Bajofondo – Mar Dulce

Mar Dulce is the new album by Bajofondo (formerly Bajofondo Tango Club) a collaboration between Gustavo Santaolalla, Juan Campodonico, and Luciano Supervielle. The original concept of the group was to combine tango with techno and turntablism, much the way Nortec Collective uses Norteño and techno. With Mar Dulce the group decided to take an organic, real [...]

Read Full Post »

Two Tropicália Classics

In the late 1960s, as Brazil was controlled by a military junta, a group of musicians, calling themselves Tropicálistas introduced leftist politics and hippie counter culture to the pop music of South America. Musically they combined psychedelic rock with urban bossa nova and rural folk, on top of African based rhythms. The lyrics are mostly political but satirical and surreal, sung as [...]

Read Full Post »

Best New Music of 2007 – Part I

Yes, another “Best of 2007″ list. These 12 cds, are my favorites from artists primarily of Latin American origin and with lyrics in Spanish and Portuguese. Some were released in Brasil, Mexico, or elsewhere in 2006 but found their way to the United States in 2007.
The First Six In Alphabetical Order:
Bebel Gilberto-Momento
Doesn’t break any new ground, really. Just another beautiful bossa nova album with [...]

Read Full Post »

Café Tacvba – Sino

Café Tacvba(sometimes Tacuba) is Mexico’s most acclaimed rock band of the past fifteen years through their mixing alternative/indie rock styles with traditional and folkloric Mexican music. The band also became known for their live shows featuring the showmanship of singer Rubén Albarran who channels James Brown through Salvador Dalí(though sometimes dressed as Frida Kahlo). The band is [...]

Read Full Post »

Typical Mainstream Mexican Pop/Rock – Motel(+RBD and Maná)

Despite attention in the US for alternative latin rock, bands like Motel are more typical of the bands actually popular in Mexico. The band plays bland mainstream pop-rock dressed up in the clothes and haircuts of American emo bands like Fall Out Boy is getting a push in the US latin market. They serve as the next [...]

Read Full Post »