Know any other songs like "El Matador" by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs?

February 1, 2006 5:54 PM

Know any other songs like "El Matador" by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs?

It recently showed up (unsurprisingly) in the movie The Matador and I was reminded how much I like this song.

Specifically, I like all the crazy drums and whistles and stuff going on in the background. Other LFC songs I've heard, while still excellent, are completely different, with more of a ska-type thing going on.

I'm guessing this is more of a traditional Argentine style of music, but I don't know what it's called. There's also a Paul Simon album that uses this style, but it's kind of cheesy and not so badass as "El Matador".

posted by exceptinsects to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

I don't have a specific answer, but you might like to try Pandora; you can sumbit a song, and it will return a radio station with songs that are of the same musical style based on instrumentation, tonality, melody, harmony, rhythm, etcetera.
posted by youarenothere at 6:27 PM on February 1, 2006

Those drums and whistles are basically Samba.

The only other "samba inspired" song that springs to mind right now is "Playa Azul", by Los Amigos Invisibles.

You can see the video on their website
(on the left column, sixth link under "videos"... it's a javascript link, so I can't link directly to it)
posted by sd at 6:44 PM on February 1, 2006

The soundtrack to Betty Blue by Gabriel Yared contains a lot of this monkey sound, whistle blowing, Samba-derived sounds. It's a lovely soundtrack in general as well.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:07 PM on February 1, 2006

Best answer: Submitter, I also love that song and have had very little luck finding music south of border that is as vibrant in the way that song is.

And before you all jump on me and say that {{{*ie:Insert you chosen musical genre* *samba,merengue, reggaeton etc *}}} are very vibrant, lively, and exhilarating. I know they can be exciting and original. No disrespect here kids.


What I mean, and that may differ from submitter's needs or interests, is a style that has a (for the lack of a better word) punk energy. Now I have heard many punk, metal, ska etc.. bands from south of the border or around the world, and they are great and all but they merely tweak the us/uk export blueprnt of whatever genre they love.

The closest I have come to this Los Fabulosos Matador's bombastic style is Mano Negra and at some points Fishbone.

I am looking for a sound that is loud, brimming with a sweaty energy. A style that isn't slick or professional.
The Matador song has a ramshackle, disoriented bull in a china shop sound, kind of like a thick chunky stew. And they are using whistles, chanted background vocals, crazy in your face drums, horns that don't seem to adhere to the style of other standard fare and methinks i hear a lil cowbell in there. And we all know that every song needs moore cowbell.

Being half hispanic, I grew up listening to punk, metal , alternative etc but I also had the standard latin music at family parties and whatnot. I grew up with it, but I was/am always looking for different spanish tinged stuff that strays from the formula of their countries and that mix everything and anything from reggae /hard rock, ska to even flamenco while using instruments one might not expect. But don't just ape their anglo influences like The Clash, Metallica, u2 etc. I wanna be able to pop it on and have my uncle or cousin understand the lyrics and see that we don't have to listen to the same stuff over and over again and still be able to identify with it a lil bit. Instead of dismiss as white people music.

Does any of this even make sense?!
I feel I may confuse/bore anyone who might actually be able to help. I hope not.
Seacrest Out
posted by stavx at 8:17 PM on February 1, 2006

What about this song by Proyecto Uno? I don't know its name, though, but Itunes tells me it's from the album New Era.
posted by dhruva at 9:08 PM on February 1, 2006

stavx: have you heard Kevin Johansen?
posted by dhruva at 9:15 PM on February 1, 2006

Response by poster: stavx: exactly.

You said it much better than I could.
posted by exceptinsects at 9:56 PM on February 1, 2006

I would recommend Ozo Matli, especially (and perhaps only) their self-titled album. They're a bit more rappy and urban, but when they rip up salsa, they rip it up. Check out their song "Chango" (warning: real audio stream) off that s/t album.

I only know of "Matador" off LFC's greatest hits album Vamos Vacios - are there other LFC albums worth checking out that have "Matador"-like songs? Or is it an anomaly?
posted by some chick at 10:59 PM on February 1, 2006

yeah, mano negra is a good match, and subsequently manu chao... perhaps arbol's early stuff? or el gran silencio (though the latter is mostly hip hop).

if you stream internet radio, batanga is a great resource for all styles of latin music, even if you have to sit through commercials with the free service.
posted by lapolla at 5:17 AM on February 2, 2006

Ozo Matli and Fishbone (at least early Fishbone) are spot-on reccos. Something a little farther out there would be Ceux Qui Marchent Debout, basically a French marching band that plays funk (like Ozo Matli, they sometimes move through the crowd while they play).

It's definitely got that raucous energy.
posted by adamrice at 7:30 AM on February 2, 2006

Response by poster: Ozomatli is another favorite of mine, and now that I think of it, a pretty good match with the feeling of El Matador, though they don't have the samba thing going on.

I will check out Fishbone, Kevin Johansen, Ceux Qui Marchent Debout, and Mano Negra. I like Manu Chao a lot, too, but again not so rowdy and no samba.

I admit, I haven't listened to any other LFC albums besides Vasos Vacios, so maybe they do have Matador-syle songs on other albums. Anyone know?
The library has Rey Azúcar so I'll check it out and see.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions so far.
posted by exceptinsects at 11:00 AM on February 2, 2006

Best answer: I recommed the following:

-"Botellita de Jerez". Crazy mexicans from the 80s that made a fusion sound from rock and mexican folk. Some good songs titles are "Alarma la de Tos" and "Todo lo Naco es Chido".

-"Cafe Tacuba". New mexican rock. They have evolved to a kind of mexi/lounge sound, but their early stuff is craaaazy. Try listening to "Rarotonga", "La Persiana", "La Ingrata". Their new album was voted #78 in Amazon 100 best of 05.

-"El Gran Silencio" is actually a fusion of Colombiana music (cumbia), hip-hop and Norteno music. They are from my hometown, Monterrey. Listen to "Chuntaro Style", "Dormir Sonando".

-"Fobia" is my favorite mexican band from the early 90s. Try "La Iguana", "Microbito" and "Camila"

-"Kinky", another band from Monterrey, make electro-funk music with a dash of Mexican influence. They sound COOL.

-"Molotov", crazy stuff.

-"Maldita Vecindad", real pachuco power. Highly recommended. Listen to "Pachuco", "Morenaza", "Poco de Sangre", "El Cocodrilo" and others.

Some other songs I really recommend are:

-"La Guera" by "La Castaneda"
-"El Son del Dolor" by "La Cuca"
-"Pobre de Ti" by "Tijuana No"
-"Ya tus Amigos" by "Victimas del Doctor Cerebro"
-"Sin Documentos" by Los Rodriguez
-"Mal Bicho" by Fabulosos Cadillacs
-"La Cerveza y el Dolor" by "Los Estramboticos"
-"Brujeria" by "King Chango"

I hope you like em.
posted by yugolplex at 10:16 PM on February 6, 2006