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America is a very insular country, but we hardly ever recognize it, or admit it. We think we are so worldly, and that we drive the engine of popular culture all over the world, but if that is true, then why haven’t you heard of this guy? Zucchero is a musical phenom, hugely popular on virtually every continent except North America. This CD collects some of his best work onto one disk, and it is a truly incredible listening experience. Zucchero possesses a voice that resembles Eric Clapton at his most soulful, and his songwriting is universal in its scope and appeal. Just a quick look at the diverse list of guest performers on this CD is a mind-boggling experience, and rather accurately portrays the degree of respect that other musicians have for him; John Lee Hooker, Sheryl Crow, Solomon Burke, Eric Clapton, Macy Gray, Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli is only a partial list of the guest performers appearing here. One song is co-written with Sting, another with Bono. The sound veers from Moby-like trance blues (“I Lay Down”, with John Lee Hooker) to reflective mood pieces (“Dune Mosse”, with Miles Davis), to anthemic ballads (“Cosi Celeste”, with Cheb Mami), all with a distinctive international flavor that indicates why he is such a force in world music, everywhere except for America. The only fault I have with this collection is its air-tight production, and subtle tendency toward power balladry, but one man’s scrap is another man’s gold, and there is a lot of gold here, regardless of your tastes.
If there were any justice in this world, or if the American entertainment industry had even the slightest degree of open-mindedness, this CD would be the best-selling album in the U.S. for 2005. Unfortunately, the music industry is not open-minded, and global events have adequately proven that the word ‘justice’ has been rendered virtually meaningless. So, if we cannot rely on our national culture to present something that is truly excellent, we must do it on our own. Do you wish to be the hippest, most knowledgeable and worldly person in your circle of friends? Then be the first on your block to buy this CD. Your friends will be awed, while you revel in the satisfaction that you are among the first Americans to discover the excellence and diversity of Zucchero.
Grade: 
 
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