Tarantism [Import]

Tito & Tarantula | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 19, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Bmg
• ASIN: B0000265LH
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,214 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. After Dark

2. Smiling Karen

3. Slippin' & Slidin'

4. Strange Face

5. Angry Cockroaches

6. Back To The House

7. Jupiter

8. Sweet Cycle

9. Flying In My Sleep

10. Killing Just For Fun

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Sleeper of the Twentieth Century, November 20, 2001

By 

Paul Fucich (Palmdale, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tarantism (Audio CD)

I would have to rate this recording as one of my personal (short list of) favorites. In my opinion this music is among the top 20 rock albums recorded in the twentieth century, it is that good! This album tells a story, there is a flow, a purpose. Not only are you subjected to musical variety, you take a musical journey too. There is nothing about this selection that does not incorporate musical apocalypse. In other words, the journey taken is a journey through human dysfunction and the emotions therein. Having said that, for me, listening to this CD is a kind of discovery. The subject matter is intense folks! I happen to love the way the songs flow, from one theme into the other, like a progression.

Regarding the music, there is a combination of several genres present. You can taste blues, folk, ballad, and pop, all blended in the rock that has that "south of the border" flavor--that is yet difficult of accurate description. The music and melody make the record, but then on top of that there is the performance! The performance gives the already classic music, that edge, that feel. There is a soulful element throughout. If you are a rock fan and you like the music of say ZZTop, Masters Of Reality, Tea Party, Wide Mouth Mason, Cream, Hendrix; in other words, music that has that soulful difference that sets it apart from the crowd, than you may very well love this recording from Tito and Tarantula. This album is the cream of the crop of twentieth century rock.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Muy caliente, April 20, 2007

By 

Cinephiliac (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tarantism (Audio CD)

I first encountered Tito Larriva in David Byrne's 1986 slice of absurdist Texas life "mockumentary" TRUE STORIES. I quickly became enamored of his Tex-Mex rock sound, and have followed his career through his work with the CRUZADOS, as well as his current band - through its various musician change-outs. TARANTISM is Tito & Tarantula's best-selling CD to date and, although it contains only 10 tracks, they are some of the band's best known songs: From the full-throttle, sultry and white-hot "After Dark" (is there a red-blooded male out there who doesn't remember Salma Hayek's "would you like some fries with that shake" table dance in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN) and the frenetic "Angry Cockroaches" (also made famous in the same film), to "Back To The House That Love Built" and "Strange Face Of Love" from the film DESPERADO, Larriva's music has frequently provided the driving musical energy behind Robert Rodriguez's films. (The CD is in fact co-produced by both Larriva and Robert Rodriguez.) This CD represents the best cross-section of the band's early work--before they started to veer off into the musical experimentation of their album LITTLE BITCH.

I am surprised that Larriva hasn't found more of a following in this country. Perhaps it is because his music is hard to categorize. It incorporates elements from classic rock, as well as "Tejano," but doesn't really conform to either. Until the rest of the country catches on, and Tito & Tarantula becomes a household name, they will just have to be our little secret.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellente, October 17, 2006

By 

G. YEO "gyeo" (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tarantism (Audio CD)

First came across Tito and Tarantula on Robert Rodriguez's Desperado soundtrack - it kicked [...] and this album is more of the same bluesy rock. Stinging guitar licks and passionate highway rock - very visual, very dramatic, very poetic. Highly recommended...