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Timeless

EMAILPRINTby Sergio Mendes

Sergio Mendes reviews
60
7.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 10 votes
Read user comments
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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...

80

musicOMH.com

This is a quality piece of craftsmanship and there isn't a weak point on the album.

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75

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]

70

Billboard

An intriguing change of pace. [18 Feb 2006]

70

Urb

Though sometimes bordering on earnest kitsch... the bulk of material plays out as inventive reconstruction. [Mar 2006, p.114]

70

Lost At Sea

Timeless is a step up for will.i.am and a step down for Sergio Mendes, somewhere between decency and exceptionality.

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67

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.

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60

Q Magazine

When samba's beat is uppermost, the music takes off. [May 2006, p.129]

60

Mojo

A solo album with not enough of the soloist. [Jun 2006, p.102]

60

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.

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60

Rolling Stone

When Timeless succeeds, it's beautiful, boundary-breaking music.

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60

All Music Guide

Timeless is a mixed bag, but it's not because of Mendes. His own playing and arranging is utterly elegant.

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58

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.

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50

Paste Magazine

Timeless sounds like a pop-charts-and-trends magazine exploded in the studio. [Apr/May 2006, p.115]

42

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.

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30

Prefix Magazine

A predictable, oversimplified, boring mess.

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30

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]

20

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.

Read more user comments >

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