Rodrigo Y Gabriela and C.U.B.A.
Area 52
ATO Records
Area 52
ATO Records
This album’s birth is more complex than
meets the eye. The songs aren’t new, in the
conventional sense. The wildly talented
Mexican guitar duo selected nine tracks from
their last two albums—11:11 and Rodrigo
y Gabriela—reworking them with the ace
guidance of British jazz pianist Alex Wilson
and the 13-piece C.U.B.A. (Collective
Universal Band Association) orchestra.
For full effect, place a few of the originals next to new versions and you’ll find that the stripped-down guitar instrumentals, the ancestors of these new compositions, are infectious. But the result of meshing Latin, Cuban, jazz, metal, rock, Arabic, and Hindi influences is downright hot and sexy—the sense of urgency on Area 52 is overwhelming.
Los Lonely Boys
Keep on Giving: Acoustic Live!
Playing in Traffic
While most artists
tend to ratchet
things down a
notch when they go
“unplugged,” Los
Lonely Boys went
the other direction
with their recent
acoustic tour, which is captured here over
two nights in Colorado. Henry Garza can
still burn without his Texas Special-loaded
Strats, and he isn’t afraid to let the world
hear him do so in a very different way.
Refreshing to some but perhaps lacking
to fans expecting more of the same, this
album is like a cool, high-quality bootleg in
that you’re hearing raw, undoctored audio
from the power trio’s most stripped-down
performances ever. What’s lacking in production
gloss is more than made up for
with energy from Henry, JoJo, and Ringo
Garza, who have carved quite a niche for
themselves with their “Texican” fusion of
melodic pop and Texas blues.
Highlights include a fervent take on Santana’s “Evil Ways,” a guest appearance from Alejandro Escovedo on the Stones’ “Beast of Burden,” and, of course, a stripped-down version of their hit “Heaven.” The Boys’ tight, three-part harmonies really shine in the extra sonic space left open by the acoustic renditions. The raw nature of the project precludes the soaring tonal qualities that so many people appreciate Henry and LLB’s music for, but kudos to the brothers Garza for having the balls to mix things up with the acoustic tour and then release a CD showing another side of their persona. Fans looking for a new flavor of Texican will really dig this album.
Keep on Giving: Acoustic Live!
Playing in Traffic
While most artists
tend to ratchet
things down a
notch when they go
“unplugged,” Los
Lonely Boys went
the other direction
with their recent
acoustic tour, which is captured here over
two nights in Colorado. Henry Garza can
still burn without his Texas Special-loaded
Strats, and he isn’t afraid to let the world
hear him do so in a very different way.
Refreshing to some but perhaps lacking
to fans expecting more of the same, this
album is like a cool, high-quality bootleg in
that you’re hearing raw, undoctored audio
from the power trio’s most stripped-down
performances ever. What’s lacking in production
gloss is more than made up for
with energy from Henry, JoJo, and Ringo
Garza, who have carved quite a niche for
themselves with their “Texican” fusion of
melodic pop and Texas blues.Highlights include a fervent take on Santana’s “Evil Ways,” a guest appearance from Alejandro Escovedo on the Stones’ “Beast of Burden,” and, of course, a stripped-down version of their hit “Heaven.” The Boys’ tight, three-part harmonies really shine in the extra sonic space left open by the acoustic renditions. The raw nature of the project precludes the soaring tonal qualities that so many people appreciate Henry and LLB’s music for, but kudos to the brothers Garza for having the balls to mix things up with the acoustic tour and then release a CD showing another side of their persona. Fans looking for a new flavor of Texican will really dig this album.