Talking Timbuktu

this was fine but im not sure malian guitar really does it for me

This is one of the relatively few albums on here that I truly knew *nothing* about going in. It's also one of my favorite albums I knew absolutely nothing about. For some reason, I started listening without reading anything, and during the listening, I honestly wasn't even entirely sure what genre of music this would be considered. But I did get some research done, and it has helped a little. Ali Farka Touré is from Mali, and this album is considered Malian folk music. Although, it really seems like a couple of these songs are also blues inspired, but I do not know if that's actually true. Also, the other artist credited on the front is Ry Cooder, who it turns out has extensive history playing guitar with celebrated musicians.
Anyways, Talking Timbuktu is really good. The songs here are largely on the lengthier side, and they use their time well. This album has a great atmosphere, and the compositions themselves are repetitive but extremely detailed. It almost feels like jam music in a way. I don't fully understand who's doing what here, but I get the sense that chemistry is extremely important. Talking Timbuktu ends up really immersive and transportative, and enjoyable to listen to. I don't feel particularly qualified to really break this one down, but I did thoroughly enjoy myself regardless.

nao eh ruim mas eh bem chatim, repetitivo
sei não. acho que nao gostei, mas reconheço que eh bacana

Chill, desert blues guitar music. I love this stuff.

Love Mali guitar.

*Cool variety to the African sounds

Two artists I'm totally unfamiliar with doing a collaboration, and right out of the gate I love this! I don't have a lot of experience with African Blues, but what I've heard is great, including this release.

I feel like some of these albums were thrown in here simply for "diversity". Honestly there isn't any genre diversity nor culture diversity on this list. It's such a shame. This album isn't at all what I'd listen to. Just not my style. Two songs sound like a bare version of Romanian traditional folk, I think that's cool, that's like all I got to say. Overall it's eh, nothing that special for me, more like calming and relaxing background music. Still, I'd like to listen to more stuff like this instead of the same British punk/rock or American rock/folk. Idk I got a feeling this was only chosen cuz Ry Cooder is involved and he is American. I'm not tryna undermine his work, but seeing how little foreign works are chosen for this project, I can't help but think this way. I'm actually stunned to see African music on here. I'd expect that a guy like this list's author would think Africa is one big country and everyone lives in trees and caves.

I liked this album but it wasn't one of the better African guitar albums I've heard. Not much to say, it was playing in the background and I feel like that's kind of where it belongs. Great playing but it didn't exactly hold my attention. 3/5

Good morning.

At its best, a nicely hypnotic album with enough grit and crunchy stuff. Sometimes a bit smooth and bright for my taste (I'll blame Cooder).

ugodno iznenađenje! ovo je na popisu samo da bude nešto iz maloga, kao raznovrsno, multikulti štaliveć, što je maloumno. bitno da nema NIČEG iz hrvatske, što bi zapadnjačkim slušateljima bilo stoput bliže (i bolje) od ovog. al nema razloga da zbog toga serem po ovom kad je glazba dobra :)

There are some great riffs on this album. My main critique is that they will often stay on one for much longer than is interesting. Despite that it is overall very enjoyable.

Mielenkiintoista, että miljoona bändiä Briteistä ja jenkeistä ja sit joku tämmönen malilainen kitaristi kahdesti :D maailmanmusiikki/5. Ihan hyvä levy kyl!

I had no idea I needed an album of African music married to American Blues, but I did and now I have it. Sometimes, the list delivers.

I feel like I've been a student of blues guitar for a major portion of my life and I'm a little ashamed that I'd never come across Ali Farka Toure before today. To compensate, I've spent the day dabbling in his catalog. This album shines when AFT takes the lead and we get his style of mellow African blues, but there are times when (I assume) Ry Cooder takes the reins and we get a bolder version of 'American South' Blues. Those are my least favorite moments because they kill the momentum of the album for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the blues, but I'm here to listen to Ali Farka Toure be "the African John Lee Hooker" not Ry Cooder trying to be John Lee Hooker. The collaboration is successful in eliciting more blues than AFT typically employs on his own records, and that's a plus even if it's overdone at times.

Overall, Ali Farka Toure is a big thumbs up from me!

Talking Timbuktu is a really solid record — fluid, earthy, and easy to get lost in. It’s full of subtle interplay and atmosphere, the kind of thing that works beautifully as background music for working or just letting your mind drift. That said, it doesn’t fully grab me the way some other records do, so while I’d call it a 3.5 in spirit, I’m landing on a 3 here for clarity. A cool collaboration and a great listen, but not something I’ll return to often.

Another album that I'm completely unaware of. A very nice, calm-and-soothing vibe. Not bad, but not terribly captivating either.

Cool album, nice guitar playing

Quite liked this, although it was a bit repetitive and sometimes faded into the background. I really enjoyed the overall vibe though. The guitar playing was excellent, like American blues played with a distinctly West African flavor. I didn't like the fiddle centred songs as much, but didn't hate them either.

Mäßiges nature Album