Customer Reviews

Kaya N'Gan Daya

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

 

 

Gilberto Gil has proven again that he can do it all! This tribute to the great Bob Marley is a fine example of Gil's virtuosity and the joy he takes in making music. He's gone in so many new directions, from the sweetness of the Brasil CD with Joao Gilberto and Caetano Veloso, to the cutting edge of the Quanta recording, and now to the Bahia-meets-Kingston reggae project. Listen to the Brazilian instruments on Three Little Birds, or Gil's Portuguese lyrics on No Woman, No Cry, or Gil's own Table Tennis Table ("this me/we game...like I and I"), to understand that the world is getting smaller every day, and music is indeed a universal language. Far from being "any old foreigner" who wants to re-record classic cuts, as one reviewer claimed, Gilberto Gil is to Brazil what Bob Marley is to Jamaica, and his interpretations of Marley's signature songs are pure gold in themselves while paying tribute to Marley' genius. This is music with a message that will also rock the house. Listen to Could You Be Loved, and you'll wish it could go on forever!

It is a pleasure to write about Gilberto Gil. Everyone around the world that could listen to his music would discover a genius. After a tribute to brazilian legend Luiz Gonzaga, Gil now sings another genius: Bob Marley. No, Gil does not "sing" Marley. He SINGS HAPPINESS AND LIFE. Only a genius would play Reggae using the "triângulo" and the "sanfona" (listen especially to "Three Little Birds"). THE RESULT IS SIMPLY UNBELIEVEBLE, MARVELOUS! Could you imagine someone singing "Could You Be Loved" as well as Marley and also add to the music his particular signature? If you say no, you certainlly don't listen to Gil. Não deixe de CAIR NA GANDAIA COM GIL!

Gilberto Gil here does much more than duplicate Bob Marley, although the basic sound indeed is in the same spirit. The difference is subtle at first until you listen several times, and actually play the Marley original side by side with the Gil interpretation.

This is as it should be. Gil shows the utmost respect to Marley by resisting any impulse to take over. But the difference is very definitely there when you tune in to the instrumentation, and it is the instrumentation which adds the Brazilian flavor.

So listen carefully and you'll be impressed by the way Gil pays homage to Bob Marley, and still gives a Brazilian interpretation without attempts to "improve" or "personalize". Sincerely and highly recommended.

This CD is incredible- I can't stop listening to it. I have a different favorite song every day. The sad irony of Marley's songs is emphasized by Gil's bouncy yet faithful renditions ("Buffalo Soldier", for example). It is a work of genius by a genius honoring a genius. The weaving of Portugese into various songs just adds to their beauty. The music evokes emotions from tears ("No Woman, No Cry", of course) to laughter ("Easy Skankin'"). Take it ssllloooowwwww...

A bunch of classic roots reggae tunes, recorded by Brazilian superstar Gilberto Gil at Tuff Gong studios in Jamaica, with the help of Rita Marley, the I-Tals, and Sly & Robbie. Although some of these tracks are better-sounding rehashes of Gil's Portuguese-language versions of various Bob Marley oldies (a tradition that dates back to the '80s), many are simply English-language remakes of old Bob Marley hits, in which Gil sounds way too much like Marley, and not enough like himself. This disc has its moments, but mostly I don't really see the point. In some ways, it's actually kind of depressing to see how perfectly the Tuff Gong crew can recreate the old sound, and also how they can do it on demand for any old foreigner who wants to cut a tribute album. It's kind of a weird Third World cultural intra-colonialism... I mean, who am I -- Mr. Dumb Gringo -- to naysay a Brazilian pop legend slumming in Jamaica? It's still kinda strange, though. Anyway, this is a decent roots album, but I wish he'd gotten a little weirder and more Brazilian with it... the slight forro accordion fills are tantalizing, but unchallenging.

By way of introduction, I am Brazilian and grew up, not only listening to, but loving Gilberto Gil. When I saw this album among his new releases, I got curious. I read your customer reviews, and since they contradict each other, I figured I would give it a listen myself. I was hoping the album would be a Gilberto Gil interpretation of Marley's music, and in some few and far between instances there is some of that; but I have to agree with the review that states that this album is a "too faithful interpretation of Bob Marley". It is Gilberto doing Marley without any Gilberto flairs. It's not a fusion of Brazilian music with Raggae, just an artist singing the old tunes with the old band (which still has what it takes, I must add). Save your money and buy the old Marley records.