Music for… fiery latin flavored seduction in the streets of Los Angeles. Romance blossoming in the headlights of a taco truck. Long time TBE faves Mariachi el Bronx are finally back and damn if “Wildfire” isn’t their best since “Cell Mates” 5 years ago.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Future: New album “III” is out November 4. Preorder here.
As the Remix Roundups enter double digits I decided to drop the incremental titles and go for a more archive-friendly date format. You will thank me someday. About this collection of hot remixes? You can thank me now.
♫ The Very Best – Julia (Javelin Re-do) / This is one of the best remixes I’ve heard in a while. Javelin takes one of the weaker tracks off of TVB’s fantastic album and completly rips it up, turning “Julia” in to a full throttle fist-pumper. [more The Very Best]
♫ The Gossip – Love Long Distance (Fake Blood Remix) / I haven’t even heard the original version of this song yet but i’m worried that after this I am just going to be disappointed. So far The Gossip’s remixes have treated me better than their originals. [more Gossip/FB]
♫ Chester French – She Loves Everybody (Pance Party Remix) / Read more
♫ Mariachi El Bronx – Cell Mates
Now I know that of all the reasons you guys visit TBE, my meticulous coverage of Mariachi music is only, like, number 6, but stay with me. In addition to one of the best album covers of the year (sorry PETA), Los Angeles’ Mariachi el Bronx have crafted better mariachi than at that overpriced Oaxacan restaurant in Hollywood. Lead single, and album opener, “Cell Mates” [fun video] is a horn-infused hip-shaker that hooked me from left field the first time I heard it. The rest of the album follows suit, with jangly guitars, fantastic horns, and clearly crooned lyrics. It’s probably the album I am most excited about playing today at my BBQ. I recommend you fire up the grill and do likewise.
OK, now with all that said and done, let me drop a little knowledge on you. Although this is their first album with the Mariachi el Bronx moniker, the band has been playing hardcore/punk as The Bronx since 2002. Yes. Hardcore. I saw them at Sunset Junction 2 years ago and my little brother demanded that we leave. Growing up in Los Angeles the band had always been inspired by Mexican culture, mariachi music included, and after 3 self titled albums as The Bronx, they decided to do a little side project of straight up mariachi. Strange but true. I love it. For comparison, here is the only Bronx song I ever really got into.
♫ The Bronx – Around The Horn (from 2006’s The Bronx)