Alternative: Los Updates, Señor Flavio

Today we look at the solo efforts of two former members of famous Latin American rock bands.


Señor Flavio is the lucha libre-loving masked bassist of Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, a true rock phenomenon back in the 90's. The Argentine ska punk band won several Grammies and sold quite a few records, and Flavio Oscar Ciancarulo (his real name) was one of the key songwriters. His third solo album Supersaund 2012 isn't really a look into the future (as the title suggests), but takes us back to the heydays of the Cadillacs, showing the same versatility and diversity. Reggae/ska is performed with the same ease and agility as garage rock, all with the punk mentality of The Clash."Polaroid 66" is one of the calmer tracks of the album: a polaroid picture provokes memories of a sunny childhood in 1966. The strangely appealing synth and the psychidelic guitar effects create a pure sixties surf atmosphere - everything just fits together. Great track!


Jorge Gonzales was the thriving force behind Los Prisioneros, an iconic eighties rock band from Chile. His latest project Los Updates takes the good from his new wave roots, and gives it a modern revamp, while still focusing on good songwriting. The result is very danceable, minimal electro pop with a little 80's nostalgia. "¿Acaso Quieres Venir?" (from the Los Updates EP) has unusually beautiful lyrics for a dance song, if Jorge's voice hadn't suffered that much over the years I'd even say this could become a hit.

Señor Flavio - Polaroid 66 mp3 buy@iTunes buy@Amazon
Los Updates - ¿Acaso Quieres Venir? mp3 buy@iTunes buy@Amazon

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Rock: Pereza, Los Bunkers, Los Tipitos, Inmigrantes

As I've put y'all nearly two weeks without new tunes, here's a bigger post to make up. All of these artists have been on La Onda before, but seen their latest efforts they're certainly worth mentioning again!


Their lazy voices fit the band name perfectly: Pereza. The new CD of these Spanish guitar gods, Aproximaciones, again offers us poetic rock ballads with a rough edge. The catchy chorus of title song "Aproximación" is an explosion of distorted guitars, contrasting with the dreamy verses and humming, not unlike their last big hit "Todo" (review here).


It's always surprising to me how long latino bands can keep releasing singles from the same album. The reasons behind this could be subject of entire papers, so I wont dig into that ;) But the fact is that the latest single of Chilean band Los Bunkers is still off 2005's Vida de Perros. "Mientele" has it all: witty lyrics, a great riff, an impressive solo, hell even the bass play is flawless. But I have to repeat my previous criticism that Alvaro Lopez is technically just not a good singer. Still, the track has everything to rock out!


Los Tipitos made it high up my best of 2006 list with "Campanas en la Noche" (review here). The beautiful, melancholic lyrics are still present on "Flor Negra", only the sound has shifted to a more mainstream poprock vibe. Which actually suits them very well, the piano is a great addition and the chorus has a high sing-along factor. The song is doing quite well in the Argentinean charts too.


Twin brothers Carlos and Pablo Silberberg are definitely gonna make it. The second single of their duo effort Inmigrantes is as catchy and inventive as the first one: "Graffiti" has that British-influenced guitar sound I love so much, and plenty of youthful enthouisiasm. I wish them a lot more singles of this quality

Be sure to check out the videos of all these great songs below.

Inmigrantes - Graffiti mp3 buy@Amazon
Los Tipitos - Flor Negra mp3 buy@Amazon
Los Bunkers - Mientele mp3 buy@iTunes buy@Amazon
Pereza - Aproximacion mp3

Inmigrantes - Graffiti

Los Tipitos - Flor Negra

Los Bunkers - Mientele

Pereza - Aproximacion

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Lo Mejor del 2006

(Don't forget to participate in our CD giveaway contest!)

It's been a great year for latin music. Well, at least for me: maintaining this blog allowed me to discover beautiful and special music I'd otherwise not even hear of. And nothing more pleasant than sharing those tracks with you, the faithful reader ;)
You'll notice a slight orientation towards rock music in my top lists, but I tried to include all the major genres covered here. There's about an hour of listening pleasure below, so have fun, and ¡feliz año nuevo!

Albums
Rock: Gustavo Cerati - Ahi Vamos



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2006 saw some heavily anticipated rock releases (Maná, Gustavo Cerati, Enanitos Verdes) and the discovery of many new South American favorites (Los Bunkers, Los Tipitos, Babasonicos), but Cerati all beats them effortlessly with this complicated but oh so powerful album.

Pop: Los Amigos Invisibles - Superpop Venezuela



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A disappointing year for pop music, if you're not into Paulina Rubio or RBD. Los Amigos Invisibles came as a breath of fresh air, in a music industry suffocated by overproduced commercialism.

Salsa: VA - Los Cocorocos



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Salsa is back! Dozens of radio stations converted from reggaeton to salsa this year, and not without reason: new efforts (like Los Cocorocos) gave salsa an image boost, a new energy, and a second youth.

Reggaeton: Tego Calderón - The Underdog/El Subestimado



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While the general vibe of reggaeton was turning negative (big egos, dissing, sexism, the lack of new talent, and heaps of money), Tego Calderón blew away all competition with honest, positive and socially conscious songs. On the same onda: the impressive debut of Calle 13. And while "big names" Daddy Yankee, Don Omar and Hector El Father were fighting (and delivering mediocre songs), Shakira made the reggaeton beat famous again with "Hips Don't Lie".

Other: Andrés Calamaro - Tinta Roja



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The Argentinian rock legend devoted himself to sensitive tango songs this year. Calamaro effortlessly captivated the atmosphere of the forties on Tinta Roja, not an easy album, but a rewarding one. Special mention: Ojos de Brujo, for their unique blend of flamenco and hiphop.

Singles
Rock:
1) Gustavo Cerati - Crimen (original post)

2) Los Tipitos - Campanas En La Noche (original post)

3) Fobia - Dos Corazones (original post)

4) Gustavo Cerati - La Excepción (original post)

5) Los Bunkers - Llueve Sobre La Ciudad (original post)

Just didn't make it: Pereza, Enanitos Verdes, Babasonicos.

Reggaeton:
1) Calle 13 - Atrevete-te (original post)

2) Paulo FG & Roldan - Te Boté (original post)

3) VA - Noche de Entierro (Nuestro Amor) (original post)

Special mention for spreading Latino vibes throughout the world:
Shakira & Wyclef Jean - Sera Sera (Hips Don't Lie Spanish Version) (original post)


Pop: Jarabe de Palo & Jorge Drexler - Que Bueno Que Bueno (original post)

Salsa: Bamboleo - El Zorreo (original post)

Merengue: Grupo Mania & Elvis Crespo - Echate Pa'ca (original post)

Cumbia: Bonka - El Problemón (original post)

Other: Chambao - Pokito a Poko (original post)


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