Another Reason for Living...Some Latin Rock
I'll tell you my immigration reform policy...if people play music that can save rock 'n roll, I propose that they be allowed on the path to US citizenship! My views on immigration are, er, complex, but now's not the time to discuss it. For the past 10-15 years, I've found most rock music to really suck, especially punk pop and emo, which should really die, because these people are making a mockery of my heroes and heroines the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Patti Smith. Now I've heard snippets of KILLER Latino pop/rock/disco that drive me out of my mind, the past few years. I hear stuff on the Spanish language stations which knocks me out, but I can't determine the names of the artists, since my Spanish is non-existent.
I've discovered LinkTV, Channel 375 on DirectTV, which is wonderful in about 1,000 ways. One great thing is that LinkTV airs music videos from all over the world. Thanks to them, I've discovered Amadou and Mariam from Mali, who I'm sure will be saving R&B once everyone else gets hip to 'em. This morning LinkTV aired a video of El Cuarteto de Nos from Uruguay. Imagine a mod/punkish Spanish-singing Beatles. These guys wear suits, but rock very hard (This week we've seen men in suits demonstrating in Pakistani streets so why not?). Turns out that these men have been around for 27 years. The youtube video is a bit fuzzy, but you can get a taste of the creativity which went into it. I URGE you to watch and listen to it, if you care about rocking out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBFlODC3ef4
In the interests of rock 'n rolling your very soul, I also strongly urge you to check out the blog La Onda Tropical on blogspot. It was here that I discovered Cafe Tacuba from Mexico. These people are so unbelievable and incredible that if even Lou Dobbs listened to 'em, he'd BEG for them to become US citizens. I've only heard a few songs, but imagine a combination of Sergeant Pepper era Beatles, Aerosmith, Radiohead and New Order, and that MIGHT describe what Cafe Tacuba does. These men rightfully are Gods of Gods in Mexico and all over Spanish speaking America, so they're doing quite well without US help, thank you.
Now I've always steered away from Latin music when I was a rocker because the lyrics were sooo important to me, because when I was in grade school the Beatles and Bobby Dylan were writing some good ones. Electronica seduced me 15 years ago, and for the 1st time, I got used to listening to music without lyrics. ('Music without lyrics gives you more room to think' one rave flier said). Now it doesn't kill me that I don't comprehend the lyrics of these Spanish language songs, although I'm quite curious as to content, because El Cuarteto de Nos and Cafe Tacuba sound as if they're tackling significant issues. Still, the excellence of the music and production make up for my lack of lyrical comprehension. In fact, I can appreciate the music and production better because I am not straining to analyze the lyrics.
I've discovered LinkTV, Channel 375 on DirectTV, which is wonderful in about 1,000 ways. One great thing is that LinkTV airs music videos from all over the world. Thanks to them, I've discovered Amadou and Mariam from Mali, who I'm sure will be saving R&B once everyone else gets hip to 'em. This morning LinkTV aired a video of El Cuarteto de Nos from Uruguay. Imagine a mod/punkish Spanish-singing Beatles. These guys wear suits, but rock very hard (This week we've seen men in suits demonstrating in Pakistani streets so why not?). Turns out that these men have been around for 27 years. The youtube video is a bit fuzzy, but you can get a taste of the creativity which went into it. I URGE you to watch and listen to it, if you care about rocking out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBFlODC3ef4
In the interests of rock 'n rolling your very soul, I also strongly urge you to check out the blog La Onda Tropical on blogspot. It was here that I discovered Cafe Tacuba from Mexico. These people are so unbelievable and incredible that if even Lou Dobbs listened to 'em, he'd BEG for them to become US citizens. I've only heard a few songs, but imagine a combination of Sergeant Pepper era Beatles, Aerosmith, Radiohead and New Order, and that MIGHT describe what Cafe Tacuba does. These men rightfully are Gods of Gods in Mexico and all over Spanish speaking America, so they're doing quite well without US help, thank you.
Now I've always steered away from Latin music when I was a rocker because the lyrics were sooo important to me, because when I was in grade school the Beatles and Bobby Dylan were writing some good ones. Electronica seduced me 15 years ago, and for the 1st time, I got used to listening to music without lyrics. ('Music without lyrics gives you more room to think' one rave flier said). Now it doesn't kill me that I don't comprehend the lyrics of these Spanish language songs, although I'm quite curious as to content, because El Cuarteto de Nos and Cafe Tacuba sound as if they're tackling significant issues. Still, the excellence of the music and production make up for my lack of lyrical comprehension. In fact, I can appreciate the music and production better because I am not straining to analyze the lyrics.