Customer Reviews

Balance

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a beautifully light, breezy album that will sweep you away to warm summer days. Sara Tavares recalls her native homeland, Cabo Verde, with references to Lisboa and other places, in a wonderful collection of songs. Hers is quite a different voice from that of the great Cesaria Evora. It is young, vibrant and guides the listener in a new direction away from the mornas that Evora was so famous for. Tavares is one of several young Cabo Verdean singers, but to me she is the most promising, as her music has a very international feel to it, a confluence of African and European rhythms that at times seem Caribbean in flavor. She has been traveling all over the place and has a great personal website, so check her out! You will be hearing a lot more from her.

1st I'd like to say I wish to God I would have purchased Sara's Mi Ma Bo CD when I had the chance, I'm sorry I didn't. I've been on-line trying to find it everywhere; I might have to buy it used somewhere. In the mean-time I have finally purchased this CD and I'm glad I did before it's discontinued; also I have gone on-line and read some interesting things about Sara and her music.

I had my boyfriend listened to this CD and we enjoyed it together, it's very beautiful, he was very impressed on how talented she is with her acoustics guitar. My 18 year old daughter heard me listening to this CD another day and thought Sara had a nice voice. Sara's songs are beautiful mixtures of languages, English, Portuguese, Cape Verdean-Cioulo and African. The songs sounded so very romantic, intimate and relaxed, very feminine with a combination style of rhythmic jazzy, ballad and African, very lovely. Balance, Bom Feeling, Lisboa Kuya, One Love, Dam Bo, Muna Xeia and last but not least De Nua are my favorite songs but I LOVE the whole CD and can listen to it over & over again.

As a 2nd generation Cape Verdean born out of her native country, she's very in tune with her Cape Verdean heritage & culture and it shows through her music even though she was not raised by her parents but by an older Portuguese woman. One day I hope to see Sara in concert. Good Luck Sara Tavares, continue to grow with your musical talent.

Cape Verde gives us a great gift in Sara Tavares! I saw a video without sound on an airplane for Balance - I was trying to guess the tempo or the style of music, but I got caught up in watching the dancers. Then I listened to a sample online, and was sold! After I bought this album, I listened to it 7 times in a row that first day. It is lush and varied and her voice is delicate and strong. The complex rhythms and instrumentations, the gorgeous Portugese language, and the general buoyancy of this record are addictive. I listen to it at least once a day and I have had now for about a month. Support this artist and buy her work, don't download!

I have the Sara Tavares album, and aside form it being a wonderful disc, it DOES INDEED copy through my computer to an mp3 player! I am a fan of Times Square Records, and my favorite releases by them (Ananda Shankar, Asha Bhosle, Mariza, just to name a few) all convert properly. I think the aforementioned disc that you are having problems with isn't actually on Times Square. As far as I am aware, Sara Tavares is actually licensed by them through a European label. Their product isn't even available outside of North America, and you're in Japan! Perhaps your copy is on another label, or maybe there is something wrong with your mp3 player? These are just a couple items to consider before you publicly attack the record and it's label.

I have followed Sara Tavares from the beginning of her career and I must say that her music is getting better with time. I recently saw her in a concert in Boston, MA and was moved to tears. Her voice is absolutly beautiful and you feel the love that she has for her country in the songs that she sings. This is an album that you will never be tired of listening to. I promise!!!

This is easily the best CD of the year. I discovered Sara Tavares and Balance accidentally, and was blown away since listening to the first song for the first time - it is not often that this happens to me.

A previous reviewer is wrong - although of Cape Verdean heritage, Sara is Portuguese. This CD is a wonderful fusion of rythms, styles and languages reflecting Tavares' own background. The music will transport you to new lands: moonlit and peaceful landsapes the ballads, blue and sunny beaches the faster songs. The music flows with absolute naturality, despite having rather complex arrangements and variations of rythm.

Did I mention Tavares has a wonderful and versatile voice? She produced the album herself, and it's my understanding she also plays the luscious guitars.

It's not easy to meander through different genders - some songs in this album touch reggae, jazz, pop, mpb, while keeping your own distinctive style and delivering an homogeneous yet diverse product. There is not one song which doesn't fit here.

Do yourself a favor and buy this album.

I have been listening to the Sara Tavares album for over a month, and it is an album which I cannot get tired of. Sara's voice and her compositions are most uplifting. Having said that, I could not help but read the exchange of the "Pointless" reviewer from Japan. My son owns an I-pod. I therefore asked him to load the CD on his I-pod over the weekend. Not only did he upload the entire CD in a matter of minutes, he liked it as well, so he has started listening to it too. He is a sixteen year-old who normally listens to modern rock groups like "All American Rejects" and "Thursday". This just made me realise how accessible this CD is to all types of listeners. So, Mr. "rai" from Japan, thank you for turning my son on to Sara's music as well....perhaps you should check what is wrong with your device...

This is the most beautiful album I've heard in years. Sara's voice and playing are timeless. Her voice conveys sensuality, joy, beauty, and earnestness with unique ability.

This one is purely organic music , penetrates directly to your
heart. One of the best sample of world music i enjoyed lately.

I own this album and play it at a minimum of 3 times a week - A must have for all music lovers - seductively goes well with wine and candles...or a beautiful sunset