Mosquitos

Mosquitos | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bar/None Records
• ASIN: B00009IB5D
• Also Available in: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,238 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rainsong

2. Boombox

3. Mosquito

4. Forever Song

5. Love Stew

6. Policeman

7. Next To Me

8. Preguina

9. Juju & Blue

10. Footsteps

11. Pure Like Snow

12. So Far Away

13. Semente

14. Nos Dois

15. Mosquito (Reprise)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Far from the annoying little bug that leaves small welts from its bites, the New York City trio Mosquitos is a charming combo that enchants with a sexy mix of bossa nova and indie pop. While the music doesn't quite swing as real bossa nova and samba does, Brazilian singer Juju's breathy vocals (she sings in both English and Portuguese) add just the right amount of sensual authenticity. The New York contingent of Chris Root and John Marshall Smith handle light-hearted guitar, burbling Wurlitzer organ and the low budget drum machine, alternately creating an earnest bedroom pop aesthetic and a more sophisticated bossa-pop sound: imagine if Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66 had recorded at a Brooklyn apartment home studio in the new millennium. Highlights include the poppy "Rainsong," the playful bossa nova "Boombox," and the funny "Policeman," in which the protagonist is looking to bribe the officer. This self-styled bedroom bossa nova is a warm ray of light on the rainiest of afternoons. --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

Mosquito Bar - Product Code:U199

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brazilian twee -- a sugary, melodic treat June 27, 2004

By DJ Joe Sixpack HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

An absolute delight. Finding the perfect midway point between Brazilian cool and sugary indiepop twee, New York's Mosquitos feature vocals by Juju Stulbach, a Rio-born expatriate who combines the airy, insouciance of Astrud Gilberto with the flip, casual, DIY mellowness of the North American cutesy-pop crowd. There's a relaxed love of melody that suggests a debt to Yo La Tengo, as well as a simplicity and cleanness of line that brings New Zealand's The Bats to mind... Stulbach's Portuguese-language vocals are a highlight, with a fluidity and good-natured tone that should draw in any devotee of classic, roller-rinky Brazilian pop, as well as fans of BMX Bandits, Beat Happening and the whole Pacific Northwest lo-fi scene. Admittedly, the cutesy, naifish English-language lyrics of singer-guitarist Chris Root don't hold up as well to repeated listenings, but they put the record into the right context... In short, this is the perfect twee-pop album that native Brazilian indie bands have yet to create: it's lovely and dreamy, full of pretty sounds and foreign words... what's not to love?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Debut CD December 31, 2003

By E. Dolnack

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I became aware of the Mosquitos from a public radio station here in Pittsburgh, PA (WYEP). The very first time they played the song "Boombox" it put a hook in me. It's been a long time since a pop song moved me so quickly upon a first hearing that way. This band have very instinctual "pop sensibilities", no doubt about that!

The Mosquitos is a joyful blend of a retro-styled Beatnick-era Jazz and modern-day urbanism. What struck me was the immediate commercial applicability of some of these numbers. There's just a "neat" feel to this sound, I can't quit reduce it to a few words or put my finger on it easily - it's slick, it's hip, it's groovy, and it's fun all at the same time in equal measure.

I agree with many other reviwers that the real star on this CD is the wonderful vocal performance of Juju. She's multi-lingual and has a very timeless quality to her voice. So much so in fact, that I initially wondered if this weren't some old Tito Puente song that had been recently sampled by some slick young DJ. Juju has a very sensual, breathy voice that really makes these songs shine. It would be difficult to put an age to her just by listening alone.

If you're in the mood for something different, and want something original, check out the Mosquitos. That's my recommendation.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars It's.... okay, actually. January 15, 2004

By bordersj2 VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

This is soooooooo cheesy. Yet for the life of me, I cannot tell you why but there's just something about this cd that makes the cheesiness okay! The linear notes gives you a bit of background about their roots and how they came and nearly didn't come together - which was sort of interesting.

The music is very light and breezy. So many bands have a specific sound, like Les Hommes focus on the organs, Nouvelle has the clarinet and vibraphone, Nicola Conte is new bossa, etc. This group's sound is mostly guitar, slight percussion and a whoooole lot of synth. Some of the cuts that stood out to me were Boombox, Rainsong, Mosquito and Next To Me. Probably my favorite cut was actually Footsteps - it was a perfect soundtrack sort of song. Juju Stulbach does have a terrific voice.

But some of the other songs aren't so impressive and the general feel of the album gives a pretty big amateur feel. Sometimes I felt like I was listening to the demo of a buddy that put together a proud product from his garage. Also, the songs are extremely short too - we're talkin' two cuts at 3 minutes, and two cuts at less than 2 minutes! But besides all that, if you dig something new, want something that's pretty happy then you may want to check this out.