JARDIM ELÉTRICO

Good... good? Well, let's leave my heart silent and allow my mind to command! It's an average work to be heard mainly by someone already inside Mutantes sound and Brazilian music (and a bit of recent history too).

It was the 70s, there was the might censorship, great artists fleeing (to avoid prison) and more shameful events and etc. But Mutantes were there, in the heart of the country, still recording and scorning the censors although their effort nor ever was rewarded.

This album is very rocky but could be labeled as a protestlike, I mean in the special Mutantes way of protesting. Not all songs are worthy but those great are really great.

'Top top' is a funny song that hides a curse to the established dictatorship, an expression unable to be translated, meaning something like: "Go to ... ". Rita Lee's childish voice is a mockery with the overseers. The initial keyboards and choir are noticeable.

In 'El justiciero', they mix Portuguese and Spanish to make a joke with those that thought be applying justice. The use of mariachis is awesome and suits perfectly with the atmosphere the music intends to create.

'Technicolor', sung in English, is sweet and catchy, a new world seen in many colors. Now they sound more serious and their soothing voices are a great feature. The subtle changes in times are noticeable.

'Jardim Elétrico' is another fair point, very interesting with spices of experimental and avant-garde parts. Other songs with the exception of 'Baby', in fact a cover from a Caetano Veloso's hit, are less worthy. However, the title 'It's very nice pra xuxu' is very comic, a criticism for the widespread and erroneous use of a foreign language. By the way, chuchu (not xuxu) means chayote and the expression pra chuchu/xuxu could be translated as 'a lot', truly a school slang.

Considering the valuable points of the album I rate this work as good but non-essential. Total: 3.

Os Mutantes produced music during a painful political period in Brazil, but I cannot judge their involvement on the political front since I am not really fluent in Portuguese but songs as "Technicolor" (in English) and "El Justiciero" (in Spanish) are not protest songs as such, even if the latter depicts a hero who defends the rights of the poor people supposedly in a Mexican hacienda (hence the typical guitar play as well as the Mariachis sounds).

Funny Spanish vocals transformed (voluntarily) with a strong Portuguese accent. This song still has much more to do with a folk song.

The mood of this album is on the childish side ("Top Top", "Virginia") and very little prog is displayed. Some doo-wop fantasy during "It's Very Nice Pra Xuxu". At times this bands reminds me an earlier version of 10CC for their musical arrangements and extravaganza.

This album is diversified and investigates as well a more rocking beat ("Jardim Elétrico", "Sarava") which features as well some psychedelic reminiscence. Thanks to its very good instrumental closing section (flute and guitar), "Lady Lady" is my favourite track on this album.

This album just failed the three stars rating (five out ten would I say, average).

Talk about underrated albums!

Every band has an album that is overlooked by most and Os Mutantes are no exception to that. In ProgArchives the fourth studio album from the legendary band from São Paulo, entitled Jardim Elétrico is that overlooked album, what is quite unfair to both the album and the band. It is important to note that, due to their distinct phases or eras, the album which is overlooked depends on which kind of audience is listening to the band and, in a progressive rock site, it is natural that the band's most psychedelic albums would be overlooked.

Nevertheless, Jardim Elétrico does not have as much psychedelic influences as the other albums from that period. In fact, this album is quite a progger album: the nice arrangements by Rogério Duprat and the unusual instruments used, like flutes and percution, puts Jardim Elétrico closer to progressive rock than most would think.

Though they still do humorous music, the humor does not stay in the way when it comes to make great music, unlike in A Divina Comédia ou Ando Meio Desligado, where humor actually spoils a big part of the album. Some humorous songs are Top Top, El Justiciero and It's Very Nice Pra Xuxu, all being in the first part of the album.

The album is quite homogeneous, since most songs are very good. Considering Jardim Elétrico as a wholr, it does not have a bad song, although it also does not have any amazing or mindblowing song also. The highlights go to: Top Top; Technicolor; Virgínia; Jardim Elétrico; Lady, Lady; Baby.

Grade and Final Thoughts

A pretty good album, despite being overlooked here in ProgArchives, Jardim Elétrico should not be forgotten just because it does not sound like the other seminal bands. A good album should get a good grade despite anything, so 4 stars to Jardim Elétrico.

I notice a big endeavor. I notice it did not work. This was the worst album from Os Mutantes since their debut. Even with the brazilian censorship and the hard times, they could do very impressive works, like their debut, so it does not justify this lame attempt. I found nothing new here. Only a bunch of poor songs, without creativity, without innovation. The lyrics are weak. The songs are weak. Maybe a few average songs, but it can't save the album rating for me. Jardim Elétrico tries to recycle the psychedelic sound, but it ends terrible. Highlights? It's hard to choose any song here. The three "least worst" songs: Technicolor, Jardim Elétrico and Lady Lady.