Customer Reviews

Rei Momo

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is truly one of my very favorite albums... it's one that you grow to love more each time you listen to it. It has a similar feel to Paul Simon's Graceland (another great album!)

Words cannot express how awesome this album is. Quite possibly the greatest latin american music ever. Every song is well designed so its easy to listen all the way through. Congrats David.

Paul

This David Byrne CD is superb. It's one of about 10 CDs that are always in my rotation of music at home. David Byrne and Talking Heads have been more about rock-solid rhythm than blazing guitar solos, vocal hooks, or other common tricks in the book. Rei Momo is a rhythmic masterpiece, featuring a number of styles that are drawn from South America. At first, I was taken aback by the fact that all of the vocals were in English, but DB's vocal style fits the music like a glove. Listen to some of the lyrics - e.g., on Independence Day and you can almost see David smiling while singing. To me, the arrangements are what stands out and if you like drums, percussion, and horns all combined to give you a driving, grinding dance rhythm, then this CD is for you. Listen to the horns on Dirty Old Town - wow, an amazing arrangement. This CD will put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step.

I was only previewing this CD to sell online, but I liked it so much I decided to keep it for myself. I could listen to this for hours. Makes me feel like getting up and dancing to these various beats. Wonder if Byrne's other music is like this!

an absolutely wonderful recording full of rich and do i mean vibrant latin sound

i can't tell you how bright and funky this is

and it's catchy too - David Byrne, thanks.

Speaking as a Latino, I have nothing but respect for Mr. Byrne. I've always liked his work with Talking Heads but only until recently I had a chance to listen to this record. I am really impressed that someone like David Byrne took the time and interest to appreciate, understand and absorb all these Latin American rythms as he demonstrates on this album...

This is a pioneering effort that more high level artists should have the courage to attempt. Perhaps they haven't because they don't possess the unique combination of musicianship, literacy, wit, and broad and empathic appreciation that David Byrne does. I suppose they also are afraid to go their own way with their own label, like he has.

As good as some of his songs may be, for some reason I find it hard to picture a pure pop musician like Lenny Kravitz, for instance, doing something as experimental as this..... Like the Beatles, David Byrne at his best is not only one of the most popular at what he does, he is also one of the BEST as well. And that's the real challenge for a serious pop musician, isn't it?

It is clear that Byrne has genuine respect and love for this music, as well as other forms of world music. He obviously has a better sense of humor than Peter Gabriel, however, and isn't afraid to shake his populist ... with the masses. That only makes him more appealing.

Snobs, like our Spanish writing reviewer, will see this album primarily as an Anglo intrusion, as cultural imperialism. What a shame. David Byrne has probably done more to break down barriers with his label, concerts, and other activities than almost any other major musician. David Byrne is a true fan and I'm very glad that he has enough respect for his audience to share nothing but the best. He does this live too...I saw him here in Hawaii early in 2002, and the place practically exploded with love for him.

This is not a completely perfect record. But is that really the point? The things that DO work on this record are absolutely intriguing, unique, and put on wax the exact sort of hybridity that will mark the twenty-first century and beyond.

Kudos to DB for being such a sly MF.

Now this is what David Byrne REALLY wanted to do. As David Byrne's first real World Music (For lack of a better term) album, it stands out. The album is somewhat lengthy, at 15 tracks but most of the songs on it are good enough to keep you entertained. First of all, there's the catchy leading track, "Independence Day" with the repetitious "such a long time" phrase almost reminiscent of the legendary "Same as it ever was". Then there's some great horn arrangements ("Make Believe Mambo") and a great, quick beat on "Loco De Amor". Byrne completed the package with more interesting lyrics, not unlike the ones he had with Talking Heads. This is a very good album and is probably the best David Byrne solo album to buy as far as getting acquainted with his approach goes. Ole!

Byrne si quiere tocar ritmos latinos debe primero estudiarlos en profundidad y conocer la idiosincracia de los pueblos que los han creado y aman.
Este cd es una falta de respeto a la musica y los musicos de la region.

Byrne si quiere tocar ritmos latinos debe primero estudiarlos en profundidad y conocer la idiosincracia de los pueblos que los han creado y aman.
Este cd es una falta de respeto a la musica y los musicos de la region.