Artists outside of traditional rock.

CAFÉ TACUBA 
by Dan Grote

I wish I remembered more of the three semesters of Spanish I took in college. Because if Café Tacuba’s lyrics are as good as their music, that would make their latest disc into some kind of supertreat.

Though sung entirely en espanol, to label Café Tacuba as Latin music would be an unfair generalization. Cuatro Caminos is a rock album, pure and simple. An alt-rock album at that; think Smashing Pumpkins without Billy Corgan’s unearned pretentiousness.

From the opening guitar chords of “Cero y Uno,” the Mexican four-piece parties like it’s 1996, with music as disarmingly silly as the chick cluck lyrics and Nintendo keyboards of “Eo” to the almost childlike wonderment of “Mediodia.”

“Eres” is a fine combination of blues and fink, while “Recuerdo Prestado” paces itself on a ska rhythm and frontman Elfego Buendia’s Srummer-lite snarl. There’s even some trip-hoppy chill-out music, courtesy of the ethereal “Encantamiento Inutil.” 

As for palpable American influences on the band’s sound, it should be noted that the band has no actual drummer, and that a sizeable portion of the album’s percussion work was handed over to studio drummer Joey Waronker, best known for his work with Beck. Also, sharing a production credit (as well as a nod for orchestration on the closing track, “Hola Adios”) is Dave Fridmann, the man who helped the Flaming Lips mastermind last year’s Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.

VERDICT: Café Tacuba is just one more reason more Americans need to learn Spanish. Cuatro Caminos is a sheer joy, even with a language barrier, and proof that the English language does not have rock music in a stranglehold, no matter what this country (or England) would have you believe.

• Visit the Official website. (with google translation)
• Listen to samples and Purchase this CD online

Fan Speak:

Posted by amor violento:
Cero Y Uno Eo Mediodia Que Pasara Camino Y Vereda Eres Soy O Estoy Encantamiento Inutil Recuerdo Prestado Puntos Cardinales Desperte Tomar El Fresco Hoy Es Hola Adios Revés Locomotora Muerte Chiquita Dos Niños No Controles Ojalá Que Llueva Café Cómo Te Extraño Mi Amor Chilanga Banda Ciclón Flores Esa Noche Ingrata Puñal y el Corazón El Baile Y El Salon Aparato Pinche Juan Rarotonga Batallas Persianas María Chica Banda La Dos 1. El Aparato 2. La Ingrata 3. La Pinta 4. El Ciclon 5. El Borrego 6. 24 Horas 7. Ixtepec 8. El Metro 9. Tropico de Cancer 10. Madrugal 11. Esa Noche 12. Pez 13. Verde 14. El Fin De La Infancia 15. La Negrita 16. El Tlatoani Del Barrio 17. El Baile Y El Salon 18. El Balcon 19. Las Flores 20. El Puñal y el croazon 1. Chilanga Banda 2. Metamorfosis 3. No Controles 4. No Me Comprendes 5. Alarmala De Tos 6. Perfidia - Instrumental 7. Ojala Que Llueva Cafe 8. Como Te Extrano Mi Amor 1. 11 2. 2 3. 9 4. 5 5. 3 6. 8 7. 10 8. 5.1 9. 13 10. M.C. - With Kronos Qua... 11. 6 12. 7 1. Noche Oscura 2. Batallas 3. Persianas 4. Rarotonga 5. Maria 6. Gometer Suicidio 7. Chica Banda 8. Catrin 9.Pinche Juan 10. Labios Jaguar 11. Debajo del Mar 12. Zonaja 13. Bar Tacuba 1. Déjate Caer 2. Olor a Gas 3. Amor Violento 4. Tírate Those are all the songs i like! ^u^