Summary
Set is an album by the Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour, released in 1990.[1][2] The album in part inspired the Senegalese youth movement Set-Setal, which sought to beautify Dakar.[3]
| Set | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | Mbalax | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | Michael Brooks | |||
| Youssou N'Dour chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard World Albums chart.[4] Virgin Records was disappointed by the album's commercial performance, and dropped N'Dour shortly after the album's release.[5]
Production edit
The album was made with N'Dour's band, Super Étoile de Dakar.[6] It was recorded live in the studio, in Paris, and was produced by Michael Brooks (with Daniel Lanois working on one track).[7][8] Set was originally intended for release only in Senegal; after becoming a hit, it was slightly remixed and distributed internationally.[9] The lyrics are sung in Wolof, with a few phrases in English.[10]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [11] |
| Chicago Tribune | [12] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[13] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [14] |
| Houston Chronicle | [15] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [6] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [16] |
| Select |   [17] |
The Washington Post praised the "exuberant, universal love songs like 'Fenene' and 'Ay Chono La'."[7] Robert Christgau deemed the album "13 shortish songs replete with catchy intros, skillful bridges, concise solos, hooks."[13] The Gazette wrote that the album "has moments of brilliance, a glorious fusion of old-and new-world thinking."[10] The Boston Globe singled out "Sinebar", declaring that it possesses "one of the catchiest, most exhilarating horn riffs in pop music this or any year."[18] Jon Pareles, in The New York Times, listed it as the third best album of 1990.[19]
Trouser Press called Set "one of the best Afropop albums ever," writing that "'Sabar' and 'Sinebar' show off the band’s relentless percussive chops."[9]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Set (Clean)" | 3:45 |
| 2. | "Alboury" | 4:15 |
| 3. | "Sabar" | 2:32 |
| 4. | "Toxiques" | 3:28 |
| 5. | "Sinebar" | 4:45 |
| 6. | "Medina" | 3:22 |
| 7. | "Miyoko" | 3:43 |
| 8. | "Xaley Rewmi (Our Young People)" | 4:17 |
| 9. | "Fenene (Another Place)" | 5:17 |
| 10. | "Fakastalu (Watch Your Step)" | 3:52 |
| 11. | "Hey You!" | 3:38 |
| 12. | "One Day (Jaam)" | 3:26 |
| 13. | "Ay Chono La" | 3:13 |
Personnel edit
- Youssou N'Dour - vocals
- Ouzin Ndiaye - vocals
- Habib Faye - bass guitar, keyboards
- Assane Thiam - tama
- Mbaye Dieye Faye - sabar
- Jimi Mbaye - guitar
- Pape Oumar Ngom - guitar
- Ibou Cisse - keyboards, guitar
- Galass Niang - drums
- Thierno Koite - alto saxophone
- Issa Cissokho - tenor saxophone
References edit
- ^ Zane (Oct 13, 1990). "Albums: Youssou N'Dour". Melody Maker. Vol. 66, no. 41. p. 41.
- ^ "Not your father's Ramadan". Salon. October 26, 2005.
- ^ Appert, Catherine M. (2018). In Hip Hop Time: Music, Memory, and Social Change in Urban Senegal. Oxford University Press. p. 74.
- ^ "Youssou N'Dour". Billboard.
- ^ Kot, Greg (17 Feb 1991). "The Real Grammy Winners". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
- ^ a b Moon, Tom (14 Oct 1990). "New Recordings". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 12L.
- ^ a b "N'Dour Upholds Senegal Standards". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ Snowden, Don (20 July 1990). "Singer Hopes to Reveal Africa's Cultural Wealth". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
- ^ a b "Youssou N'Dour". Trouser Press. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ a b Feist, Daniel (13 Dec 1990). "N'Dour's new Set worth careful listen". The Gazette. p. D14.
- ^ "Set - Youssou N'Dour | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Kot, Greg (8 Nov 1990). "Rave Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
- ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Youssou N'Dour". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 134.
- ^ Mitchell, Rick (November 11, 1990). "Recordings". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 8.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 497–498.
- ^ Prendergast, Mark (October 1990). "Culture Clubbing". Select. No. 4. p. 117.
- ^ Gonzalez, Fernando (9 Nov 1990). "Youssou N'Dour Senegalese Singer Stays True to Roots". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 50.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (30 Dec 1990). "Pop Music/1990". The New York Times. p. A32.