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GUAJIRO – Material Subversivo

Review

GUAJIRO

Material Subversivo

Genre
CD
Datum
10.01.2008
Autor
Andy
7 /10
Since I have been interested in Latin America and especially Latin American politics for a while, I was very curious when I held this CD in my hands. The cover of Guajiro's debut album features a Cuban passport, and the band consists of two exiled Cubans, a Puerto Rican, and a Bostonian with Irish ancestry, living in Florida. An exciting mix that initially piques my interest in the lyrics, given my opinion about the many exiled Cubans living in Florida with reactionary political views. Since I am not proficient in Spanish and my English skills can be described as mediocre at best, the translations into English offered by the band on their homepage help me enough to rule out the promotion of extreme exiled Cuban content in favor of the USA. Rather, it is more about the independence from Spain around the turn of the last century.
Speaking of language: The band mostly sings in Spanish, sometimes in English, and often even both, essentially Spanglish. The band seems well-coordinated - the musicians have previously played in bands like Slapshot, Speak 714, and Friction Wheel - and the recordings released by I Scream Records are very fresh and powerful, while producer Darian Rundell, who has worked with Pennywise and Suicidal Tendencies among others, has still preserved the band's rawness. Thus, the record features a rather unique blend of melodic old-school punk and Latin rock, which merges into a special kind of power pop. If reduced solely to the punk rock elements of the album, it would probably not stand out from the average mix. However, due to the influences of Latin American folklore, the Spanish singing, and the critical lyrics that identify with their roots, the album gains its authentic character and is enjoyable. There are also a few deviations from the band's standard style. For example, the intro "Soy Guajiro Part 1" is pure Latin, "Delinquente" is strict hardcore punk, and "Bad Idea" comes across as extremely poppy. Typical for the band are their hit "Santa Fe" as well as the songs "Mulatona" and "Mentiroso" that follow directly after. These are also the best tracks on the album. The second half of the album, however, drops off a bit. One song consists of the musical setting of a poem by the Cuban national hero José Marti. Subversive material - as the album title suggests - can be found neither musically nor lyrically, but for the critical punk rocker who wants to hear determined yet joyful punk of a different kind, this album is just right. A good record that leaves hope for more! Where is my Cuba Libre?
Andy

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