Artists outside
of traditional rock. CAFÉ
TACUBA
by Dan Grote
I wish I remembered more of the three semesters
of Spanish I took in college. Because if Café Tacuba’s lyrics are
as good as their music, that would make their latest disc into some kind
of supertreat.
Though sung entirely en espanol, to label
Café Tacuba as Latin music would be an unfair generalization. Cuatro
Caminos is a rock album, pure and simple. An alt-rock album at that;
think Smashing Pumpkins without Billy Corgan’s unearned pretentiousness.
From the opening guitar chords of “Cero
y Uno,” the Mexican four-piece parties like it’s 1996, with music as disarmingly
silly as the chick cluck lyrics and Nintendo keyboards of “Eo” to the almost
childlike wonderment of “Mediodia.”
“Eres” is a fine combination of blues and
fink, while “Recuerdo Prestado” paces itself on a ska rhythm and frontman
Elfego Buendia’s Srummer-lite snarl. There’s even some trip-hoppy chill-out
music, courtesy of the ethereal “Encantamiento Inutil.”
As for palpable American influences on
the band’s sound, it should be noted that the band has no actual drummer,
and that a sizeable portion of the album’s percussion work was handed over
to studio drummer Joey Waronker, best known for his work with Beck. Also,
sharing a production credit (as well as a nod for orchestration on the
closing track, “Hola Adios”) is Dave Fridmann, the man who helped the Flaming
Lips mastermind last year’s Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
VERDICT: Café Tacuba is just one
more reason more Americans need to learn Spanish. Cuatro Caminos
is a sheer joy, even with a language barrier, and proof that the English
language does not have rock music in a stranglehold, no matter what this
country (or England) would have you believe.
CD Info
CAFÉ
TACUBA - CUATRO CAMINOS
Label:
MCA
Records
Rating:
Tracks: Cero Y Uno
Eo
Mediodia
Que Pasara
Camino Y Vereda
Eres
Soy O Estoy
Encantamiento Inutil
Recuerdo Prestado
Puntos Cardinales
Desperte
Tomar El Fresco
Hoy Es
Hola Adios
Posted by amor violento:
Cero Y Uno
Eo
Mediodia
Que Pasara
Camino Y Vereda
Eres
Soy O Estoy
Encantamiento Inutil
Recuerdo Prestado
Puntos Cardinales
Desperte
Tomar El Fresco
Hoy Es
Hola Adios
Revés
Locomotora
Muerte Chiquita
Dos Niños
No Controles
Ojalá Que Llueva Café
Cómo Te Extraño Mi Amor
Chilanga Banda
Ciclón
Flores
Esa Noche
Ingrata
Puñal y el Corazón
El Baile Y El Salon
Aparato
Pinche Juan
Rarotonga
Batallas
Persianas
María
Chica Banda
La Dos
1. El Aparato
2. La Ingrata
3. La Pinta
4. El Ciclon
5. El Borrego
6. 24 Horas
7. Ixtepec
8. El Metro
9. Tropico de Cancer
10. Madrugal
11. Esa Noche
12. Pez
13. Verde
14. El Fin De La Infancia
15. La Negrita
16. El Tlatoani Del Barrio
17. El Baile Y El Salon
18. El Balcon
19. Las Flores
20. El Puñal y el croazon
1. Chilanga Banda
2. Metamorfosis
3. No Controles
4. No Me Comprendes
5. Alarmala De Tos
6. Perfidia - Instrumental
7. Ojala Que Llueva Cafe
8. Como Te Extrano Mi Amor
1. 11
2. 2
3. 9
4. 5
5. 3
6. 8
7. 10
8. 5.1
9. 13
10. M.C. - With Kronos Qua...
11. 6
12. 7
1. Noche Oscura
2. Batallas
3. Persianas
4. Rarotonga
5. Maria
6. Gometer Suicidio
7. Chica Banda
8. Catrin
9.Pinche Juan
10. Labios Jaguar
11. Debajo del Mar
12. Zonaja
13. Bar Tacuba
1. Déjate Caer
2. Olor a Gas
3. Amor Violento
4. Tírate
Those are all the songs i like! ^u^
Posted by tt:
i love it
Posted by Ingrata:
cafetacvba is a great example of how far experimantion can be pleasan and good.
Posted by El Franco:
Eres is a good song but not one of their best... All their songs are worth listening especially on their latest album cuatro caminos. Try songs like eo, mediodia, tomar el fresco and from their album Re, La pinta is a good song along with las flores and la fin de la infancia, from the album Reves/yo soy on the first disc song 2 and 3 are great and on the second disc la locomotor. All the songs are great listen to them yourselves ur bound to find your favorite. Uno de mis bands favoritos
Posted by Cali Girl:
I have been trying to get the Lyrics to the song "Eres" by Cafe Tacuba. I have tried many different links but cannot find that song. Anyone here have the lyrics?
Posted by Tacubo:
Cafe Tacvba is the BEST band in Mexico! I have all the CD's. I must say that Cuatro Caminos is ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! Every song in this CD is great. I was able to see them in concert this october and they were so good. I have been a fan since I was in 6th grade, now I am a junior in college. Their music is timeless and my favorite songs are Las Flores, El baile y el Salon and of course, La chica Banda! There is no other band like the Tacvbos!
Posted by Bella_gal:
Cafe tacuba is an awsome band and I have been a big fan for years now. The are truly very tanlented musisans... Los Queiero Un Chingo.. From N. cali keep pushing brown brothas!!
Posted by anahi:
I started listening to cafe tacuba since junior high, i'm now about to graduate from college, and still I find myself being a fan of this band. No matter how slow our fast their music is, i can't get enough of the cool style of music that they create. I strongly agree that their new CD is what makes them a sucessful band. From all the bands that are out there i must say that nothing will compare to the uniqueness that this band represents..... because their music represents what us mexicans go through in life through their own music...............that's all that there is to it. they are #1
Posted by MANNY:
FAN SINCE IVE SEEN THEM IN CHICAGO BACK IN 1991. A VERY INTELLIGENT BAND WITH A LARGE MIX OF SOUNDS. EVERYTHING CAFE TACVBA COMES OUT WITH IS GOLD. I RECOMMEND THEM TO EVERYONE.
Posted by freacko6:
i love cafe tacuba. i love the eres song. i saw them this summer with maldita vecindad they were the BEST
Posted by evie:
well everyone talks about eres and altough it is a fantanticcally romantic cafe tacuba has many other romantics if not yet checked out album RE, and Reves yo soy are two most awsome albums but what can i say they are MI Banda Favorita.
Posted by hey you !!!:
CAFE TACVBA IS THE BEST..
Posted by Suzette:
Cafe Tacvba es la mas chida banda en Mexico. Yotengo todos los Cd's de La Cafe Tacvba. La mas Favorita cancion es Esa Noche.
Posted by Lucy:
I really enjoy the Eres single but there are other greats songs on the disc, like Encantamiento innutil and Eo. Also check out cafe's previous like No Controles And Metamorphasis also La ingrata and El Locomotor. They are the best!!!!
Posted by Dayana:
All of Cafe Tacuba's songs are mesmerizing not just the song ERES.
Try EL APARATO and LA PINTA.
Posted by cinthia aka twinkie:
Cafe Tacuba is the best especially with the song ERES-it totally rocks
Posted by kari:
I think cafe tacuba sogns are romantic like the song "eres"
Posted by Amber AKA BACARDI:
Eres is the best romantic song ever!It totally rocks!
Posted by FLACA or PUNK:
I love all Cafe Tacuba lyrics, Its the best band of all the good ones that still exist
Posted by Edmundo:
Ania, I'm working on translating the lyrics to Eres. I'll see if I can post it here soon.
Posted by Mundo:
Well Cafe Tacvba is the best rock band in Mexico.
Posted by Ania:
I think they are awsome. i really like "Eres", however i don't know Spanish so is kind of hard to understand those words, but I hope that some day i will find translation of that song.
Posted by Guera:
I'm not Guera I don't know why they call me that but is ok!!
Posted by ilia:
I LOVE CAFE TACUBA IS ONE OF THE BEST ROCK EN ESPANOL BANDS
Posted by Tere:
I own all there albums, and they are all really good. And to all you sweet guys out there, i totally recomend the song 'Eres'! this is the best love song ever! Buy 'Cuatro Caminos'!!
Posted by Ruby:
Well so far I've only heard the song "eres" some where on tv. But I've already fallen in love with it.
Posted by Uno:
Yeap this band has been around for a while ever since I can remember. They are awsome, in their very own way.
Posted by Katherine:
I think this CD is mad cool i love it even though some people might think is weird for me to like spanish music, but this is a one-of-a-kind CD, it cant EVER be replaced by any CD in english.
Posted by Nemesis...:
The Radiohead of Mexico..
Posted by Meesa:
I THINK THERE AWESOME!!! I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO THEM. THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE ITS SAD THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THEM ONLY FOR THEIR LATEST WORK.
Posted by Shayn:
These guys are okay, for what they do. Interesting and singular- very few bands doing what they're doing right now- but maybe because it's been done a little too much before.
Posted by Monarch:
My aunt used to listen to them. I wonder how good they are.
