Gilberto Gil - Gilberto Gil (1968)

Along with Caetano Veloso, Gil was a pioneer in the Tropicalia movement that turned Brazilian pop music on its head and forged a new role for youth culture and a celebration of African and Latin rhything. The music and the musicians also had a habit of speaking out against the political establishment, which was very rock n roll in its own Brazilian context.

I don’t know any Portugese, so I don’t really know how scathing or daring the lyrics might be here. I do know that it’s a super fun listen. It tacks pretty closely to rock n roll in most places, but has its own unique flavor.

Tracks I Liked

Domingou - right in line with a lot of British and American rock of the time. Great stuff.

Pega a Voga Cabeludo - “catch the trend” the title says. The trend apparently involves some psychotic rockabilly importation.

Luzia Luluze - a surprisingly calm ballad that builds into a lively pure pop tune