Search - Caetano Veloso :: Tropicalia

Solid all the way through, with variety too.

Jules McCaffery | Boston | 06/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I had to pick a "scene" in rock history that seems to transcend every pop staple, it would be those illuminary Brazillians from the late 60's. There are so many super-talented and visionary artists from that movement, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the passion and exhuberance of these albums. Caetano Veloso is one of those artists. I sometimes feel like the romantic drama and devil-may-care virtuosity of this album could drive anyone to tears, or at least to youtube, trying to find any way to vicariously experience whatever socio-political hell was responsible for an artist like Veloso to grab everything meaningful in life, shoot it out of an existential cannon; watch it float through outerspace and land in the Amazon. It sounds so futuristic, so contemporary, so pre-historic. I still listen to this album, scratching my head, wondering: "How the hell did he do that? How can anyone evoke everything through sound with seeming effortlessness?" and then I realize it is the entire experience that he is channeling: the military overthrow, the intense repression of individualistic efforts, the racial conflict and an economic overhaul felt through the impoverished ranks of a sickeningly rapid transition to modernity. All of that and just drop you to your knees beautiful songs that the most hardened death-row inmate would fall in love to. Be careful who you are listening to this with; it's sensual allure is basically immutable. This album is absolutely fantastic, and there are several from this movement. Tracks 2 and 5 will absolutely break your heart, while track 12 will leave you sweating with abstract pop largesse. Keeping in mind, that this album starts off with a genre, and perhaps even nation-defining track: Tropicalia. Good God, just buy this album.

I have never felt more comfortable recommending an album so unconditionally."

Desert Island

Man Steam | Chicago, IL | 04/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is simply divine from start to finish. During the 60s a lot of American blues and soul music was going psychedelic. The same thing was happening in Brazil with bossa nova and samba. Firstly, you can't top Caetano's tenor. I think Caetano could make an acappella record this good. He could suffice with only a woodblock. His is a sauce with a lot of cream. He is able to create and hold melody with his voice. A lot of BN singers dance around like butterflies, which is great too. But Veloso isn't afraid to emphasize in a style that is ostensibly finesse but actually power. The second track "Clarice" is BN so stoned and slowed down it's just one of the most soulful things I've heard. Contrasted by "Clara" whose xylophone backed whimsical gameshow sound is tropicalia at its best, flying below some of the cheesier tendencies of the genre. The violins are fantastic, which is a suprise because orchestration ruined so many Brazilan records (Phillips & EMI). The percussion is on point throughout--a wood block never sounded so wooden. One of the best qualities of great music is its ability to wind, spiral, and layer. These songs sound new every single time. I still save it for sunny Sundays. This is the Pet Sounds of Brazil. I'll take this one to the island though even though/because I don't speak Portuguese."