Customer Reviews

"Mutantes"

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

 

 

It takes a connoisseur of psychedelic rock and pop to know of (drumroll please) Os Mutantes. This short-lived Brazilian band made some of the most memorable psychedelic pop of the 1960s -- which is really saying something. Some of their best work is compiled in "World Psyschedelic Classics 1," although there are some glaring omissions.

This collection brings together many of the band's best songs, such as the understated charm of "Panis et Circenses," the buzzing and swooning keyboard splendor of "Baby," and the cluttered catchiness of "Bat Macumbia." Rooted in Brazilian tropicalia, the music has quite a few quirks and twists, but surprisingly it never becomes too weird to alienate listeners.

Os Mutantes was initially formed by Arnaldo and Sergio Baptista, who later added Rita Lee and their brother Claudio. Though the band didn't last very long, they developed a reputation for twiddling with basic Brazilian pop -- while they stayed happy and accessable, they also added in distortion, feedback, and other sound experiments. It sounds fun, doesn't it?

And actually, it is a lot of fun. The trippy bossa nova/psychedelic rock/catchy pop isn't as heavy as it sounds, but instead goes for a light, playful, deeply stoned vibe. Eerie flutes and jungle drums -- as in the eerie "Premier Bonheur du Jour" -- get mixed in with solid guitar riffs and smooth keyboards. Those tradition instruments ground what could have been just another psychedelic band. It's gloriously catchy, and incredibly infectious.

The one flaw? Lesser-known albums like "Jardim Electro" and "Mutantes" are underrepresented in the selection of songs. Their first album, the self-titled "Os Mutantes" -- also probably their best ever -- is strongly emphasized. However, if you are looking for an excellent individual listen and not a representation of all their albums, then this is a very good find.

Few of the Os Mutantes albums are currently available in the U.S., which would make this the ideal introduction by default. But "World Psychedelic Classics 1" is a fairly good introduction to the band in its own right.

I have to give this collection 4 stars because it is the only easy way to get ahold of any Os Mutantes material. That being said, many of the most tripped out songs of Os Mutantes are left off of this collection, including Rita Lee, Top Top, Nao va se perder por ai, etc. Those who are looking for a good quick introduction to how great the music made in Brazil in the 70s are could use this as a good start. But then they should really get ahold of their albums, including Mutantes, Os Mutantes, and Jardim Electrico.

The other reviews given with this album are confusing, as "Mutantes" is not a compilation. It is Os Mutantes' second studio album, released in early 1969. I've never really liked compilations, preferring studio albums in their entirety, just as they were originally released. That's what you're getting here, and "Mutantes" is from the PRIME era for this weird band.

Of the three classic psychedelic-era Mutantes albums: "Os Mutantes," "Mutantes," and "A Divina Comedia..." this second album could be described as both the weirdest and the most playful. It is harder to get into than the classic debut album, yet over the long run I have found myself listening to it more.

The moods and atmospheres on the album change frequently and suddenly. It may sound fragmented to the new listener. Yet if you give yourself time to take it in, you will discover that there is a flow to it. The album makes sense, just not on the level you may have initially expected it to. I found myself disappointed and confused the first time I listened to it... But later I "got it" and the album has sounded amazing to me ever since.

If the music of the late 60s means something to you, this album is required in your collection. I consider it one of the best psychedelic albums ever, bar none. That is not praise that I would just casually throw out there. Listen to the album! It speaks for itself better than I could ever speak for it.

for those who are not familiar with the music of Os Mutantes, this is a great CD to get, it is a "best of" compiliation. Combining elements of psychedelia, samba, bossa nova, and pop music, it all blends together very well. A great CD to listen to whle relaing a the end of the day.

This is a great selection of work from one of those "golden nugget" bands you discover ever so rarely. You like their type of music, maybe have even heard something else from their native country - but then - whether on some cool blog or from college radio mash-up hour, you uncover this fantastically obscure yet lovable band, that has been there all along. And as it even turns out, they've got a remarkable following of knowledgeable fans.

Really though, this is awesome. Surely has to be the best thing the Brazilian Tropicalia / Psychedelic fusion scene has to offer. Os Mutantes were really unique in the way they progressed and innovated beyond what the mostly surf-y bossa nova-y sound was during their reign. They really did a lot as far as experimentation with new sounds goes, without ever seeming insincere.
Good work from a really REAL band. Also, I've heard a fair amount of other Tropicalia, but if you like this, see if you can find the band O BANDO - their 1969 LP is almost equally great.

Maybe they were ahead of their time when this came out but now it is really dated