As I review Mariachi El Bronx's latest album, IV I'm not going to pretend I'm well-versed in the deep cultural tradition that inspired The Bronx to adopt this project well outside of their fiery hardcore "main project." Instead, I'll grade it on "do I like it" merits. And I definitely dig the rhythmic and festival Latinx flavors.
If you're familiar with the band, or the style of music, the new album is no surprise. Expect a lot of violin, accordion, and other instruments, with soft story-style lyrics that tackle themes of sword fighting, romantic entanglement, town drunkards, and more.
"Bandoleros," "Songbird," and "RIP Romeo" are among my personal favorites. "The Takers" is a nice change of pace track -- which is a trait I should highlight because the key to any genre-specific record is making sure it doesn't all sound the same from start-to-finish. Every Mariachi El Bronx record has featured strong sequencing and variety, which I think is a big accomplishment and highlights how the band takes this project seriously. "El Borracho" is probably my least favorite track, largely because I find this specific kind of story-focused lyricism is often great the first time you hear it, but repeat listens fail to capture the same level of interest.
The 12-song album is really consistent from start to finish and it fully captures a festive yet thoughtful mood that can work as a brunch soundtrack or pre-party prep jams. It's layered, just like the instrumentation behind these tracks. I'll say this ranks right up there with III, which they released back in 2014.
While I sometimes complain about punk bands that actually sing, it's quite the opposite with the mariachi style. Punk music, for me, is supposed to be rough and a little abrasive. As the band turns to mariachi, the smooth tones of Matt Caughthran are a big part of why this works. It's ultimately the musicianship and rhythm that defines it, but it's not hard to imagine some other punk band trying this with an emphasis on harmonies to mask vocal limitations. Mariachi El Bronx works best because it feels so comfortable in its own skin.
