Our Favorite World Music Albums of 2005
|
Grammy
nominees are
shaded in blue. |
|
|
# |
Artist |
Album |
Label |
Music
Comments |
|
1. |
Various |
Africa |
Palm |
This and the next
are two of the best African samplers we’ve ever heard.
This CD-DVD set has outstanding cuts by King Sunny Ade
and Ray Lema. |
|
2. |
Various |
African Music for Children |
Rough Guide |
This one does not
have the plethora of stars that the Palm disc has but
it has the benefit of Ethiopian music. The title is
somewhat misleading; these are not children’s songs,
but songs chosen by children. |
|
3. |
Ali Farka Toure
and Toumani Diabate |
In
the Heart of the Moon |
World Circuit |
More great music
from Mali. Ali Farka Toure’s guitar is mixed back so
that Toumani Diabate’s kora shines. |
|
4. |
Amadou and Mariam |
Dimanche a Bamako |
Nonesuch |
Sundays are the
day for outdoor weddings in the Mali capital of
Bamako. That’s just one of the themes of this very
strong album from a veteran husband and wife team
produced by Cheb Mami. |
|
5. |
Ravi Shankar |
The
Essential Ravi Shankar |
BMG
Heritage |
Two discs. One
trad, one modern. All Ravi. |
|
6. |
The Kronos
Quartet and Asha Bhosle |
You’ve Stolen My Heart |
Nonesuch |
Songs written by
Asha Bhosle’s husband R D Burman for Bollywood
musicals. Terrific arrangements are a great setting
for that unmistakable and thrilling voice. |
|
7. |
Martires del
Compas, |
No
Papers |
World Village |
Nuevo flamenco;
some acoustic, some electric; with a distinct
personality and terrific lyrics. |
|
8. |
Fantasia |
Mul
Sheshe |
World Village |
London-based
Algerian oud player and multi-instrumentalist Yazid
Fentazi blends a wide variety of North African and
western styles into a richly textured sound, both
danceable and thoughtful. |
|
9. |
Moussou T et les
Jovents |
Mademoiselle Marseilles |
Harmonia Mundi |
A new and
different sound – part folk-rock, part dance, part
European, part African – from southern France’s
melting-pot coastal city. |
|
10. |
Tito Puente |
Tito Puente |
Rough Guide |
More classic
percussion by the master of Latin jazz. |
|
11. |
11) Warsaw
Village Band |
Uprooting |
World Village |
More subtle and,
perhaps, rootsy than last year’s “People’s Spring”-
powerful and gorgeous. |
|
12. |
Various |
Afro-Latin Party |
Putumayo |
A party, indeed.
African- ( and Jamaican-) influenced Latin music from
Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the USA. |
|
13. |
Zuco 103 |
Whaa! |
Six
Degrees |
Funky and fizzy,
with terrific vocals, bubbly Brazilian beats, and some
great backup from Lee “Scratch” Perry. |
|
14. |
Fela Kuti |
Two
Sides of Fela |
Wrasse |
Dance and Jazz.
Really, both sides are danceable, jazz-influenced
powerhouse music by the originator of Afro-beat. |
|
15. |
Various |
Boogaloo |
Rough Guide |
Borderline “world”
music, since most of it was made in NYC, but too much
fun to exclude. If “Fat Mama” doesn’t make you smile
and dance, you need to rethink your life. |
|
16. |
Mecca Bodega |
Skin |
Harmonized |
Lots of percussion
on this NYC-based band’s new album. |
|
17. |
Celia Cruz |
Celia Cruz |
Rough Guide |
Irresistible dance
music and, of course, incomparable singing on this
compilation of the undisputed Queen of Salsa. |
|
18. |
Mamadou Diabate |
Behmanka |
World Village |
Now based in NYC,
he’s from Mali and lived in Ithaca for awhile. This
disc features his beautiful solo kora playing. A
regular performer at Grassroots. |
|
19. |
Various |
Sound of the World |
Wrasse |
Another
outstanding world music sampler compiled by the BBC’s
Charlie Gillette. A nice mix of faves and the new and
unusual. |
|
20. |
Various |
Love’s a Real Thing - The Funky Fuzzy Sounds of
West African Psychedelic Classics |
Luaka Bop |
You don’t know
whether to laugh or dance; probably end up doing both.
Another example of music you never knew existed that
you now don’t know how you lived without. |
|
Honorable mention |
| |
Julien Jacob |
Cotonou |
Wrasse |
|
| |
Majek Fashek |
Little Patience |
Coral |
|
| |
Khaled |
Ya-Rayi’ |
Wrasse |
|
| |
Rachid Taha |
Tekitoi |
Wrasse |
|
| |
Shukar Collective |
Urban Gypsy |
Riverboat |
|
| |
Femi Kuti |
Live at the Shrine |
Palm |
|
| |
Ahouska Shankar |
Rise |
Angel |
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