Customer Reviews

Re

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Re by Cafe Tacuba is one of those albums you hear is good from a friend. So you buy it, put it in your cd player, and the first time you hear it it seems odd - like nothing you've heard before. It's Mexican pop music, for sure, but somehow it's deeper, richer and more inventive than you ever might have expected. You decide to leave it in your player and listen to it a few more times, to fully understand it. Before you know it, a week has gone by and you're humming the melodies to Re in the street, and it's not boring to put it on when you get back. It's got so much to keep you in thrall: beatlesque/XTC/radioheadesque pop, mexican guitars, ska, death metal, el mariachi, etc. etc. etc.

After a few weeks you take the disc out of your player and put it on a shelf, but the sounds will always be with you. Those sounds will always bring back the moments of your life when you first purchased Re. It's THAT good of an album.

So, I'm telling you now. Re is a good album, you should pick it up and give it a listen - and let a new season of your life begin.

This is considered by many as Café Tacvba's best album ever, a statement in which I definitely agree.

It is quite difficult to define what this album represents, it shows definitely an evolution, and even though the lyrics' formula is basically the same as in the first album (topics regarding the Mexican culture that go from being for a while in the subway of Mexico city to the old customs of the `Tlatoanis') what made this album so compelling was the wide variety of musical styles that the band decided to include for this work.

During this album we could see where the band was going, Emmanuel started to sing (a pretty cool slam song entitled `El borrego'), the vocalist started to change names (he was known as `Cosme' for this album) and the musical direction they took was vast.

`La ingrata' is nothing but a traditional Mexican song about relationships the Mexican way, `El ciclon' is a song reminiscent of the old progressive rock bands, `Esa noche' a very beautiful ballad about a love long lost.

The 20 tracks included in this album are just unbelievable, every song is different to the other and there is not a single musical style in which to catalogue this album. They attempted several styles and succeeded in all. I can guarantee you that this album will not disappoint but the opposite, everything in this album is just so well done, from the graphic design in the inside booklet to the contents of the cd.

This is a musical jewel that must be part of every music lover collection, regardless of the type of music you like, this album has 20 most enjoyable songs. This album was released in 1994 and I still remember me listening to it all the time in my walkman, a couple of years ago I found it on CD and didn't hesitate to buy it, more that 10 years have passed and this is an album through which years won't pass. A must for music collectors.

Llevo varios años escuchando cada una de las canciones de este album. El segundo album de los Tacubos, notese la referencia a la segunda nota musical, son casi veinte temas que recorren el pasado y futuro musical de México: canciones que hablan de las calles, el metro, la ecologia, irse de pinta, OVNIs, y hasta una canción romantica donde la pareja esta compuesta de dos hombres. El sonido es maravilloso, una gran mezcla de guapango, mariachi, trio, corrido bajo una amalgama rock impresionante. La voz razgada, volatil y cruda de Cosme dan al albun parte de su filo sobre una musicalizacion esquisita y variada. Abundan los mexicanismos, pero sobre todo la universalizacion de un México plurilingue y multi-etnico. En fin, el albun musicalmente es un tratado sobre la realidad de vivir en la megapolis por excellencia.
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I have been listening these songs for several years. On this is the second album of the Tacubos, note the reference to the second note in the musical scale, there are 20 songs that survey the musical past and future of Mexico: songs about its streets, its subway, ecology, skiping school, UFOs, and even a romantic song where the two protagonist are men. Its sound is marevelous: with a mix of guapango, mariachi, trio and corrido that create an impressive rock amalgam. Cosme's voice, edgy, volatile and raw, gives the album an edge of musical variety and exquisiteness. Filled with mexican slang, but mostly aiming to universalize Mexico and its plurilingual and multi-etnic soul. This is a musical treaty on the reality of living in the largest world's megapolis.

Manu Chao recommended this album and I haven't looked back. The music is very varied and quite simply superb. Even Manu Chao would be delighted with the rapidity of change of style between the industrial punk of 'El Borrego' to the beautiful Mexican ballad 'Esa noche'. In fact one senses the heavy influence this album had on Manu's own development- I wouldn't be surprised to learn that 'Me Gustas Tu' was his answer to the lyrics at the end of 'El Borrego' and anyone who knows 'Proxima Estacion Esperanza' will feel instantly at home with the guitar rifts of 'Pez'. Kosme's vocals have the power to make or break songs- on this album they make them but unfortunately on most other Cafe Tacuba albums they are the weak link. Highlights too numerous to mention- 17 of the 20 songs are vying to be the best on the album. This is a CD which takes some getting used to so don't worry if you don't 'get it' first time round. When I first heard it I only liked 2 or 3 songs now I like it all. I have now worn out three copies of this masterpiece.

Somebody once said if you enjoy the Buena Vista Social Club, you'll like Cafe Tacuba. I say, buy this album and you'll be using the Buena Vista Social Club as a beer coaster! This is an excellent introduction to the fantastic eclectic sounds of Cafe Tacuba, if you've been so deprived as to never have heard them. And if you know 'em already, get ready for more! There is truly something for everybody on this cd, with almost every music genre covered from rock to sweet baladas. So what you can't speak Spanish... you know what sounds cool, right? Y si hablas espanol, more power to ya, porque las letras estan las mas divertidas de TODO el mundo! And ademas, it's EXCELLENT driving music. Pop this in in the car, and head south towards the REAL Cafe Tacuba in Mexico City... you'll love every minute of the ride!

I have owned Cafe tacuba's "Re" since it came out a few years ago. This is by far one of my favorite phonograms of all time. As a Motion Picture Music supervisor, I appreciate versatile artists. in this little CD they combine 20 songs each more different than the next. they breeze through Pop, disco, Punk, Nortenyo, Huasteco, bossa, etc. This record is filled with great sounds, that although this is experimental alternative pop at its best, they still embellish their songs with great shades of ethnicity. Their lyrics contain great poetry, cynicism, humor and riddling prose. This is one of my "desert island" CD's. Although their later recordings have been very dissapointing in comparison to "Re"'s triumph, I consider Cafe Tacuba one of the most undervalued bands of the 1990s. Buy it!! Like, now!

Cafe Tacuba is the greatest band in the Rock en Espanol movement. They artfully combine native rhythms, pop styles, Mexican street music, ballads, mariachi, and more to create a totally unique and dynamic style. On this album, you will experience Cafe Tacuba's dazzling flexibility as they go from the rhythmic masterpiece of "El Aparato" to the manic punk-mariachi of "Ingrata" to the smooth pop balladry of "Esa Noche". This album is a must-have. You don't have to be a chilango to enjoy Cafe Tacuba's great world music!

This has to be one of the GREATEST! albums ever. I don't speak Spanish that well but "Re" is one of the best albums I have ever heard. I have loved this album since the first time I listened to it. A great mixture of Punk, Ska, Rock, Metal, Spoken word, Salsa and Music period.... A great all around album in any language. You can't miss with Cafe Tacuba.

This album is simply one of the best I've heard in a decade. Cafe Tacuba defies categorization; every song is different. The depth of this band's creativity and skill comes through on every track. By the way, if you don't speak Spanish, don't pass this up because of that. The lyrics are great, but the album is worthwhile just for the music. One of the best in any language!

Sin duda este disco fusiona el folclor y música típica mexicana, rock y pop. Un gran clásico imperdible para los amates de la música.