Customer Reviews

Embrace the Chaos

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There are few bands that can do what Ozomatli does and do it well. They seem to just funnel life in Los Angeles straight onto wax. They take West Coast old school hip-hop, salsa, a touch of latin infused rock and drop it all with a party atmosphere lined with messages of social conciousness.

My only concern before listening was that Chali 2na had said goodbye to the band to continue on with Jurassic Five. As it turns out, Kanetic Source doesn't replace him as much as add a new urgency to the music. Where Chali was smooth and mellow, Kanetic is more prone to be in your face. "Vocal Artillery," a song that revloves around a sample from the previous album's highlight "Cut Chemist Suite," finds Kanetic filling Chali's shoes perfectly.

This cd was well worth the wait. They just keep getting better.

This album is truly good, in fact, it is remarkably good. I first heard Ozomatli in the movie "Never Been Kissed" and didn't think they were any different than the other latin performers out there. Well, when I'm wrong, I'm wrong. This album was more than I expected it to be. An undeniably fun, foot-tapping mixture of different music genres(hip-hop,latin,jazz, etc) that is not only refreshing but also a bit needed in the world of music. I feel that Ozomatli is one the better bands out there since they incorporate different styles into their music. This group is an entourage of distinct cultures reflecting how each using their own creative style can combine to make something so intensely well. Now to talk about the album, clearly all of the tracks are brilliant in their own way. "Pa Lante", "Guerrillero" and "Timido" are upbeat high-paced latin tracks that make you just want to get up and dance. Of course there is the inclusive hip-hop beats on such tracks as "Vocal Artillery" and "Lo Que Dice" which for some reason, on this album, does not seem out of place when fused with latin rhythms. All in all, a great album that almost anyone regardless of their musical taste can enjoy. Too bad we can't hear stuff like this playing on mainstream radio.

On the first few listens, one may be disappointed by this: there is no steady MC presence in the form of Chali 2na, instead a 'bunch' of rappers are used, with seemingly out of place when set against Ozomatli's music, and thus the songs seem a bit unstable/unbalanced at times. Also, there is a clearer difference between the hip-hop and 'latin' songs, leaving the record to become somewhat disjointed.
After more listens however, the party feel unique to Ozo returns, as the 'latin' songs kick in and you feel your feet moving once again.
The first 5 songs are come across similarly to the first 5 on their previous album. Instead of hearing the opeening strains of 'Como Ves!, Como Ves!, something, something, something, ...', you get 'Something, something, something, ...Pa Lante!'.
Then comes the '100%' hip-hop tune '1,2,3,something...', that will no doubt have crowds shouting along. Posdnous is the standout guest MC of the entire album. He professes he will 'only rock a few from now on', though he appears to be guesting on quite a few other albums as well.
Dos Cosas Ciertas, Guerrillero and Timido all seem passable on he first few listens, but they soon become favourites, and you remember why you liked Cumbia..., Donde... so much from the first album.
Suenos...is bound to annoy initially with it's stabs of repetition (pensativo may also annoy), but as the album grows on you, even these seem to fit perfectly in place. The remaining 'hip-hop' songs are not as nice as having Chali 2na around. I know Ozo are politically motivated, but Common's MCing style (as appears on the title track), doesn't come across as well as Coming War did.

OK, so it's not as good as their initial effort, but Embrace the Chaos is grower. One MC throughout the whole album would be preferable (what's Kid Frost up to these days?), but other than that, the Ozo 'magic' can be rediscovered on this album if you let it.

I've read some of the reviews, so I thought I would give my two cents worth.... Is this album better than the first??? That's a good question. Yes, I have played the First album so much that my kids can sing the songs, and they don't even speak Spanish! The first album is a must have for anybody's music collection. And although I initally was a little disappointed with the first 10-20 listens to the new album, I like it more and more with each play. Party people rock the mike!
Chali2na is sorely missed, but that doesn't mean the band now isn't as good as they ever were. Come on guys, keep the faith, Ozo still rocks! They are musical geniuses! And anyone who can't feel the groove, tiene no alma (has no soul). And besides, the real power of this band is in their live shows, so go see them when ever posible!
This album is on my continous play at home, so take the chance and make it one of yours! I really don't think you will be disappointed if given the chance. Embrace the chaos! And if you don't have the first album yet, what are you waiting for... you need to buy it as well!

This great Latin band has gotten lost in the sappy parade of Latin pop that we've had lately (Ricky Martin, J-Lo, etc.) but if you're into hot new sounds and experimental music with an international flair, then you should check Ozomatli out. This large band mostly consists of Mexican-Americans, but with a white guy and a Japanese guy, plus the many African-American DJ's and rappers hanging around, Ozomatli has a very cosmopolitan and all-inclusive sound that many types of people should be able to love. While they start from a dependable Latin rock foundation, Ozomatli have a fearless method of incorporating many different styles, such as ska in "1234," drums-n-bass DJ breaks in "Dos Cosas Ciertas" and a general funk and rock tip throughout. (For more genre-jumping, they even threw in some Indian, Middle Eastern, and reggae in their 1998 debut album). One of Ozomatli's weaknesses is that they are interested in so many different types of music that they haven't quite molded everything into a cohesive sound. For example, straight-ahead Latin rock numbers like "Timido" and "Guerrillero" sit uncomfortably next to rap and DJ tracks like "Vocal Artillery." They're also a little too dependent on guest rappers, and the fact that half the songs here have Spanish vocals and the other half have English raps is a little distracting. All of these songs sound like they could be from several different bands. However, these are minor flaws, and Ozomatli are one of the most interesting and fearless bands out there, and they have tons of potential. It will be great to see what they can come up with next.

OZO is still headed in the right direction. I was impressed by their inclusion of Kora, Oud, drum n'bass and psychedelia on some of the tracks. The trumpet was excellent, the band sounded more accomplished. You can tell that they practice. However, I found some of the Latin music weighted down by two dimensional hip hop beats losing the fullness and complexity of percussive layering. They also seemed to lack some teeth in the horn arrangements, maybe its time to revisit Machito? The hip hop was ok, but the vibe was too apocalyptic....Maybe they should hook up with Spooky or Q-bert. What I found most interesting about their first album was the shifting/blending between styles within a song a la Mr. Bungle or John Zorn. The styles seemed segregated and less composed than the first disk. More global sounds would be appreciated, where was the tabla or the Reggae/DUB? How about some Shakuhachi next time? OZO still rocks, I just hope they stay on target and continue to expand.

It's true, this album isn't as good as their first. I truly miss Chahli 2na but I really love the song with "El Nino" Poree finally throwing down some rhymes! They still fuse the funk and latin with ease too. I love the Brazilian influence on Suenos en Realidad. That's my new favorite, I think. OH, and for the reviewer from PA down there, TRUE FANS know that it's "O- ZO- MAT- LI! Ya se fue! Ya se fue!"

Langly, uno de los Pistoleros Solitarios de "Expediente X", lucía en la serie una camiseta con el logo de Ozomatli. ¿Casualidad, guiño, publicidad? Más bien una muestra del impacto que el grupo causó con su debut homónimo, con su mezcla de rock, ska, funk, hip hop y ritmos latinos.
Los europeos estamos acostumbrados a ese cajón de sastre llamado rock mestizo, y hemos sufrido en silencio la aparición de grupetes que esconden su mediocridad tras la etiqueta de "globalidad enrollada". Pero para los yanquis, Ozomatli fue toda una sorpresa.
Después de tres años de gira, el septeto multiracial de Los Angeles regresa con las ideas más claras: si en su primer trabajo fusionaban estilos en un mismo tema, en "Embrace The Chaos" tienden a diferenciarlos en distintas canciones, y para ello recurren a varios productores. Steve Berlin, de Los Lobos, se encarga de potenciar los sonidos más latinos en "Pa Lante" (con el violín del lobo David Hidalgo y la kora de Prince Diabate), "Tímido" (con influencias cubanas), y el bullanguero "Mi Alma" (de raíces mejicanas).
La faceta más rapera de Ozomatli queda plasmada en las producciones de Bob Powers: "Lo que dice"; "1234" (al estilo de la Old School, con De La Soul); "Vocal Artillery" (con los recitados de Wil.I.Am (de Black Eyed Peas), Kanetic Source y Medusa, y el efectivo scratch de DJ Cut Chemist); y el pausado "Embrace The Chaos" (con Common y una trompeta jazz). Por su parte, el productor Mario Caldato aporta interesantes fusiones en "Dos cosas ciertas" (una cumbia interrumpida por un ritmo drum'n'bass y el rap en inglés de Kanetic Source), y en "Sueños en realidad" (donde los sonidos brasileños se funden con el scratch de DJ Spinobe, los metales y las percusiones).
En lengua nahuatl, Ozomatli es el dios azteca del baile y, sin duda, el grupo angelino hace honor a su nombre.

I've waited a long time for the second album, and was definitely not disappointed. The album will have you grooving for a long time. From it's Latin sounds to Cut Chemist's mixing, it's just a very solid CD. Ozomatli is definitely one of the best and unique groups on the music scene today.

This band puts on an amazing show. I see them every time they play on the east coast. I also know the members of the band and their nice as hell. This is the most universal musical act since Bob Marley. No matter what kind of music people listen to they loved their first CD. Now this newest one is not as great as that one (that would be damn near impossible to top that one)
and Chali is missing however Kanetic holds it down. He can flow I just wish he was on more tracks. If you love true hip-hop, no excuses buy this. Even if you don't, BUY IT. You won't be disappointed, and if you are you can personnaly come try to kick my a#*. Y'all say what, Y'all say what, O-ZO-MAT-LI! True fans know what I'm talking about.