By Will Selfridge

Artist: Seu Jorge
Album: Cru
Label: Wrasse Records

Most people will probably recognize Seu Jorge as Pelé dos Santos, the Brazilian musician who appears rather randomly in Wes Anderson’s 2004 hit The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou to brilliantly translate and transform David Bowie songs "Rebel Rebel," "Rock and Roll Suicide," and "Starman." Jorge though, has been famous in his home country of Brazil for several years. Initially, his fame spread as leader of the group Farofa Carioca and his appearances onscreen (Jorge also played the character Knockout Ned in the international film City of God) merely added to the stardom of this Portuguese sensation.

Having grown up in the slums of Brazil, os favelas, Jorge knows a thing or two about the struggle, the tribulations of human existence. On the contrary, he keeps a remarkably positive outlook in his music, as evidenced on his new album Cru (Crude). This album, this message, is anything but crude, as Jorge notes that "music to me, is to sing for the love," to touch peoples’ hearts and souls, when he could have just as easily complained about the difficulties of growing up in an extremely poor Brazilian atmosphere.

Simply put, this is a delightful album that has a rare, genuine effect of transporting the listener. Some songs, such as "Mania de Peitão (Large Chested Mania)" and "Tive Razão (I Was Right)," the song featured on Gyroscope, bring the listener right back to Jorge’s roots. It has the genuine feel of being on Brazilian beaches or directly in the middle of the rhythmic celebration of Carnival. Other songs however, such as the mellower love song "Una Mujer (A Woman)" have the feel of a remote, intimate Parisian café, but all the same, the effects are magical.

Of the worry-free Brazilian lifestyle (and of his take on the Serge Gainsbourg song, "Chatterton," chronicling the suicide of 18th century English poet Thomas Chatterton at the tragic age of 17), Jorge remarked, "En Bresil, tout le monde travail, travail, travail pour survive, pas pour suicider..." or, "In Brazil, everyone works, works, works to survive, not to commit suicide." His underlying message that life is a gift is prevalent in this celebration, this upbeat album, and it’s a beautiful one.

[Check out www.seujorge.com, the official website]