Joko: The Link

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.com
Youssou N'Dour's Joko: From Village to Town saw release everywhere except the U.S. But a new label sees this album, similar, but far more tightly focused, doing better in the American market. Gone are the overly Westernized fluff and the collaborations with Sting and Wyclef Jean. Two newly recorded tracks, "Mademba (The Electricity Is Out Again)" and "Miss," increase the Senegalese quotient, serving to remind just why N'Dour and his high, charismatic voice are one of music's icons. "This Dream," with Peter Gabriel, remains on this Joko, but it sits well in a set that keeps close to N'Dour's real mbalax roots but still manages to have true Western appeal. N'Dour is in top form throughout, keening the way he once did with Etoile de Dakar, his writing more inventive and assured, and Jimi Mbaye's guitar work outstanding throughout. This is the album N'Dour has needed to make for many years, where his heart and his art meet. A complete success. --Chris Nickson

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-11-21 rating:
For a reflective afternoon,
I have had this cd for awhile now and I'm still moved by it. If you are unfamiliar with Youssou N'Dour his talent is immense. If you are simply unfamiliar with this album this is for quiet reflective afternoon, this doesn't mean the songs are sad and sappy, its just that they have an energy all their own.

Mr. N'Dour is the Sengalise singing sensation. It has an African, Cuban, Caribbean sort of vibe sung in either the West African dialect, French or English. The cd booklet is translated into English.

He brought popular music to Senegal. The music and the voice togther make for a haunting and enchanting sound.

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review by: date: 2002-12-04 rating:
Took the "Afro" out of Afropop
Horrid pop music. Watered down anti-mbalax rock that sullies the good name of Youssou N'dour. Granted this version is SLIGHTLY better than its original form/release (Joko: From Village to Town)- but make no mistake this was produced to appeal to Western sensibilies, abandons most attributes of senegalese Afropop (mbalax), leaving trite English lyrics, downbeat accented, unpolyrhythmic pop music more akin to Peter Gabriel than other N'dour albums. Recommened instead are
Ndour's "Best of 80's" & Rough Guide to Youssou N'dour & Etoile de Dakar", and Thione Seck/Raam Daan's "Live Aniversary."

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review by: date: 2002-11-26 rating:
Slick, but I like it...!!
Senegal's Youssou N'Dour is arguably the most famous African pop artist alive; he's certainly one of the leading exponents of the slick, high-tech production style that has grown out of the Parisian expatriate scene over the last few decades... This is his first album in over six years and, like other recent African pop albums, it points to a resolution of the aesthetic bridge that separates fans of a more stripped-down sound and those who like the soft stuff. There are still a few touches that make me cringe -- a soprano sax here, an overwrought chorus there -- but overall this album has a nice organic feel to it... pleasant, listenable, seductive. The only problem, really, is that so many of these songs end so quickly; it's as though someone advised N'Dour to trim his tunes down because eight-minute long songs won't get as much airplay in America. The four-minute long compromises mostly end just when things are getting good, and several seem kind of bluntly edited... The good news is, N'Dour's new songs sound great. I just wish I could hear more of them.

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review by: date: 2002-07-20 rating:
Good but not Great
I think Youssou N'Dour is losing his edge a bit. His last few albums have been decent but nowhere near as good as "Set" and "Eyes Open", where there is not a weak track to be found. His more recent stuff is more uneven and a bit too "pop", in my opinion.


review by: kads25 date: 2002-07-11 rating:
What Music Should Be
One reviewer wrote that Youssou is the milestone for African Artists. I would go further and say that his music is what all music should be. I have a couple hundred CD's ranging from Classical, to Punk; from Andean to Zimbabwa and Youssou NDour sits at the top of my list, next to Mozart, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and Oliver Mtukudzi. You do not just listen to his music, you absorb it, what ever language he sings in. My favorite from this album is Red Clay, a melancholy tune about searching for one's soul, only to realize that it is always with you on the road of life, right there at your feet, whatever the situation is.

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