Customer Reviews

Marisa Monte

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

 

 

This album of Marisa's is fine, but it is clear she is trying to work out her musical style. She swings wildly between Mo-town and classic Bossa Nova. Unless you are interested in owning all of MM's albums, I recommend buying any of her other albums first.

I remember many years ago reading in Veja (Brazilian "Time" or "Newsweek") an "old guard" (baby boomer - generation) music critic trashing Marisa Monte as an upstart bubble gum pop star who didn't have a fraction of the talent of the old divas like Elis Regina. (on a different continent, it is the same battle Mariza has been fighting against the old guard Fado critics with respect to the likes of Amalia Rodrigues).

Fortunately, in time Marisa Monte has proven those cranks wrong.
Even on this early record you can hear Marisa's genius. This album may be uneven, but there are some brilliant pieces. In particular, Xote das Meninas is a suprising, soulful, inspired production. Marisa shows an extraordinary sense of improvisational timing. What starts off as a vaguely reggae-infused cover of the Gonzaga tune transforms into more and more of a jazz-inspired effort, especially when the trumpet comes in and begins to improvise. Then, when Marisa takes cue from the trumpet and slips into a blues-inspired English, it is absolutely brilliant. Going back to listen to the original Gonzaga, one realizes how much Marisa, her musicians, and her producer bring to the song... how did they squeeze so much out of such a simple old accordian tune? This song alone makes the album worth owning. There are plenty of other wonderful tracks, and a few dull ones. But overall, it is a wonderful disc.

Marisa Monte's standout disc. Every track is great. She does some great Brazilian MPB covers like "Ela so Quer" and "Chocolate", and some new ones as well. Several of the oldies have the distinct Brazilian characteristic of double-entendre lyrics which could slip by the old military censors. "Comida" is just a powerful song, great lyrics. Marisa's voice is just amazing.

I have to admit I feel a little guilty myself not to give an album from Marisa Monte the maximum of five stars because she is an outstanding artist. I have seen her live in Washington, DC two times now and was totally blown away by the strength and clarity of her voice on both occasions. Some of the songs on this album are absolutely top-notch. "Bem Que Se Quis" and "Lenda das Sereias, Rainhas do Mar" are my favorites as well as her version of "South American Way." Any one of these songs justifies the purchase of this album in my opionion, though some of the others aren't as good. I'll have to disagree with some of the other posts regarding the American R&B and jazz standards that Marisa ended the album with. I find the renditions of the last 3 songs to be sort of boring and unimaginative, finishing up the disc with a whimper rather than a bang. But that's just my opinion...

I love Marisa, but I don't listen to her first CD much. Not that it's bad--it's actually a sign of a very talented artist destined for great things--but it's not the brilliant direction she ended up taking. All of the songs are good, but my favorite has to be her cover of "Chocolate" by the late R&B/soul singer Tim Maia. Good listening, but I'd have to say it's one for the collector.

This was the first release of Marisa and it is as good as her later and better-known albums "Rose and Charcoal" and "A Great Noise", and clearly much more audacious than her new -and watered-down- release "Memórias, crônicas e declarações de amor". Marisa hadn't developed her talents as a songwriter by this time, but the repertoire is highly stimulating, with excellent Brazilian rock tunes by Arnaldo Antunes, Tim Maia and Rita Lee, creative covers of old sambas and even a few jazz standards. Even in this first album, Marisa was already totally mature vocally and demonstrated her incredible range by singing a wide variety of styles with the same skill and with a marked personality. She can be now aggressive ("Comida", "Ando meio desligado"), now sweet and lovely ("Bem que se quis", "Lenda das sereias"), and always so sultry... An essential album for all Marisa Monte fans.

This is the first CD released by this remarkable singer. It shows us her talent and style in a natural state which were perfected as the time passed (you should listen the five CDs she made to check it). The first song is a very personal interpretation of "Comida", by Arnaldo Antunes, who became her partner in many other songs. "Bem que se quis" has lyrics in portuguese (written by Nelson Motta specially for her) over an italian song. It is extremely beautiful and simple song, which must be included in any Marisa Monte's best songs compilation. "Chocolate" is very nice and "Speak Low" is the perfect title to end this CD, it seems made to her voice.

I am one of Marisa's biggest fans-I absolutely love all of her other CDs, but I feel I have the duty to warn any unsuspecting Marisa fans that this album is just plain awful. Even on the first listening of this CD its clear that Marisa is yet to find her voice or her sound. At times on the album she sounds like a female impersonating Louis Armstrong. And the songs in english? Someone should've taught her the songs phonetically-they are so bad, they're humorous!!! This album doesn't even have one song that would merit its purchase. Go buy Rosa e carvao instead!!!

This has got to be the MM album I have listened to the most. I am aware that it incarnates a search for her musical style but I find that the producer had very well targeted the right styles for her wide range of talent. She sings jazz, Motown and Brazilian rock and bossa nova. It reveals, more than her latter albums, the adaptability of her voice to almost any musical situation. I say bravo ! I am a singer too and use this album for training. Very rich.

This album would not be my first pick among Marisa's collection, though it is still a top-quality album. "Cor de Rosa e Carvão" (Rose and Charcoal) and "Mais" would be my suggestions for starters.

This album is an eclectic ensemble, including Brazilian regional rhythms ("Xote das Meninas"), remakes of old sambas ("South American Way", "Lenda das Sereias"), and jazz selections. Marisa was a lyric singer for many years, and the repertoire she picked in this, her first album, is almost a statement to break with the rigorous classic style she had always followed. In her debut, Marisa is boldly stretching out, testing the limits, but also refusing to belong to any one style, to be categorized. Marisa's interpretations are extremely expressive - her voice is pure, crystal clear emotion - and her vocal range and sensuality simply blow you away.

Her live concerts have the same quality as studio recordings - in fact both this album and Barulhinho Bom (Great Noise) were straight through recordings with few or no editings. But if you get a chance to see her live don't miss it, she is simply at her best on a stage.