Sing the Real

Quetzal

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 5, 2002)
• Original Release Date: March 5, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B000060OXJ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #215,407 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The nine-piece group Quetzal certainly loves cross-cultural fusion. Sing the Real is ripe with Mexican roots and Afro-Caribbean music merged with rock, folk, and jazz influences. Given the diverse backgrounds of the members--including a Brazilian percussionist and a guitarist of Japanese-Mexican heritage--such variety comes naturally. These sensual, earthy, and generally slow songs feature passionate vocals with stirring melodies and address issues of personal struggle and maintaining one's dignity and identity. Queztal brings their musical traditions into the current century by subtly integrating modern influences such as rock and R&B ("The Social Relevance of Public Art"), hip-hop (the vocals of "20 Pesos"), and jazz ("Emotions"), and by mixing older forms into something new, such as giving southern Mexican folk an Afro-Cuban flavor on "Jarocho Elegua." This bilingual band aspires to draw a wide range of listeners to its music, and with Sing the Real, it creates eclectic music to blur boundaries. --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Musical Fusion, April 18, 2002

By	Dinamita "dinamita" (San Francisco, California United States) - See all my reviews

Quetzal's second cd, "Sing the Real" has been able to keep the flavor of their self-titled cd with a touch of new. I can't help to think that this group is a perfect blend of several types of music mixing traditional Latin Folklore, with Blues, Jazz, Rock and Caribbean rhythms. The lead singer has an amazing voice that carries the music to another level and the violin playing is amazing. I have seen this band perform live and they are just as energetic and soulful as well as concious driven as they are on the Cd. I would recommend this cd to lovers of any kind of Latin flavored music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful album, November 12, 2005

By	Jesus Garcia - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After seeing the music video of "Jarocho Elegua" I was instantly hooked to the truly amazing vocals and instruments of Quetzal. I recently moved to Tokyo and whenever I get homesick or a little nostalgic of home I always listen to it. One of my favorite albums purchased in the past year. Being of Mexican descent it means so much to me to see this type of music being created with meaningful lyrics. I love it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC! , August 23, 2005

By	R. M. Villegas (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this album on a whim a few years ago, not really knowing anything about the band, and it has become a treasured addition to my music collection since then. Nearly every song on this album is amazing! Songs are mostly Spanish, with a few in English as well, but you can enjoy this album without speaking Spanish. Notable songs on this album include: "Cenzontle", "Mia", "La Pesadilla", "La Vagabundo", "Mayahuel", with "Jarocho Elegua" being my favorite on the album. Also, if you get the opportunity to see them perform live, they are amazing in concert!