VOLUMEN CERO/ ESTELAR
jerardo soto | TOLEDO, OH. United States | 11/20/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"ESTELAR es el titulo del nuevo cd de esta super banda, en este disco se escucha a volumen cero con un sonido bastante potente en las guitarras, letras de una calidad bastante buena, una produccion de once temas,algunas de las canciones que me gustan en particular son: autos, despiertame, bailarinas, diviso, a donde quiera que voy, si tu deseas, biscayne, practicamente el disco esta super recomendable, yo pienso que esta banda tiene mucho que ofrecer y aportar al mundo del buen rock en espanol, [que ultimamente es un poco limitado] uno de los mejores lanzamientos en lo que resta de este ano.en este disco se escucha una madurez musical bastante notable, martin cha definitivamente ha logrado una identidad unica en la guitarra, asi como fernando sanchez en la bateria, y luis tamblay como primera voz, un trabajo bastante bien logrado."
Who says pretty boys are shallow?
Watujel | San Antonio, Texas | 12/11/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Volumen Cero occupies a privileged position as my favorite rock-en-español band whose name suggests they don't actually make sound (other contenders include Heroes del Silencio and El Gran Silencio).
"Estelar" hits that sweet spot of alt-rock bliss - north of indie-garage-band, south of corporate, not too noisy, not too precious. The songwriting is every bit as consistent and inspiring as the material on their major-label debut, "Luces" - these guys are obviously in touch with their muse, as guitarist Marthin Chan writes so much good stuff that he has top-flight songs left over for his English band Popvert and EMI's great bilingual prospect JD Natasha.
The result is that Volumen Cero is either a group you like or you love. It's really hard to find them offensive in any way, unless maybe you were in a fight with them.
There are a few annoying moments, however. The otherwise gorgeous "A Donde Quiera Que Voy" (not written by the band) is so lavish in its praise for some deity or other that it almost gives off a cult-like "My Sweet Lord" vibe. Also, during a 5/4 bridge that would otherwise inoculate the guys from "pretty-boy" criticism, they violate the rock ethos a bit by using vocal overdubs to "flawlessly" execute a vocal line that leaves no space for breaths. You guys aren't LU, ok?
"Universe" is another outstanding song marred by an unusually sacchariney vocal performance from Luis Tamblay and a corny opening line: "I am lost in our universe, can anyone hear me?" V.C. phone home? Oh, and the floating-eyebrows album cover isn't exactly "Abraxas," either.
But on balance, "Estelar," is, well, stellar; it absolutely deserved its Latin Grammy nomination and as far as I'm concerned should've won the trophy.
"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1