Set
Studio album by
Youssou N'Dour
Released1990
GenreMbalax
LabelVirgin
ProducerMichael Brooks
Youssou N'Dour chronology
The Lion
(1989)		 Set
(1990)		 Eyes Open
(1992)

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]

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

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Chicago Tribune[12]
Robert ChristgauA−[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

No.TitleLength
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

References

  1. ↑ Zane (Oct 13, 1990). "Albums: Youssou N'Dour". Melody Maker. Vol. 66, no. 41. p. 41.
  2. ↑ "Not your father's Ramadan". Salon. October 26, 2005.
  3. ↑ Appert, Catherine M. (2018). In Hip Hop Time: Music, Memory, and Social Change in Urban Senegal. Oxford University Press. p. 74.
  4. ↑ "Youssou N'Dour". Billboard.
  5. ↑ Kot, Greg (17 Feb 1991). "The Real Grammy Winners". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  6. 1 2 Moon, Tom (14 Oct 1990). "New Recordings". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 12L.
  7. 1 2 "N'Dour Upholds Senegal Standards". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  8. ↑ Snowden, Don (20 July 1990). "Singer Hopes to Reveal Africa's Cultural Wealth". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
  9. 1 2 "Youssou N'Dour". Trouser Press. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  10. 1 2 Feist, Daniel (13 Dec 1990). "N'Dour's new Set worth careful listen". The Gazette. p. D14.
  11. ↑ "Set - Youssou N'Dour | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  12. ↑ Kot, Greg (8 Nov 1990). "Rave Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  13. 1 2 "Robert Christgau: CG: Youssou N'Dour". www.robertchristgau.com.
  14. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 134.
  15. ↑ Mitchell, Rick (November 11, 1990). "Recordings". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 8.
  16. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 497–498.
  17. ↑ Prendergast, Mark (October 1990). "Culture Clubbing". Select. No. 4. p. 117.
  18. ↑ Gonzalez, Fernando (9 Nov 1990). "Youssou N'Dour Senegalese Singer Stays True to Roots". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 50.
  19. ↑ Pareles, Jon (30 Dec 1990). "Pop Music/1990". The New York Times. p. A32.
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