Customer Reviews

Cê

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Veloso does something different with each of his albums, which can make it difficult for new listeners to figure out which CD to pick up first. Now he's made the answer easy: Ce. This disc is an intimate collection of songs whose style can perhaps (however inaccurately...) be described as calmly ferocious garage rock tunes. While he doesn't "rock" in the American sense, the stripped-down instrumentation of this album (guitar, bass, drums, voice) provides a great counterpoint to some of his other, more overblown works of recent years (the orchestral arrangements of Estampa Fina, the horns, strings and samba-rhythms of Livro, etc., and his inconsistent A Foreign Sound). The tunes on Ce are tightly-wound, and, though sometimes sweet, are actually angrier than Veloso has been in the past (he recently went through a rough divorce). The great rock tunes on this one are "Outro," "Odeio," and "Rocks." "Homem" talks of all the things about women of which he's not jealous, and a few of which he is: longevity and multiple orgasms. With this album Veloso also distances himself from the more soporific trends in Brazilian popular music (Bebel Gilberto, Marisa Monte, Veloso himself on some other albums). I highly recommend "Ce," as well as "Live in Bahia," and "Tropicalia II" (which he recorded with Brazil's other great, Gilberto Gil).

Cê" is a really surprising new album from Brazilian legend Caetano Veloso, and a big departure from the work he's been turning out for the last several years.
In fact, the more I listen to it the more I think that it might be the greatest album he's recorded since his late-'60s and early-'70s heyday. Veloso has long been tagged the Brazilian Bob Dylan, so I suppose that would make "Cê" his "LOVE AND THEFT", except that instead of basking in the patina of his old age with the world weariness of a hundred-year-old man, Veloso has taken the opposite track and somehow morphed back into a nineteen-year-old.
Seriously, it's almost bizarre to hear such a young sounding album from someone who must be in their mid-sixties, his voice is totally intact and as beautiful as ever and he's more than willing to take artistic chances that he really doesn't have to be taking at this point in his career.
No doubt his son Moreno deserves some credit for this, as he produced the record and wisely shed many of the adult contemporary trappings that have been Veloso's safe haven for many an album.
Totally devoid of syrup, the songs are all stripped down and jittery, with weird angular guitar playing creating an excellent tension to Veloso's beautiful, sweet delivery.
Unambiguously excellent, and further proof that the man is simply one of the greatest pop musicians of the last forty years.
Listen to it.
You'll love it.

This album is a significant change of direction, as this is the first Caetano Veloso release since 1989 which was not graced with the presence of cellist and master of arrangements, Jaques Morelenbaum. It is very clear that Caetano aimed for a North American sound, and that he was tapping into newer sounds through the help of his son, Moreno Veloso, and, more so, Moreno's friend Pedro Sá, who has played guitar on Caetano's last two concert tours. And yet, with the newer sounds, almost in spite of them, Caetano's genius remains the most notable presence. I am of the opinion that his 2001 release, "Noites Do Norte," was his best work of his entire career. I don't know if "Cé" is quite up to that mark, but it is a solid effort. "Minhas Lágrimas," the second song on the album, stands up with any of his classic songs. "Deusa Urbana" has a sound similar, at times, to "Fora da Ordem," the brilliant opening track on 1991's "Circulado." It's a strong effort the whole way through. The fact that Caetano has taken this turn should not come as a surprise: the influence of North American music, as well as Brazilian rock, on him in recent years have been obvious, even on parts of "Noites Do Norte," and Caetano has, since the dawn of his career, always tried to keep himself from being stuck in one place as a songwriter. For those who know his stuff well, I think the most apt description is that "Cé" is like the giant leap he took with Arto Lindsay on "Estrangeiro" and "Circulado," only with a sound which is probably the least samba-influenced since his mostly English-language albums of the early seventies. Those who truly understand Caetano's work over the years should be very pleased with "Cé."

I saw Caetano in Toronto not having heard this album, and not really sure what to expect. I'm a fan of his 60's and early 70's output, but the rest of his catalogue is a bit (ok - a lot) too slick or adult contemporary for my tastes. I was blown away by the show and by this new material - this is definitely the best stuff he's done since his classic 'tropicalia' period. His new young band has definitely absorbed a lot of 'non-Brazilian' music (garage, new wave, prog, post-punk) and the only thing really 'Brazilian' about this album is Caetano's vocals. If you're a fan of Caetano's more adventurous work this is an album that is absolutely worth checking out. If you're into his more laid-back, orchestral/acoustic material, this may not be for you.

first let me start by saying that i like veloso pretty well. he's no gilberto gil or jorge ben in my opinion but he's hugely influential and creative. he also has widely eclectic interests.
on this cd, we find veloso sticking to rock with few forays into other genres. other reviewers found this album highly original, but at many points i was reminded of some of his 70s releases at the very least in terms of atmosphere. the lyrics are in portuguese and veloso's voice sounds the same as ever. overall, i felt the album to be dark, complex, and at times reminiscent of the indie-rock scene. it wasn't to my tastes. however there were a few songs that i liked -- deusa urbana e um sonho in particular.
it's a major departure from his recent work. i'm not a fan of much of his recent work and neither am i a fan of this cd. but if you're a huge veloso fan it's worth a listen to decide for yourself.

Reviewing anything is treachrous and subjective business. The way we see the world, may not in fact be the way the world is. If we have dirt on our lens, we will see dark spots in the heavens.

Cê by Caetano Veloso in my humble, subjective perception continues to position him as one of the globes timeless treasures. Caetano is much like Miles Davis in significance: a fulcrum upon which styles, ages, and consciousness pivot. Backed by muscians twice his junior, his voice weaves about the verve of their rock-fusion crossbreed seamlessly and without effort: from the ominous to the plaintive, his instrument delivers the necessary tonality and energy.

Caetano can't stop singing......And......Thank Goodness for that! Now......I only wish he'd start touring the USA again! Voce ouca Ce?

I went to his concert in Buenos Aires without having heard a single song from Ce and I was amazed at Caetano's new sound. His vitality is reflected both in his music and on stage.

Gracias Caetano por enCANTARNOS!

Ce is another great album by Caetano Veloso. His compositions are still strong and his voice getting better and better. Highly recommended album.

I heard Cê for the first time at about 40,000 feet over the Atlantic. The sound quality of the airline provided headphones left a lot to be desired, but what stuck with me most was the hushed drum and Beatles feel of "Minhas lagrimas".

I liked what I'd heard enough to buy it upon returning to the US. Now that I've had a chance to hear it with proper sound quality, after just a few spins, it's quickly emerging as Caetano's best. At last count, I think I have about 15 of his records, so to say this is among his best is to say a lot.

The opening track begins with an oblique avant garde feel that finishes with an incredible guitar wail from Pedro Sa, who co-produced the record. Sa's guitar playing, at times slow, and at other times fast and furious, dominates the entire album. Sa lays down angular ripping rock guitar leads which sometimes recall Nirvana, and at other times is slow yet powerful.

On Cê, Caeatano brings back the feel of the records he made while exiled in London during the late 60s and early 70s, yet with the maturity of a composer who is now 40 years older. His inimitable tenor goes from what many consider his classic, plaintive and contemplative persona to floating above Bowiesque "subconscious" counter harmonies. The record flows beautifully from mood to mood, often with gorgeous Beatles/John Lennon Plastic Ono Band influences shining through.

Sa's playing gives the impression that he's just barely under control, adding trippy effects at several points. Along with a super tight rhythm section, Caetano's voice, and little else, somehow the songs flow together.

Lyrically over the years, Caetano has often been quite spiritual. On Cê, much of the subject matter deals with raw, animalistic sex, for the most part devoid of emotion, with the possible exception of anger. His early sound abounds throughout this powerful album. It finishes off with "O heroi", which sounds more like Tom Ze than Caetano Veloso. And that's great.