Calle Salud [US] Music

Average Rating:

Not being of cuban decent, I first came to cuban music when BVSC first came to the scene - and it's awesome - you can't be in a bad mood and listen to it. Compay Segundo is more soulful when on his own, it's a different feel but still wonderful. I can't wait till they open up Cuba to tourism, I think there's a wealth of culture just waiting to explode down there!

I have Compay's "Lo Mejor De La Vida" CD, which I just love and did from the very first playing. The "Buena Vista Social Club" and "De Cuba Son" CDs had the same effect on me. I loved them right away, and have never tired of them.

I've decided that it's the clarinets. They get a bit intrusive and annoying (to me, anyway) on several cuts. They're almost (though not quite) as annoying as Ry Cooder's slide guitar on so many of the Buena Vista Social Club recordings. Maybe it's just me, but the clarinets keep me thinking that this CD should be called "Tres Player On The Roof".

And then I keep flashing back to the BVSC video -- the scene art where Compay Segundo is trying to locate the site of the old Buena Vista Social Club. Compay was giving another elderly gent his recipe for avoiding hangovers and maintaining overall health --- it's your basic chicken soup. So maybe "Tres Player On The Roof" isn't so far off afterall. But what do I know?

Hey, maybe the CD will grow on me with time. But it doesn't pack that right-out-of-the-package punch that "Lo Mejor De La Vida" had for me.