Welcome To Mali
by Amadou & Mariam
  • Record Label: Nonesuch
  • Release Date: Mar 24, 2009
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 58 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 58
  3. Negative: 6 out of 58

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  1. MattB
    Dec 29, 2008
    5
    Its really not all that great. Not much innovation. If you like traditional african music in a pop format then by all means go for it but I assure you this album is nothing special. Be prepared to feel pleasant at best and underwhelmed at worst. You'd be much better off with the Ruby Suns - Sea Lion. I dare you to listen to Tane Mahuta and tell me there is 1 song that even approaches Its really not all that great. Not much innovation. If you like traditional african music in a pop format then by all means go for it but I assure you this album is nothing special. Be prepared to feel pleasant at best and underwhelmed at worst. You'd be much better off with the Ruby Suns - Sea Lion. I dare you to listen to Tane Mahuta and tell me there is 1 song that even approaches it on this album. There's no comparison. A further and yet still even better recommendation would be .. Animal Collective's merriweather post pavilion. Not quite as "worldly" as the previous 2...more like "otherworldly". It puts them on legend territory. No sh*t. For a great trip I'd rather listen to this than yoshimi or darkside anyday.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best Album of 2009
71
#71 Most Discussed Album of 2009
69
#69 Most Shared Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. musicOMH.com
    80
    Big production bombast in the latter half of the record--especially on 'Africa,' the English-language 'I Follow You' and the title track--could happily be skipped over, but there's at least half a record here that's as indispensible as it is likeable.
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  2. Observer Music Monthly
    100
    The great thing about this follow-up is the way it builds on that foundation without lapsing into self-consciousness.
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  3. Pitchfork
    84
    This album is an affirmation of global connectivity and an emerging global culture that transcends and repurposes tradition as it sees fit--the sound of Mali merging with the world at large.
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