Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 12/02/2003
With
Atlas,
Latin rock quintet
Kinky move closer to actual
rock than the electronic
pop of their 2001 debut allowed. But contagious numbers like
"Minotauro," built from a great twangy riff, and the breezy, acoustic shuffle of
"Not Afraid" clearly put these Monterrey, Mexico, natives in the company of modern stateside
pop groups like
Sugar Ray. That's not to say the
Gil Cerezo-fronted outfit avoids its roots, as traditional South American rhythms on
"The Headphonist" create an ideal forum for
Cake vocalist
John McCrea's spoken observations on sound. Although some might argue that
McCrea's visit on track number two is distracting, coming about nine songs too early, the musical flow isn't deterred for long, as the edgy, percussive
"Snapshot" affirms. Speaking of
Cake,
"Airport Feelings" recalls those Californians at their quirkiest and most likable, although
Cerezo's paranoia over air travel loses something in the translation to English. He's best served sticking to his native Spanish, as his commendable vocal performance on
"Presidente" -- augmented by the undeniably hard, thumping
funk groove of his bandmates -- exhibits.
~John D. Luerssen, All Music Guide
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