Marisa Monte

This 1996 release from one of Brazil's top singers features Monte at her height and remains one of the best releases in her oeuvre. In a career marked by uneven studio albums, the live disc captures Monte's luscious vocalizations and her deft touch with covers. It's literally note-perfect from beginning to end, and may be the best way to experience a Brazilian love affair by proxy: sex drips off every shimmering note she sings. The second (studio-recorded) disc is nice, but it's nothing compared to the first.