Review Summary: mariachi for the masses
It's been 5 years now since punk outfit The Bronx shocked us all with their transformation into their mariachi alter ego Mariachi El Bronx. Before I heard their self-titled first album mariachi was a genre I knew nothing about and had only heard in the background while eating in Mexican restaurants. Mariachi El Bronx were a gateway into the genre for me, and since the release of their first album I've enjoyed listening to more traditional artists.
However I've always found it difficult to connect with traditional mariachi artists simply due to my inability to understand the Spanish language. Sure, I can get lost in the upbeat trumpet melodies or fast strummed vihuela but never much more than that. This is what sets Mariachi El Bronx apart. Combining traditional instrumentation with lead singer Matt Caughthran's crooning vocals in his American accent creates something really special that opens up the genre for a much wider audience.
Now 3 albums in, the novelty of hearing a punk band play mariachi has worn off, which leaves behind a very talented mariachi band who have settled into their new direction tremendously. III is an album which is consistent with the good quality of their back catalogue so far and the band have evidently honed their craft over their 5 year existence and have improved their playing and song writing significantly.
The album highlight has got to be Track 4, "High Tide", which features a beautiful violin and trumpet section weaving in and out of Caughthran's vocal melody as he sings about his need to be rescued by the love of a woman. Another stand out track would be "Wildfires" which begins with a very pleasing brass part and includes the catchiest chorus that the album has to offer.
Throughout the album, the brass is at the forefront of the instrumentation, which allows Brad Magers to show off his exceptional trumpet playing. Perhaps an unsung hero would be the percussion on the album which combines both latin and rock influences. Notable also would be the improvement in Caughthran's vocals which fit very naturally along side the other instruments.
On the whole this is a great album which allows fans of all genres to add some mariachi to their collection with ease. The only problem I have with the album is that it is quite difficult to play in it's entirety, perhaps since it is a genre I'm still not fully used to, and that when played all together the tracks are, in a way, quite similar to one another. Having said that, this album is absolutely worth trying out, and who knows, it might broaden your musical horizon more than you think.
