So I tallied up all the albums I purchased this year and I didn't buy one Latin album. I'm not as exposed to the genre as before. If anyone has a site where I can get a best of, I'd greatly apprecaite it. Thanks!

Feel free to recommend anything too!

I don’t know if I will get in trouble for this but I don’t think you will get many responses outside Billy G or whatever he calls himself these days. This thread has 65 responses and is aimed at African releases witch I think covers World music and is what you are after. I personally know nothing of this music so if it’s wrong than just ignore the thread.

http://ilx.wh3rd.net/thread.php?msgid=6308771

Billy was obviously thought of and Tania is into some Latin stuff too. Thanks for your post!

I've been focusing on back catalog and lost classics this year. I've probably bought/heard less than 40 2005 releases and only 4 have been latin (all Brasilian). Of those, I'd only really recommend:

Max De Castro S/T



Nacao Zumbi "Futura"



I haven't seen any best of lists yet. Songlines' January/February issue supposedly has their top 2005 list but its published in the UK so it may be a few weeks before I get it. Global Rhythm should have a list too. I'll post them when I see them. I usually read The Beat's critics annual lists too but haven't seen them yet.

np: The Lost Generation

Well "latin" can mean so many things these days ( and all days)... Los Lobos, The Ride?

But the rage in young latino circles is reaggaeton (Don Omar, Daddy Yankee)... but I would advocate for music that isn't "latin", but rather groundbreaking and earopening: Tijuana Sessions #3, Nortec Collective.

Indeed I am, darlin'.

So, Dave, are you trying to tell me that reggaeton isn't part of your Top 5 for 2005? Hehe!

Just a few recommendations for you:

Nortec Collective -- The Tijuana Sessions - Vol 2 -- Seriously cannot go wrong with this album -- my #1 pick from Mexico.

Go Betty Go -- Nothing Is More -- local LA band, girl pop, sing mostly in English

Plastilina Mosh -- Juan Manuel -- I think you're a fan of these cats. It's their new album. I haven't heard it in its entirety, but might be worth checking out.

Molotov -- Con Todo Respeto -- new one this year.

If I remember more, I'll post 'em for you.

I'm glad Harry and I think alike.

I have the Nortec Collective on my computer, which I really don't include
because it's downloaded. I don't know if that's weird or not. It is a good listen though. They actually played in Chicago some years back and we caught them. It was fun. Thanks for the recommendations everyone.

Just found out about this when I went to amazon to order a coupla dvd for my stepfather for his Christmas gift. (Got Schultze gets the blues and The Island, by the by.) Now, I must have this. 'Ll have to wait 'til the next paycheck, though. Blew my cd funding for last pay-period on the new Darkness, Lady Sovereign, Since by Man (local boys on Revelation, in whose liner-notes there is a shout-out to one Sam Keck (younger brother of one of my high-school acquaintances), who was in an hardcore band at that time when I knew his older brother Matt, but whom I wouldn't have expected to see, out of the population of people I know (of), thanked by Since by Man (because I did not know he knew them, plus I knew people whom I knew to know the SbM boys, and who were in hardcore/emo/indie bands that did play shows with SbM)), and t.A.T.u.

Con todo respeto should be great, though. And I love the cover.

You should return The Darkness for Molotov.

It just ocurred to me that



Joe Bataan "Call My Name" was getting a ton of love earlier in the year on another board I frequent.

I suspect that if I bought it I'd love it and it would take over my number one slot. I haven't though because I don't own any of his albums and figure I should start with one of his earlier classics rather than the new one.

Here's a link to a review

Billy G have you heard that Amadou & Mariam album? Thoughts?

I assume you mean Dimanche A Bamako? Its actually a 2004 release although it didn't get US distribution until this year.

I like it but don't listen to it that often. When I'm in the mood for Manu Chao style production, I'm more likely to grab a Manu Chao, Sergent Garcia, Macaco or Ojos de Brujo album. When I'm in the mood for Afropop, I'm more likely to listen to something else also.

They also released a career spanning best of album this year which has gotten great reviews. I've never heard any of their other music. I'd be curious to hear what they sound like without Manu Chao. As much as I love Manu Chao, I suspect I'd like their older stuff better.

Billy,

Please tell me about Macaco or Ojos since you lumped them into the same vibe as Manu Chao/Sergent Garcia. Thanks!

np: Diplo-Fabric Live

They are both from Barcelona. Ojos de Brujo mix flamenco with hip hop and dub. Its similar to Chao in that its base is melodic acoustic guitar with a stew of other more modern elements thrown on top. Doesn't necessary sound much like Chao though. Macaco guested on their first album which is how I discovered him.

Here's a bbc review with some short sound clips. They'll give you enough of a sense of their sound.

Macaco's sound is more directly similar to Chao or Sergent Garcia or Dusminguet although maybe a bit faster paced and with less electronics than Chao.

Here's a link to Macaco's website. The second button from the right launches a 7 minute promo video that will give you a sense of what he's like. Bear with it. The music doesn't really start for a minute or so.

There's also a really good 2 disc comp on the Barcelona scene called "Barcelona Zona Bastarda" that I highly recommend if you can find it. It might run you $30 or so as an import but its well worth it and features a song from both of them along with lots of other bands that you'd otherwise probably never hear of.

Outstanding! Thank you for the information!


np: Soulwax-Teachers

Konono No. 1 and Congotronics 2 should again be mentioned here.