MTMTMK - The Very Best
MTMTMK Image
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The second album from the duo of African-born singer Esau Mwamwaya and British producer Radioclit features guest appearances by Baaba Maal, DJ Mo-Laudi, and K'naan.
  • Record Label: Cooperative
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Electronic, International, African Traditions, Afro-Pop, Afro-beat
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. The Guardian
    Jul 12, 2012
    100
    As with Graceland, it's not scared to be too pop... plus the lyrics are of a sounder political hue than anything Simon essayed.
  2. Spin
    Jul 19, 2012
    80
    Producer Karlberg also has expanded his reach and grip, snatching sounds from all over and re-purposing them to serve Mwamwaya's immaculate, coruscating voice.
  3. Q Magazine
    Aug 2, 2012
    80
    MTMTMK is even more propulsive than their debut. From Kondaine's digitised kwassa kwassa to the deep-house swell of Rudeboy and Mghetto's dub throb, it thumps with worldly street rhythms. [Aug 2012, p.110]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. NOW Magazine
    Aug 2, 2012
    60
    On MTMTMK, the duo moves through a range of global sounds, from Congolese kwassa kwassa to reggaeton to electro house.

See all 26 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. theofficialjeff
    7
    I was immediately drawn into The Very Best when I heard their single featuring Vampire Weekend's frontman Ezra Koenig as he provided the perfect context to understand the music through, an African band borrowing ideas from American indie instead of the other way around. The music was melodic but focused much more on the beat than indie typically did, making for an extremely fun listen.

    This album is good too, and I recommend listening to it, but it largely dropped the carefree melodies that its predecessor had in favor of adopting a much more hip-hop centric production. The fun is still there, and it's still a solid album, but it lacks the sunny and playful atmosphere that propelled "Warm Heart of Africa" to its highest highs.    … Expand

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