112. Os Mutantes — Os Mutantes (1968)

1. I knew this would be a fun one when two minutes into the opening track, we hear the sound of your record player slowing down to stop; then it bursts forward with life; and then abruptly, the band just stops to take a coffee break while you listen. It’s wild. It’s fun. It’s certainly out there.
2. Os Mutantes (The Mutants — a great name for a band) came up in Brazil as part of a countercultural musical movement called “Tropicalia,” and they kick ass. Over and over on this album I found myself feeling a certain thrill at the sounds they put in front of me. Second track “A Minha Menina” is a blast, full of distorted guitars, jangly acoustic guitars, great beats, and cool as hell vocals. “Baby” recalls rockabilly love songs to sway to, with an edge. “Bat Macumba” makes me want to run into the ocean until I faceplant into a swath of warm salty water. The whole thing is a breath of fresh air.
3. I’m really glad to have encountered this. I’d heard the name Os Mutantes, probably from their reunion in 2006 (right around the time I started really getting into pop music) but never given them a listen. After falling into a lull with the 1001, this is just what the doctor ordered — not a perfect album, but one that jolted me awake and renewed my excitement for what’s to come.

One Essential Song:

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