This CD is very upbeat and extremely creative. This is my second one. I wore the first one out.

I first heard of Pink Martini about a year and a half ago when friends invited my hubby and I to a concert Pink Martini was having in Seattle, Washington. Since our friends were offering, we went just for the heck of it. And, boy, are we glad we did! The band reminds me of old days gone by (OK, I'm too young for the big band era but I still enjoy it).

'Sympathique' is my favorite out of all their CDs. It's smooth, upbeat, unique, with a European feel. Love it! It relaxes me every time I play it. And it makes great party/dinner music, too.

The music is really great, but her French accent is so deplorable I can hardly listen to Sympathique. It sounds very American teenager speaking French in a high school class. The music is wonderful if you can deal with that.

If you've ever actually had a martini, you know that its one redeeming quality is that it delivers its payload with impact, like being hit in the face with a baseball bat. A martini is Coltrane on Ascension, or Hendrix playing the Star Spangled Banner. Presumably this "little orchestra" settled on the name Pink Martini because it sounded sophisticated and hip. But this music appears designed to have the impact of flavored seltzer; it is effervescent. That is both its single merit and its damnation. While the musicianship cannot be faulted, the music never emerges from being audio wallpaper. If there are dentist's offices in heaven, this CD plays in the waiting rooms.

Much has been made of the rhythms to be found here, and PM surely does love the Latin beat, so much so that one might imagine one's self in a remedial dance academy for jaded adults anxious to learn the tango. Likewise, there has been considerable discussion of the "dark and edgy" rendition of Qué Sera Sera. Granted, it sounds like it was cut from the soundtrack of What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? - but if that's as far out as you go, well, you're in the center of the mainstream. Indeed, universal likeability is precisely what makes Pink Martini the ideal choice for your next Bar Mitzvah.

The star attraction of this mambo combo is singer China Forbes, an art major from Harvard. Forbes has a gorgeous natural instrument and is classically trained. Not only that, she has a wonderful ear, which enables her to sing in various languages convincingly. The moments when she shines are the CD's highpoints. Pink Martini is quite insistent about drawing on the musical traditions of many nations. At first this feels daring, then it starts resembling a parlor trick, and finally it feels like elitist grandstanding the group is engaging in to impress itself.

If you want a martini, pink or blue or green, buy a Sun Ra CD. If you want a CD certain not to upset your 97-year old grandmother as she drifts in and out of her nap, Sympathetique is for you.

I am definitely simpatico with Pink Martini and this particular album! Sometimes I play it nearly non-stop while cooking, alternating with my other Pink Martinis: HEY EUGENE! and Hang On Little Tomato. I love the mix of languages and styles in all their albums and the wonderfully clear French on the song "Sympathique," which a friend of mine first discovered on a French-language site as a tool for learning the language! And isn't this eerie version of "Que Sera Sera" used on the soundtrack of the film In the Cut?!

This album is one of the best I've ever purchased. It doesn't fit a specific genre and that's the beauty of it. Excellent selection, best for dancing and just listening. Highly recommended!!!

Pink Martini are a big disappointment. Here you have a couple of talented musicians - Lauderdale clearly knows what he is doing and his piano is the driving force behind the enterprise. He is aided by some cool brass playing by Gavin Bondy, but the singer sounds flat and rather dreary. Instead of an uplifting, invigorating experience this sounds like music assembled from a flatpack - all the parts are there but when it's put together there's something missing. The whole ensemble is charmless and entirely unconvincing.
This sort of music needs to be driven urgently forward by infectious rhythm playing. You just don't get this, the exotic percussion sounds hesitant, badly failing the invention and verve of Lauderdale and Bondy. Coupled with this the songs are very poor - just listen to the pathetic and mundane lyrics on the opening track. This is just not good enough for a band which are supposed to be bright and innovative. The well known title song featured in those ads is nowhere near enough to carry the rest of the stuff on this disc.
It all sounds weak and uninspired - a big disappointment.

I enjoyed every piece on the CD and would have no problem recommending this cd to friends due to the variety of music. One drawback-the bonus Piece "Lullaby" was recorded at such a low level you can barely hear even if you turn your volume to full blast.

I listened to Pink Martini's rendition of Brazil and I was sold. But there's so much more. All the sounds are rhythmically sensuous, at times wonderfully funky and performed with a style that can't be found anywhere else. Que' Sera Sera, is performed exquisitely. Wow! a new sound that's strangely exciting.

i love this album. i want to marry it and have little pink martini babies with it!

I have this cd and "Hang On Little Tomato" after seeing Pink Martini in concert this summer. They are truly dynamic and I love how they revel in singing songs from various cultures. Songs are touching, lively, passionate and uplifting!

Fun, quirky band that I play in my car from start to finish. Plus, they seem to have a little more staying power than Squirrel Nut Zippers did. If you like a mix of jazz, big band, salsa, and other types of international music then give them a try. My only concern, which is a minor one, is that they seek out *so* many languages to sing in that the act of singing in foreign languages in itself almost becomes a schtick for them. "Look, we just sang in [insert language here] -- call us clever!" As I said, though, this is a minor concern that does not (through 3 albums so far) detract from the fun factor of listening to them.

Pink Martini repertory is very sophisticated. The band plays music that will be enjoyable for people who like different types of music. It is a fun band.

I first heard of Pink Martini at a dinner party. The sounds were wonderful but not until I got my own CDs did I really get hooked on their music. I can listen to the first two albums back to back without feeling tired of their sound.

One Word AMAZING!!! If you ever get a chance, SEE THEM LIVE...YOU WILL BE BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER!!!

Pink Martini,an eclectic lounge orchestra, can credit both Boston,Massachusetts (a.k.a Beantown) and Portland,Oregon (a.k.a. the City of Roses),as well as Pacific Northwest politics,for its existence. Originally, bandleader Thomas Lauderdale formed it to perform at benefits to combat the ultra-conservative Oregon Citizens Alliance' quixotic anti-gay rights measures on the ballots. Despite its political origins, Pink Martini has grown into being "Portland's House Band", encompassing a wide range of styles and fans.

Pink Martini's debut album,"Sympathique",is now a decade old,and still vibrant. The opening,"Amado Mio",sounds like a perfect song for an Italian restaurant with a Chianti bottle on the table. "No Hay Problema" and "Andalucia" are both tapas-like instrumentals;while the latter is definitely Spanish,the former is Latin sounding. The selections "Song of the Black Lizard" and "Never on Sunday" add the savory musical flavors of Japan and Greece to the mix. "Que Sera Sera" is an amazing piece of black comedy;it would've been perfect for Vincenzo Natali's vampire sequence in "Paris Je T'Aime" (in which a beautiful Gallic vampire lady ends up with a geek) because China Forbes sings with delicious irony. "Brazil" is a glorious sun-baked ode to that country (and the choir isn't intrusive) "Sympathique" is all-American nouvelle chanson,and "Lullabye" is the lilting wordless version of it.

"Sympathique" is full of fun,toe-tapping music. It's perfect for a cocktail party!

Obviously a lot of people like this CD, but I am not one of them. It has a couple of songs that are nice, but for me it is mostly a wide variety of reasonably boring and inoffensive music... not bad (except for "Que Sera, Sera" which I don't like with the exception of Sly Stone's version), but nothing to very captivating either.

Pink Martini put on an excellent show here recently in Cleveland, Ohio.
It was such a delight. I recommend all fans to enjoy their latest release Eugene.

The famous first album of this exceptionally talented Harvard-by-way-of-Portland band shows all the hallmarks of precociousness. The orchestrations are exceptionally musically accomplished and witty, and the cosmopolitan tone is amusing and intelligently achieved. When they get it right, as they do for about 80% of their songs (most notably a sensational Chopin-inspired fantasy called "La Soledad"), they knock it out of the ball park. There are a few numbers that do seem to be trying too hard, such as a dark and purposefully off-key rendition of "Que Sera Sera" that tries to do for Doris Day what "La Valse" did for Johann Strauss; but this is a maiden effort, and allowances should be made for the artists trying to feel their way into their singular style. The band's lead singer China Forbes does not here have the kind of control over her voice she would later develop, although she still sounds powerful and arresting; impresario and arranger Thomas Lauderdale's efforts, on the other hand, had already reached their dazzling level of confidence and sophistication.

An ecletic range of sounds that make one of my favorite work CD's. A bit jazzy and upbeat, and interesting. Highly recommended in the right place.

I got Hang on Tomato before this cd, but I've gotta say that you couldn't tell which album came out first. Both are very original, have tons of life and energy. Pink Martini are excellent artists.

I've listened to this cd at least once a week since I bought it and each time, I find something new to appreciate.

Another great CD. can't wait for them to produce a 3rd one

This cd is incredible. I love their style and the vocals are superb! I will continue to purchase more of their music.

After hearing this album in 2005, I immediately traveled to Cleveland to hear Pink Martini in concert - it was one of the finest evenings of music I've ever enjoyed, followed by an even more enjoyable concert in DC in 2006. Of my 4000 CDs, from Bach to Beiderbecke to Beethoven, "Sympathique" has given me more listening pleasure than any other disk in my collection. I've listened to it hundreds of times and it continues to thrill me! Listeners who enjoy this album should see Pink Martini's DVD and watch the group make their marvelous sound. They clearly enjoy their work and it's exciting to see such professional musicians doing what they do so well.

Very enjoyable CD. Makes one feel good. Nice technical job of recording.

words fail to describe the happiness/joy that flows from this group to listeners & those lucky enough to catch them in person......The sum experience of listening & seeing Pink Marini (in Chicago House of Blues, they 'burned the place down')is Absolutely Greater than the total of the components. I write this not a a critical hard-nosed reviewer, merely one who was overcome with emotion upon experiencing them on PBS, audio, and in person. Don't dare miss them, they're undeniably headed for the Top!

I was at tasting Pinot Noir out of barrels at Brick House Winery in Newberg, Oregon when I was stopped in mid-taste by the first cut on this CD. I asked the winemaker, Doug Tunnell, what we were listening to and he said, "a local group called Pink Martini." Doug's wine is always fabulous, but that particular day was transcendent as each taste of Pinot was accompanied by a taste of some marvelous place in the world. Having grown up listing to latin music and having lived in northern Europe, I found that Pink Martini transported me to so many places that are dear to my heart. Now, when we have friends over for a gorgeous meal and a bottle of Brick House Pinot, I notice people stop mid-sip and say "what are we listening to?"

Buy this CD, a let Pink Martini take you on a well-earned vacation!!!

Love this group! Their professionalism goes from 30s' Paris sounds to lilting 2006. I was surprised and delighted to find out these extremely talented musicians were so young. Their musical selection was nostalgic enough for me and I appreciated songs I had not heard before.
I've played the CD for folks for 18 to 80.. all of them enjoying. I'm about to buy their next CD.

If you ever buy an album just because of one song, you have got to check out Yolanda which is track 5 on this album, which is just amazing. I cannot possibly do it justice by attempting to describe it, except that it just makes me feel incredibly good. I would recomment this album for this reason alone, although I have to say it is an enjoyable easy to listen to album, with excellent instrumentation vocals, and excellent atmosphere.

How I discovered Pink Martini was through another album called Amore Mio by Various Artists. This featured a Pink Martini track Una Notte a Napoli, which piqued my curiosity in this group. This is an Italian NuJazz album featuring tracks by many other outstanding artists.

If you like Pink Martini, you will love Amore Mio, which is one of my favorite albums to listen to. Pauline London has an outstanding track called Senza Fine on that album, but the whole album is amazing.

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I bought this wonderful CD a while ago, and recommended it to many friends. I then gave away my copy and bought another to replace it. Imagine my surprise to find that the newer copy didn't contain Bolero. For that it loses one star.

A hodgepodge of music featuring some really bad French and a bleating trumpet. Some tracks shine while others made me cringe. A real disappointment. I should have listened to all the samples before buying it and not just assumed it would all be similar to the tracks I heard on the radio. Probably the worst version of Que Sera Sera I have ever heard, tho it is not a song I cared for to begin with. Like one review says, it's a variety of music, tho I add: none of which is related other than being from the same planet... not an ethnic fusion, just a sampler of divergent sounds. Reminds me of the Lawrence Welk Show, tho not as good technically. One for the back of the drawer.

These brilliant musicians make perfect music to please anyone, anytime. People of all ages and musical preferences can find something to love on this album

I like the group and the fact that they play different tempos. Love the female vocalist!

Catchy! Infectious! Pink Martini does French, American, and Mexican songs. Lead singer China Forbes has a velvety, clear voice. This album is great for a Sunday afternoon, driving around, or a party on a boat. Every song is good.