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Timeless

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 10 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Concord
Release Date: 14 February 2006
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Pop, World, Rap
Summary
The legendary Brazilian artist makes a Santana-style comeback for his first album in eight years, teaming with the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am and a variety of pop, hip-hop and R&B stars, including Erykah Badu, Justin Timberlake, Jill Scott, Black Though, John Legend and more.
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
musicOMH.com
This is a quality piece of craftsmanship and there isn't a weak point on the album.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
As an urbane soundtrack for sucking venti lattes, this Starbucks-sponsored set of gentle samba-jazz-rap is a pleasant surprise. [24 Feb 2006, p.64]
Billboard
An intriguing change of pace. [18 Feb 2006]
Urb
Though sometimes bordering on earnest kitsch... the bulk of material plays out as inventive reconstruction. [Mar 2006, p.114]
Lost At Sea
Timeless is a step up for will.i.am and a step down for Sergio Mendes, somewhere between decency and exceptionality.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
At its best, Timeless has an airy, effervescent quality, a beguiling smoothness. At its worst, it sounds like a lackluster Will.I.Am solo album that just happens to have Sergio Mendes sitting in on keys.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
When samba's beat is uppermost, the music takes off. [May 2006, p.129]
Mojo
A solo album with not enough of the soloist. [Jun 2006, p.102]
PopMatters
Someone mistakenly told Will that his talent deserved to be showcased more than the other guest artists on this album, and it winds up turning what could have been a fantastic genre cross-pollination experiment into a slightly better than average album almost ruined by a guy who needs someone to tell him to stay on the other side of the microphone a little more.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Timeless is a mixed bag, but it's not because of Mendes. His own playing and arranging is utterly elegant.
Read Full Review >E! Online
It's a well-produced disc, but the cavalcade of stars and cartoonish beats make the songs sound more dated than the originals.
Read Full Review >Paste Magazine
Timeless sounds like a pop-charts-and-trends magazine exploded in the studio. [Apr/May 2006, p.115]
Stylus Magazine
Timeless falls awkwardly between Buena Vista Social Club and Santana’s latter-day Rolodex albums, deftly combining multi-culti good intentions with the bathos of a great artist aiming squarely at commercial revival.
Read Full Review >The New York Times
The shiny new beats in "Timeless" weaken the groove that existed in songs like "Mas Que Nada," "Berimbau" and "Surfboard" even before Mr. Mendes got to them 40 years ago. [13 Feb 2006]
Under The Radar
Safe and uninspired.... This is the type of MOR impulse buy that will eventually pollute used-CD bins everywhere across the world. [#13, p.93]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Chris gave it a10:
The mix of artists and styles in such an effective way is reminiscent Carlos Santana's multi-Grammy winning Supernatural CD.
Daniel S gave it a2:
This album lacks the organic unpredictability of both Brazilian hip-hop and samba. While the tracks are tight and well produced, they are too square and mechanical.
gina g gave it a6:
Whose album is this anyway - Will.I.Am or Sergio Mendes? I'm so disappointed in Will.I.Am's decision to impose himself on so many of the tracks on this album. He is a great producer and the idea of he and Sergio working together was exciting. However, his ego must have gotten the better of him. He couldn't keep himself from spewing forth his usual corniness all over these beautiful tracks. He dumbs down the brilliance of this project with his unecessary and lackluster rhyming skills. Let's hope that on his next production effort he'll keep his mouth shut and let the real artists shine.
marie gave it a9:
I agree with part of the review. I was thinking why wa Swgio Mendes-THE Segio mendes- have someone talkinh about booties and titties on his album? That was pretty glaring BUT the album is still on point.
Connor F gave it an8:
This is a great fusion between hip-hop and Brazilian culture.
Bruno B gave it a10:
Absolutely amazaing and innovative!
Jack R gave it a7:
A couple of loser tracks, but some other smile-inducing numbers that sound great played loud. The Legend track is a standout.
