Buena Vista Social Club

This isn't the type of music I consciously seek out. I remember going to a spanish-language music concert when I was a senior in high school, and I thought the music was fun and upbeat (probably because it was more pop/dance-style music). But my tastes have matured in the intervening 13ish years, and this music is a more serious affair.

The instrumentals are sweeping and well-crafted, and the vocals are passionate (you don't have to know the language to understand that). Some songs are more somber and some are more upbeat. The beats in general are quite catchy. The first song, "Chan Chan" caught my interest immediately, and it's probably my favorite one on here. Overall, this album is wonderful and complex musically to listen to.

Favorite track(s): Chan Chan, El Cuarto de Tula, Dos gardenias, Candela, Buena Vista Social Club

While one might see "latin jazz" and think high-energy, danceable grooves, this is relatively restrained; its beauty lies instead in its overwhelming warmth. Everything about it is joyful, tender, gorgeously bright.

If it doesn't get the 5 it's only because I struggle to say much more about it. I'm familiar with the Son Cubano genre, and there's nothing quite blowing me away here. That's not to say it doesn't deserve its flowers though - it made me smile the whole way through, it's an adorable album all around!

Standouts: De Camino a La Vereda • El Cuarto De Tula • Dos Gardenias • Candela • Amor De Loca Juventud • Buena Vista Social Club • ¿Y Tú Qué Has Hecho? • El Carretero • Orgullecida • Murmullo

Уютный и расслабленный джаз для летнего дня на веранде за чашечкой кофе или в ресторане за бокалом вина. В качестве фона и для создания определенного настроения выполняет свою роль, но на большее не тянет

Out of the 90+ CDs in my collection currently, this is the only one that is completely in the Spanish language. Granted, for all of the Hispanic communities I run in, I do not myself claim any fluency to the language, much less any origin to those who do. I am simply an external admirer, a lover of music, and someone who believes strongly in connecting to the music in which one’s roots draw from. And these players are masters at this kind of music. Now, also, this is an interesting case of “‘world/ethnic music’ songs that the edges of the mainstream enjoyed,” making it probably the perfect album in that vein for this book to put on the list.

But the music! The music is incredible too. “Chan Chan” is an obviously important song on this album, being the opener, the single, and easily the biggest song the band has made. And on top of all that, it’s absolutely incredible. A vision of delirious, heat-induced lust over this absolutely beautiful, lush, incredible instrumental, something that will become a commonality across this whole album. It’s suspenseful, it’s well-played, it’s beautiful. Same thing with the next song, which is just this jubilant little tune, at least musically. The lyrics less so, but I get the feeling that that doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. It has several moments of wonderful vocal performances, moments that are even more plentiful on track three, “El Cuarto Del Tula,” whose fiery lyrics match the song’s drawn-out, fast-paced playing. The chorus of “Ay Mama, ¿Que Paso?” (Oh mama, what happened?) really communicate some sort of urgency, that the song’s topic of a burning building would imply. The next song is a piano-led instrumental played prominently by 90-year-old Rubén González, one of the many skilled, old collaborators who took part in this project. His name, along with Ry Cooder’s, Ibrahim Ferrer’s, and a few other notable collaborators, is listed on the album’s cover. There are a few other notable songs on here, such as the romantic “Dos Gardenias,” the intense “Candela,” and the album’s instrumental title track. Overall, while it can sometimes seem a bit overlong, this is a furiously incredible album that I cannot recommend highly enough, and frequent often.
10/10
DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES
REASON: Quality and undeniable cultural relevance

Undeniable quality.

(10/10)

some of the most lush and beautiful music I've ever heard. The arrangements are fantastic and there's so much passion and life in these songs. Highly recommend.

Very pleasant. Charming music. If the sun is shining, this sounds even better.

For the people that complain that this is not in english, fuck you, you pretentious fucks! This was beautiful! Finally there is something different on this list, something from another culture. Amazing latin jazz record, I even recognized some songs that I didn't even know were from this band. Absolutely deserving. If I were not in the train I would have danced the shit out of me, and I don't know how to dance.

P.S. Fuck you again to those who cry that this is not in english. You are the worst type of people.

Ok but not my style and a bit goofy

Beautiful and warm world music perfect for many listening situations.

Det har jeg det lidt blandet med.

Dejlig stemning og energi, men det er ikke noget, jeg normalvis hører. Det bliver nok heller ikke noget, jeg kommer til at sætte på ret mange gange i mit liv. Jeg har simpelthen ikke en skjorte, der er knappet langt nok ned; en cigar, der er på størrelse med et rundboldbat; en solhat af strå og en stor, gammel amerikansk bil, der på den ene eller anden måde stadig kører - og det er noget af det, der holder mig tilbage fra at føle et reelt tilhørsforhold til dette.

En light 3'er:

2.8

this was actually very good atmospheric and fun jazz

Feels like vacation but too long if your not on vacation

This is just that tasty, tasty good groove that defies genre. Talented musicians that are dialed in with each other to create some amazing tracks. Stronger at the top than towards the end, but still a great album that makes you feel every note.

The background music of every "fancy" coffee place.
I usually don't like this music, but this is quite fine.

It’s ok. Pretty bouncy. A couple songs got really close to country though.

Fun, relaxing, and just a straight up groove to listen to. You can just -tell- the history and culture that comes from this album. Cuban Jazz is now a good go-to for relaxing music!

This is such a great album. There is some freedom in not understanding the lyrics, everything just becomes feel, and this album has a lot of that.

Solo por "Chan Chan" ya son 3 estrellas, pero a ver hasta donde llega. No hay mucho más que decir: "De camino a la vereda", "El carretero" y "Candela". 4 estrellas ****.