Everything Is Never Quite Enough [IMPORT]

Wasis Diop

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 2004)
• Original Release Date: August 5, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Triloka Records
• ASIN: B00019PDFM
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #193,731 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > World Music > Africa > Senegal & Gambia

Track Listings

1. Le Passeur

2. Everything (...Is Never Quite Enough)

3. Ramatu

4. Samba le Berger

5. African Dream

6. Dem Ba Ma

7. Digge

8. Dune

9. Sowrto Daal

10. Défaal Lu Wor

11. No Sant

12. Kaay Niu Gospel

13. Julia

14. Holaal Bu Baah

15. Raï M'Bélé

16. Ballad of the Feather

17. My Son

18. Ma Na

19. Les Gueux

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The music scene in Senegal is a vibrant one that includes such international stars as Youssou N'Dour, Orchestra Baobab, and Cheikh Lô. Singer/guitarist/producer Wasis Diop is on that elevated list as well. The reason for it is readily apparent on this greatest hits collection Everything Is Never Quite Enough. Here we get one new song (opener "Le Passeur") and 18 other tunes culled from No Sant (What's Your Name), Toxu, and his soundtrack to the movie Hyenes. Not an artist for the African music purist, Diop creates a modern multi-layered sound that skillfully weaves in elements of jazz, rock, and soul as well as indigenous music from other countries. It's the polar opposite of a field recording, but the fusion is nonetheless a skillful one. One does wonder why Diop's first album is five years is a collection of old material, but this is a fine and readily available stopgap as we wait. --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

Everything Is Never Quite Enough is more than a simple retrospective of one of world music's most influential artists. It is an historical overview, a glimpse into the world of an artist who has little time for musical boundaries. While cultivating one of the most unique global fusions in music today, Wasis over the course of the 19 tracks on Everything… combines elements of Arabic, Calypso, R & B, Reggae, Latin and pop all while retaining its traditional Senegalese and West African base. Lyrics are sung in French, English and Diop's' native Wolof often weaving in and out of the languages and all in enthralling service to the elegance and seduction of Wasis' voice.

The first track, "Le passeur" - a brand new song that appears here for the first time - is the latest example of Wasis' artistic alchemy. The other 18 tracks are culled from his three 90's releases (the never released in North America soundtrack Hyènes and the no longer available No Sant and award-winning Toxu) and represent the very best of Wasis Diop. Included are the title track (used in a provocative scene in the film The Thomas Crown Affair); "DèFaal Lu wor" (a stirring version of Talking Heads "Once In A Lifetime"); the mesmerizing North African rhythms of "Dune"; the Afro-urban pulse of "Soweto Daal"; the radio- ready "African Dream"; the tenderly evocative "No Sant"; the romantic "Julia", every track in its own way an offering from Wasis Diop vision of music of the world as open and free.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it., December 28, 2006

By	Brittany Harris (Walnut Creek, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this album because I knew there was a song from The Thomas Crowne Affair on it, and I couldn't think of any of those songs that I wouldn't like. I really had no idea what I was getting, and DID I LUCK OUT!! The first time I listened to the album, I must have sat through the first 20 minutes with an incredulous grin on my face, it was that well done and that much fun.

It is a polished recording with great sound, interesting songs, and great percussion. If you like world music of any kind, it is hard for me to imagine you won't feel the same way I do about this album.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fuses his African roots with a modern studio-enhanced pop, September 1, 2004

By	WorldDiscoveries.Net "Bill Donovan, Reviewer" (Petaluma, California) - See all my reviews

Many folk-rooted artists yearn for international success, and many struggle with the urges to modernize versus being true to their roots: Wasis Diop is one of the few to succeed at fusing his African roots with a modern studio-enhanced pop sound.
 He has succeeded so well that most people reading this review will already have heard some of these songs on the radio: this is a 'greatest hits' album and public, college and independent radio have all gotten hip to Wasis Diop.

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Get Enough of Wasis, December 20, 2007

By	Falstaff - See all my reviews

I've owned this CD for about 1 yr and it is played over and over and over. There is not one single cut that isn't wonderful. I consider this to be easy listening music, which is not what I generally listen to. If you are someone who likes "easy listening" this CD is for you. It's the best of it's class and I wish Wasis would get busy and create more fabulous sounds.