Customer Reviews

Italian Cafe

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I truly enjoy this cd. The songs are not the traditional songs you might think of listening to while cruising the Grand Canal in Venice in a gondola, but are songs that evoke images of Sophia Loren, Dean Martin, and the happy images of the late 50's. Most of the songs make you want to dance. They are a joy to listen to. They are not all old songs though - several are from current artists. Only track #3 seems out of place - but is not too annoying to make you want to avoid the cd altogether. Both my young children and I love listening to them all. Now to learn to speak Italian so I can sing along!

I'm a music teacher and I speak Italian very well. I heard most of this CD while cleaning up after a Tuscan-themed Teacher Appreciation Lunch at my own son's school. I think this CD is a great find: contains a whole bunch of music I wasn't familiar with; witty lyrics, and a real authentic, not-overproduced feel. I really had not heard indigenous Italian jazz, and now I find that it's great stuff. I'm pretty picky--for instance, love Putamayo's Gypsy Caravan and Arabic Groove but detest Jewish Odyssey. So for what it's worth, that's my opinion.

This collection is a lot of fun, spanning the ages from the 50's to modern pieces. My only criticism is that there are two singers who are represented twice on this cd. It's not that they aren't good songs, but weren't there other performers to represent?

I find the Putamayo CDs hit-or-miss, but this one is definitely a hit. It's not corny but not challenging, either. A good choice when you're trying to create a certain mood.

The Putumayo Presents series are an excellent introduction to various international musical genres and they seem to nail it each time. This CD is no exception. The musical choices may not be so exciting if you know very much (or even anything) about Italian contemporary music, but for those of us who don't you can put it on, drink your Chianti and eat your pasta and salad and imagine yourself in some little cafe in a backstreet in Rome. Or you can make yourself an espresso and stand up at your kitchen counter and pretend you're at an espresso bar. It's a nifty little mood setter.

I borrowed this from a local library in San Francisco, to test it on my frequent jaunts through the wine country. Busdriving foreigners day in and day out can have its downsides, so I look for music that I like first - if they like it, great.

This time it was a win-win: my tourists love it, drunk or sober. I even use it during the morning round-up around the downtown hotels, because it is a kind of hypnotic music, with the bass rhythm keeping people in a slight trance as we move through the morning rush hour. It also helps keep down needless and silly inquiries as to the local weather, what the mayor is doing, what the Governator is doing, when the gay parade is coming, and if I am doing this job fulltime, or do I work in a real job?

In other words, busloads of pretty well-heeled folks from around the world put their stamp of approval on this great driving CD.

Down the Silverado trail, here we go!

This CD is AWESOME. Wow. I popped it in as I was driving to work the other evening. It sent me right back to long lunches in Firenze, gawking at tourists in Rome (and pretending I wasn't one), and the amazing beauty of Venice (and that cute waiter who flirted by telling me he "couldn't tell I was American" and that I spoke Italian with a "perfect accent"). Amazing music - some classic, some contemporary, but all great. Some of the songs are swingy, some are bluesy, some tell a story, some make you *feel* the story. If you have ever had un caffe in Venice or alcuni biscotti a Roma or cenato nel trattoria a Firenze, get this CD and remember. Ten stars.

When I got this CD I was so happy. I thought the music was great and relaxing. I advise you to listen to this CD by either library (if possible) or by purchasing it online or at your local music store. This is a must buy!

I love Italian music but this CD has left me to desire more, the songs are short and could be better. A few good songs but not worthy of buying the whole CD.

Anyone who has grown up with Dean Martin, Louis Prima in their home would appreciate this CD. It's an updated version of your parents music, both retro and contemporary that evokes those '50's and '60's moments from Italian cafes. I feel like I'm listening to everything from the Maguirre Sisters harmonies to Leonard Cohen in Italian. I love it, my 88 year old Sicilian father loves it and so do my kids. I want to sing along and dance to it. I've never been disappointed with the choices that Putumayo World Music makes for me. I just want to hear more.