Artist of the Week: Descartes A Kant

Because unlike most people, this year I don’t feel like listening to “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano everywhere I go, I’m sharing this unreleased track by Descartes A Kant which they had available for free download before MySpace changed the now pathetically heavy new player. It’s been a while since the release of Paper Dolls, hopefully they’ll get back to the studio soon. They might not get to the top of iTunes Latino like Mr. Feliciano (who I seriously admire btw), but when chatting about this band with other musicians everyone seems to admire them with much devotion. Enjoy what is my favorite take on “Carol of the Bells”, which is featured on our Rocola #7. And while I’m here, I might as well choose them for Artist of the Week, I include their awesome video for “My Sweetest Headache Waltz.” As you might predict, this week will be a bit slow here because it’s finals week for most college students, good luck guys! We are working on our list for Best Songs of 2008, wait for it. 

♫♫♫ "Carol of the Bells"

MySpace

Costumes Ready... Hallo-Win

Dear fonogramaticos have a nice Halloween, dress well and please give away good candy, don’t be cheap! Niños y Niñas beware of adults and careful with your candy. If anyone is throwing a party, post it in the comments, we’ve been invited to The Horror-Gore Show in Mexico City (Descartes a Kant & Hong Kong Blood Opera performing) while Babaluca is throwing a free party in Tempe (AZ) so get your costumes ready!

I’ll be a cat… TIGER POWER!

The Critical Paparazzi, Hong Kong Blood Opera

THE CRITICAL PAPARAZZI
HONG KONG BLOOD OPERA
Noiselab, Mexico ****
Rating: 82
By Jean-Stephane Beriot

The awesome blog Brooklyn Vegan posted about this hard rock Mexican band a few months ago and I was magnetically attracted right away. Later on, our guru Carlinhos sent me a physical edition of The Critical Paparazzi, their first and exceptionally confident EP. Unlike most of the bands we get from our friends down the border, they don’t come from Monterrey, Guadalajara or Mexico City; they are from Hermosillo which I suppose is a smaller province city. Hong Kong Blood Opera has quickly become my second favorite hard rock Latin band after my beloved Descartes A Kant. They apparently won some sort of rock contest sponsored by a cell phone provider; I don’t know what the dynamic of that contest was, but what an unconventional winner anyhow. We have also found another amazing producer in Mexican rock, his name is Yamil Rezc (Le Baron, Subdivision, and Chetes) and I would put him in the level of Emanuel del Real (Natalia Lafourcade, Ely Guerra and Austin TV). The Critical Paparazzi is almost an alien in Latin Rock, and straight up an essential for the most aggressive rock there can be. I’ve heard great things about their live shows in New York and can’t wait to see them live. This is definitely not for everyone; some would never be able to digest it, but this is one of the edgier albums we’ve talked about at Club Fonograma, even harder than Triangulo de Amor Bizarro. A total of five extraordinary tracks that live and breathe rock, highlights include “Killing Joke” and “Crazy Mexican Scientists." We shouldn't have to wait too long for a full offering from this great breakthrough.

♫♫♫ "Killing Joke"
buy it @ itunes
MySpace

Best Songs of 2008 So Far Vol.1

2008 Half-Year Roundup
Vol.1
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30.“Lejos”, Becker

From: Andes (Home Records)
YouTube/Myspace/
Becker was one of the great discoveries for me that resulted from the Latin Grammy special. It was listed by both of my partners in the breakthrough category and I completely agree. Becker has that “it” factor bands all around latinoamerica are searching for and a bit more, they sound like nothing I’ve heard recently especially on this heartbreaking song. (Jean-Stephane Beriot)
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29.“Donde estaran, tan, tan”, Cantoalegre feat. Juanes
From: Un dos tres por todos mis amigos y yo (Independiente)
YouTube

Resulta poco común incluir una canción infantil en una lista como esta. Pero quise rescatar esta pieza escondida en un disco para niños realmente memorable, que hace un recorrido folclórico a través de las voces inocentes de los pequeños de Cantoalegre, acompañados por su mas reciente padrino: Juanes. (Paulo Correa)

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28.“Querer”, Chetes
From: Efecto Domino (EMI Music Mexico)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

Chetes is much more enjoyable working with minimalistic lyrics. “Querer” is about given yourself to that special one, at times sounding cheesy and too standard, but acquiring emotional heights along the way. Admitting that you’re in love is admitting that you must take extra steps to find equilibrium. A non-traditional approach to accepting loving someone by a non-traditional singer who is always ahead of his game. (Carlos Reyes)
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27. “Amar en el campo”, Teleradio Donoso
From: Gran Santiago (Independiente)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

Teleradio Sonoro is along with Javiera Mena one of the most promising acts from my adopted country Chile. “Amar en el campo” is a great pop song, working with themes concerning lifetime’s mediocrity and more crap like that surprisingly dissolved in great catchy tunes. The kind a song I always demanded from La Ley, the band that undeservedly still holds the spot as the biggest musical import from Chile. (Jean-Stephane Beriot)

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26. “Todas esas cosas”, Smitten
From: En algún lugar (Iguana Records)
YouTube/MySpace/
Esta banda de rock argentina dio una sorpresa con esta vibrante canción, que con una melodía basada en escalas sucesivas (al mejor estilo de Fito Páez) logro recientemente colarse en los conteos de los principales canales musicales de Suramérica. (Paulo Correa)
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25.“El sexo sin amor”, Jessy Bulbo
From: Saga Mama (Nuevos Ricos)
YouTube, MySpace/IMEEM

If you don’t know Jessy Bulbo yet let me tell you she is freaky, in the best possible way. “Sexo sin amor” is one of the best laidback songs this millennium has given us. A song working on parallel disfigurations, meaning that each one has its own mind but will eventually encounter. So stop the worries, get lost for a day, and don’t even try to care about stuff, see what it feels to be arrogant. Time consumes our lives and sex is a way to let it out, as long as you’re not in love. (Carlos Reyes)
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24.“Tu sombra”, María Daniela y su Sonido Lasser
From: Juventud en extasis (Nuevos Ricos)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

Perhaps because I mostly live in Los Angeles, but most of the music I listen to in Spanish comes from Mexico, Maria Daniela has become a favorite. I adore everything about “Tu sombra”, its kitsch, the girly attitude and the fun electro backgrounds. And is still so poetic, “tu sombra se ira, mucho después que tu.” Maria Daniela’s Juventud en Extasis is her most complete work yet and one of the finest albums lately. (Jean-Stephane Beriot)
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23.“Pa’ lante”, Willy Chirino
From: Pa' Lante (Latinum Music)
YouTube/MySpace/

Compuesta por el cantautor chileno Alberto Plaza, es una prueba mas que el tropipop esta en su furor. A ritmo de vallenato y acompañado de acordeón, Willy Chirino regreso al top de las emisoras tropicales. (Paulo Correa)
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22.“Algo musical”, Ñejo y Dalmata feat. Arcangel
From: Broke & Famous (Unsigned)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

Ñejo y Dálmata are the latino answer to The Cool Kids. In this song they joke about how their music is selling more than crack, yet they acknowledge their underground status by naming their album Broke & Famous. Before the duo decided to unite, they had solo projects that already portrayed non-comforting visions. “Algo Musical” also suggests music being a sex appealing attribute, and Arcangel’s presence only adds attitude to the majestic urban song. (Carlos Reyes)
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21.“Hello Tarantino!”, Descartes A Kant
From: Paper Dolls (Intolerancia Records)
YouTube/MySpace/IMEEM

I first heard of Descartes A Kant by a friend who is one of the members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs who recommended me to listen to this great band from Guadalajara, Mexico. To my surprise, they sound very similar, and that is one of the best compliments I can possibly give. Great female vocals in this experimental band that should appear on a soundtrack by a Tarantino movie. (Jean-Stephane Beriot)
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Parts II and III coming soon.