalie Cole, Herb Alpert, and Ledisi show the maturity and growth in assembly and production. The album is one that can definitely be played through with continuity and will be overly enjoyed. I would give the album 4 Stars. In analyzing my rating, please be aware that I am disposed to comparing this album with Timeless and I am just a bigger fan of Timeless.
Ok CD but not the quality of music from Sergio Mendes August 18, 2008
Miguel De Rivero
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been a hugh fan of Sergio Mendes for the last 25 years and pretty much all CD's are really great except for maybe a few.
And this one for me is one that fell in the category of average to below average for someone like Sergio Mendes.
You might be a little disappointed if what you have in mind is the smooth jazzy bossanova type of music typical from Sergio Mendes.
Lackluster September 3, 2008
D. Tan (Pasadena, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Got excited each time Sergio Mendes releases an album as I have been a fan since his Brasil'66 days. Uptempo, jazzy, bouncy, catchy, pulsating
and many more descriptions could not describe his works. The uber excellent "Brasilero" is still his benchwork in tune with today's upbeat music. "Timeless" with old and new collaboration is also a great classic. Then,we expected more. And now "Encanto" only fulfilled 50 percent of my expectations. The first six tracks got me going, then, it slowed down after to typically Brazilian jazz/samba mood. Wow, what happened. The best and outstanding track is "Lugar Comum" with Jovanatti rapping in Italian and I could not stop tapping my feet.
What a fresh feel. Overall an enjoyable album.
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