Search - Molotov :: Apolcalypsh

Rewriting the Rules for Rap-Metal

pootamadre | 09/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fitting Mexico's best rap-metal outfit with the Beastie Boys innovative producer/engineer/mixer works to the advantage of both parties -- Molotov takes its three-way tag team rapping (a la Beastie Boys) into psychedelic metal territory (at times resembling a menacing alternate-universe Smashing Pumpkins); Mario Caldato, Jr., gets to try out decidedly harder edges and actually gets to finish songs (no 90 second sound collages here, again a la Beastie Boys). The two forces have rewritten the rules for rap-metal and crafted one of the most consistent, satisfying records of the genre.Note to non-Spanish-speakers: DON'T WORRY. For me, the music itself is always more important than the words, and in this case, you don't have to understand a word of Spanish to know that this is a musically good album. The fact that the lyrics -- both in English and Spanish -- are often the sort of goofy rap-rock posturing you'd expect probably makes it a minimal loss for non-Spanish-speakers. There are enough English verses on the disc to get the idea, and there are the full lyrics in the booklet if you need any help (although I guess you are out of luck with the slang, which is used pretty extensively).So anyway, featuring two bass players, Molotov gives ample attention to the instument. "Step Off" thunders out the gate, pulls back to gird G-funk basslines under Molotov's signature Spanglish rapping, then perfectly alternates the two for the rest of the song. The title track features a demonic belch of "Apolocalypshit," before a speed contest between rapping skills and bass-picking.Molotov's fondness for genre-bending and Caldato's experimental touches on the disc are perhaps what most set this apart from run-of-the-mill rap-metal. "Undertow" radiates acoustic simplicity through its Peter Frampton voice synthesizers and a vaguely sitar-like solo. The folky roots shine through again on the magnificent "Let it Roll," which somehow manages to seamlessly merge country music with rap-metal. Some of the best tracks are the hardest, including the dancehall-metal "Rastaman-dita," which features the feral, psychotic raps that are the hallmark of any Molotov album. Likewise, the restrained heaviness of "Kuleka's Choice" piles tension on itself and blows off the pressure with some sort of synth-horn effects. "Exorcismo" almosts forgets the music for the first minute before morphing into a Nine Inch Nails track -- albeit an over-the-top NIN song with enraged Mexicans singing in voices escaping through the jaws of Hell.With the heavy emphasis, here are no purely folky anthems like "Gimme tha Power" from Molotov's first album, although the closest is the wistfully spacy final track "El Mundo" with its resigned chorus lamenting the end of the world. That track is a fabulous way to end an exceptional album -- nostalgic for all that has come before it, a mix of sadness that the voyage is over but happiness that the trip was made at all."

Tienes que ser mexicano para entenderlo pero...

05/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mi esposa me regaló éste disco mientras vivíamos en Chile. Aunque no entendí nada de las letras al principio, me las fue explicando mi esposa porque habia pasado mucho tiempo en Mexico así que me gustaba mas y mas el disco.



Cuando logré entender de lo que cantaban los chicos Molotov, me cagué de la risa y disfruté totalmente del disco! Rastaman-dita es la mejor cancion en el disco (y para los que no han visto el video en MTV o en otro canal de música, recomiendo que lo vean!).



La cancion "Parasito" se trata de un chico flojo que gasta todo su dinero y todo su tiempo en drogas y putas -- segun me contaron mis amigos mexicanos, parece que todos conocen por lo menos una persona así!



Compra este disco, no te lo vas a arrepentir. Y al mismo tiempo, pidele a un amigo mexicano que te explique las letras si el español no es tu primer idioma o si no eres de ése sector del mundo."

Lots of fire, not much spark

Anthony Cooper | Louisville, KY United States | 04/25/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This disc has two very hard-charging songs in "No Manche Mi Vida" and the title track, and some of the others are pretty good, too. Unfortunately, the charm and spirit of "Donde Jugaran" are missing. Too many of the songs sound alike. On the bright side, my Mexican friend thought some of the lyrics were very funny (I'm not nearly fluent enough to catch the wordplay and double meanings)."