Sergio Mendes' 2006 release Timeless is part of my cherished list of Top 20 Albums of All Time. Yes, I love the album just that much. My Top 20 consists of records that you can listen to from start to finish without skipping a track. While Timeless was Sergio Mendes' work, it was produced by Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas who left his prints all over it, but not in a bad way at all. The high-energy feeling often found on some of the better BEP songs was present on the entire CD. Combining reggaeton, bossa nova and soul, Timeless featured vocal treats from India.Arie, John Legend, Q-Tip and Mr. I.Am. The first track on Timeless, "Mas Que Nada," was featured all over the place, appearing on Nike commercials, video games and program interludes. Simply put, the CD is dopeness incarnate and if you don't
have it, you need to get it, even if it came out four years ago.
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Sergio followed Timeless two years ago with the disc Encanto, which I didn't respond to like I did to the previous release. I think he did a better job of integrating different genres and keeping the flow consistent throughout Timeless. But, now, Sergio will be dropping in less than a month--June 1st to be exact--his newest album, Bom Tempo, which continues the journey that began with Timeless.
"Every time I make a new album," says Mendes, "it's a new musical adventure."
Borrowing from the songbooks of great Brazilian composers and none other than Mr. Stevie Wonder himself, Bom Tempo expands Mendes' use of different genres which mingle and dance to create color and texture that highlight Sergio's mastery of authentic Brazilian rhythms and composition. The Portuguese title, Bom Tempo, captures the spirit of the music within. According to Mendes, "This is bom tempo music, good times music."
I'm looking forward to this one dropping, how about you?
