Customer Reviews

Shake Away

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a fan of Lila Downs for several years, and I have seen her perform live 7 or 8 times. I first heard hear sing the song "Naila" on a compilation disc of music from Mexico, and I fell in love! I was studying Spanish at the time, and the music really helped me learn the language. She has an amazing voice, an amazing band, and she is an amazing beauty. I first bought the disc "La Linea" ( The Border") and then collected them all, including another new CD and DVD only available in Mexico at this time that shows a great concert in Spain.

"Shake Away" has more songs in English than any other disc, and a lot of guest artists including Mercedes Sosa, and the singer from Cafe Tacuba which, if you know these two names, illustrates the range of music presented here. A haunting ballad, "I Envy the Wind", is exquisite, I can't stop playing it. "Little Man" is a guitar and horn driven New Orleans style rocker. There's a version of Santana's "Black Magic Woman" and a beautiful folk song called "I Would Never". The range of her voice and the range of her music is exceptional. Not to mention the band, especially the harp player Celso Duarte from Paraguay (find a live version of the Iguana song!). Great precussionists too! This is an international band capable of rocking out, making you cry, and bringing you joy. Folk, Jazz, Rock, Latin, Cumbia, Traditional, even a little bit of rap...it's all here, with little bits of politics mixed in. Great stuff! See her if you have a chance!

I don't know what brought you to check Lila Downs but welcome and thank your lucky stars if this is the first time you get interested in her. If you are interested in great women voices ... better yet in great female artists, this album is proof that you found one the best of her generation. So, If Jenny Lewis blew you away with Rabbit Fur Coat or you love Cat Power in general, this year Lila is the one showing them the way, even if more thyan half of these songs are in Spanish and some of the rhythms may be foreign to you.

Shake Away is probably Downs' best album yet, the sum of everything she's done right all along and more. OF course, Lila is not new to putting out great stuff and singing straight to your heart, it's just that here she does it all.

She rocks the house with her take on Black Magic Woman--along with Raul Midon--and she might just bring to the edge of tears with Lucinda Williams' I Envy The Wind, both in English and Spanish. Also, right up there with these two tracks mentioned, Tierra de Luz with the great Mercedes Sosa and Justicia accompanied by Enrique Bunbury, are standouts. And this is just the brightest diamonds, so to speak.

How refreshing to hear a voice and mind and soul, at the peak of its powers, more interested in material that will challenge her as she redefines it, rather than playing it safe or rely on duets chosen by marketing executives. Definitely, among my short list of great albums of this year.

Soy un gran fan de Lila, practicamente tengo todos sus discos al igual que siempre la sigo en sus conciertos, todos sus anteriores discos son estupendos este nuevo trabajo es supremo, muy bueno, excelente, magnifico, que grata sorpresa escuchar su voz junto a Mercedes S, Enrique B. , me agrada que se proteste en sus canciones contra los abusos y humillaciones de nosotros los inmigrantes y en contra de los malos y corruptos gobernantes (Oaxaca, Mexico),, gracias Lila hoy te admiro muchisimo mas,,

We've been anxiously waiting for this release since we heard some of these songs performed live in Wilmington, NC. As usual, Lila Downs and her band give us some fantastic new material. Also, with "Black Magic Woman" she does her unique black magic of taking someone else's song or a traditional folksong and making it her own.
Don't just buy this CD, buy all of them she's released so far and book some tickets for her concerts as well! This exciting music deserves much more attention north of the border than the short review she had recently in Rolling Stone, and her great interview on NPR.

The more I listen to Lilia's Shake Away the more I like it. I love her bands intricate skills, playing different styles and rhythms, weaving Native Mexican, South American and Jazz - Pop song styles together.

I don't know why, but most of the times I hear her sing in English, it just loses something for me. I like her best with her cumbias, and more traditional Mexican and Latin American sounds, but this album only had 2 good songs on it for me, which is why it only deserves 2 stars.

No sé porqué, pero casi todas las veces la he escuchado cantar en inglés, pierde algo. Me gusta más cuando canta cumbias y canciones típicas de México y latinoamérica. Pero este disco sólo tiene 2 canciones buenas, entonces sólo merece 2 estrellas.

I get chills when Downs re-interprets classic Mexican styles. Her voice is a wonder and I'll still be on board for her next disc. A lot of the songs here are inspired by something other than old Mother Mexico. that's fine and she shouldn't be put in a box but I'm not as interested in her take on New Orleans or rock music. Maybe you'll like it more than I did.

I own all of this artists cd s, just love what she can do with her voice. Every song is just wonderful, music and lyrics. She just seems to do it for me, what can I say, I m just hoping she will come to Montreal very soon. Great cd for Lilla fans to have

BUY! LISTEN! SEE her Live whenever possible! You will NOT be disappointed! On 3/20/09 From my orchestra, third row seat, first experienced Ms. Downs in her NYC Carnegie Hall performance. She & the Band shattered my level of expectation! I own all of her CD's including the not yet US available import. As a jaded & critical New Yorker had intended to just enjoy her fabulous voice "LIVE". Whaaat! a surprise! She opened with, her sensual renditiion of "Black Magic Woman", followed by choices from her various CD's. She sang in Spanish & English with a well balanced mixture of jazz, Latin dance-able, & traditional pieces. They performed for (2) two hours without intermission.Had seen Ms. Downs on the telly with brief interviews & "a" live performance from the import DVD in Madrid. "NO" COMPARISON! to anything that I had seen earlier! Nothing that I had seen does Ms. Downs & the Band justice. Her voice is beautiful, pure & genuine without the need of any enhancement. My Spanish @ best is wobbly... but adequate enough to communicate. Her diction in both languages is flawless, filled with whatever emotion the text mandates. I must confess.... am NOT a NY'ker that is interested in meeting performers, let alone asking for an autograph. But I was so moved by her & the Band's performance..... that I asked Mr. Cohen if I could ask to have their autograph. To my surprise & delight, Ms. Downs & Mr. Cohen were BEYOND gracious! My immediate question was, "WHEN? will you be in NYC again? Tis' lovely to see & meet "TALENTED" amazing artists that can also be generous & courteous with this "pest/fan" Looking forward for more music & concerts.

Otra vez un c.d. increible. Lila Downs sigue con su estilo eclectico y encantando. Mi unica critica es que prefiero su canciones en espanol y este c.d. tiene mas de normal en ingles. Este es un detaille pequeno. No puedo vivir sin su musica en cualquier forma. Lo recomendo a todos.