Yo Soy - Café Tacuba

Whatever the logic, whether it be a stopgap between studio albums, record company ambition, or the band's own desire simply to see a fine album revisited in a new context, the 2009, ten-year anniversary re-release of Café Tacuba's brilliant Yo Soy (a palindrome that is pronounced the same way backwards as forwards) is a cause célèbre. This set was half of a package that included another whole album, the wildly experimental Reves. It was Yo Soy, however, that garnered the hit singles "La Locomotora" and "La Muerte Chiquita," and helped earn the band a Latin Grammy. Yo Soy is chock-full of the kinds of catchy, quirky, truly unique songs that have made Café Tacuba a brand name in Latin music in general., and a favorite of American critics. Tight, stop-on-a-dime changes and melodic shifts are woven into tightly knit songs where standard rock instrumentation is expanded upon with the use of folk instruments. From straight-up modern rock bordering on punk, to gorgeous sons interpreted for a new generation, to norteño ballads and danzons, to sprawling yet gorgeously produced and dreamy neo-psychedelic numbers with stellar arrangements, this set is a winner top to bottom. One more thing: while there are a total of 15 songs on the record, they are divided into nearly 52 tracks that play seamlessly, offering another example of Café Tacuba's endearing but bent sense of humor. This is an excellent introduction to the band's music if you've never heard them before. For fans, this remastered version sounds better than ever and comes with entirely new artwork. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide