Customer Reviews

New Groove

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

 

 

"A New Groove" is,so far,Putumayo's best release this year. It can be considered a groovier version of Putumayo's "Euro Lounge" with its artists from Denmark, the UK, Germany, France, and Sweden.

"A New Groove" takes smooth jazz and gives it a beat,be it reggae,dub,or trip-hop. Emo's dub-flavored "In the Back of the Car" is a perfect opener. Bitter:Sweet's "Dirty Laundry" (which is now being used in ABC promos for "Ugly Betty" and "Grey's Anatomy")is a tongue in-cheek take on big band. Gabriel Rios' "Unrock" has a sophisticated Latin twist. The Cat Empire (not to be confused with Cat Power) has the hypnotic "Lost Song" and Radio Citizen&Bajka's "Hop" is equally mesmerizing. K-Os and Jehro use the reggae beat in their songs. Thievery Corporation, with Emiliana Torrini (she of the overrated "Gollum's Song" in the "Two Towers" movie) close with the soothing "Until the Morning",as if the album were for a hip nightclub,and this song announced the dawn.

"A New Groove" is music fit for Manhattans,martinis,and mimosas.Unfortunately,it clocks in at only 38 minutes.It's a bit short,but the entire album is pure,jazzy fun."A New Groove" takes jazz and gives it a refreshing spin.

Combining the diverse flavors of Emo, Gabriel Rios, (my favorite--Alice Russell), and many more, a New Groove is an intricate and beautiful fusion of music to simply chill to. The tracks change direction so quickly you hardly ever notice, yet keep you in the groove perfectly.

A word of advice to reviewer Christina Roden: Chill out. Bittersweet calling herself a "bad girl" is simply tongue-in-cheek fun which fits perfectly with the upbeat and catchy tempo of "Dirty Laundry."

Trust Putumayo to make Jazz fusion interesting. There were several noteworthy tracks:

"Dirty Laundry" got my attention up front. I was wondering where the ABC promo music for the Thursday night programming came from (Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty). Talk about a fun take on big (or shall we call it large) band style. The truthful lyrics about living with a bad boy are great, too.

This was also the first time I'd heard any contemporary German jazz. Radio Citizen's "Hop" has got a great R&B soul revival feel with a guitar riff that gives the arrangement a little teeth.

"Crabbucket" will get you on your feet. I'm adding this to my exercise track, but don't ignore the lyrics. How many of us have been "trying to get down because we're moving up?"

"New Groove" would be a better value for the money if it were a little longer, plus it would have more utility for me as an exercise-dance track. I'd love to hear some African and Celtic jazz on this same vein.

ok so I haven't heard the CD yet but I just wanted to comment on Amazon reviewer Christina Roden's review-- are you reviewing a music cd or writing critical theory? What an obnoxious, over the top, literary review of a CD entitled "new groove." Please either stop writing about music or take it down three notches, Christina. The deconstruction of a singer calling themselves a "bad girl" is just too much-- I mean who doesn't know a bad girl or two from around the block?

i really like this cd. i have many putumayo cds and this is a good one! my only little complaint is i wish it were longer. it would be perfect with 2-3 more songs!

I listen to a ton of music all day.. and to be honest...I am tired mainstream music. My cousin introduced this complication of music to me on a 10 hour long road trip and I was amazed of all the different kinds of music from around the WORLD that I liked. This album has it all... from relaxing, to tapping your feet with the beat. Great for social parties, road trips, and even great background music for a public business.

I literally can't get enough of this CD. I purchased it couple years ago and was leaving review for another product when noticed that never reviewed this CD.
Get your grove on - this collections is light and sexy! Just wow!! Any cocktail party favorite!

If you want an album that,s fresh and cool to listen or dance to then this is the album you should have!!

This is a cool, bluesy, jazzy, textured collection of very interesting songs. Not the kind of stuff you will hear on the radio. I am enjoying it immensely.

When I think of Manhattan (and martinis) creativity and originality come to mind. That is not what I hear when I listen to the sampler, which sounds rather pretentious and shallow to me. If that is what some people associate with Manhattan they do not know the place and neither do they know what a good mix of pop, hiphop and jazz is. Skip Putumayo Groove and try Tourist by St Germain to get a taste of the genre. Three stars, because Putumayo makes nice looking covers and thorough background texts.