Maldita Vecindad Albums (6)
'Baile de MasCaras'
Release Date 5/7/1996
Tracks 15
Label RCA International
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What The Critics Say
Maldita Vecindad faced a daunting problem with their third album. Their previous album, El Circo, became one of the biggest, most influential rock en espanol albums of all time, and their attempts to craft a follow-up with producer Bill Laswell did not work out. Given the pressures and turmoil, it's not a surprise that Baile de Mas Caras is ultimately more of a transitional album. There are some impressive moments, but it never really coheres as a whole album. "El Chulo" is a clear sequel to El Circo's "Pachuco," but lacking the fire of the original. Indeed, the whole album seems rather lackluster, missing a potency present in previous Maldita Vecindad albums. Whether producer David Z (formerly of Prince's backing band, the Revolution) was unable to spark much energy from the band is debatable, but it is clear that the album suffers from a debilitating sameness. "El Dedo" is one of the few standout tracks, and it's clear that it simply reiterates the strengths of Maldita Vecindad without actually building on them. There is nothing truly unlistenable here, but there isn't much that's exceptional either, which makes Baile De Mas Caras a rather disappointing entry in an otherwise stellar career. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide
'En Vivo Gira Pata de Perro'
Release Date 2/1/1994
Tracks 6
Label RCA International
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What The Critics Say
This budget-priced live EP, recorded in Mexico City, definitely captures the furious energy of Maldita Vecindad's highly vaunted live show. Recorded by Mötley Crüe producer Tom Werman, the EP has crisp, clean sound, and blazing renditions of highlights from their first two albums, including the legendary "Pachuco." However, four of the EP's six tracks later wound up on the two-CD anthology Maldita Sea, so this is really only for completists and newcomers on a budget. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide
'Maldita Vecindad y los Hijos del Quinto Patio'
Release Date 2/1/1994
Tracks 8
Label RCA International
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
In the 1980s and '90s, Maldita Vecindad y los Hijos del Quinto Patio have been leaders of a movement known as "rock en espanol"--rock & roll with Spanish lyrics made with a predominatly Latino audience in mind. While the American new wave of the '80s has had a major impact on Maldita Vecindad (which is Spanish for "bad neighborhood"), rock is hardly its only influence. Underscoring the band's highly adventurous spirit, this unpredicatable CD also draws on everything from rap ("Apanon") to reggae and ska ("Mujer" and "Bailando") to African pop ("Morenaza"). Maldita has enjoyed a fiercely loyal following, and the wide range of songs offered here proves that it's well deserved. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
El Circo is a landmark album. The biggest-selling rock album in Mexican history, it brought the underground sound of the burgeoning "Rock En Espanol" movement to mainstream attention. El Circo succeeded because it captured the energy of Maldita Vecindad's ferocious live shows without sacrificing their songcraft. "Pachuco," the fiery leadoff track, became an instant classic (a pachuco is the Mexican equivalent of a Jamaican rudeboy), and from there the album veers all over the place, lyrically as well as musically. "Un Poco de Sangre" is a tragic ode to a doomed street urchin, but rather than turning the song into a morose ballad, Maldita Vecindad plays it as a horn-driven funk-metal jam. "Kumbala" incorporates mariachi and old west balladry into a gorgeous love song. That's not even to mention their cover of Mexican crooner Juan Gabriel's moony ballad "Querida," which the band turns into a ska-punk rave-up. As disparate as the sounds and ideas are, though, there is never anything forced or contrived here. The band works as a cohesive unit and the album flows from beginning to end. El Circo is as groundbreaking and influential as any album released in the '90s. ~ Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide
