★★★★★
Having retired from music in order to pursue his interest in politics earlier this year, it's unlikely that fans of Senegal's most famous musician will be treated to any new material in the near future. So this two-disc set stands as a tantalising offering, on paper. Will it represent a rewarding trawl through 's embryonic yet essential creative period of the 80s...
- www.bbc.co.uk
2013-04-23
★★★★★
One of world's greatest singers heads to Jamaica for Afro-reggae fusionMotherland reggae is nothing new. But Senegal's Youssou N'Dour does it right on this pilgrimage, convening veteran Jamaican players -- journeyman guitarist Earl Chinna Smith and ex-Wailer keyboardist Tyrone Downie -- while bringing his own music to the table...
- www.rollingstone.com
2011-06-20
★★★★★
Senegal's preeminent superstar Youssou N'Dour excels as a singer, a bandleader, a performer and a businessman, but his latest international release suggests that his greatest skill may be as a songwriter. Each of these eleven tracks has seductive melodic power that takes fierce hold on the inner ear, and only grows stronger with repeated listening...
- www.afropop.org
2010-12-19
★★★★★
A recent trend towards electric Afropop artists making mostly acoustic recordings has led to a strong season of releases, especially from West Africa. With Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, Djelimady Tounkara and Kandia Kouyaté already on the scene with acoustic releases, another heavy weighs in. Youssou N'Dour has often used acoustic elements in his songs, so this is not a complete departure...
- www.afropop.org
2010-12-19
★★★★★
Youssou N'Dour's first international release in six years actually came out in European and American versions, with significantly different track selections. All represent beautifully polished, high-end productions of songs released in rawer form back home in Senegal...
- www.afropop.org
2010-12-19
★★★★★
A single listen to Youssou N'Dour's latest release leaves little doubt that it is one of the most important African recordings in years. Senegal's top pop musician has built a career on appropriating musical waves from the West--salsa, reggae, funk, and rock--and artfully working them into his quintessentially African mix. Here, N'Dour turns his ear eastward and northward to seek common ground between his West African musical sensibility and the musical heartland of Arab Africa, Egypt...
- www.afropop.org
2010-12-19
★★★★★
Youssou N'Dour, one of the unquestioned giants of the world music scene, has followed up his triumphal resurrection of Senegalese Afro-Cuban all stars Orchestra Baobab by going back to the country. On his new disc, Nothing's in Vain (Coono du Réér), N'Dour throws over 15 years of increasingly awkward western pop collaborations and offers 13 mostly traditional, mostly acoustic songs in the West African style. The real attraction here is N'Dour's supple, beautiful voice...
- www.hour.ca
2010-12-07
★★★★★
This is the just-released soundtrack to N'Dour's 2008 documentary film of the same name, chronicling the explosive public reaction to the Senegalese superstar's 2004 Grammy-winning album, Egypt. That record won raves worldwide, except in Senegal where N'Dour was trashed for singing pop songs about Senegalese Sufi Islam...
- www.hour.ca
2010-11-09
★★★★★
The Grammy-winning African superstar, Senegal's king of mbalax, returns with the 11-track album Rokku mi rokka ("Give and Take") that'll sell gangbusters back home but may leave Western world music fans a little cold. Standout tracks include the leadoff 4-4-4-4 and the closing Wake Up (It's Africa Calling) featuring N'Dour's studio reunion with British singer Neneh Cherry.
- www.hour.ca
2010-11-09