Superb
Tom Babajanian | Fort Collins, CO | 09/14/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This was one of Legiao Urbana's first releases, recorded in the early 1980s. With gritty, yet poetic lyrics that delve into subjects of spirituality, sexuality and the difficulty of living in Brazil, Legiao Urbana really set the thematic mood for nearly all of their subsequent works.
If Brazilian music is generally known for being vivacious and carefree, "Que Pais E Este?" (What Country Is This?) is something of a musical journey into Brazilian rage. The title track was for a generation of college students in the early 1980s (and persists to this day), a rallying cry of indignation against Brazilian society's decadence as well as politicians' corruption. Track #7, 'Faroeste Caboclo' is an allegorical narrative that tells the fictional story of a poor man from the Northeast who goes to find a better life outside his village. The antihero is soon faced with a stifling life as a carpenter or the lure of crime.
Musically, the listener detects a distinct crudeness in the sound of this CD that one doesn't find in subsequent works by Legiao Urbana. That said, any lover of Brazilian rock who enjoys depth in lyrics and passion on the part of a singer should get this."
This Album Rocks!
Cristian | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 07/24/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"By far the album "Que Pais e Este" is the most heavy of the most acclaimmed brazilian rock band. With heavy and somewhat ironic words about the problems that always had a meaning to Renato Russo, the writer of most songs of Legiao Urbana, and to their legion of fanatics that are all spread over Brazil.
This album have the presence of "Que Pais e Este", a song about many problems of Brazil, the "Faroeste Cabloco", a 9-min song that tells us a nice but very heavy history and "Conexao Amazonica", very good too. Indeed, because these songs where saying "bad" things about the country that these songs were censured in the radios.
As all the other albums of Legiao Urbana, this is of a high-quality level. I find it simply amazing, but some songs are just like others that are in the CD, and it turns boring to hear all the album at once, but still is a very excellent choice."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1