Customer Reviews

Equilibrio De Los Jaguares

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... so, if you want to experience real feel of Mexican rock, this is it, your search is over,... this is the real deal for you people out there, interested in acquiring real "Rocanrol mexicano", you don't need almost anything else, just go for this record, the best Mexican rock music born since the Caifanes era, with Saúl Hernandez (singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist and founder) at command as always. You wont regret!

First, a little history of the band: Jaguares was formed in consequence to the desintegration of Caifanes, which was Saul's band before jaguares, that marked the first part of the history of Mexican rock, when the band splitted apart, Saul, had a time of aislation and he had some problems with his throat and needed surgery many times, after he recovered, he formed a new line-up, and started a new project, which he baptized as "Jaguares" in consequence that he couldn't go over with the name of "caifanes", because of legal problems with band member/guitarist, alejandro markovich, which has the rights of the name, so, in a dream, he saw the image of a jaguar a very intense image, so he decided to go with the new name with anew band: Jaguares. He searched for new musicians to form the band, along with caifanes' drummer alfonso andre, and created "El Equilibrio" the first album and the first part of the history still going of jaguares. Well, the record, is very diverse, and crafted with many elements, reflecting our culture, people, history, fauna and circled with "selvatic (jungle) environment" and mood.

Some of the songs are easy to listen and understand, such as "dime jaguar", "detrás de los cerros" and "nunca te doblarás", which obviously were the 3 singles of the album, there are always complicated and clever poetic lyrics, from Saul of course, but the rest of the album I would say, you just have to listen to some of the songs a few or many times to really get the feel of each one of the songs and especially if you don't speak or understand Spanish, but also, most of the music is some kind complex, and some people (including me), would refer to the record as a progressive-rock record in some way, especially for the mood that the music in here settles, jungle-like mood, mystic ambient, including of course, Mexican history and pre- Columbian cultures and tradition that you can slightly but clearly hear in the music, also, the complex structure in some of the pieces and the could'nt- be-better work in the guitars, provided by Jose Manuel Aguilera, (lead guitar, and composer of 2 of the songs in the album, the rest are Saul's credits) fit and balance completely Saul's poetic words and singing, creating the perfect combination, along with band members, Federico Fong in bass guitar and Alfonso André, in drums/percussion.

I would't ever refer this work as a "singles record", (which are very common this kind of commercial projects, in bands like maná as I said before), this is a whole piece, a masterpiece that should be listened to, from the first part of El equilibrio, (the balance) through the whole record until the excellent closing "En la habitación de tu mente": " in the room deep inside your mind, there are no colors, there are no windows, in the room deep inside your mind."

This is the clearest and best crafted, musical representation of our Mexican culture, and history, including of course, social and protest topics, and is clearly the best representation of Mexican real rock, told in a very special and personal way, by Saul and every single person involved in the production of the album. Maybe, you've heard some of the first rocanrol bands born in Mexico, (El tri, 3 souls in my mind, etc..) they are respected back here but in most of the cases and most of the bands, created a sound or copied the American, blues and rock early bands, such as creedence, cream, and some other blues style early english bands, like the zep or the who. Caifanes and Jaguares, didn't go that way, they are for me and many many people not only in Mexico, but in other countries the Best rock en español and Mexican rock band in history of Mexican rocanrol, because, they have created their own style since the very first Caifanes record, and perhaps is the only Mexican band, that has really achieve that, and be known as caifanes- jaguars and their instantly recognizable style. As a little piece of advice, buy also, Caifanes' "La Historia" (the best of..., and the history of Saul song's and the first version of his band), along with "El equilibrio". Another thing, don't waste the chance to go see them live if you can, you'll get out from there, with a total different view within music, Really!

Just as a last thought or advice: Listen to the album with the best headphones you can get, go to the woods, with your discman, or whatever, or maybe on a cold, natural environment as the forest, or even in your garden when it is raining and you'll know what I mean by the term I used as jungle-like mood and mystic ambient!!! I own this album, and I've opened an small view of it the importance that this record has in the history of "rock en español" and some of the history that lead to it, so: Now it's up to you to you decide, if you want to it or not.

Jaguares' finest album to date! This album might easily be Spanish rock's best album and is up there with any Caifanes album. This Mexico City band features a very talented song-writer in Saul Hernandez. I've easily listened to this album hundreds of times. While owning over 200 hundred rock n' roll albums from the greatest bands that ever lived (Led Zep, Beatles, Stones, Pink Floyd, GN'R, =VH=, Scorps, Rush, Sabbath, Helloween, Maiden, AIC, etc.), I can easily say that this is one of my favorites. This album was masterfully created, featuring folkish, dark & mellow sounds with great lyrics! There really isn't a filler on this album, with great songs such as: "Nunca Te Doblaras", "Dime Jaguar", "Imaginame", "Detras De Los Cerros", "Las Ratas No Tienen Alas", "El Milagro", "Solo Somos Sueños", & "Adonde Vamos A Ir".

I totally recommend this album to any TRUE rock n' roll fan, and can guarantee not to disappoint. Also, i recommend any of the Caifanes albums, especially "El Silencio", which i consider to be their greatest performance!

The album El Equilibrio de los Jaguares invigorates the mind. The Jaguares definitely have done a great piece of art with this album. I think they definitely helped propell Spanish rock to a higher level. They have stayed faithful to the rock sound better than other groups such as Mana, who recently have gone more melodic and soft. The sound and lyrics from the album jump and slap you in the face with reality. All of the songs have extraordinary poetic depictions of life, seen through the eyes of Saul Hernandez. An example of this is the song "Nunca te Doblaras." It says " we never seem to see that vultures cry too, we never seem to see that toads smile, that bears escape in full winter, that dolphins from the desert dance during a full moon." Our fast paced world has forgotten to think of such things as toads. Our society pretty much takes everything for granted nowadays. The album is full of imagery throughout. Saul Hernandez, the lead singer and writer, did an exceptional job. His soft mellow voice gives the right vibe to his lyrics. Many people don't even pay attention to the lyrics and because that's how good the sound is. The Jaguares have incorporated simple, but typical Latin rhythmic sounds to exceptional guitar solos and riffs. The combinations of sound soothes the ear. I don't think that people have to even listen to any of the songs when they consider the purchase of this album. If you like Spanish rock you will enjoy this album. Just in case you do feel you need a taste of the Jaguares, I recommend that you listen to "Detras de los Cerros," and "El Milagro."

Sin duda que EL EQULIBRIO DE LOS JAGUARES es un disco que te trasporta a otra realidad, la magia que tiene este disco es indescriprible, sus sonidos oscuros, sus letras depresivas y/o en busca de respuestas, la ejecucion perfecta, EL EQUILIBRIO es un disco hasta cierto punto conceptual, lleno de ese misticismo de las culturas latinoamericanas, un gran acierto la seleccion de DON WAS como productor, el ayudo a llevar el disco por el camino adecuado

Perfecto

upon hearing the first song of this c.d. I knew that it was one of the best in spanish rock. It's on the same page as pearl jam when it comes to the mellow moods and soothing riffs.

If you want to experience a different dimension of rock music, Jaguares has it. The bands enigmatic style is not a passing trend, or fad it is the soul of this art we call rock and roll, timeless, unstopable and beautiful. They also put together the best concert I have ever been to in my life. Jaguares has style, carisma and Mexico written all over their music.

From the time Caifanes split up, everyone in the latin rock scene has been waiting to hear Saul Hernandez sing once again. Here he is at his best, captivating us with this poetic dark lyrics and emotional voice. This album truly expresses spiritual depth and gives us a whole new sound. All of the tracks are genuine masterpieces. Be on the look out for their new album, August 24th 1999, and try to see them perform. They will blow you away, just like this album did to me.

It was 1996 and Jose Manuel Aguilera, Mexican guitar virtuoso formed `La Barranca', band in which he was accompanied by Federico Fong and Alfonso Andre. They release their first album "El fuego de la noche" and it is acclaimed as one the best rock albums ever.

Same year, Saul Hernandez dismembers `Caifanes' apparently due to a legal dispute with Alejandro Markovich over the use of the name of the band. Saul decides to create a new band called `Jaguares', but now he is more cautious and registers the name for himself only. So, he invites Jose Manuel Aguilera (Sangre Azteca), Federico Fong and Alfonso Andre (Caifanes) to partake as guests on his first `Jaguares' album. The result? The best album `Jaguares' will ever have.

The lyrics are dark and obscure (if you don't believe me listen to `El equilibrio pt 1 and 2') as they have always been from Saul Hernandez, but what really makes this album a pleasant experience is the musical contribution of his guests (Saul was bold enough to credit himself alone as `Jaguares' in the booklet, he also clarifies that the musicians are only guests)

The guitar of Jose Manuel Aguilera will captivate your attention on every track of this album, actually what I consider the best two songs of the album are the contributions of Aguilera to it: `Clavame major los dientes' and `Solo somos sueños' with beautiful and metaphorical lyrics. The contribution of Andre is impressive as it has always been since the days of Caifanes, and Federico Fong is just unbelievable.

Unfortunately the weak point of the album is the lead, the voice of Saul Hernandez suffers from the results of the operation he had, he had apparently this tumor that had to be extirpated and affected his voice. It would have been nice if he had given Jose Manuel Aguilera the opportunity to sing his own themes, but in those day (even nowadays) Saul was in his pose of `rock star' and wanted to be the point of attention of the band, a mistake that has cost his band to be suffering constant changes in their lining.

Highlights of the albums are `Dime jaguar', `A donde vamos a ir' and `Nunca te doblaras'

Overall, a very good album thanks to the contributions of the guests, but definitely nothing compared to `El fuego de la noche', album in which Aguilera, Fong and Andre had the freedom to experiment and do what they wanted and not what a lead with delirious of grandeur instructed.

Primer album de Jaguares. Saul Hernandez es acompañado en este disco por Jose Manuel Aguilera (Sangre Azteca), Federico Fong (Kenny y los Electricos) y Alfonso Andre (Caifanes), musicos de LA BARRANCA.

Las canciones hablan de cierta depresion por parte de Hernandez, es un disco muy oscuro, prueba de ello son canciones como "Voy a Volar" y "Huracan".

La aportacion de Aguilera en "Clavame Mejor los Dientes" y "Solo Somos Sueños" es algo excelente.

Canciones recomendadas: Detras de los cerros, Nunca te doblaras, Clavame Mejor los dientes, Adonde Vamos A Ir.

Although their last album - Cuando la Sangre Galopa, actually surpassed this in my opinion, El Equilibrio, remains still one of the finest rock recordings ever.
The music is complex, meshing various styles and sounds, like a blend of The Cure, the Doors, and Sabbath. The tracks that stand out the most are: Dime Jaguar, Detras de los Cerros, Las Ratas no Tienen Alas, Huracan, and my fave Nunca te Doblaras. This a brilliant album, being dark, melodic, complex, atmospheric, and flows almost organically. A must-have for all fans of real rock!