Los de Abajo

These CD's (it's a set of 2) are THE best music I have EVER heard. The quality is top notch and the selections are amazing. I have it in my car and have not been able to change to any other CD's. I play it louder and louder and louder. I am not a fan of loud music but this music BEGS to be loud. The variety is amazing. Every song becomes my favorite until I hear the next cut. I believe this set captures the true sense of countries best musicians both vocal and instrumental. As each song progresses you actually get carried away with the rhythms.
The way the cuts are placed in the CD's flow and you're on your way into the world of worldly music. I cannot recommend it highly enough, it needs more than 5 stars! Not to be missed!

I really do like this CD sampler a lot. The music is a broad distribution of music from around the world exemplified by excellent musicianship.

I have discovered some new types of music that I now would like to explore further. My only complaint is that the music track selections do not always show the best offerings of a particular musician or group, even from a single album or year. Nonetheless, it is an enjoyable album.

What a waste of time and money in my opinion! Do you really want to hear songs from Cuba, Spain, Italy, France , Mexico? Don't search anymore; Listen to "fuerza". Manu Chao, Carotone, Macaco and plenty more give an excellent introduction. Mixing reggae, ska, rock will satisfy everybody. Feel the "fuerza" Joanna!

I love these Narada sampler albums of New Age and World music because I discover so many new and interesting artists. "World 2002" a compilation of World music is no exception. I discovered several artists whose work I would have had trouble finding if these samplers didn't present them. This album goes all over the globe, every continent except Australia (which is too bad, as they have some great World artists.)

In particular, the first cut on CD #1 by Mariza is a fine introduction to Fado, the traditional singing of Portugal. This was my first exposure to Fado, and I will be back for more, probably from Mariza's "Fado em Mim" album, that's for sure.

I also really liked the cut "Hulum" by Amal Murkus, a Palestinian singer. Sainkho Namtchylak, from the Tuva in Central Asia sings alluringly, with examples of what sounds like overtone singing here and there in "Dance of the Eagles." It's mysterious and exotic, but entirely listenable. It's one of my favorites on the set.

One disappointment; I did not think the cut by the well-known Ladysmith Black Mambazo was particularly good. I like this group (made famous by Paul Simon on his "Graceland" album) but this cut did not do them justice. I found it somewhat flat and fragmented.

All in all, if you want an intro to World Music or a good sampler collection, this is an excellent 2-CD set. I can't wait to hear next year's collection.

Really interesting definately Mexican music. A great groove with a unique sound fusing traditional and modern Mexican elements in a great blend. Rythmically melodically sonically grooving. I really liked it alot.

A very cool set of funky modern rock from Mexico City, with unexpected heavy doses of genuine-sounding traditional music coming up in the mix. This is a very interesting album... definitely worth checking out!

No mas tengo una problema con este disco....esta muy breve. En estos tiempos cuando la mayoria de discos son de una hora y en veses mas, porque Los de Abajo hacen una de media hora y pico? Las canciones son fantasticos, con mucho sabor y politico, en su estilo de TropiPunk en que se puede escuchar influencias de varios como Cafe Tacuba, King Chango y Maldita Vencidad entre otros. Por su puesto estos vatos si son originales y tienen mas de diez anos de rockeros. Utilizan varios estilos , una mezcla no aborotado pero muy suave, como un platillo de paella, revuelto con sabor. Otra problema es que unas "canciones" son nada mas que pedasos de la vida urban, por ejemplo, hay voces de un mercado con la gente gritando sus ventas? Que es eso? Si lo incorporaran en una cancion vale pero solo comienza y termina y frankamente no vale la pena. Cuando estos locos si dan el esfuezo de tocar les sale muy chido. Para la proxima le pido a el senor y muy maestro David Bryne que los dejan hacer la musica por una hora o mas! Este es un disco y una banda que merece otra estrella pero como esta le tengo que quitar una estrella. De todos modos si te gusta esta banda compra lo pero tienes que saber que a penas cuando te esta gustando se acabo!

If you pick up any Mexican compilation in a UK shop you will find it is utter rubbish. This is a real shame because, with Cafe Tacuba, Maldita Vecindad, Los de Abajo, El Gran Silencio and Plastillina Mosh, Mexico produces some superb rock. The country's music is sadly under-rated and, at least in the UK, not well represented. This latest offering from Los de Abajo offers a range of styles (Salsa, Polka, Rap, Son Jorocha, etc). These traditional styles have been up-dated with a welcome input of energy (although the cliche, ever present on Mexican albums, about punk energy is becoming a bit worn). The CD is on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label which should already be enough to give it the benefit of the doubt. The album sets out to celebrate Mexico city and includes various street sound samples. It is also very political containing numerous attacks on the corruption of the Mexican government and offering support for the country's indigeneous Indian population. The beautiful sleeve contains English translations of the lyrics (though sadly not the Spanish originals) and a short piece introducing the band and their songs.

I came back from the esperanzah!festival in Belgium and we saw this band live. Nobody out here heard about them before this incredible night. The 3,000 people who were there will never forget those boys, under the umbrellas the environment was sublime, all these people jumping all around. I swear it the 3,000 people lucky to be there were dancing for 1h30 completely wet. Maybe the singer is a little too "Ricky Martin" for me, but don't hesitate to buy the album and most of it, go to see them live, their performance is a true hurricane....
And most of it, we talk with those guys, smoke some pots with them and they're so cool and keep their head out of the buisness, and make music for the love of it and that's the most important...
Peace to all of you and keep smiling

The harmony created by the union of the instruments transport us to another dimension surounded by a SUPREME atmosphere Thank you for your inspiration. Simply the best.

Quite simply, this is the best album I've heard this year, in any category. It's brillant: polished, yet direct and passionate. This is the ultimate combination of salsa, punk, and ska, and is so good it smoothly transcends both musical styles and language. Everyone can love and enjoy this album--and if someone doesn't find it incredible, then there is something wrong with them, period.

Buy it! Enjoy it! Dance to it! Work to it! Rave to it!

I'd bet you've never heard salsa like this! Truly imaginative,unique, and passionate. Salsa, rock, maybe even surf rock influenced. Really hot, and very danceable. Picture a latin rave somewhere in LA and these guys would be the house band. If you have any interest in where salsa and the latest rock influences merge, you will love this CD!

It is not an understatement to say that Los De Abajo have covered more musical territory on one song (El Emigrado) than many artists cover over an entire career. In just this song, they explore ska, salsa, swing, klezmer, funk and punk. The rest of the album is really good too: from the exciting "Pepepez" to the soulful jazz saxaphone amidst the reggae tune "Sueños Añejos," this album is fantastic! Los de Abajo manage to make every single minute of the CD memorable and interesting. Buy it now!

Frankly, this cd is totally worth it for the second cut "The Lunatics." (The Asylum is in the hands of the Lunatics.) The music is a mix of ska, hip-hop, Latin pop and what else I don't know. The band "Los de Abajo" (The Underdogs) mostly do the music of protest (hence the first cut Resistencia) but their fresh style and interesting lyrics should appeal to those who want some Salsa on their Hip Hop. Pretty good stuff.

Short review: Los de Abajo V The Lunatics is a brilliant album from Central America's most exciting band which combines protest lyrics with ska, hip-hop and sultry Mexican folk music. The album will surprise many as it is an improvement on the band's superb last album Cybertropic Chilango Power (BBC World Music album of the Year for the Americas 2003). There is not a weak tune on this album and it will grow on you with every listen. Buy it.

Long review: Los de Abajo are The Underdogs (Mexican literally for `Those from Below'), whose fiery Mexican protest songs and superb musicianship have won them a huge world following during the past four years. The eight-person band, who formed in 1992, are open supporters of the Zapatista movement in Mexico which fights for equality, peace and the legal recognition of the country's indigenous people. Los de Abajo V The Lunatics is the third official album from the band and, as with their two previous efforts, the lyrics not only condemn their country's corrupt officials but also call on honest politicians to tackle poverty and give free expression to everyone.

Passionate lyrics, however, are not the main reason why you should buy this album. You should buy it because Los de Abajo V The Lunatics sees this highly-acclaimed band reach full maturity with strong vocals, tight band cohesion and a mastery of different styles, including ska, hip-hop, folk music, dub and tango. The album is produced by UK act Temple of Sound (who are renowned for their World festival parties) and as a result the mix is fresh and funky. Whereas the fantastic Cybertropic Chilango Power introduced the band to a worldwide fan base with its punky rhythms and raw outlook, Los de Abajo V The Lunatics is a far more confident affair. And whereas Cybertropic...brought the band's home city, Mexico City, alive with snatches of local life nestled in among the songs, Los de Abajo V The Lunatics ditches these samples and instead produces a sound that will rock festivals the world over. Coming on the back of some huge live performances (they stormed WOMADELAIDE 2003 in Australia with a set that had the audience po-going like a bunch of crazy meerkats), as well as major European airplay (they performed live on Jools Holland's BBC2 show in October 2005), the band were never going to fail in this respect.

As to the album itself: while Los de Abajo V The Lunatics seems a curious title to pick (raising fears of an `interesting' side project for the band or a remix album), on reflection it is an ideal choice. LDA have long regarded Madness and the Specials as key influences, and the band provides not only an excellent cover version in Mexican of The Lunatics have taken over the Asylum by Fun Boy Three, but also an English language bonus track with Specials/Fun Boy Three performer Neville Staples. As many people will know, The Lunatics have taken over the Asylum is about the idiots in government leading society astray, and this sits quite comfortably with LDA's own message regarding Mexico. There are no duff tracks on this album and even if you are a bit unsure at first, give it a few listens and you'll be delighted you bought it. My highlights are Track 1 `Resistencia' (a wistful effort featuring words by Zapatista Insurgent Commander Esther); Track 2 `Los Lunaticos' - the Mexican version of Fun Boy Three's hit which I think beats the original; Track 6 `De Marcha' - a rocking ska tune; Track 8 `Noche' - a lovely Mexican folk music arrangement; and Track 10 `Fan Fatal' - a funky Wild West shakedown!

Anyway, it's five stars for Los de Abajo V The Lunatics. Buy the album. See the band live. Why miss out on the funky sound of the Mexican underground, eh gringo?

Even though Los de Abajo's studio albums are enjoyable in themselves, thay have never quite captured the energy and joy of of Los de Abajo live. Los de Abajo is one of the great live bands of all time. This is an official bootleg of their 2004 gig in Los Angeles. The two-hour set is a rollercoaster ride of different influences: ska, punk, mariachi, Mexican folk music, funk & hip hop. Very uptempo, accelerates towards the end even further, and great fun. I saw the same set in Helsinki in 2004 & even the usually rather subdued Finnish audience was totally encaptivated from the very beginning. If you can't go and see Los de Abajo this is definitely the next best thing.

Meh.

I gotta say i was looking forward to listening to this double live cd album of Los de abajo especially since i enjoyed their studio albums but it was not so.

I found the live renditions for the most part pretty dull. I guess you'd have to be there live in the audience to REALLY experience the event.
And to top things off, the titles of the songs are not played on the CD as it is listed on the CD album cover. It gets to the point where you don't know what you're listening to unless of course you're a hardcore fan.

This is really more for the hardcore fans. Si.

I bought this CD because the label Kufala put the first song Sr. Judas on a Sampler, free with a CD from Lettuce. This song starts with digital samples of human voices talking about freedom, intimacy and other theme's in Spanish, English, Dutch (!), German e.o.. Then the song starts, rap with a punky groove. It's very original, a mixture of rap, rock, salsa and ska. Also the other songs on the 2 live-CD's are alright, groovy latin music, but not as surprising and beautiful as the first song. I mean, nothing wrong with it, but "where did I hear this before?"
So if money is not the problem, buy it at least for the first song. I mean, when you're from Mexico-city, and you use samples of German, Flemish and other rare languages in a rhytmic way to make an intro, and it's beautiful and thrilling, you are creative!

I came back from the esperanzah!festival in Belgium and we saw this band live. Nobody out here heard about them before this incredible night. The 3,000 people who were there will never forget those boys, under the umbrellas the environment was sublime, all these people jumping all around. I swear it the 3,000 people lucky to be there were dancing for 1h30 completely wet. Maybe the singer is a little too "Ricky Martin" for me, but don't hesitate to buy the album and most of it, go to see them live, their performance is a true hurricane....
And most of it, we talk with those guys, smoke some pots with them and they're so cool and keep their head out of the buisness, and make music for the love of it and that's the most important...
Peace to all of you and keep smiling

The harmony created by the union of the instruments transport us to another dimension surounded by a SUPREME atmosphere Thank you for your inspiration. Simply the best.

Quite simply, this is the best album I've heard this year, in any category. It's brillant: polished, yet direct and passionate. This is the ultimate combination of salsa, punk, and ska, and is so good it smoothly transcends both musical styles and language. Everyone can love and enjoy this album--and if someone doesn't find it incredible, then there is something wrong with them, period.

Buy it! Enjoy it! Dance to it! Work to it! Rave to it!

I'd bet you've never heard salsa like this! Truly imaginative,unique, and passionate. Salsa, rock, maybe even surf rock influenced. Really hot, and very danceable. Picture a latin rave somewhere in LA and these guys would be the house band. If you have any interest in where salsa and the latest rock influences merge, you will love this CD!

It is not an understatement to say that Los De Abajo have covered more musical territory on one song (El Emigrado) than many artists cover over an entire career. In just this song, they explore ska, salsa, swing, klezmer, funk and punk. The rest of the album is really good too: from the exciting "Pepepez" to the soulful jazz saxaphone amidst the reggae tune "Sueños Añejos," this album is fantastic! Los de Abajo manage to make every single minute of the CD memorable and interesting. Buy it now!

Really interesting definately Mexican music. A great groove with a unique sound fusing traditional and modern Mexican elements in a great blend. Rythmically melodically sonically grooving. I really liked it alot.

A very cool set of funky modern rock from Mexico City, with unexpected heavy doses of genuine-sounding traditional music coming up in the mix. This is a very interesting album... definitely worth checking out!

No mas tengo una problema con este disco....esta muy breve. En estos tiempos cuando la mayoria de discos son de una hora y en veses mas, porque Los de Abajo hacen una de media hora y pico? Las canciones son fantasticos, con mucho sabor y politico, en su estilo de TropiPunk en que se puede escuchar influencias de varios como Cafe Tacuba, King Chango y Maldita Vencidad entre otros. Por su puesto estos vatos si son originales y tienen mas de diez anos de rockeros. Utilizan varios estilos , una mezcla no aborotado pero muy suave, como un platillo de paella, revuelto con sabor. Otra problema es que unas "canciones" son nada mas que pedasos de la vida urban, por ejemplo, hay voces de un mercado con la gente gritando sus ventas? Que es eso? Si lo incorporaran en una cancion vale pero solo comienza y termina y frankamente no vale la pena. Cuando estos locos si dan el esfuezo de tocar les sale muy chido. Para la proxima le pido a el senor y muy maestro David Bryne que los dejan hacer la musica por una hora o mas! Este es un disco y una banda que merece otra estrella pero como esta le tengo que quitar una estrella. De todos modos si te gusta esta banda compra lo pero tienes que saber que a penas cuando te esta gustando se acabo!

If you pick up any Mexican compilation in a UK shop you will find it is utter rubbish. This is a real shame because, with Cafe Tacuba, Maldita Vecindad, Los de Abajo, El Gran Silencio and Plastillina Mosh, Mexico produces some superb rock. The country's music is sadly under-rated and, at least in the UK, not well represented. This latest offering from Los de Abajo offers a range of styles (Salsa, Polka, Rap, Son Jorocha, etc). These traditional styles have been up-dated with a welcome input of energy (although the cliche, ever present on Mexican albums, about punk energy is becoming a bit worn). The CD is on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label which should already be enough to give it the benefit of the doubt. The album sets out to celebrate Mexico city and includes various street sound samples. It is also very political containing numerous attacks on the corruption of the Mexican government and offering support for the country's indigeneous Indian population. The beautiful sleeve contains English translations of the lyrics (though sadly not the Spanish originals) and a short piece introducing the band and their songs.

I came back from the esperanzah!festival in Belgium and we saw this band live. Nobody out here heard about them before this incredible night. The 3,000 people who were there will never forget those boys, under the umbrellas the environment was sublime, all these people jumping all around. I swear it the 3,000 people lucky to be there were dancing for 1h30 completely wet. Maybe the singer is a little too "Ricky Martin" for me, but don't hesitate to buy the album and most of it, go to see them live, their performance is a true hurricane....
And most of it, we talk with those guys, smoke some pots with them and they're so cool and keep their head out of the buisness, and make music for the love of it and that's the most important...
Peace to all of you and keep smiling

The harmony created by the union of the instruments transport us to another dimension surounded by a SUPREME atmosphere Thank you for your inspiration. Simply the best.

Quite simply, this is the best album I've heard this year, in any category. It's brillant: polished, yet direct and passionate. This is the ultimate combination of salsa, punk, and ska, and is so good it smoothly transcends both musical styles and language. Everyone can love and enjoy this album--and if someone doesn't find it incredible, then there is something wrong with them, period.

Buy it! Enjoy it! Dance to it! Work to it! Rave to it!

I'd bet you've never heard salsa like this! Truly imaginative,unique, and passionate. Salsa, rock, maybe even surf rock influenced. Really hot, and very danceable. Picture a latin rave somewhere in LA and these guys would be the house band. If you have any interest in where salsa and the latest rock influences merge, you will love this CD!

It is not an understatement to say that Los De Abajo have covered more musical territory on one song (El Emigrado) than many artists cover over an entire career. In just this song, they explore ska, salsa, swing, klezmer, funk and punk. The rest of the album is really good too: from the exciting "Pepepez" to the soulful jazz saxaphone amidst the reggae tune "Sueños Añejos," this album is fantastic! Los de Abajo manage to make every single minute of the CD memorable and interesting. Buy it now!

I came back from the esperanzah!festival in Belgium and we saw this band live. Nobody out here heard about them before this incredible night. The 3,000 people who were there will never forget those boys, under the umbrellas the environment was sublime, all these people jumping all around. I swear it the 3,000 people lucky to be there were dancing for 1h30 completely wet. Maybe the singer is a little too "Ricky Martin" for me, but don't hesitate to buy the album and most of it, go to see them live, their performance is a true hurricane....
And most of it, we talk with those guys, smoke some pots with them and they're so cool and keep their head out of the buisness, and make music for the love of it and that's the most important...
Peace to all of you and keep smiling

The harmony created by the union of the instruments transport us to another dimension surounded by a SUPREME atmosphere Thank you for your inspiration. Simply the best.

Quite simply, this is the best album I've heard this year, in any category. It's brillant: polished, yet direct and passionate. This is the ultimate combination of salsa, punk, and ska, and is so good it smoothly transcends both musical styles and language. Everyone can love and enjoy this album--and if someone doesn't find it incredible, then there is something wrong with them, period.

Buy it! Enjoy it! Dance to it! Work to it! Rave to it!

I'd bet you've never heard salsa like this! Truly imaginative,unique, and passionate. Salsa, rock, maybe even surf rock influenced. Really hot, and very danceable. Picture a latin rave somewhere in LA and these guys would be the house band. If you have any interest in where salsa and the latest rock influences merge, you will love this CD!

It is not an understatement to say that Los De Abajo have covered more musical territory on one song (El Emigrado) than many artists cover over an entire career. In just this song, they explore ska, salsa, swing, klezmer, funk and punk. The rest of the album is really good too: from the exciting "Pepepez" to the soulful jazz saxaphone amidst the reggae tune "Sueños Añejos," this album is fantastic! Los de Abajo manage to make every single minute of the CD memorable and interesting. Buy it now!