reviews
FILE UNDER: The five amigos
Mariachi El Bronx - Mariachi El BronxScott Heisel on 8/17/09 @ 7:00 AM
When it was made public, it sounded like an elaborate joke: The Bronx, arguably the most qualified band to take back the term "punk" from market forces and pop-culture abbreviators, were going to make an album in the traditional Mexican folk idiom of mariachi. Not only did they have songs written, they went as far as having specially tailored suits made for live shows. When was the last time anyone picked up the torch for mariachi music? Was it the Pogues in director Alex Cox's 1987 film, Straight To Hell? But more importantly, would the Bronx's take on it be a homage to a beloved genre, or a goof, like Reggie And The Full Effect's assorted piss-takes on various styles? When you consider how many established bands' side projects aren't too far removed from their day jobs, the disc seems like a weird tear in the time/space continuum. But then again, nobody expects (or wants) the Bronx to end up hitting the ones and twos alongside Steve Aoki playing grime mixes of tracks from The Bronx III, either.
The 11 tracks on Mariachi El Bronx are downright ambitious in their execution. This isn't any "1-2-fuck-you" thrash-fest, friends. There's nary an electric guitar anywhere. Instead, you get a celebration of culture from south of the border, with guitars, mandolins, guitarron, accordion and ethnic percussion, with layers of inventive horn and string arrangements riding on top. Don't go thinking there's no fire here: Joby J. Ford delivers nimble acoustic guitar flourishes and percussionist Jorma Vik conjures some rhythms ("Holy," "Silver Or Lead") that are the aural equivalent of calculus. But as lush and remarkable as these arrangements are, the real star of the show is singer Matt Caughthran. We're used to hearing him roar about shitty futures and enemy minds over a wall of guitar amps; but here the man sings with grace, charm and panache. He can simultaneously open his heart and make the ladies swoon ("My Love") while delivering the occasional sentiment ("Quit asking Jesus for help/Go out and find it yourself") that will make the dudes raise their cervezas and high-five one another. After the 40 minutes are over, you'll want to restart the disc (or playlist, sheesh) to hear what subtleties you missed.
Granted, Mariachi El Bronx probably isn't going to sell millions or get the band gigs at Felipe Calderone's place in between proper tours. The men of the Bronx loved this music and wanted to make an album of it, period. While the songs aren't necessarily punk "sounding," they do carry the punk ethos of brash individualism. (This writer may be bitch-slapped when Patrick Stump's rembetiko solo album finally hits stores.) The possibilities are endless: Like Britain's original class of '77 punks grooving to reggae and dub music, perhaps Mariachi El Bronx will point fans toward the discographies of people like Vicente Fernandez or at the very least, Los Lobos' La Pistola Y La Corazon. If you're one of those people who demand honesty in their music (or wish that Hank Williams would jump out of the grave, find Toby Keith and slam him against a wall so hard his ribcage explodes), take note: Your favorite album of the year was released this week. (SWAMI) Jason Pettigrew
GO DOWNLOAD: "My Love"
Official Website: http://www.swamirecords.com
Post a Comment
:) I can't wait to get a hold of this record