AMG Review of Best of Tania Maria

Michael G. Nastos
All Music Guide

From the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s, Tania Maria held court as a well-known post-Flora Purim Brazilian pop vocalist . Her dazzling piano chops and sexy air made her quite popular on the festival circuit. Maria's previous efforts for the Concord label branded her a fresh voice, but unfortunately these sessions, compiled by the World Pacific label, sound quite samey overall, or like an afterthought. Most of the material is overtly funky with a dash of Latin spice thrown in, the songs emotionally varying from "come here" to "go away," leaving the listener trapped on an emotional roller coaster. To put it mildly, Maria's stance was always quite confusing, while she sometimes presented herself as strictly a party animal. Though her musicianship is unquestioned, and all of this material is composed by her, her style and stance by this point had become clichéd -- although at times disarming -- and approached disco. Depending on your level of taste, this collection can be fairly satisfying, but only to the staunchest of fans.