I am sending my big brother a copy of "Siembra" for his birthday

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We don't normally give each other birthday gifts anymore, but I like the idea of giving him CDs. I've been listening to this album every day since ordering a copy for him, which feels a little odd, like listening to Sgt. Pepper every day. It is a similar iconic album, though I think I'd rate it higher, at least in consistency. It's an album that I can imagine someone who hasn't had experience with salsa dancing enjoying. The fact that the songs work together well as an album make me think it would appeal to someone with a baby boomerish sensibility like my brother's. I think he will like the disco style false start on "Plastico." "Buscando Guyaba" immediately offers a change in pace. (It's a cha cha cha or son montuno or something like that, i.e., something that people around here would dance as a cha cha cha, regardless.) The introduction to "Pedro Navaja" is like a little lesson in the layers of instrumentation, and especially rhythm instruments, that exist in a salsa song, since the percussion and other instruments slowly enter: first the congas; then timbales and bongos; then piano, bass and maracas, followed by the horns. It lets a listener hear the building blocks of the song. The song itself is apparently a sort of Latin version of "Mac the Knife," though I still can't hear that for some reason. Also, there is a West Side Story allusion that I know will amuse my brother. "Maria Lionza" is my least favorite song on the album, probably because I don't know what is going on. There is some "Indian" chanting that I gather is ironic, but not knowing what the lyrics are saying makes it a little hard to figure out. I still think it's a pretty good song, and it's a nice demonstration of how you can move between folkloric rhythms and a more standard salsa rhythm*. "Ojos" is probably the most straight forward, fast, dance-oriented number on the album. "Dime" cools things down again and moves into more romantic territory. (What is this anyway? It feels like a cumbia to me, except when it switches over to a salsa rhythm.) "Siembra" itself appears to be some sort of anthem about Latin American unity (a theme that runs throughout the album, I think.) It's a good song, so those who are put off by such social commentary should not write it off because of that.) As usual, I could do without the strings on this song, but that was a common sound at the time.

Ruben Blades is a great singer--are there people who can't stand his singing, or are most of his detractors bothered by his image and his tackling of social issues?--and the coros on this album are often quite beautiful.

*I don't think Willie Colon would approve of this terminology. "Salsa is not a rhythm, it's a concept" or whatever. In his use of the word it would probably potentially include all Latin American rhythms. I don't think that this is the meaning of the word which is most dominant among dancers however (otherwise you wouldn't hear things like, "I wish they'd stop playing mernegue and bachata and put on some salsa").

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 18:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I know you're using Sgt. Pepper as a reference point, but yeah, this stomps ALL OVER IT. Easily one of the top 3 salsa albums ever made, if not the best (this is arguable). Definitely a prime fuckin' pick for a gift, your bro BETTER be grateful. I LOVE Ruben Blades. I couldn't possibly criticize his approach towards social issues, because as a young (and gifted-AHAHHA!) Latino, I look up to him as a role model. Great voice. Best lyrics in salsa hands the fuck down.

As for Willie's musical quirks and ideologies, to put in a good word for him...ehhhh, I don't quite agree with them, even if I think the man's a stone cold genius.
"Salsa is not a rhythm, it's a concept"
This just seems like a pretentious, smug half-truth. The kind artists throw out when trying to come off as thoughtful or intense. I mean, it is a concept, but it contains a VERY particular rhythm. It's just bullhokey, pay no mind. Most musicians say this kind of shit all the time anyway.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I probably made a big mistake by mentioning Sgt. Pepper, but it always seems to come up in connection with Siembra (at least in "Latin music for gringos" type sources).

I am actually positive that my brother will like it, which I guess is one reason I'm excited about it. I want to say to him: here's some music that both of us missed when it was happening. I've never really gotten him into too much of the music I discovered after I went off into my own directions (musically) as a young teenager. The punk/post-punk/electronic/avant-garde stuff I was listening to at the time usually didn't do anything for him. I have a higher tolerance for minimalism and dissonance than he does (though I'm less excited by these things now than when I was younger). But this music shares in a lot of the same musical values that are found in other music he and I both like.

I don't take the "salsa is a concept" (or whatever the exact quote was) too seriously, don't worry, and I absolutely expect musicians to say a certain amount of nonsense along those lines (Tito Puente with his tired line about putting salsa on his scrambled eggs).

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

"I probably made a big mistake by mentioning Sgt. Pepper, but it always seems to come up in connection with Siembra (at least in "Latin music for gringos" type sources)."

Well, I know what you mean. You're dead on about the analogy in the sense that both are similarly milestones of their respective genres. (Although I am of the school that finds Sgt. Pepper extremely overrated, while Siembra is just plain ol' great. :D )

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 12:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Timeless as opposed to product of its time AND pinnacle of a widely encompassing genre. Damn, is it great...
Sorry I had to vent/reiterate...I'm listening to it right now. :)

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Sunday, 29 February 2004 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned!!! You need a copy of this.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Sunday, 29 February 2004 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Tell him, Francis. (Oddly, I have very little idea of what Ned's taste is, beyond the obvious. I think I know the type of stuff he especially likes, but he likes a lot of other stuff and I don't feel able to predict which of the other stuff he likes.)

I hope it gets to my brother in time for his birthday. Probably won't.

So you really are listening to Siembra while someone else is blasting sleazzy offensive reggaeton.

(I love the Beatles, but I agree that Sgt. Pepper is overrated. I'm not sold on their reputation for producing perfect albums. I think they just made an enormous number of great songs, with a lot of variety considering the time their career covered.)

Incidentally, I woke up quite late this morning. I am still recovering from getting to sleep at 4AM Friday night/Saturday morning, something I am not used to (though I was off this past week, so I'm pretty caught up on sleep in general).

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 29 February 2004 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

(Explaining why it took so long to get to this.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 29 February 2004 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course, you could try listening to a salsa CD that isn't listed in the Rough Guide to World Music. ;)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Sunday, 29 February 2004 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

"(I love the Beatles, but I agree that Sgt. Pepper is overrated. I'm not sold on their reputation for producing perfect albums. I think they just made an enormous number of great songs, with a lot of variety considering the time their career covered.)"

I motherfreakin' french you in a completely platonic way, of course. My apologies if I'm bein' a bit fresh, but I just a downed a bit much of that Jim Beam in the pantry. GAHHH I have two tests tomorrow....someone gag me!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Monday, 1 March 2004 00:09 (twenty-two years ago)

As for Ned, I'd say his healthy appreciation seems to be a good sign that he is interested. :)

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Monday, 1 March 2004 00:49 (twenty-two years ago)

(FW, get your Jim Beam breath away from me.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Monday, 1 March 2004 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

ace album! - the fact that I don't even miss Hector Lavoe sez alot

― Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 1 March 2004 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Ruben Blades isn't chopped liver, you know.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Monday, 1 March 2004 03:51 (twenty-two years ago)

He called me on his cell-phone while driving home* to say thank you, he got it, he's only listened to it once, but he likes it.

*I wish people wouldn't talk on cell-phones while they are driving, though at least my brother a better-than-average driver, I think.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 01:05 (twenty-one years ago)

This reminds me, Rockist, all them tunes you sent were pretty snazzy. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 02:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Good. (I don't make mixes, but I do sometimes send mp3s, if people want to ask about that. At the moment I can't get into this e-mail account though, because I forgot my password again.)

I really like the little trumpet break in that Grupo Niche song, right after the singer says: "Rumba!"

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 02:24 (twenty-one years ago)

(Which in this context basically means "Get down!" I think.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 02:25 (twenty-one years ago)

(I don't make mixes because I'm technically unable to, not because I'm unwilling.)

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 02:28 (twenty-one years ago)

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