Fabulosos Cadillacs are back... really??

Sr. Flavio, Vicentico y compañia come back with their signature composition of tropical and rock in a moderate album that nonetheless feels pressured at all times. This is the kind of unfortunate album legendary bands release just before reuniting for their concert tour, no wonder, their “Satanico Pop Tour” kicked off this month in Mexico.

Before this review starts looking too depressing, I’d say La Luz del Ritmo is not a bad album, just plain mediocre. The double disc includes five new tracks that could have been more significant without the unnecessary refills. Buying this album I felt like the kid that gets coal in his stalking the day after Christmas... waiting for something better, like a good album after almost 8 years of waiting! Six of the band’s classics were remastered, but with the exception of “Muy muy temprano” these versions seem to have a better fit in their disappointing Sopa de Caracol LP.

“La Luz Del Ritmo”, the first single of the album, does give us that semi operture feel that we got when we listened to El Muerto or Sabato (Fabulosos Calavera) but falls short on Flavio's simplistic bass tabs.

“Flores” is worth mentioning as it is the only song here where they actually sound modern. The remake/remastering of Los Condenaditos sounds like a fake nortena song and falls short to deliver all the majestic and nostalgic feel it gave us in its La Marcha del Golazo Solitario version.

Los Cadillacs always aspire towards the majestic as we experienced in their past two albums, Fabulos Calavera and La Marcha, but this middling album falls short on its "epic musical vision". A pair of translated refills were included here, “Should I stay or should I go” by The Clash and “Wake up and make love with me” by Ian Dury - are dodgy attempts at sounding like they did in past albums like Vasos Vacios or Yo te Avise.

Their performance at the MTVLA VMA's which was supposed to be a hint of what’s offered in the included DVD, very energetic and collectible, sounded more like a bunch of middle aged men trying to make some money. I do have to give them props for not overflowing the market with a bunch of albums like Soda Stereo did on their reunion.

La Luz del Ritmo is irregular, sometimes even exhausting, but it is no sign for decency on their current talent, they just failed on how to put it together. This won’t stop me from wanting to attend their tour, but they won’t get any new fans jumping on their wagon either. A head-scratcher to review and a difficult to recommend, it is disappointing because of its opportunistic structure, but the new stuff fails to deliver.

Since I know many of you still have not had access to the new LP and since I want to hear what everyone thinks about it click here to download the album.