Calle 13
The music of Puerto Rican outfit Calle 13 simmers like so much sweat on the backs of b-boys and fly girls, twisting and turning its way through the cracks and crevices of modern urban music. Calle 13's dynamic duo--half-brothers Rene Perez and Eduardo Cabra--are smart, shocking, and silly. It's a thrilling combination that makes for some hip-swiveling, head-turning sounds. Standout tracks "La Hormiga Brava," "Vamo Animal," and the rocket-fueled single "Atrévete-te-te" careen between street sounds and lush Latin rhythms, anchored by the group's mischievous sense of humor. Reggaeton is the label that's been slapped on this inspired hybrid, but Calle 13 is light years beyond that often stifling genre (which explains recent collaborations with Nelly Furtado and Alejandro Sanz). Latin rap riffs, new-wave keyboards, and a sprinkling of pop smarts chart a musical path (and crash together during "Sin Coro") that Calle 13 will likely lead--and veer from--in the near future.--Joey Guerra