Music : Timeless

Rating: - An aptly-titled album from a timeless artist
Mendes's "Fool on the Hill" was one of the first albums that this then fifteen-year-old bought with his allowance. Thus began an almost forty-year love affair with the Brazilian's sound. One can't imagine my excitement when I learned of the release of "Timeless," his first album of new music in over a decade.

And what an album it is!!! The disc is an outstanding blend of the old and the new, with cuts to satisfy the contemporary crowd as well as those of us with nostalgia of the soul.

Though the album features guest performances from the likes of Justin Timberlake to Jill Scott to John Legend, the best cuts are those that harkens back to the cool 1960's, adding a new dimension with rap and modern rhythms. The revisit of "Mais Que Nada," "Berimbau/Consolacao" (featuring vocals by Gracinha Leporace and a killer hamonica solo from Stevie Wonder), "Bananeira," the title cut (with India.Arie on vocals), "Lamento (No Morro)," "Yes, Yes Y'All," and "Samba Da Bencao," are thrilling in every way and certain to appeal to an international audience.

Bravo for Mendes and, hopefully, with the utilization of modern stars, he will reach a young audience that will discover one of music's legendary innovators.

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Rating: - What's good for Santana is also good for Sergio
Borrowing a page from the Santana recipe book, Sergio Mendes updates his sound by taking a generous sprinkling of popular artistes, and blending them in to spice up this album. Not that the Brazilian samba and bossa nova beats aren't spicy on their own, but thanks to the hot hip hop, soul, Latin, Caribbean and pop guest artistes, this album sizzles, bringing a taste of Sergio to a new generation.

Just glance down the track listing and you'll see will.i.am (lots of him) and The Black Eyed Peas, neo-soul goddess Erykah Badu, legendary Stevie Wonder, red hot John Legend, and pop boy band graduate Justin Timberlake, as well as India.arie, Q-Tip, Mr. Vegas and more.

Tracks to look for are the first single "Mas Que Nada" (a Sergio Mendes staple, but as you've never heard it before); "That Heat" (the Erykah Badu / will.i.am collaboration); the reggae track "Bananeira" and the ever-so smooth "Please Baby Don't" with John Legend.

With something for everybody, this album would be a great pick for any music lover on your list, and don't forget to treat yourself also. Rated: 4.5 stars



Amanda Richards

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Rating: - Not all the hype
John legend and india irie save the day on this album and the £9.97 i paid made that seem worthwhile Heard better this year in Albums.

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Rating: - What a let down
Having been a great fan of Sergio Mendes for some 35 years, I was looking forward to this new album. However, I was very disappointed when I listened to it. Apart from 2/3 tracks, it is heavily influenced by rap music. If, like me, you don't like rap, then don't buy it!

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Rating: - not what you might expect.....
I bought this on the back of the successful single version of Mas Que Nada "featuring" the Black Eyed Peas, expecting some classy samba / salsa music. Actually, it is more like a BEP offering, probably because of their production influence. That said, it is actually well worth buying because they have done a superb job of merging modern Hip Hop vocals with the complexity and class of the Latin beat. I expect this to become an award-winner.