Beleza Tropical 2: Novo! Mais! Melhor!, Compiled By David Byrne

Amazon.com
Ten years after Beleza Tropical Volume 1 turned the world on to the popular music of Brazil (MPB), along comes volume 2 to bring us up to date. The first volume did a great job covering the 1960s and '70s; volume 2 does an equally impressive job in focusing on the late '80s and the '90s. The MPB scene is as vibrant as ever. Elder voices of the movement like Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Sergio Mendes have recently put out some of the best work of their careers, and you'll find wonderful examples of that here. The new generation of MPB stars are also amply represented--Marisa Monte, Daniela Mercury, the late Chico Science, Moleque de Rua, Os Paralamas Do Successo, and others all contribute excellent work. The songs incorporate the technological changes of the past decade and meld elements of rock, jazz, funk, reggae, and African music with the rich traditions of Brazil. The result is music that is coherent, edgy, and creatively compelling. This compilation is very well sequenced, so that it doesn't sound like a hodgepodge of styles, but instead flows flawlessly from tune to tune. --Jeff Grubb

Tracks:

Madalena - Gilberto Gil
Hoje Eu Quero Sair So - Lenine
Nao Me Estrague O Dia - Os Paralamas Do Sucesso
Ifa, Um Canto Pra Subir - Margareth Menezes
Rios, Pontes & Overdrives - Chico Science & Nacao Zumbi
O Estrangeiro - Caetano Velosa
Tanacara - Gonzaguinha
Curiosidade - Tom Ze
Balanca Pema - Marisa Monte
Batuque - Daniella Mercury
Acho - Carlos Careqa
What Is This? - Sergio Mendes
Imagem - Arnaldo Antunes
Pregoes Do Rio - Moleque De Rua
O Seu Olhar - Arnaldo Antunes

Amazon.com

Ten years after Beleza Tropical Volume 1 turned the world on to the popular music of Brazil (MPB), along comes volume 2 to bring us up to date. The first volume did a great job covering the 1960s and '70s; volume 2 does an equally impressive job in focusing on the late '80s and the '90s. The MPB scene is as vibrant as ever. Elder voices of the movement like Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Sergio Mendes have recently put out some of the best work of their careers, and you'll find wonderful examples of that here. The new generation of MPB stars are also amply represented--Marisa Monte, Daniela Mercury, the late Chico Science, Moleque de Rua, Os Paralamas Do Successo, and others all contribute excellent work. The songs incorporate the technological changes of the past decade and meld elements of rock, jazz, funk, reggae, and African music with the rich traditions of Brazil. The result is music that is coherent, edgy, and creatively compelling. This compilation is very well sequenced, so that it doesn't sound like a hodgepodge of styles, but instead flows flawlessly from tune to tune. --Jeff Grubb

Customer Reviews:

"Some" great cuts.......2001-09-09

This is a fair album if we compare it to the first one. David leaves outside many great singers/groups like Daude, Suzano, even the great Ed Motta; and on the other hand, some cuts are not worth listing in a "Beleza" (Beauty)album. Anyhow, Gilberto Gil's cut is excellent among two or three more. I stick with the first one.

Truly a great sampling of new Brazilian music.......2001-08-08

I was first introduced to Brazilian music with Byrne's Brazilian Classics, prefering above the others, the Beleza Tropical #1. After loving that album so much for so long, the first time I heard Beleza Tropical 2 I was disappointed. BUT now I LOVE this CD! I don't know what the others who reviewed this CD are griping about. This is a great CD with a lot of fun tracks and talented artsits. There's a lot of MPB I really don't like but there is not on song on this CD I don't think worthy of a compilation like this. Ever since buying this CD, I haven't gone back to the first one. It was time for me to update my tastes for Brazilian music.

Very Good.......1999-12-24

It's very good to hear new artists like Carlos Careqa, Lenine and Arnaldo Antunes and of course the late Chico Science anthology of Brazilian music. I recommend to look for Carlos Careqa's MUSICA PARA FINAL DE SECULO and OS HOMENS SAO TODOS IGUAIS and CHICO SCIENCE'S AFROCIBERDELIA AND MANGUEBEAT. Congratulations to Luaka Bop.

"Eh".......1999-10-27

The title read Novo! Mais! Melhor! and had David Byrne's name on it. But it was anything but the title. Actually I thought this was downright dull. There are loads of compilations with much more flair-- like Nova Bossa for old, Cuca Nova/Red Hot+ Rio for new renditions. Great artists like Mercury, Monte and Veloso are wasted on this-- they're why the CD has two stars instead of one. The only song I enjoyed was "What is This", but I would suggest buying Sergio Mendes' Brasileiro instead of this one. Disappointing CD.. save your money

Stinks.......1999-10-06

This CD is pants. Unfortunately, the Amazon system doesn't allow you to give less than one star. The cover artwork is shite, there is absolutely nothing new on the record, and it's a total waste of time and money. As a statement about Brazilian music of the 90s, look no further than the fact that one of the tracks was written in the 60s. The title, for those who don't speak Portuguese, means new, more, better. It's old, less, worse. Guess Byrne's love affair with Brazil must have gone off the boil. Try Chico Cesar's CuzCuz Clã instead. Now that really is new, more, better

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music

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