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Review by zomax June 11, 2004 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
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Performance:  Sonics:  |
Got this from across the pond--interestingly, the label is just universal, no mention of emarcy. Makes me wonder why we didn't get the benefit of the sacd in the u.s. If I had to guess I'd say that Veloso figured he'd get better promotion in the u.s. through his friend David Byrne on his nonesuch label--from what I've seen at u.s. record stores, the album seems to be featured pretty prominently. I just wonder why nonesuch decided not to do an sacd release. Probably the cost, but if the album already had sacd mastering to be released elsewhere . . . ?
Anyway, the European SACD 5.1, stereo hybrid has 4 tracks not on the u.s. release ("Stardust," "Sophisticated Lady," "I only have eyes for you," and "There will never be another you"), and does not have 2 that are on the u.s. version ("Always," and one by the aforesaid David Byrne, "(Nothing But) Flowers").
First some comments on the music. The songs are mainly great american songbook type songs (with a couple of exceptions), so the main focus is, as it should be, on the vocalist, Mr. Veloso. The fact that English is not Mr. Veloso's first language might be a bit off-putting at first, but I think this fact just makes the album more intriguing in the end. I must say that Veloso's English pronunciation and enunciation are perhaps a bit overstated, and this becomes a bit exagerrated and even a bit annoying on the cd layer (e.g., on "Jamaica Farewell," the line "on the mountaintop," sounds like "On theee mounTAInToPPPP"). Thankfully, the sacd layer is a bit smoother and less sibilant in this regard. (When I previewed this song on the headphones at Barnes and Noble I almost cancelled my order it sounded so bad.) I didn't hear a huge difference in a few cursory comparisons between the cd and sacd layer, apart from the slightly smoother and more natural sound (not shrill or sibilant) on the sacd layer as mentioned above.
The arrangements are excellent, and this should be no suprise as they are mostly done by Jacques Morelenbaum, another Brazilian legend. The accompanying music is excellent as well. They range from more traditional piano, percussion and strings to even some sampling/scratching effects on a few songs. It's a testament to how well its done that even the more modern songs with more modern arrangments and non-traditional instrumentation (such as "It's Alright Ma" and "If It's Magic") do not seem out of place. The 5.1 mix really works well with the arrangements. Mainly, Veloso is center, horns or rythym guitar is left/right and the percussion, effects, and some solo guitar is in the surrounds, making for a nice wide soundstage with very clear separation between instruments. Very nice sound quality, with surround especially.
Overall, the performance sinks its hooks deeper each time I listen. As mentioned earlier, the fact that Mr. Veloso is not a native English speaker might be slightly distracting at first, but it also makes his interpretations all the more interesting, because he's not taking the English language for granted (e.g., in "Come as You are", is it "memory ah" or, as Veloso sings, "memoria"?--does it make a difference? I don't know, but it makes me think twice again about this song, which is what I think interpretations should do). With songs like these that you've heard dozens of times, a fresh perspective in nice. My favorites include Come as You Are, Summertime, Cry Me a River, If It's Magic, Blue Skies, I only Have Eyes for You, & Manhattan.
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