847. Buena Vista Social Club

Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
1997

Tracks
1. Chan Chan
2. De Camino a la Vereda
3. El Cuarto de Tula
4. Pueblo Nuevo
5. Dos Gardenias
6. ¿Y Tú Qué Has Hecho?
7. Veinte Anos
8. El Carretero
9. Candela
10. Amor de Loca Juventud
11. Orgullecida
12. Murmullo
13. Buena Vista Social Club
14. La Bayamesa

I think the list makers often miss the mark with their world music picks. It seems like they choose albums that have managed to make their way to Western audiences. Because of this, I don't always feel like we are getting the most authentic sound from whatever country is being featured.  More often than not, it's some sort of compromise that doesn't quite capture the authentic style of the region. Obviously, I am not an expert in the matter, but that's been my impression so far.

But this was a solid choice. Again, not an expert, but I really felt transported to another place with this music, which is no easy thing in 2020. I liked the arrangements and thought it remained interesting throughout.

A nice introduction to Cuban music.

RATING: 4/5

774. Talking Timbuktu

Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Toure with Ry Cooder
1994

Tracks
1. Bonde
2. Soukora
3. Gomni
4. Sega
5. Amandrai
6. Lasidan
7. Kelto
8. Banga
9. Ai Du
10. Diaraby

Here we have an album from Mali, and I am pretty sure it is our first foray into that country on the List. If I'm wrong, sorry Mali. Of course, it's always interesting to hear from underrepresented countries on the List. That doesn't necessarily mean you will click with every sound.

I don't really have any qualms with this album, only that I obviously didn't understand any of the lyrics, so there was a limit to how much I could connect to this. It took me awhile to get my footing, but by the middle of the album I was really enjoying it.

So it was nice to step outside of the US/UK for awhile with this album, especially since my world feels pretty small right now in the quarantimes. 

RATING: 3/5

713. Lam Toro

Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
1992

Tracks

1. Hamady Boiro (Yelle)
2. Daande Lenol
3. Lem Gi (Le Miel)
4. Ndelorel
5. Yela
6. Toro (Tioulel l'Oiseau)
7. Daniibe (Les Exilés)
8. Olel (I'écho)
9. Sy Sawande
10. Hamady Bogle

I am finding out that I like Senegalese music, which is something I never would discovered without the help of the List. And unlike Koffi Olomide, as far as I know Baaba Maal has never been accused of rape, so we can actually enjoy our foray into world music this time.

We've actually had a Baaba Maal album before on this List, which I also really enjoyed despite not understanding a word (although you still have to admire the vocals). It's strange, this is very different than the other 1992 music from the List but it still had a distinct 90s feel I can't explain.

So a nice, unproblematic, change of pace.

RATING: 4/5

711. Haut de Gamme/Koweit Rive Gauche

Haut de Gamme/Koweit Rive Gauche

Koffi Olomide

1992

Tracks

1. Papa Bonheur
2. Desespoir
3. Koweit Rive Gauche
4. Qui Cherche Trouve
5. Elixir
6. Porte-Monnaie
7. Conte De Fees
8. Obrigado
9. Dit Jeannot

Well, it's admirable that the Listmakers are trying to include non Western albums but did they have to choose this guy? Koffi Olomide has been filmed kicking a female dancer, and has been accused of raping and holding women hostage in his French villa. We just can't get it right, can we?

As an American, I rarely experience African content, particularly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (and yes, I am fully aware that reading Congo by Michael Crichton did NOT count). So it's interesting in that regard, but this didn't actually sound that original to me. I know I missed the meaning of the songs. Truthfully, I am not even sure what language this is. French? Portuguese? I really don't know.

So, much like Koffi's jail time for statutory rape, this is entirely skippable.

RATING: 2/5

692. Rising Above Bedlam

Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wooble's Invaders of the Heart
1991

Tracks
1. Visions of You
2. Relight the Flame
3. Bomba
4. Ungodly Kingdom
5. Rising Above Bedlam
6. Erzulie
7. Everyman's an Island
8. Soledad
9. Sweet Divinity
10. Wonderful World

I don't think anybody can ever be as successful at blending world and rock music together as Paul Simon was; nevertheless, it's interesting to see somebody try. Naturally, the results aren't quite as good.

I guess this is one of those instances where the album has been copied so often that the original quality of it is somewhat diluted. Still, an interesting experiment and a nice break from the onslaught of hip hop albums.


RATING: 3/5

649. Djam Leelii

Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck
1989

Tracks
1. Lam Tooro
2. Loodo
3. Muudo Hormo
4. Salminanam
5. Maacina Tooro
6. Djam Leelii
7. Bibbe Leydy
8. Sehilam
9. Kettodee

As I was jamming along to this album, it occurred to me that I have absolutely no idea what they are saying, and they could very well be saying terribly offensive things as I am proclaiming how much I love this. 

But I suppose music transcends language, so I don't think it is too important that I don't understand the lyrics. Instead, I was just swept along for the ride and was able to enjoy every second of it.

I like hearing from other countries, considering how anglocentric this List is. A fun break from some of the more overproduced albums on the List.

RATING: 4/5

602. Shaka Zulu

Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
1987

Tracks
1. Unomathemba
2. Hello My Baby
3. At Golgotha
4. King of Kings
5. Lomhlaba Kawunoni
6. How Long?
7. Ikhaya Lamaqhawe
8. Yibo Labo
9. Rain, Rain Beautiful Rain
10. Wawusho Kubani?


After Graceland, Ladysmith Black Mambazo received some much deserved recognition, and created this album, which, for whatever reason, they decided to name after a homicidal maniac/monarch. 

So this is a very good album, and a soothing way to begin my Monday. I ended up looking up the English translation of the lyrics to the songs, which isn't actually a necessary step in enjoying an album, but I can't help myself. For the most part, it's easy to just let the music sweep you along without knowing the meaning. 

Paul Simon produced this album, so you know it is going to be a high rating. I don't see many good albums on the horizon, so let's enjoy this while we can.

RATING: 4/5

545. Immigres

Immigres
Youssou N'Dour
1984

Tracks
1. Immigrés/Bitim Rew 
2. Pitche Mi 
3. Taaw
4. Badou

In a list that it is notoriously skewed for Western tastes (you should see the 1001 book list; it's like white guy palooza), it was refreshing to hear an album from Senegal.

I think we can all admit at this point in 1984, synths are getting annoying. But they actually didn't bother me very much with this one. Maybe it's because Youssou N'Dour has such an interesting voice that I was properly distracted. 

Despite all that, my frequent readers know I connect to music best through lyrics (which has ultimately been to my detriment on this List), which is significantly harder to do when I don't speak the language. I am not faulting the album for this in the slightest, but since this blog measures my individual enjoyment of each entry on the List, this is a three-star album.

RATING: 3/5