Customer Reviews

Samba Rock

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Contrary to part of its title and for those of you who may not be so familiar with Brazilian music or Brazilian terminology of music, this is not a rock CD or in any way a fusion of samba and rock music. Instead it is a delightful collection of original, funk-soul-samba inspired songs with a dash of modern ingredients. Trio Mocoto is a wonderful, soulful group who performed with the great Jorge Ben in the 70's and had a lot of success during that era when funk-soul-samba fusion music was at an alltime high. They were and still continue to be one of the best groups from that era and have had more staying power than other equally talented groups/artists from that era (like Banda Black Rio, Azymuth, Wilson Simonal, Tim Maia, etc.), whom many of them unfortunately died out with the passing of the 70's and early 80's. A wonderful CD to revive the career of a wonderful group! Every song is energetic, original and equally as good as the other, I highly recommend checking out this CD. You will not be disappointed.

So I was listening to VH1 internet radio, Brazilian station, and I heard 'Adelita.' I realized that I had to own this CD. It's like a party in a disc, and after all, brasileiros know how to party. It's got a bit of a carioca swing that is just infectious even if you don't know Portuguese (and maybe now you want to learn, huh?!). I'm glad these guys decided to make a comeback so young'uns like me could get to know them.

First, I'd have to agree with Amazon's chosen critical review wholeheartedly. It isn't that the group sounds like Brave Combo as such, but they do have a similar, unleashed sense of fun romping around various musical styles, and sometimes you end up with a huge, somewhat baffled smile on your face. "Cyrano" sounds like a strange combination of 70's rock, samba, and theme music for a TV show of the Munsters variety. It is a blast. "Pensando Nela" is a bossa nova with a really relaxed, happy groove and a consciously loungy air that will have you smiling even if, as the case with me, you generally don't care for songs of that description. In his famous song "Chiclete com Banana," Jackson do Pandeiro satirically called for a fusion of American and Brazilian music he named "samba-rock." He would definitely enjoy these unimagined results. Have yourself a "Tudo Bem" day.

~~~~~~~My first exposure to Trio Mocoto was a live show in Sao Paulo, and I, like the rest of the audience, was sweating from uncontrollable dancing after the second song. Their manic energy, tight rhythms, and great stage presence all made for a great show. I purchased this disc shortly thereafter and am quite happy with it. I love "Tudo Bem"; this cut alone justifies the purchase. As other reviewers have aptly pointed out, the tracks on this album are generally upbeat and fun, and there is~~ a high level of musicianship as well. Those Brazilians have it down. However, I would stop short of awarding this disc five stars on the basis of the lyrics. Lyrically, this group simply isn't up to par with other popular Brazilian musicians like Lenine and Gilberto Gil, who I consider to be excellent technical musicians as well as gifted writers. Buy this disc by all means: you will enjoy it. But don't expect it to move your mind, just your bunda.~~~~~~~

A mocoto' is a cut of meat, and apparently in carioca slang a few decades ago it was sometimes meant to describe a woman with shapely legs. This trio was Jorge Ben's band for some of his best work, and now they reappear with one of the greatest party albums imaginable. With Jorge Ben-like ease, they swing through these loose and loopy numbers with tremendous instrumental prowess. Great imagination in the arrangements, with the cuica 'singing' the melody of 'Aguas de Marco' being the obvious example. This is what the 60's would have sounded like with digital technology. This dinosaur band has come back to like in the very prime of life, apparently. (How often does that happen?) Simply put, every track makes you want to dance and this album does not disappoint anyone seeking an injection of funky soulful Brazilian rock. Swing it, baby.

Were these guys a big influence on Seu Jorge or what?. This record is great. I love the the use of the cuica on the melody for Aguas de Marco. Need to go re-visit their 2003 cd.

OK, I have to admit, while I love samba music, whether it's from the masters (Clara Nunes, Martinho da Vila, Beth Carvalho) or from the samba schools (Velha Guarda da Portela or Mangueira), I don't necessarily care too much for samba funk; I can't help but think it's dull and drags on too slow. Then again, what makes Trio Mocoto stand out from most samba funk performers (as is the case with Samba Rock) is that they can throw in a twist or two that's SO wacky, playful, upbeat and (on the whole) incredibly wild, AND, lots of non-stop fun to listen to and enjoy. =)

Anyway, forget the Village People; they always tend to outdo themselves. Even though I've already listened to half of this album, I LOVE IT!!!! These are sambistas who really know how to ROCK, and will ROCK you out of your seat once you buy this CD!!! LOL

I just think this is the best record i had last year(2004)
Its funky,happy and the band plays really tight.
Just buy it no matter what kind of music u r listening to.
Pensado nela is one of the most mellow tunes i ever heard and volteu amor the opening track is full of energy.

After purchasing "Samba Soul 70!" one year ago, my interest in Brazilian music was sparked. This new album by Trio Mocotó is a welcome addition to my collection. My favorites so far are the laid-back "Pensando Nela" and the remake of the Moraes/Toquinho song "A Tonga da Mironga do Kabuletê" (a Brazilian friend of mine sent me the original as I could not find it in the US). I am a beginner at Portuguese, but this album is well worth every penny.

30 years ago, trio mocoto debuted with the premier sound samba. the album, which took brazil by storm and radiated up and out into the rest of the countries, echoed a happy, laughing, vibrant chord of music. after touring for a while, they went into hiding. from this hiding, they were dragged by ziriguiboom for their second album - samba rock. samba rock combines rock, samba, and jazz overtones together with an echo of hip-hop to create a quite pleasurable, listening experience for samba fans. i have found the tracks to be quite uplifting, and make it easier for me to get through slow days. for anyone that is a fan of samba, this is a must have. now, if i only knew porteguese.