Archive for latin rock

Rodrigo y Gabriela, My Battle With Bronchitis and Go Get ‘Em Lehigh University

Posted in acoustic rock, Guitar, guitarists, latin rock, Music, rock albums, rock music, rock music news, sports with tags , , , , , , , on March 17, 2012 by Metal Odyssey

I’ve been putting up with a doozy of a cold this past week, coupled with a nagging cough that spells: bronchitis. I wanted to write another album review or two these past days as well, only trying to “concentrate” on writing when you’re coughing up a storm doesn’t help matters! With today being Saturday, it has been eight days of feeling under the weather, regardless, I feel like I’m getting a ton better.

I’ve been listening to Rodrigo y Gabriela and C.U.B.A.Area 52 quite a bit lately. This guitar duo are amazing players and the Cuban musicians that they recruited for their new album are superb. Just a thoroughly cool listen is this entire Area 52 album. Honestly, the tones that resonate from the guitars of Rodrigo y Gabriela along with the rhythms from their songs have made me feel pretty damn good this past week, especially when I needed that necessary “lift” in spirits.

C.U.B.A. stands for: Collective Universal Band Association. Again, I cannot emphasize enough, what an excellent sound that this Cuban orchestra gives to this Rodrigo y Gabriela album. If you’re looking for a must Summertime album to chill, dance or Rock out to, then Area 52 is one damn fine candidate. Hopefully, I will write a more detailed review for this Rodrigo y Gabriela album in the near future. For now, get it, especially if you appreciate instrumental guitar and/or Latin Rock.

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I very rarely write about sports on Metal Odsyssey. I “use to be” a sports nut. Do I still follow sports? Of course I do. The difference now is, after spending years of watching entire games on television, I am now content to catch a minute of action here and there, while getting updated scores via the internet whenever I feel like it. Congratulations to Lehigh University!

Ha, ha Duke. Ha, ha again. Every year, the NCAA Tournament “committee” finds it necessary to seed Duke at either #1 or #2, then they place Duke within a 60 mile radius of their home campus for tournament play. Favoritism. It’s been going on between Duke University and the NCAA for decades now. Well, Lehigh University let Duke know just how “great” they are this past Friday.

On Friday, March 16, 2012, the #15 seed Lehigh University defeated the #2 seed Duke 75 to 70. In Greensboro, North Carolina, the backyard of Duke, Lehigh University got it done. Ha, ha Duke. Ha, ha NCAA. The “brain-trust” of the NCAA probably thought that Duke would “roll” Lehigh University too. Think again NCAA. Don’t worry, next year that same NCAA “selection committee” will have Duke at #1 or #2 again, only next year they won’t have them paired up against Lehigh Universtiy.

Long Live Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Go Get ‘Em Lehigh University.

Stone.

Los Lonely Boys – Rockpango: A Positive and Feel Good Album of Dynamite Rock Songs

Posted in chicano rock, classic rock, Hard Rock, latin rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock album reviews, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on June 27, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

LOS LONELY BOYS – Are you currently hankering for an album that is: feel-good, easy going, fun, a bit funky, has some Soul and a sliver of Rap, a bit bluesy with Latin flavor and simply Rocks? Well then, that album is Rockpango. I can’t hold back my enthusiastic liking for this new Los Lonely Boys album. Rockpango was released back on March 29th, 2011, on their very own Playing In Traffic/LonelyTone Records. Being an early Spring release, Rockpango has gained some mighty steam as one of my favorite Rock albums of 2011.

This album I’ve been addicted to for over two months now and it’s all about the songs baby… it’s all about the songs. When an album like Rockpango has so many good songs, then it becomes memorable for me. The Garza brothers (Henry, Jojo and Ringo) have a remarkable knack for writing mainstream songs that are still street cool. Maybe it’s the Texican Rock and Roll vibe happening, still, Los Lonely Boys are a band that makes any dreary thoughts evaporate from my Metal mind the very second I listen to their music. That’s feel-good.

My favorite song on Rockpango is Smile. The orchestration is what makes this song standout, with the violin, viola and cello stirring up my infatuation with (my) beloved Electric Light Orchestra. Not to mention the guitar resonates a Classic Rock sound on Smile, bringing a retrospective feel to my listen. The song Rockpango takes a major chapter out of Santana’s Latin Rock groove, coupled with some tasty, bluesy guitar licks. The B3 organ (Riley Osbourn) lends a Classic Rock appeal to the overall recipe that this Rockpango song is all about in sound.

16 Monkeys is a fun listen in both music and lyrics. Los Lonely Boys certainly have their funny side and this song is a throwback to when Rock and Roll really did take aim at the funny bone. “16 monkeys on a chuck wagon rollin’ down the road… uh, huh”. Need I say more about (gasp) fun and Rock and Roll? Porn Star has the Rap, courtesy of Kush and the cuts and scratches are thanks to DJ Beans. Make no mistake, Porn Star does Rock along and the Funk I hear is no junk.

The always constant and harmonious vocals of the Garza brothers on Rockpango is a quality listen in and of itself. There is much to be said about creating positive Rock and Roll and Los Lonely Boys are masters at this craft. Believe, Love In My Veins and American Idle are three songs that deliver the high spirited Rock that’s chock full of genuine messages of kindness. No, Los Lonely Boys aren’t preaching, they’re just three cool dudes that aren’t about spreading hate through their music. Metal be thy name.

An admirable characteristic of Los Lonely Boys is their talented ability to incorporate so many styles of music to their sound, without ever coming across as stretching themselves too thin. Rockpango has turned out to be a highlight listen for me in the Rock category this year and will remain just that for years to come. When I listen to Rockpango, I’m listening to three musicians who just love music… period.

Los Lonely Boys:

Henry Garza – vocals, electric and acoustic guitar

Jojo Garza – vocals and bass guitar

Ringo Garza – vocals, drums and percussion

Track Listing For Rockpango:

American Idle

Fly Away

Love In My Veins

Road To Nowhere

16 Monkeys

Rockpango

Smile

Baby Girl

Change The World

Porn Star

Believe

* For more info on LOS LONELY BOYS, click the link below:

Los Lonely Boys – Official Website

LONG LIVE LOS LONELY BOYS.

Stone.