AR: Cafe Tacuba

Cafe Tacuba - Cafe Tacuba (1992)

My mom introduced me to Cafe Tacuba by way of an NPR spot way back in 1996 or so. They're a talented and inventive Mexican band that plays "rock en español" (Rock in Spanish), which is just about the stupidest name for a genre this side of "World Music." I suppose the general idea is that they stick to a general American '50s-'60s rock format but just happening to be singing in Spanish; the genre is an alternative to Spanish pop which, to my ears, makes American pop sound like pure intellectual sophistication. I'm sure that is my own cultural bias, but man, does my radio ever play a lot of cheesy Tejano. Anyhoo, this is Cafe Tacuba's self-titled debut. They would get a lot more creative and stray a lot farther from the "r en e" format on later releases, but they're already incorporating a wide variety of styles and elements here. The disc is notably delivered with a sort of defiant snarl at moments that obliquely invokes punk. That harsh edge is tempered at other moments, though, by pretty, melodic ballads, and the majority of the album consists of energetic, almost peppy multi-instrumental rock with touches of ska/reggae, jazz, some disco (!), and trad Mexican music flourishes. For all the alt-to-pop sentiment, they delivered a remarkably accessible disc - one that doesn't have quite the standout, boldly innovative tracks of other records, but one that can spin indefinitely.

If there's a complaint to be had, it's that the pervasive accordion / melodica parts and occasional midi-ish synth sounds give a couple of moments on the disc a decided dentist office feel. But for the most part, the solid tunes and pep carry the day. Highlights include the dissonant freakfest "Rarotanga," the lovely piano-lounge ballad "María," the uptempo back-beat melodrama "Bar Tacuba" and the disco-dance tinged "La Chica Banda," easily the standout on the disc.

This is overall a nice little spastic, eclectic genre-blender of a pop-rock disc. Solid party music, and the several wacky turns definitely keep interests peaked. More, better things to come from this band, but their freshman effort is a solid one.

Status: Recommended (solid)
Nyet's Fave: "La Chica Banda"