rock en español

November 6, 2008 9:53 AM

I'd like some rock en español recommendations, current stuff in particular. I used to listen to a lot of Spanish language pop and rock in the past, but I don't know what's out there these days.

Stuff I've liked in the past: Soda Stereo, Fito Paez, Los Aterciopelados, early Shakira, La Ley, Heroes del Silencio. I absolutely detested Mecano, in particular Ana Torroja's singing.

(I'll admit to owning Miguel Bose and Alejandro Sanz cds, too)

posted by needled to media & arts (12 answers total)

It's a couple years old, but "Casa " by Natalia y La Forquetina is an incredible record. Kind of surf-y, kind of folky... kind of Riko Kiley-ish.
posted by clcapps at 10:06 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

I enjoy Kinky and Los Abandoned (a shame they broke up only after a couple of records).
posted by Stynxno at 10:24 AM on November 6, 2008

I'm a big fan of Ozomatli. Some of their songs are sung in Spanish, and I challenge you not to start dancing.
posted by workerant at 10:36 AM on November 6, 2008

This is something I've been curious about too. I'm fairly into Los Amigos Invisibles; they mix in some lounge, disco, and funk with their rock. Also, while they're originally from Venezuela, I think they live in New Jersey now and it feels like they tour the East Coast pretty much every three months or so.
posted by kittyprecious at 10:41 AM on November 6, 2008

Have you listened to any of Andrés Calamaro? "Alta Suciedad" was his high point for me, but his latest, "Lengua Popular," is his best album in a while.

Joaquín Sabina [link plays music] is fantastic, too. I'm thinking you might already be aware of him, but he's still turning out good stuff.

Also check out Estopa, [music] Jarabe de Palo and Bacilos.
posted by veggieboy at 11:35 AM on November 6, 2008

Cafe Tacuba are the reigning kings of rock mexicana.
posted by chrchr at 12:14 PM on November 6, 2008

Capitan Melao
Bersuit

both from Argentina
posted by matildaben at 12:18 PM on November 6, 2008

seconding Cafe Tacuba, Kinky and Los Amigos Invisibles and adding Plastilina Mosh and Julieta Venegas.
posted by edmz at 12:31 PM on November 6, 2008

Hey Needled,

Since I know you're in Ann Arbor, you should get ahold of the No Fun Records folks. Charlie and Claudia run the label, and it's a great source for contemporary South American rock and roll, from bands like Thee Coronados to Mangazoidos. They can lean toward garage and retro rock, but there's a tremendous amount of different stuff there that's fantastic (like, though they're Brazillian and thus not en espanol, The Butcher's Orchestra, whose side band Cansei Ser Sexy blew up in the last couple of years). They're super-cool people, and can get an insane amount of music from all over—they return to Argentina two to three times a year and basically buy massive amounts of whatever sounds cool, so they can get stuff that's not on their label too. Because you're in town, you can save on shipping by just meeting them in person, and they sponsor shows at the Pig pretty regularly too.

Seriously, everything I've bought from them, like a bunch of crazy '60s Peruvian garage comps and awesome Mexican punk rock, has been immensely worth my cash.

You can also check out the label SS Records for bands like XYX and Los Lampadores, who are some new rockers from the Monterrey, Mexico scene.
posted by klangklangston at 1:08 PM on November 6, 2008

Reactor is probably Mexico City's best radio station for rock en español. They do play a lot of stuff from everywhere (Coldplay, The Killers, TV on the Radio, Olympic Airways, Elbow, etc.) but rock in Spanish is featured heavily. From the website, click on 'Nuestro Sonido' -> 'En Rotación' to hear what they're currently playing.

They always do a Best of the Year list. The 2007 edition can be found here. For some reason, I can't find the list on the site itself, but it's a very good sampling.
posted by Cobalt at 8:18 PM on November 6, 2008

Uruguay's El cuarteto de nos. Here's the video for their Ya no sé que hacer conmigo. And if you listen to Soda Stereo you definitely should check out the stuff lead singer Gustavo Cerati has been up to since Soda Stereo broke up. His album Bocanada is great. Here's the video for Tabú, the opening track on the album.
posted by Kattullus at 4:35 AM on November 7, 2008

Belanova, straight up discoish pop. Molotov, hiphoppy rock with a sense of humor and social justice.
posted by signal at 5:35 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]