Chingon
Mexican Spaghetti Western

I stumbled upon this great album almost by chance: I watched the movie 'Kill Bill 2', noticed the usual splendid soundtrack, watched the special features, saw the concert held by Chingon (which should be a synonym for 'gringo' if I'm not mistaken...), saw the excellent performance by the seven, and after a couple of searches, I decided to get the actual album.

'Mexican Spaghetti Western' seems like one of those works produced in spare time, with friends, just for fun, between a beer (or tequila, given the 'mejicana' nature of our musicians?) and another, perhaps in some friend's shabby recording studio... that's how it seems, and it seemed like that to me after the first listens, but once I hit the day where I felt like enjoying Latin American rhythms that awaken your basic instincts, I listened to the CD carefully and... I really liked it, definitely more than the other times, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it again...

Chingon succeeds in crafting a little gem of Latin passion and warmth, combining the vibrant and enveloping arpeggios of mariachi and ranchera music with glimpses of healthy “Texan” rock, personified by the electric guitar of Robert Rodriguez (yes, him, the director of 'Desperado', 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico', 'Sin City', and many other films) and the versatile and skilled voice of singer Alex Ruiz. There are energetic songs that seem made to make your friends dance at parties (I apologize to any female readers, but the quote was necessary!) and others more intimate and passionate, perhaps to play for your muchacha in the evening, watching a sunset... with a cowboy hat and guns. Yes, because an element that reappears repeatedly in the album is the western (did you notice the title?), its iconography (the song 'Alacran y Pistolero' belongs in the Spaghetti-Western anthology) and its timeless charm. If then everything is modernized with blazing solos with a very 'American' flavor, so be it, also because Rodriguez proves he can really handle it, not just behind the camera, but also with the guitar (don't be fooled by the 'Wah-Wah', which many unfortunately think is nonsense, but I assure you it's not that simple to use, especially coordinating it with the rest...). The rest of the band is tight and cohesive, with room for some guests like the actress (and wonderful woman, I would add) Salma Hayek in 'Siente Mi Amor', Patricia Vonne in 'Severina' and a certain Tito Larriva on the already mentioned 'Alacran y Pistolero'. The golden pieces are all there: 'Malaguena Salerosa' is famous also thanks to the film, but it's always a pleasure to hear, and the 'Cuka Rocka' is an engaging and enjoyable reinvention.

If I had to be 'fair', I would give this album an honest 3, but for the originality and passion of the proposition, I feel like risking a good 4, knowing that I'll receive mountains of criticism... but what do I care? I saddle up the horse and go admire the sunset...