Category: World
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Milton Nascimento & Lo Borges ‘Clube Da Esquina’ (1972)
Recorded in 1972 under Brazil’s oppressive military dictatorship, Clube de Esquina represents both a musical triumph as well as a quiet act of resistance. At a time when censorship and fear defined daily life, Milton Nascimento and the 20-year-old Lô Borges gathered a collective of musicians to create something transcendent—a lush, double album that celebrated…
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Buena Vista Social Club ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ (1997)
There’s been a ton of digital ink spilled about the landmark 1997 album from Buena Vista Social Club (especially recently since a musical themed version of the album just hit Broadway this year), but a brief history lesson is certainly helpful here. This album a living time capsule of Cuba’s rich musical past brought to…
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Rhythms Del Mundo ‘Rhythms del Mundo’ (2006)
I popped into a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco this weekend to get a glass of water (yes, I was that guy) and heard Rhytms Del Mundo’s version of “Clocks” by Coldplay and immediately was taken by it. Basically the premise is that a bunch of prolific Cuban musicians (including a couple from indie-darling Buena…
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Hermanos Gutiérrez ‘Hijos Del Sol’ (2020)
Listening to Hermanos Gutiérrez is a semi-religious experience. They craft minimal instrumental guitar music that shimmers with a dreamlike, hallucinogenic energy that immediately transports you to a different world. In songwriting we talk about world-building all the time, and that process with traditional music (aka pop) usually needs lyrics to fully get the point home.…
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Yma Sumac ‘Voice Of The Xtaby’ (1950)
Yma Sumac was a Peruvian soprano with an astonishing five-octave vocal range, and in the early 1950’s she was nothing short of a phenomenon– she reshaped the landscape of world music in the mid-20th century, bringing her talent to the masses, and her debut album Voice of the Xtabay sold over a million records in…
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Tito Puente ‘Dance Mania’ (1958)
A whirlwind of vibrant mambo and cha-cha beats. Fiery timbales and brass-fueled arrangements. Dance Mania is everything that makes Latin music cool, energetic, and simply just fun as hell. Composer Puente masterfully blends traditional Cuban sounds with the sizzle of New York’s late night dance scene, creating a fiesta of infectious grooves and exhilarating performances…
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João Gilberto ‘Chega de Saudade’ (1959)
João Gilberto’s debut album Chega de Saudade is largely credited with being the first Bossa Nova album of all-time, setting the stage for the proliferation of the genre to gain immense popularity in its native country of Brazil during the 60’s and 70’s. João Gilberto fused samba rhythms with the harmonies and sophistication of jazz,…
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Roberto Carlos ‘Un Gato En La Oscuridad’ (1963)
My dad spent a year in Brazil studying abroad during his college years (a longggg time ago– sorry pops) and has always had a love for Brazilian music as a result. Every once in awhile he’ll take the family down memory lane (like his story of Wando helping him pick up women, which is simply…
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Vicente Fernández ‘¡Arriba Huentitàn!’ (1972)
Nicknamed “The Idol of Mexico”, Vicente Fernández was a legendary Mexican artist singing in the traditional Ranchera style. It’s impossible to understate how big this guy was in Mexico during his heyday– he sold over 50 million albums worldwide, won four Grammy’s, and an astounding 14 Lo Nuestro Awards (basically Latin America’s version of the…
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Roots Manuva ‘Brand New Second Hand’ (1997)
Brand New Second Hand is a great listen to anyone who is dipping their toes into the British hip hop scene. The album title is in reference to Manuva’s childhood growing up poor where he would receive second hand gifts for Christmas (hence the phrase “brand new second hand”). The album’s general aesthetic is one…
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Carlos Paredes ‘Guitarra Portuguesa’ (1967)
Carlos Paredes was a brilliant Portugese player and composer, known as much for his studio albums as his soundtrack work for various films throughout the years. Regarded as one of the best players of the Portuguese guitar of all-time, his debut album Guitarra Portuguesa displays his mastery of the instrument in nearly every single note.…
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Bob Marley & The Wailers ‘Exodus’ (1977)
Exodus was recorded following an assassination attempt on Bob Marley’s life in 1976 at his home in Jamaica. The country was in the midst of significant societal upheaval, and Marley’s massive profile as a cultural icon at the time had drawn the attention of the conservative Jamaican Labour Party (backed by the CIA) and the…
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Wando ‘Wando’ (1975)
I’ve had somewhat of a personal revelation this year— I really enjoy samba music. It’s not something I really ever actively sought out before, but after listening to the stellar Samba Esquema Novo by Jorge Ben Jor in January I’ve begun to actively seek out those sweet syncopated patterns, classical guitars, and pandeiros on a…
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Fela Kuti ‘Gentleman’ (1973)
Fela Kuti is the godfather of Afrobeat, and his 1973 record Gentleman is a must-listen for anyone getting into the genre. Combining elements of funk and jazz with traditional West African music is a helluva thing, and the frenetic ride that is “Gentleman” takes you on so many twists and turns throughout that it’s easy…
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Jorge Ben Jor ‘Samba Esquema Novo’ (1963)
If I had to describe Jorge Ben Jor’s debut album Samba Esquema Novo in one phrase it would be “relaxed energy”. This 28 minute samba rock album puts you at ease while compelling you to get up and move, all at the same time. It is a calm call to action. Compared to American jazz,…
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