Mariachi El Bronx Mariachi El Bronx (Wichita)
4/5
By: Liane Escorza
So it turns out that Mariachi El Bronx is the alter ego (or shall we say, little brother?) of the Los Angeles punk band The Bronx, and if it wasn’t for this ‘insignificant’ clarification, it would have been pretty difficult to recognize one from the other. Even as brothers, it proves blood is no determining factor in creating similar music in style and quality. Not that quality is lacking here, though.
Mariachi El Bronx’s self-titled album plays with as many facets of Mexican music like El Bronx seem to like playing with other musical genres. They are not only challenging the listener to discover and embrace a completely opposite creative direction but they are pushing their boundaries with jorochos, wastekas, boledos or corridos, a varied mix of mariachi rhythms, surely unfamiliar to an ear that may not come from southern California, or Mexico to be precise.
Yet this work has clearly been made with as much passion as any other hardcore punk EP ever released by this band. ‘Cell Mates’, ‘Slave Labor’ and ‘Litigation’ s trumpets, guitars and violins are an uplifting asset to broken lyrics of nostalgic and sad love tales, curiously sang in English but still retaining the same heartfelt meaning than Spanish-speaking mariachi songs.
‘Quinceaniera’ shows off a flair of Caribbean influences through heavy beats while ‘Silver Or Lead’ flows to the end of the Latin spectrum, where Mexican, Cuban or Dominican would blend seamlessly into affordable hot and sexy music. This is the time to pause, get yourself a margarita, lie on a hammock and immerse in relaxing imaginary waters, since ‘Holy’ takes a slightly taciturn and western-like soundtrack approach. Last track ‘My Love’ offers the perfect closure with raw love lyrics over a caressing guitar and a playful accordion on a mid-summer mariachi sunset. Mariachi El Bronx will surely make you go get another margarita.
Artists in this article: Mariachi El Bronx
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