It's kinda... but at the same time it's... well it's... hmm
bordersj2 | Boston | 11/29/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is Jazzinho's newest release titled "Atlas". It was produced by the great Ed Motta. You've still got some fantastic Jazzinho musicians and artists involved but I think Chris Franck was out of the picture on this one. Unfortunately the band had a few problems releasing this album as it was due in the Spring of 2006.
To be frank, I wasn't feeling this one. Hard to explain, but I wasn't and I found myself hitting "FF" on loads of the tracks until a certain familiar/neat sound came on for track 13. I tried listening to it at different times but the result was the same. The cd had a promising start with "The Lagoon Monster" but even then I was a bit nervous about the direction of the album. To it's credit, many of the songs have a live feel. But the overall album and sound seems very forced! From vocals to parts of the musicianship. And in some ways I felt like I was listening to a solid but unspectacular late 70's, early 80's album... or the soundtrack to a early 80's TV game-show. What's oddest about some of the tracks is that they sound like a HUGE step backwards form their abilities. Take "Maria Mulata"... good intro, solid start, but then in the chorus part it almost feels amateurish. The album just feels forced to me, there's no other way to describe it. The only track here that I found to be a cut well above was "Da Tempo Ao Tempo", remixed by Nicola Conte (thrown in as a bonus cut). But what a bonus it is... it's a classic Conte jazzed up remix, and it's one of his better remixes. That's saying something because I can't think of a remix of his I didn't like. It just glides - it isn't over the top, it isn't too little, it's just a perfect tempo.
What's so frustrating as a big Jazzinho fan is that I KNOW they can do better and the musicianship is almost there but... not quite. It's a bit unfair to make the comparison to their first album, which simply blew me away and featured a slew of slammin' remixes. And maybe it's that this album just wasn't clickin' with me individually. But I dug the jazzed up rework by Conte which is, IMO, a nod in the right direction. I can't recommend the base album here and instead would recommend their first album OR check out the remixes to their cuts. Three stars because some songs were alright, and the musicianship was good in patches & thank-heavens for the rework in the end!"
Poorly produced - huge fan, huge disappointment
Formosa | Atlanta, Georgia | 02/04/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I am a huge Jazzinho fan. After hearing the fabulous "Moody Maria" on background music at a hotel (Hotel One Taichung Taiwan), I spent the better part of three months tracking down the song name and artist, Jazzinho. The Jazzinho album is one of most hippest jazz albums in existence. Infectious grooves, interesting electronics and vocal effects. Guida sounds so good and frankly sexy, she is fantastic! and the horn work is incredibly tasteful (with the phasing that is top notch).
So, it's hard to understand the direction of Atlas. If Ed Motta wanted to ruin Jazzinho he certainly took a good stab at it. The mix was completely dry and way too forward. Guida's vocals sounded like there wasn't even reverb added. All the electronics gone (except track 13). Infectious grooves? Never a chance, too dry, choppy music. No ear candy. Sounded like a live lounge act. Very _poorly_ produced. I can't say that enough. Ed Motta please go away and give us back Jazzinho.
With the exception of track 13, I'd say pass on this CD, and it's with alot of regret. I bought this to support Guida, but only out of pure loyalty to the first album and in hopes of a second. Again, get RID OF ED MOTTA!!!!!!"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1