Customer Reviews

Gilberto Gil: 1968

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4 star:		(1)
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Although Gil is supported by Os Mutantes on this album, he leans much more closely towards Brazilian Samba rhythms - than even on the first Mutantes album - and cosequently it sounds slightly more like traditional World Music faire. There are some great songs here though, particularly the slower moody acoustics Coragem Pra Suportar and Pega a Voga, although the more up-tempo numbers are propelled along vigorously by Roger Duprat's superb brassy orchestration. It's not Tropicalia as most people have come to know it through Mutantes and Veloso, but it's still great and unique music, if more typically Brazilian. If you see it knocking around a record shop - which you probably won't - I'd definitely recommend a purchase.

One of the cornerstones of the Tropicalia movement, Gilberto Gil continues to be a major player worldwide, which, after hearing his debut lp, could be somewhat surprising save for his absolute brilliance.

From 1969, Gil's debut lp is simply one of the most stunning pieces of frenzied psychedelia this side of Tangerine Dream's blitzkrieg of "Electronic Meditation." His guitar work on this lp stands unsurpassed, in my view, in both its virtuosity and aggressiveness. It's out and out psychedelia, Brazilian style. Add to the mix the unabashed enthusiasm and equal brilliance of cult favorites Os Mutantes and the lesser known Beat Boys, and the cup of craziness runneth over.

This lp will be an eye-opener to both fans of Gil's recent offerings (which are glorious in their own right- his maturity as a songwriter and musician is staggering), those who are dipping their toe for the first time into the waters of Tropicalia to see if it is to their liking, and those who love psychedelia. Along with the 1st few lps by Os Mutantes and those of Tom Ze, Gil's debut offering is by far the most heady and experimental that the Tropicalia movement offers. A glorious album.

problem is, I've heard them both online, now I have to have a copy, and prefer this one. the remaster is so clean some of the horns are too sharp and come out too loud instead of in the mix. this album is brilliant. the upbeat stuff is just awesome. I love the majority of this album, like the first 8 songs are awesome, with the first 7 being some of the best tunes I can always listen to. while 9 is good, I usually skip to 10, great sound.11 is just great, this is the real stuff, what you dream of when you think of foreign language 60s music. song 4 is easily one of my favorite songs EEEVVVEEERR!!!! 12 is silly, 13 is okay, and 14 ehh, but for a run of 10 songs (1-8,10,11) it is just stunning the quality. I love it and it's worth it, just get the older version if you can, while the improved sound is good, in some moments it's too sharp.