The seventy-sixth album: Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba
When I hear samba, the carnival sounds of Brazil often come to mind. I know that's not quite true, but the album here feels like it goes broader, drawing a lot of bossa nova to create a melodic, but also inwards sound. It's actually very gentle and relaxing, great working music. At the same time, there's a nice set of lyrics and themes that keep everything interesting.
You Didn't Have to be So Nice is especially stand out, with a quite kid singing along as well. It's a decent mix of songs, mostly relaxed, in a way that really creates a break from the rock songs of before while staying swinging and avoiding more maudlin tones.