Customer Reviews

Talk to La Bomb

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Received TTLB as an early Christmas gift and absolutely love it. Since I'm rather judgmental of a band/artist by the cover art of an album, I really didn't expect much to come from this particular album. But, fortunately, the effect TTLB had on me was a strong one. From the first listen, I'm hooked, and I have to laugh, considering I was originally going to exchange the CD for something else before listening to it. Thank god for online samples & downloads, for I took the time to listen before opening the CD.

TTLB incorporates Reggae, Electronica, Jazz, Bossa nova, Groove, you name it. Mainly English, TTLB is laced together brilliantly with five additional languages (Italian, Spanish, German and French). Ironically, despite the band name, no one in the band is Brazilian. BG are:
Sabina Sciubba (vox)
Didi Gutman (keyboards backing vox, computers)
Jesse Murphy (bass & backing vox)
Aaron Johnston (drums & backing vox)

Bouncy, freeform and playful, BG's "TTLB" offers a wide range of styles for the avid music collector, which for me is the best aspect of the discovery of a little-known or underrated band. Bands/Artists that come to mind are: Catherine Deneuve (duet with Bjork on the Selmasongs soundtrack), Nena (99 Luftballoons), Régine Chassagne (The Arcade Fire). As for the band, some of their songs sound like music produced by Supreme Beings of Leisure or Groove Closet. Although I've no preferences track-wise, I really do love track 3 and have it on repeat in my discman. Sound quality is rich & clear, whether you're using headphones or playing it on the entertainment system. Overall balance (track sequence) is perfect, therefore creating the perfect listening experience. For me, TTLB is ear candy because I love songs with a groovy beat and lots of rhythm and vocal presentation.

The 8-page (2-sided) booklet is fun, funky and groovy, featuring band photos & credits (including additional info & website info) on the interior. Flip the booklet over and you find hand-drawn artwork. The disc features a white/grey background with little bombs either waiting to or detonating. Titling is in Yellow on bottom half of disc. Traycard features a b/w drawing of bombs waiting to detonate as well. The artwork concept is whimsical in a shocking way. TTLB is an excellent album for someone with an ever-growing, eclectic music collection and an appreciation of craftily-produced tunes. Brazilian Girls are just what our present music industry needs (to kick the mainstream music industry in the butt). It's true, Sabina is no pop princess and her voice is smooth, smoky and amusing at times. Playful bands such as BG deserve lots of airplay and publicity. Unfortunately, I haven't seen/heard them on the TV or Radio.

Photography: Danny Clinch
Creative Direction: Jeff Ayeroff and Hollis King
Art Direction: Christopher Frederick and Adria Petty
Additional Design: Sabina Sciubba
Drawings: Petar Podeemaljac
Photos of Drawings at the World Famous Nublu: Vladimir Radojicic

Tracklist/Time Credits:
01- Jique - 4:17
02- All About Us - 3:59
03- Last Call - 4:10
04- Never Met A German - 2:35
05- Sweatshop - 4:36
06- Le Territoire - 4:58
07- Rules Of The Game - 4:46
08- Talk To The Bomb - 5:42
09- Nicotine - 3:31
10- Tourist Trap - 5:01
11- Sexy A**Hole - 6:44
12- Problem - 2:32

This is the second album for the eclectic, multi-lingual New York band that, despite its name, is largely male and definitely not from Brazil.
The Brazilian Girls return with another mix of upbeat electronica, organic rock, jazz and world music. This is nonstop erotic dance music for jet setters, with the proudly Euro-trash Sabina Sciubba riding the grooves like an old, charismatic pro.
What separates these non-Brazilians from the pack is that they are old school musicians with real ability and they've gelled together as an unbreakably tight unit.
Sabina has a voice clarified and honed by years of singing jazz that enchants the listener without overwhelming bandmates Didi Gutman, Aaron Johnston, and Jesse Murphy. The band's melodic and rhythmic synergy makes their music at once danceable and memorable, and worked to great effect on their eponymous debut. Melody dominated "Brazilian Girls", but their live performances and their remix of Blossom Dearie's "Just One of Those Things" on the third Verve Remixed compilation showcased an underlying yet relentlessly driving beat.
"Talk to La Bomb" is more effective than "Brazilian Girls" was at bringing this melodic but powerful energy to a studio album, perhaps because the new album's mood is darker and sharper.
Languages roll off Sabina's tongue with the same sexy insouciance that genres spring from her bandmates' fingers.
On "Jique," she mashes up Spanish, French, German, and oh yeah, English.
This New York-based band of vagabonds makes multicultural, cosmopolitan, intellectual dance music: Ibiza meets punk, dub goes tango, trance gets smart. And with her tongue-in-chic costumes and cool delivery, Sciubba could be the 21st century's first superstar-style siren.

I love this album. It's moody, danceable, a bit disco-inspired, synth-driven but with some grit. The lyrics have a darkness to them, are definitely not middle of the road. The singer sounds a bit like the girl who sang 99 Luftballoons, and I love that she's singing in a number of languages, and she sounds breathy (but not weak), jazzy, strong yet a hint soft -- no airheaded pop princess stuff. A great late-night feel -- I imagine it as cool stuff I'd like to hear in the background of a club real late at night. Good, gritty, groovy stuff. My only question: Why isn't more of this kind of stuff on the radio?

Brazilian Girls (actually 3 guys and one girl) stormed onto the music scene with their self-titled debut album in 2005. The band didn't rest much on its laurels: they toured tirelessly, and found time to record their second album in as many years.

"Talk To La Bomb" (12 tracks, 53 min.) is definitely a left turn away from the debut album, with ever harder to classify. There are the obvious dance and electronics, but also jazz and other snippets. Lead singer Sabina Sciubba switches from English to French, and even to German or Italian, throughout the album. The album's opener is a blazing "Jique". The first third of the album is heavy on the danceable stuff, with songs like "All About Us" and "Last Call". The middle section of the album is far more pensive with songs like "Sweatshop" and "Rules of the Game", when the band reminds me of Blond Redhead. The last part of the album is a free-for-all, and the band frankly loses me on songs like "Tourist Trap" and the closer "Problem". Cut out several of the latter songs and we have a 4 star album.

In all "Talk to La Bomb" in certainly not a bad album, but not as enjoyable as the band's debut album. I had the opportunity to catch Brazilian Girls in concert not long ago, and they put on a terrific show, nicely mising up songs from both of their albums, although, truth be told, the songs from the debut album got the bigger applause. Check them out!

Brazilian Girls is an amazing band, and their album, Talk to La Bomb, is a new flight of fancy for them. You can't expect this album to be like their first, self-titled album; instead of a retro-inspired set of mellow mood songs, the Girls have produced a sexy list of songs full of electronic elements and anger.

You'll love it.

I like this cd as much as their last. Different but with the same style and flair. Not a dissappointment

I read some of the other reviews and thought it was kind of silly for people to try and analyze which BG album is better....what does it really matter? This is a great(band)and they create thoroughly terrific music. I happen to think that Talk To La Bomb is pretty fantastic, unlike anything else that is out there. Let's remember just how horrible and bad the music industry is right now and let's just enjoy talented musicians like BG that go unnoticed for the most part,except by critics and nobody listens to them anymore either!

We just cannot stop playing this CD ever since we ordered it! Each song is a unique performance. You will not be disappointed in this purchase. If you listen to & like the samples, you will LOVE the full CD.

I really enjoyed their last album much more than this. Talk to La Bomb almost seems a bit noisy and unorganized at times. There are no nice smooth, beautiful songs like "Me Gustas Cuando Te Callas", and it lacks a lot of that good chill lounge beat that I came to love. There are probably three songs on this CD I really enjoy, the rest are kind of blah.

Seriously worth having. I suppose that "Electronica" is the closest category that they could find, but this is not strictly an electronica album. But you'll find it hard to be still when you listen to it and you'll wish that you could hear them in one of the dance-clubs they specialize in. This is also A+ in-your-car music. I downloaded "Jinque" and "Last Call" from Napster because those were the songs in English; I believe their native language is Portuguese, which is an even better sound--even if you don't understand it. I also bought their debut album, and highly recommend it. In fact, I listen to it even more. Buy this one because the music is more accessible to English-speaking listeners.