Everything Is Never Quite Enough

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.

Everything Is Never Quite Enough,Wasis Diop,Triloka,Africa,African,Afro-Pop,Int'l & World Music,Pop,Senegal,World Fusion,World Music

Average customer rating:

very good

Carried Away

I loved it.

Fuses his African roots with a modern studio-enhanced pop

Everything Is Never Quite Enough
Wasis Diop
Manufacturer: Triloka Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music
Senegal & Gambia | Africa | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
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Toxu

No Sant (What's Your Name?)

The Thomas Crown Affair: Music From The MGM Motion Picture

Toxu

The Best of Nina Simone

ASIN: B00019PDFM
Release Date: 2004-03-23

Tracks:

Le Passeur
Everything (...Is Never Quite Enough)
Ramatu
Samba le Berger
African Dream
Dem Ba Ma
Digge
Dune
Sowrto Daal
Dal Lu Wor
No Sant
Kaay Niu Gospel
Julia
Holaal Bu Baah
Ra'B
Ballad of the Feather
My Son
Ma Na
Les Gueux

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

Album 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.

Customer Reviews:

very good.......2007-04-05

le passeur is my favorite song on this, but it is really an all around good album.

Carried Away.......2007-02-17

The more I listen to this CD, the more amazed at the talented musicians of Africa. Wasis Diop is first on my list. It deserved a Grammy. Every cut is masterful and transports me to the soul of the world, Africa.

I loved it........2006-12-29

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.

Fuses his African roots with a modern studio-enhanced pop .......2004-09-02

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.