Putumayo Presents: Samba Bossa Nova by Various Artists (CD, Jan-2002, Putumayo)

Well, this delivers the quality (and commercialization) you expect from a Putumayo collection. Unfortunately, these aren't new cats singing old standards in a new samba rhythm style. Uh-huh. It's mostly just the latest in samba performers who keep it low-key, so that maybe it could be considered that Bossa Nova for being mellow. But the tracks don't have the typical Bossa Nova melodic accompaniment, which is essential in my opinion in order to call it that. This CD should be called Brazilian Music without trying to introduce a new genre, which it poops out on. Nonetheless, it's enjoyable, and it's new music. But it's begging for a less-edited cut (Buena Vista Social Club-like). I would enjoy this much more if it weren't so overdubbed sounding - it takes away the beauty, the rawness that samba and bossa nova call for, each in its own right.