Rod Taylor
@brazilbeat.bsky.social
Former occasional blogger of recent Brazilian musics. Still eight years' worth of posts to read for newcomers.
https://brazilbeatblog.wordpress.com/
https://brazilbeatblog.wordpress.com/
Lived there seven years. When I first moved there craved sweet and fatty food as I adjusted. When I moved back to States, my stomach was upset for a month as it got used to American food again.
January 6, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Lived there seven years. When I first moved there craved sweet and fatty food as I adjusted. When I moved back to States, my stomach was upset for a month as it got used to American food again.
You gotta have standards.
January 6, 2026 at 9:04 PM
You gotta have standards.
Seu Jorge, Baile à la Baiana – Who doesn’t need more Jorge Ben-inspired samba funk in their life? Even if it is a bit second-hand.
January 6, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Seu Jorge, Baile à la Baiana – Who doesn’t need more Jorge Ben-inspired samba funk in their life? Even if it is a bit second-hand.
Jadsa, Big Buraco – Jadsa’s been all over the place in her career. Here she opts for R&B with reggae/samba touches, and, not surprisingly, she’s very good at it. The problem with being a generalist, though, is you rarely excel in any one area so very good increasingly seems her ceiling.
January 6, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Jadsa, Big Buraco – Jadsa’s been all over the place in her career. Here she opts for R&B with reggae/samba touches, and, not surprisingly, she’s very good at it. The problem with being a generalist, though, is you rarely excel in any one area so very good increasingly seems her ceiling.
DJ Guaraná Jesus, Ouroboros – Drum and bass will never die.
January 6, 2026 at 6:19 PM
DJ Guaraná Jesus, Ouroboros – Drum and bass will never die.
Rachel Reis, Divinia Casca – Broader sounding than her debut both in being more generic in its modern MPB touches and also reaching harder for that audience, but on balance Reis continues to make the case that she’s one to watch.
January 6, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Rachel Reis, Divinia Casca – Broader sounding than her debut both in being more generic in its modern MPB touches and also reaching harder for that audience, but on balance Reis continues to make the case that she’s one to watch.
Ajuliacosta, Novo Testamento – Grab bag of hip hop styles over which the artist raps engagingly. If I were still blogging, definitely an album where I’d figure out the lyrics to see if it rates higher. As is I just enjoy the skill.
January 6, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Ajuliacosta, Novo Testamento – Grab bag of hip hop styles over which the artist raps engagingly. If I were still blogging, definitely an album where I’d figure out the lyrics to see if it rates higher. As is I just enjoy the skill.
Djonga, Quanto Mais Eu Como, Mais Fomo Eu Sinto! – Haven't followed him closely recently, but I don’t recall him swinging for the fences like he does here. Actually, it’s the best he’s ever sounded. Producer Coyote Beatz provides him the sounds and rhythms that make him worth your full attention.
January 6, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Djonga, Quanto Mais Eu Como, Mais Fomo Eu Sinto! – Haven't followed him closely recently, but I don’t recall him swinging for the fences like he does here. Actually, it’s the best he’s ever sounded. Producer Coyote Beatz provides him the sounds and rhythms that make him worth your full attention.
Baco Exu do Blues, Hasos – Having launched a career with two classic albums, Baco struggles with where to go, but it’s a meaningful wandering tied to growth not stasis or decay. Critics are right that some songs don’t fit the sequence, but he’s finding ways to deepen as he evolves.
January 6, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Baco Exu do Blues, Hasos – Having launched a career with two classic albums, Baco struggles with where to go, but it’s a meaningful wandering tied to growth not stasis or decay. Critics are right that some songs don’t fit the sequence, but he’s finding ways to deepen as he evolves.
Mosquito, Quinhão – Straight samba unencumbered by any need to sound modern or up to date. Not a bad place to start if you wondered what samba sounded like. Not a bad place to go if you already know.
January 6, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Mosquito, Quinhão – Straight samba unencumbered by any need to sound modern or up to date. Not a bad place to start if you wondered what samba sounded like. Not a bad place to go if you already know.
Pipa, Funk É Matemática – Seven “movements” plus a title track. Spouse said it sounded like video game music, which wasn’t an insult. Me? I hear cinematic. Even if I never see the non-existent movie it scores, I’m interested in the wordless narrative his sounds are unpacking.
January 6, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Pipa, Funk É Matemática – Seven “movements” plus a title track. Spouse said it sounded like video game music, which wasn’t an insult. Me? I hear cinematic. Even if I never see the non-existent movie it scores, I’m interested in the wordless narrative his sounds are unpacking.
So that's where Republicans come from.
January 6, 2026 at 11:59 AM
So that's where Republicans come from.
Marina Sena, Marinada Vol. 1 – The brief “Carnaval” was buried at the end of Coisas Naturais, but here its 1:23 becomes a statement of purpose. Beatier, more fun, this sounds more like the Sena I fell in love with. Most of these (I bet they are) outtakes, have more oomph than the full-length album.
January 6, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Marina Sena, Marinada Vol. 1 – The brief “Carnaval” was buried at the end of Coisas Naturais, but here its 1:23 becomes a statement of purpose. Beatier, more fun, this sounds more like the Sena I fell in love with. Most of these (I bet they are) outtakes, have more oomph than the full-length album.
Don L, Caro Vapor II: Qual E Forma de Pagamento – Always very good, I’m not sure he hasn’t sounded better. I love how the rhythms transform through the title track. His lyrics were always worth translating in the past before I reviewed him, but now I’m just letting sounds make meaning.
January 6, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Don L, Caro Vapor II: Qual E Forma de Pagamento – Always very good, I’m not sure he hasn’t sounded better. I love how the rhythms transform through the title track. His lyrics were always worth translating in the past before I reviewed him, but now I’m just letting sounds make meaning.
BaianaSystem, O Mundo dá Voltas – Old reliables, so of course it’s good. But it’s so packed with guest appearances, it sometimes feels like a retirement party. Or maybe a retirement baile and/or festa, because it’s more fun than standing around while the boss spouts inanities.
January 6, 2026 at 3:55 AM
BaianaSystem, O Mundo dá Voltas – Old reliables, so of course it’s good. But it’s so packed with guest appearances, it sometimes feels like a retirement party. Or maybe a retirement baile and/or festa, because it’s more fun than standing around while the boss spouts inanities.
Various Artists, Avenida Paulista, da Consolação ao Paraíso – From a stage play celebrating São Paulo with music Vanguarda Paulista to hip hop to dirty samba. The 25 songs in about an hour zip past, some feeling more like vignettes, but the whole is a heckuva testament a musically fertile city.
January 6, 2026 at 3:54 AM
Various Artists, Avenida Paulista, da Consolação ao Paraíso – From a stage play celebrating São Paulo with music Vanguarda Paulista to hip hop to dirty samba. The 25 songs in about an hour zip past, some feeling more like vignettes, but the whole is a heckuva testament a musically fertile city.
My broccoli has reconstructed meat in it!?!?!?
January 5, 2026 at 5:32 PM
My broccoli has reconstructed meat in it!?!?!?
I had the same feeling I did when I woke up to the coup attempt against Gorbachev.
January 3, 2026 at 3:57 PM
I had the same feeling I did when I woke up to the coup attempt against Gorbachev.
Oddball? Arty? Sign me up!
January 3, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Oddball? Arty? Sign me up!
Never heard of them. I will check it out!
January 3, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Never heard of them. I will check it out!