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  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Welcome To Mali Image
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 58 Ratings

  • Summary: The African duo met at a school for the blind and have since written a song for the 2006 World Cup and their latest album features production by Damon Albarn.

Top Track

Sabali
Anw na ku yé foli de yé. Anw duya yé tolo kê yoro yé. Anw bo kê ko yan. Anw bo kê ko yan. Djama! Sabali! Sabali! Sabali yonkontê. Sabali!... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 21
  2. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. The great thing about this follow-up is the way it builds on that foundation without lapsing into self-consciousness.
  2. Welcome To Mali sounds heavily produced but not overproduced, and even with the pings and whizzing, Amadou’s playing and the pair’s singing insure it never sounds less than organic.
  3. Welcome to Mali was one of 2008's hidden gems, so do yourself a favor and go check it out now.
  4. Regardless of the frames built around them by producers or the press, Amadou and Mariam make great pop music, and their new album gives us more of it.
  5. Mojo
    80
    Welcome to Mali celebrates its artificiality, flaunts its illegitimacy and waggles its infidelities in your face. Amadou & Mariam have just damned authenticite to an eternity in caducite. [Dec 2008, p.98]
  6. Q Magazine
    80
    Truely, a voyage of discovery. [Jan 2009, p.121]
  7. If the album is frustratingly uneven--if, despite moments of exuberance, it can also feel like a mundane grind--well, I suspect that also mirrors life in Mali. And almost everywhere else, too.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Negative: 4 out of 20
  1. danielh.
    Dec 2, 2008
    10
    Fantastic, I love them!!!!
  2. JesseR.
    Dec 12, 2008
    10
    awesome.. album of the year..
  3. JohnP.
    Feb 4, 2009
    10
    Some do just what they can, others shoot for the stars. This album is a stunning masterpiece, and what some people can't seem to Some do just what they can, others shoot for the stars. This album is a stunning masterpiece, and what some people can't seem to understand, is the fact that this album was created in attempt of perfecting the balance of complexity and simplicity. Neither is the perfect route to success, though like a political party, many subscribe to a pole rather than a balance of the two. This album travels great distance in an attempt to blend a wide variety of musical backgrounds, exposing what the "dull" lyrics as described below stretch to yell, that there is much more to Africa than tribal rhythms and chants. Amadou and Mariam reach there mark, and then some. Expand
  4. WillB.
    Dec 12, 2008
    9
    On the one hand, I'm not qualified to speak about this album, since I have not heard the rest of their catalogue. On the other hand, if On the one hand, I'm not qualified to speak about this album, since I have not heard the rest of their catalogue. On the other hand, if there is any other album out right now that can top this for catchiness, poignancy, musical genius, good times, back story, and a healthy multiplier of long-time-coming, please show it to me. Expand
  5. brendank.
    Dec 6, 2008
    8
    This was my first introduction to this duo and loved them. But I have to admit that if you like this album, you will LOVE their earlier album This was my first introduction to this duo and loved them. But I have to admit that if you like this album, you will LOVE their earlier album 'Dimanche à Bamako'. Both are excellent Expand
  6. Liamd
    Feb 26, 2009
    7
    After all the hype this album got, and after Dimanche a Bamako (their last album) which is one of my favourite albums of the last few years, After all the hype this album got, and after Dimanche a Bamako (their last album) which is one of my favourite albums of the last few years, I can't help feelling just a little disappointed. It's a great album, no mistake, but it's very similar to the last album, and the last album had better tunes (Sabali aside, which is a stonking track). If you've never heard of these two before and are wondering which album to get to give them a try, go for Dimanche a Bamako. Collapse
  7. GillI
    Feb 4, 2009
    0
    Sorry guys but i can't rate this clone of Manu Chao higher. Absolutely nothing interesting to listen.

See all 20 User Reviews

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