Search - Cruzados :: Cruzados

As good as it gets

Maxim | 05/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first discovered Cruzados through a Robert Rodriguez CD called "Mexico & Mariachis--Music From And Inspired By Robert Rodriguez's 'El Mariachi' Trilogy", which featured two tracks from this album: Flor De Mal and Just Like Roses. Though Flor De Mal didn't impress me much, it was a fine song nevertheless. When I got to Just Like Roses, I was blown away. The song was incredible. I knew that if Tito Larriva was in this band and had produced that good a song, there were certainly more. Unfortunately, at the time there were only copies of this being sold at a minimum of $30. I, however, had the luck to be watching this item when an offer came up on it for $1.50. Remembering how much I enjoyed Just Like Roses, I bought it. And I couldn't be more glad that I did. Every song on this is a classic (including Flor De Mal, which--though not such a "good" song as the rest, is nevertheless a very well done song) and it is well worth going to any extent to acquire it. I honestly thought that Tito & Tarantula's music was the best there was, but Cruzados have proven even better.

The opening track is "Wasted Years", a spectacular song. Between the perfectly selected dramatics of Chalo Quintana's drumming and Steven Hufsteter's eccentric lead guitar that jumps in whenever you're not expecting it, it gives you every impression of what to expect from this album. It is followed by "Rising Sun", which is a great deal faster and less dramatic, but still a great song regardless. The lead guitar is once more the glue of the song, but the chorus and the "Woah!"s after the chorus contribute greatly to the track as well. The following track is "Hanging Out In California", another dramatically well-done song. This time, the chorus is the most memorable part of the song. Though there's the ever-present ecstatic lead guitar in the background once more, the vocals are the main part of this one. The next song is "Motorcycle Girl", the first song to feature keyboards so far, and featuring them in the best places they could be. They are what contribute to this song the best. With guitar with a somewhat western sound, this song very well develops a mood and tone of its own. Following this is Flor De Mal. As I said before, it's not really that great when alongside all these others, but it is as well-done as any other. Featuring violin and percussion in the best spots, it features outstanding musical performance, even if the song itself isn't so great. "Cryin' Eyes" is the next song, and with it return the previously-featured keyboards. Steven Hufsteter's guitar is once again jumping in behind the vocals as he plays his heart out in this one. Meanwhile, Tito Larriva is singing every word full of drama and meaning. "Cryin' Eyes" is both a fantastic song and an excellent piece of music. "Seven Summers" follows, which is as great a song as any of the rest on the album, but doesn't catch on to me quite as much as the rest. Despite this, though, Tito Larriva's vocals are sung with so much meaning, that you forget all about whether it's a good song or not. The eighth track is "Some Day", one of the fastest songs so far, but as great as the rest. Unfortunately, Steven Hufsteter's lead guitar doesn't quite jump into this one like it does with the rest. "Some Day" is followed by "1000 Miles", a beautiful love song, featuring a perfect pitch for Tito Larriva's vocals, which capture every element of this song and put them together to form the essential part of it. The album closes on "Just Like Roses", the song which introduced me to a whole new world of music. It truly is amazing. If you want to know what I mean, go to the page of "Mexico And Mariachis", and listen to a clip of the song. One thirty second clip of the song may not describe everything that I said, but you'll have to take my word for it. Because "Just Like Roses" is merely 1/10 of the proof of what Cruzados can do on one album."

An undiscovered classic

drial | poland | 09/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was lucky enough to buy this ablum, and the Cruzados' other fine effort, when it originally came out. Both have been favorites since they were issued, now 15 plus years. The songs are well structured, and have some great riffs (ideal for a long, straight stretch of highway). The vocals are truly memorable. Unfortunately, they are very hard to find as CD's. Highly recommended."