Oye
Countless thousands of non-English speakers cram stadiums and theaters all over the world, so why (oh why) does it seem so difficult for U.S. audiences to embrace widely a band as clearly worthy of attention as Aterciopelados? Andrea Echeverri sings in Spanish, sure, but the band revels in melding the instrumental palettes of South America with a sharply smart rock--just spin the trumpets and accordions in "Don Dinero"--so that their tunes are eminently physical. They keep their ears on the dances that popular musics have triggered in their native Colombia (and across South America), and then Aterciopelados delves deeply into straight-up rock & roll, hard-hit drums, and loud guitars. The band has changed shapes over the years, going from a punk-rock scuttle to an electronics-tinged brand pop--with Echeverri's declarative mid-range delivery always in top form.Oyeimplores you to listen, and you ought to.--Andrew Bartlett