Mariachi El Bronx
Mariachi El Bronx (IV)
***and1/2 out of *****
Back in 2009 the Los Angeles punk rock band The Bronx decided to take a major detour and dive into their love of Mariachi music with an alter ego band, Mariachi El Bronx. It is safe to say their most die hard fans did not see this side project not only continuing, but flourishing for over fifteen years. Now comes the fourth installment, Mariachi El Bronx (IV) and their deep love of this genre of music continues to mix with rock, punk and pop in interesting ways.
The group, Matt Caughthran – lead vocals, joby J. Ford – requinto, vihuela, jarana huasteca, ukulele, bajo sexto, accordion, guitar, Ken Horne – guitar, requinto, jarana huasteca, Brad Magers – trumpet, percussion, backing vocals, Vincent Hidalgo – guitarrón, jarana huasteca, guitar, Keith Douglas – trumpet, percussion, backing vocals, Jared Shavelson – percussion, drums, Laena Myers – violin, backing vocals, host a wide variety of sounds and emotions for their first release in over 12 years.
The album opens with the two best tracks offered here. The opening "Forgive or Forge" goes the route of a pop love song that has gorgeous brass which sings with energy and polish. "Bandoleros" is even better as the group pump up the accordion work around a popping beat, sweat acoustic guitar and great trumpet. The tune uses lyrics that would not be out of place in hardcore punk, regarding gangsters and death, and in this format things sync up perfectly.
Not everything is as successful, these tunes work better when things are kept shorter and direct. Efforts like the one note vaquero tale "The Takers" could be more flushed out with lyrical specifics while "All Things" drags on too long with diminishing returns.
Much better are the galloping percussion and strings found throughout "Songbird" and the trumpet and violin work that dances together wonderfully on "RIP Romeo". Excellent plucking guitars strum in front of passionate brass and big percussion hits on "Gamblers Prayer" while "Fool's Gold" goes for dramatic guitar and passionate singing.
The record ends strongly with a trio of tunes including the waltzing drunken ramble "El Borracho" which may kill the party, but sounds delightful as it rolls along. "Tie You Down" uses swelling strings and soaring horns around tight percussion while closer "Into The Afterlife" brings in a serpentine slither as echoing electric guitars excellently augment the sound before a dramatic finale.
A solid offering that continues the band's love for Mariachi music, honoring it in their own way as Mariachi El Bronx (IV) is a well produced, dynamic listen.
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