A Foreign Sound

by

Caetano Veloso

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Don't get me wrong... I am a HUGE Caetano Veloso fan... I've written about him quite a bit, own all his records and had very high hopes for this album. But, still... this set of English-language standards and whimsically chosen cover tunes may be a bit too restrained and evenly modulated, with Brazilian superstar Caetano Veloso mixing high culture and high camp, while tilting towards the highbrow end of the spectrum -- so much so that it's actually a bit stuffy and twee. The material is timeless -- pop standards from the likes of Cole Porter, et. al. alongside more modern classics from Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley and Kurt Cobain, as well as kitchier bits such as "Feelings," a Morris Alpert hit that remains one of the enduring lounge music classics. Likewise, the album's opener, "The Carioca," was chosen explicitly for its camp value, particularly in light of the album's ironic theme, the notion of "foreign" culture, as seen through the eyes of an "exotic" tropical celebrity from Latin America. The intellectual end of Veloso's enterprise is readily apparent, as is his affection for the songs and the various layers of popular culture they represent, and the level of intimacy he can impart to every line and lyric. What's missing, however, is the transcendant lightness he brings to, say, a live acoustic version of an old Hoagy Carmichael tune, amid the clamor of his thunderous Afro-Brazilian pop shows. The large, lofty arrangements are elegant to a fault, and are largely unvaried in tempo or tone... After a while, it all starts to sound the same -- the same sweet croon, the same charming sparkle, the same knowing smirk, as the same airy string sections underscore the same rarified jokes. Which isn't to say this album doesn't have a richness and warmth deserving of the songs, but it's a bit stilted and the arrangements a bit too lush and overripe... Ultimately, it just feel like that much fun; rather, it felt like he was trying too hard to make a point, and worse still, was travelling on ground he'd already covered before, with a much lighter, more delicate step. It's okay, but I'd hoped it would be much, much better.

I've loved Caetano Veloso's work for years, so when I heard about A Foreign Sound, I couldn't resist buying it. My advice: resist unless you feel a need to own everything he records. It's just plain strange. Only his natural artistry saves it. I found myself skipping from one cut to the next, trying to find something I could stand to listen to all the way through. Now, I think Caetano comes across nicely in English, and I'd love to see him do another album, but next time, I hope it makes more sense.

These songs odd choices -- "Feelings" and "The Carioca" are not high on my playlist these days -- and nothing seems to flow together. Better to stick with his classic recordings until he gives this another try.