1109. Capital Inicial - Acústico MTV

The capital city of Brazil, Brasilia, produced quite a few cool bands. Capital Inicial was one of them, although I'm not sure how cool they are anymore... Their first two releases had some great pop rock moments that were radio friendly yet not entirely commercial... this live acoustic disc, like many other in the series, takes the intensity away and replaces it with often bland and lifeless performances. Jury is out on whether I will keep this or not since I still have the originals on LP.

4 out of 10

1108. Cássia Eller - Acústico

This cd reminds me a lot of my best friends ever Juanita. We saw Cassia play at arpoador together on a really hot, but amazing saturday day, we'd also sing 'Por Enquanto' all the time together. She was an amazing person that I am so happy to have known, sadly she left me too soon - she was one of the ones that your supposed to know until you're really, really old... sadly Cassia also passed away way too soon. All sorts of genres and styles are covered here by Cassia - from her bluesy rock style she's known for to samba and bossa nova.

7 out of 10

1107. Cazuza - O poeta nao morreu

Cazuza was the first high profiled artist to die of AIDS in Brazil. He originally was in a rock band called 'Barao Vermelho' who specialized in Stones like rock with a pop angel. Later he became a mainstream pop singer covering many genres. His music, although at times is very produced and too slick, will always take me back to my golden age of growing up in Rio, the perfect years of 81 to 84 (all the years after that were great too, but those were extra special).

5.4 out of 10

1106. Marisa Monte - Infinito Particular

I picked this up when I was in Brasil last, back in 07 or so I think. It's a very solid release it only starts getting slightly cheesy when a few songs are about a kid, presumably Marisa's... nonetheless good stuff.

7.2 out of 10

1105. Marisa Monte - Barulhinho Bom

I have listened to this double disc a lot - almost exclusively to the live disc. It's a great show and really captures Marisa at her most comfortable and powerful place, the stage. The studio disc is almost filler like and would have been best left off.

8 out of 10

1104. Marisa Monte - Verde Anil Amarelo Cor de Rosa & Carvão

Another solid disc from Marisa with classics like 'Ao meu redor', 'Danca da solidao' and 'Bem leve'. My only complaint is that it's a tad over produced - she's a timeless artist and when she gives in to specific production ideas it dates the material.

7.9 out of 10

1103. Marisa Monte - Marisa Monte

I love Marisa. As in I had a big crush on her back when I was teen. I even saw the show that this cd is based on with my mom. Marisa was (and still is) very cool because he chose to make her debut album a live one, filled with original songs and covers of brazilian classics, american songbook classics and brazilian rock - something that had not been done before - and made each song her own. Great disc and even better memories.

7.9 out of 10

1102. Various Artists - beleza tropical: vol. 1

Many of you know I grew up in brazil. I also grew up a metal head until metal went away and grunge came by and was heavier. I also always listened to a lot of other things like pop, jazz, early electronic stuff and soul. But on terms of Brazilian music I always stuck to Brazilian rock, mostly on tape : titas, ultraje, capital, rpm... I only truly discovered MPB when I was an older teen. You know when you all of sudden discover your parents cool records? Well discovering true MPB was like that. This sampler has a great cross section of Brazilian tunes, from forro, to samba and neo boss nova, the are all here

8.2 out of 10

1101. Os Mutantes - album everything is possible the best of os mutantes

It's easy to hear why everybody loves these guys, it's pure beck and lips back when those guys were still breast feeding. These psych tunes are also equal parts radio theatre, with narratives that globe trot and mind fuck.

7 out of 10