Customer Reviews

American Horizon

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had the opportunity to catch Los Centzontles (The Mockingbirds) live at a coffee house and was very impressed by their record Songs of Wood and Steel, produced very ably by David Hidalgo of Los Lobos. This El Cerrito California group has been together for some time, and went to school on Mexican pop music of the 30's--Lydia Mendoza, etc. They sing mostly in Spanish. The music is hard to characterize--it is folky, multi instrumental, but these mockingbirds rock. The newest, American Horizon, is accompanied by English translations, and a couple of the tracks are heart breaking. Again, David Hidalgo is all over this record (he has been busy lately, has been backing up Bob Dylan, etc.) This is great music, very rootsy and as authentic as Dave Alvin. You can't hear No Hay Trabajo (There is no work) without thinking about the men standing outside of hardware stores and the men driving pick ups who don't hire or don't pay. Give Los Centzontles a listen; I think they are a national treasure.

I will listen to almost anything David Hidalgo records and this album is exactly why. It's a great mix of music styles all performed extremely well.

Had heard the music before so am very glad to have it in my home. Thanks.