Reviews (page 2 of 7)
I LOVED this! Great sound, energy, and happiness. i listened to more of them and similar bands for the rest of the day.
This album does not completely exist in Digital space, but i loved the songs i was able to find so much so i bought a CD for insanely cheap. This is ricky martin, 2pac, latin folk/rock fusion backed up by the occasional rap(more like hop-hiphop) addition. An absolute banger.
I had a few friends who were Ozomatli diehards and I regret not taking them more seriously back in the day - this rips!
Latin funk & hip hop. And it fucking rules. Favorite track: Dejame En Paz
What a great band to now know about. Excellent Latin, hip hop, soul and funk. I'll be adding this to my regular rotation.
The clave beat and the salsa piano chords get me every time. Oye! Chica! Tirate! Que Tirate!
I remember when they first started and they were sonething diferent and some of my friends didnt knew what to think of it. By this album they were already settled down and well respected everywhere. An amazing meltong pot of cultures they took all and everything from their hoods in LA and made an incredible album with influences from all over the world. In this one they incorporated the middle eastern sound along with salsa, hip-hop, funk, jazz and some other generes simply an amazing feat. Them talking about activisim and social issues probably didnt help them get on the airwaves just like RATM before them but this album is 5 star album no doubt a must listen to album.
I can’t quite believe how much I loved this. It came as a complete surprise to me as I’ve never heard of them and they seem to touch a nerve, in a good way. I had to listen to them a second time just to prove that I wasn’t under some kind of spell or delusion. But a second time on a different day, I still love them. I will be returning to this as it makes me feel happy. I’m not sure it’s quite a five but for the Excitement and novel elements (to me at least), it probably deserves a bit more of a boost.
Ozomatli is an unique mix - it's a band that sounds like all of the influences that make up Los Angeles. There is a Hispanic foundation, with hip hop beats, a funky horn section, and some rapping. This danceable mix has made the band cultural ambassadors through their near-constant, international touring. Street Signs, the group's third, full-length release, was very well received, and won the Latin/Alternative Grammy the year it was released.. These are fun, catchy songs, with layered orchestrations both from the talented members of the band, and from the use of samples and synthesizers. This is an incredible fusion of a range of styles - again, this sounds like the amazing mixture that is Los Angeles.
Are you kidding me! Platinum quality.
Fun and festive with some messages to boot, I loved the whole thing!
Oh my god, this was so good!! From the first beat to the last, I enjoyed it all!!
Great fun. I danced all day.
Having never heard of this group or album I put this on cold and *BAM!* Out of the gate the opening track Believe was a modern, party take on Arab music that set me twirling in my seat! TERRIFIC! Love And Hope, the second track, had more Arabian delights and I thought I knew what I was listening to. Street Signs took things in a very different direction, world music from an entirely different part of the world. What am I listening to?! Turns out Ozomatli is a Latin Funk Rock band who apparently appreciate Arab and North African music - not unlike a certain boy who was known to listen to his mother's belly dance albums from an early age. This is an Arab-North African-Latin-Hip Hop party that I had no idea I - or the world - needed!
really enjoyed it, didnt recognize the name but once i started listening i recognized the voice. 10/10 would listen again
this is a COOL album and one that's absolutely unlike anything we've heard before. members of ozomatli are from latin america, and a lot of the music contains latin elements. interestingly, there's a sitar on the opening track and it gives a south asian feel to the album, even though the sitar is only on the first song. but i stand by that south asian sound isn't as strong as the latin sound but it persists throughout the album. not only that, ozomatli doesn't restrict themselves just to hip hop, and everything about this album is so refreshing. i'm obsessed with these lyrics! i had no idea ozomatli was so passionate about multiple social causes, and it's wonderful to hear such a strong presence in their songs. not only that, the songs are catchy as hell! somehow ozomatli creates such powerful lyrics while making absolute bops. no complaints.
The only street sign this album needs is "CAUTION: Great Musicians at Play". 4.5/5.0: Excellent
Ah that’s a shame. I loved the debut album by these guys. Awesome mix of Latino funk and positive Hip Hop. I think I first saw them on The O-zone with Jayne Middlemiss and Jamie Theakston… there’s an esoteric UK throw back you weren’t expecting to see today. I can see why this one isn’t rated highly on here, the one track on Spotify does not do it justice and listening on YouTube feels like a real chore these days. I would recommend digging through some of their stuff though. I loved these guys back in the day. 5 stars, partially for the nostalgia.
Absolutely loved these guys! Kind of a cross between Santana, Island music/reggae and rap!
Amazing fusion of Latin music and modern hip hop. I loved this album so much be it is such a cultural crossover and hits on so many levels.
high energy album with salsa, rap and rock styles.
Such a broad-hitting release. Love the diversity of sound.
Ooh, I'm digging this. The 1st track gave me Oojami vibes. Spanish lyrics are a plus!! I'm checking out their other stuff
Nadie Te Tira LOVE!
Fuck yeah. I had to assemble this in YouTube and include live versions. This shit rocks though. Might try to pick it up on vinyl at some point. Unexpected greatness.
An album worth a listen. High energy and fun. Makes this project worthwhile to hit these discoveries
Every song a fucking banger
fantastic fusion of LA musicians incorating Indian raga, hip-hop, second line, East LA R&B, funk, and an absolute wedding banger that has been lost in my rotation and is now at the forefront.
This has been one of the biggest surprises and best albums in this list so far. This is awesome stuff.
que divertido!
Oh wow. I was already excited because of the obvious Nahuatl name, and then was really floored with the overall execution on display. Diverse, Rich, and Fun all in a perfect length record.
Viva la música latina
Please feed me more like this. About to start listening to these guys on the reg.
I have a lot of pre-existing affection for Ozomatli, although I'm more familiar with their earlier albums - saw them live a couple of times and they're fantastic - really bring the energy! Fave tracks - "Believe" is a badass opener, "Dejame En Paz" is a jam, and "Ya Viene El Sol" is just totally joyous!
Believe: very indian sounds, kinda fun Love and hope: its got the Latin piano. It's wierd how jazzy this is and how it feels very different from the jazz im used to. This has "livin la vida loca" Ricky Martin energy, but the violins are such an interesting add that works really well. The repaying lyrics at the end feel like they are for singing and not for chanting. Not what im used to haha Street signs: love the bari sax comboed with the bass, makes the bass feel deeper in the back of the brain just doing what it usually does. I just read the Wikipedia cause I just couldn't place this genre of music. Latin Funk makes so much sense, the music makes so much sense now too. Has a slow and punchy tempo and bass for funk combined with the Latin instrument sounds with the trumpet and piano (Who discovered) america?: this is starting to grow on me, just needed to get into the groove. I cant believe I cant think of another band that does this style of music, it feels so unique and similar to Santana to me right now, especially with the guitar solo. This is really good. This sounds like it would be really fun to play as well Who's to blame: the claps make this song along with the bubbly bass. Not usually into rap but this i can really get behind. Probably not on its own but in the middle of this album it just makes sense Te estoy buscando: what a good tango! Kind of peppy but really cements the "stomp stomp clap clap nose in the air" energy. Love the radio voice and the transitions back into reagular singing, one of my favorite vocal features Saturday night: Really interesting take on the styling. It feels experimental but also very rudimentary. Very opposite with the electric guitar and clams kinda feel Defame en paz: ayy ayy ayyyyyy! Now this is some Mexican style music right here, this i can get behind. Love the call and answere between lead and backup singers! Love the twangy piano sounds, love the sax trumpet stuff. This is going my Playlist right here this is good stuff. Santiago: this is just really good at this point Ya viene el sol: this feels super Indian. Really cool stuff. Donna isabelle: very beautiful piano work. Nadie te tira: the previous intro added so much to this song Chandon Canto: a good calm down I wanted to give it 4 stars at the first half, but this music really won me over. 5 stars, especially for the creativity. I've never heard anything quite like this and im really into how unique it feels for me. Very nice
Stellar album, 5 stars
Omg yes
Definitely shows a lot of the roots of Latin music to come, especially the prominence of Spanish rap in music from artists like El Cata and Bad Bunny.
A really interesting blend of cultures and sounds. Anthems for the regular people of LA County. Full of energy, Ozomatli definitely delivered here. Will have to check more of their catalogue out
I always know when the genre on Apple Music isn't in English, that I'm in for a treat. Indeed I was today with this fun and lively album. I appreciated the diversity between the tracks as well as the energy and creativity of each song. Very enjoyable!
Yes please more hindi inspired music! ...correction, hindi music! Woo! How was I so wrong? Well reguardless of the origins, this rocks hard. So danceable, so aware, so activist, just wonderful!
This was amazing from start to finish 5 stars
9/10. A great, unique sounding album. A couple songs got on my nerves, but in general this was great.
This album was a fantastic with themes that could have been written in 2022. Latin fusion sound is very underrated. Favorite track: Dejame En Paz
Excellent album! Only 1 or 2 songs I didn't really care for, the rest were either fine but mostly excellent!
cool
Loved it! great music, hard to find the correct album though.
First time of listening and what a revelation! great Latin/Rock/Hip Hop throughout. Loved "Saturday Night" "Believe" "Love & Hope " and "Who Discovered America" loved the line "Dip, Dive, Socialise Get Ready for Saturday Night..." Good album well worth it place on this list, homage to Carlos of course!
Kind of like santana, hip hop like a little bit.
Amazing
I love discovering new (or new-to-me) things. I was in a musical rut, that’s what brought me here. Great new find.
not bad not great 4/5
i feel like the line between latin and turkish music has been blurred???
Reminds me of Santana, Dissidenten, Yerba Buena, and more. Very fun. Maybe 4 stars
Kind of iconic? This feels so so so of its era. I can imagine myself in high school feeling mind blown in a post-9/11 world. 100 genres and cultures that all vibe, protest lyrics that I can imagine felt revolutionary and inspiring AF at the time and still resonate. v much enjoying. Also Chali 2na is g o o d. This is one of my “what a thrill to discover something entirely new and should I 5 this based on instinct and vibes alone?” moments.
I really liked this! 4.5/5
I had literally no idea what to expect when I first heard this album. I had never heard of the band and thought it may be an electronica album? Overall, this was a pleasant surprise. It got a bit long for me towards the end, but I enjoyed this more than I had expected to. The front half is better than the second half, but it got my butt shaking and the music was good. This is an album that makes me glad I started this project.
Interesting mix of genres and started off REALLY strong. I think the mixing on this album is really solid. The bass has a satisfying punch to it, and none of the individual layers get lost. Definitely has some weaker tracks - "Street Signs" sits on the same riff for the duration, and although the instrumentation was moderately interesting (piano/brass), it was basically just generic hiphop with a vaguely latin twist. The record scratch effects should have stayed in the 90s. Favourite track: Te Estoy Buscando Surprise 4.
Ech, te latynoskie rytmy to jednak moja pięta Achillesowa. Szczęście w butelce. A raczej w kilku akordach. Momentami się dłuży, ale to nadal powiew świeżości. Momentami Urban, momentami folk, momentami po prostu świetna zabawa. 8.5/10 równane, o zgrozo, w górę.
This album was a lot of fun. A good blend of rock, hip hop, funk and a decent dose of Latin rhythm and phrasing
fun tunes
I first saw Ozomatli in the early 90s at Bumbershoot. They came up from in the crowd, already playing, to the stage, and proceeded to electrify the crowd on their small outdoor stage. The next year was in the 15,000-seat arena, where they ripped it apart again. Ozomatli brings the goods. I love the Mexican/hip-hop style and the energy they bring. I guess they’re still kicking. I’d love to see them double-billed with Los Lobos one day.
gibts nicht auf spoti aber soweit 4/5
I like
Their rep for having very fun live shows seems to be strongly supported by this very fun album.
Best Song: Dejame En Paz. What a beautifully electric energy. Worst Song: Dona Isabelle. This album didn't need a random little discordant piano solo. Overall: It's always refreshing to see someone do rap-rock and make it work. Add the whole brass section, and this whole album is a vibe. An album that feels like a street party.
muy curioso, muy alterno, varios estilos, algo de rap por ahi, está chulo la verdad, hay musica muy movida, hay mas pasional, muy de bailar, 4/5
This was a fun latin/hip-hop album. The whole album doesn't seem to be on Spotify and the YouTube tracklist includes some guy recording his own drums cover, which didn't bode particularly well, but it was better than expected. I liked the horns and the general upbeat vibes. Sounds like a good party
Encanton for adults. Excellent
Really cool but was a pain to find, from the group that did the soundtrack to Happy Feet 2 The Game. It's actually a great album though, they've crazy range with most being Latin American but diving into hip-hop, electronic and funk. Also a Sleeping Dogs song.
I had to put together a custom youtube playlist for this because this was impossible to listen to otherwise. Album is strongest at its bookends and the middle segment is still good, just less compelling. Refreshing to listen to something outside of the typical slew of hegemonic rock from white boys.
I really enjoyed this album from Ozomatli! I’d never heard of or listened to them before but I had a blast. This is music I typically don’t listen to but whenever I listen to Latin music I really end up enjoying myself because it is very upbeat, catchy, and just plain fun. Overall, I enjoyed this album that blends Latin, hip-hop, salsa, and funk together and makes for a very catchy and upbeat album that I will need to check out again soon!
YES YES YES
I had never heard of this band, but this album is a jam.
found others doing the 1001 albums in the comments on this song- super cool! I have enjoyed the mix of English and Spanish a lot, I find his voice very understandable which is pleasant! Fun beats also. Dona Isabelle is beautiful
I’m digging this music. Gotta also love a rock band that’s also activists
Holy shit I heard some of this when playing Sleeping Dogs.
I feel like this is music that has been used for backing in early 2000's action/thriller movies. It's actually not bad! I liked the cameo by Chali.
Why was most of this album removed from Spotify?? The first 2 songs were GREAT. Interesting blend of genres, loved the idea. Very creative spiritual R&B, a bit like Mike Love
I enjoyed this WAY more than I thought I would. I would actually listen to this again.
I liked this. Upbeat poppy. I like mariachi and salsa music. This blends that with hip hop production. The only real detriment is that it was made in 2004 when rap was so bad. They didn't know how to flow and most of it sounds like dogwater. But the hooks are good, the beats are fresh, and it all works. It hasn't aged the best but nothing from 2004 has.
I really enjoyed this, it almost made it worth all the hassle to try to find the Album. It's impossible in certain countries. Here I found some of the songs: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQEpgB-BH1Wy0AxcsuyH3lAppn3gWGrJ1 Some others are here: https://www.youtube.com/@concordmusic
This one was a little tricky to track down on streaming, but it was well worth the effort and I’ve put the cd on my to buy list. The opening track ‘Believe’ is a good example of the style, mixing bouncy Latin rhythms with Bollywood funk and rap, to produce an infectious bit of dance music. There are couple of skippable ballads on here which just knocks it down from being a five star for me. Definitely one where I’m going to check out more of their stuff
Un album en espagnol! Très cool. Cuando canto est très plaisante. Saturday Night kicks ass!
Cool find. Dropping a few of these on a playlist for the future.
In addition to the world/funk/hip-hop/Latin genres I'm definitely hearing some eastern Indian influences as well. This band was totally unknown to me and I found it refreshing to listen to something so different and interesting. I enjoyed it.
It's fun! Fusion is fun. This isn't the most artful record on earth but it does a lot of things well, and I disagree with other reviews that the whole is less than the sum of the component parts. I don't really know Ozomatli at all, but this was a better "introduction to the artist" than some of the other records on this list, which give me nothing but a wary if not outright bad outlook for future appearances.
pretty funky
What a neat sound!! I'm definitely digging it.
I really enjoyed this first time listen to Ozomatli. I love the mix of songs ranging from pop rap and Latin music themes. The added socio-political lyrics add depth and substance to their music. One song rapping defiance the next song ready to get up and dance-party.
onbekende band... maar met enkele verduiveld catchy songs... iets te lang om te blijven bekoren, maar zeker niet slecht
What a fun album! Some rock, some hiphop, some scratching and plenty of Spanish. Very cool mixtures here.
Favorite tracks: Love and Hope, (Who Discovered) America?, Santiago This was a really fun album, so many different styles that all still flow together really well. Merengue? Check. Chali 2na? Check. Latin Gwen Stefani vibes in Believe? Check. (But really, it's crazy that Rich Girl and Believe came out the same year - such a similar melody)
Very suprising. Different, creative, nice except for a few songs.
Bökigt att hitta låtarna men härlig musik, och najs med lite kulturellt coverage som saknats hittills i projektet!
Before I start reviewing this album, let me rant about how hard it was to find. Only the first two tracks are available on Spotify. Half the album is on YouTube with the other half either only being available through live versions and covers or not available at all. I eventually found the full album and was able to listen to the studio versions of each song, but what a struggle it was to find it. • Believe kicks the album off with a bang. I love the combination of Spanish and English lyrics, and the rap was a very pleasant surprise. • I like the guest vocalist on Who's to Blame, he's a great rapper and the lyrical content is very good • I love the Ozomatli chant during Déjame en paz, it made me smile so wide. You can feel how much fun they're having during the recording process • Ya viene el sol is so different to the rest of the album. The recurring sample of the intro voiceover and the disc scratches give it a unique vibe, it feels even more hip hop than the rest of this very hip hop coded album There doesn't feel like much point in writing notes for each track since my thoughts tend to boil down to the same thing for each: they're great! This is such a fun album to listen to, every song sounds like they had a blast during its production. This has to be one of the most energetic and frenetic albums I've ever listened to, it's like listening to a party. It's absolutely criminal that this album is so difficult to find, and the fact that it is made me go into the album with fairly low expectations, as if it was hidden for a reason, but I'm so glad that's not the case. It's hard to pick a favourite song, I feel like you could make a case for multiple of the tracks, so my choice is a bit more arbitrary than normal. Favourite song: Saturday Night
cool ma youtube is annoying
A breath of fresh air in comparison to the absolute slog I've had for the last week. Who doesn't love latin hip-hop from the early aughts?
Not all available
Never heard of this band, but it's a lot of fun! The wild mix of styles feels organic and never forced and the songs are catchy without feeling cheap. I will probably return to this.
Really cool vibes an message
Very enjoyable. Looks like it got taken off later, but I'd never heard of these guys, and left impressed - if only all dance music could manage to actually be songs.
It’s cool and fun
An excellent album. The mix of genres including but not limited to funk and jazz with a Latin influence done so well. I had never heard of this artist before and I'm really impressed. I love the mix of some good social commentary and music. Favourite song: (Who Discovered) America? HM: Street Signs 4 Feb 2026
Enjoyed this way more than I thought. Some funky sounds and good variety of styles in one record!
This album was a great discovery! I didn't know anything about the artist until after listening to the album. This album is a neat fusion of world music.
I'm suprised that none of these songs are in Total Overdose Red locoroco core
Great discovery
Great album if you like grwffiti
cool album.. from what I heard (not on apple music). 7.5/10
This was a really fun listen. A band I have never heard about and a genre fusion I haven't listened to before. The rhythms and the flow throughout the album are great. Even though I don't understand a word I still get pulled straight in.
I'm very confused by this album it is all over the place, switching in and out of genres and languages arbitrarily. I feel like I should hate this, but I really enjoyed it.
Man, what on Earth was this album?? This was so far removed from anything I’ve listened to so far and I honestly just kind of loved every weird minute of it. This is the kind of random album I started this project to hear. This is a band I just BARELY remember hearing in Madden when I was a little kid, so in a weird sense it also feels like a bit of a time capsule of sorts, back to when gaming was actually good and we didn’t have to worry about micro-transactions or AI nonsense. Street Signs is a completely mixed bag of musical genres and drastic vibe changes, sometimes being very traditionally Latin, other times going to Hip Hop, Pop, and frequently switching between Spanish and English lyrics. Sometimes, it works. Other times it really doesn’t. What does or does not work for you is going to largely depend on what you enjoy hearing, as the biggest compliment I can give this album is that every song sounds wholly unique from the last. Could also be a double edged sword at times, but I digress. Take Chali 2na randomly showing up on “Who’s To Blame” for instance. Furthering the fun time capsule, he immediately made me want to go listen to Jurassic 5. With his unbelievably smooth voice, I would listen to that man read the phone book. Then you’ve got songs like “(Who Discovered) America?” and “Love And Hope”, which are mostly in English but have a few lines and background elements in Spanish. On top of that, you’ve got “Dejame En Paz” and other songs which are entirely sung in Spanish. This album switches like that on the fly, and there’s truly a lot to take in. Sometimes to its benefit, other times it doesn’t really work. The end result for me personally was that I found myself adding a new song just about every single time I replayed the album. The only song I haven’t mentioned by name yet that I really enjoyed is “Saturday Night”, which I remember coming straight out of Madden. Picking a favorite song here was way harder than I was expecting, but it’s going to go to Chali 2na and “Who’s To Blame”. I had no idea he was going to show up, but he absolutely kills it on that song. “Saturday Night” gets my second favorite. It was a very close fight. Both are catchy as hell, but I think the ladder is maybe just a bit repetitive. I still don’t entirely know what this album was, and sure there’s plenty to skip on it, but man, I ended up adding 5 songs on the album, and most of the rest aren’t even bad, so I’m going to give it a 4.1 right on the dot. I think for being so unique and different, as well as just being very good and trying something new, that rating makes sense to me.
Albums like this are exactly the reason why I'm doing the 1001 albums project. I've never heard of this group and it was a great listen!
Nice beats. Latin influenced hiphop and very diverse. Too bad it isn't on Spotify and the YouTube playlist is incomplete
Nice, groovy Latin hip hop. Enjoyed this one from start to finish.
Pretty fun
Some of that was pretty cool. Decided to explore their catalogue a bit more. Ozomatli is a great example of a band that's pretty good in the studio, but great live.
A blend of Latin, urban, and world rhythms. Hearing Khaled's Kenza and ROSALIA recently has made me appreciate the Santana/Timbaland production here.
This was so captivating. The first song is almost like listening to every genre all at once, but from there you really get introduced to what this group is all about, and they way they blend so many sounds successfully at all is so impressive. Some songs weren’t quite for me, but these guys won me over for sure. Best Track: Cuando Canto
Street Signs is an incredibly interesting and unique album and that is what i love so much about it. Most of the album had this really cool mix of rock, funk, traditional Latin and hip-hop which is definitely a fun combination and not something you see every day and it is executed super well too. The lyrics here are also pretty enjoyable too with the big single Saturday Night really standing out on this front (These guys predicted 2020, what else can i say?). I guess my problem with this album is that it does eventually abandon that cool fusion i mentioned before and goes full traditional Latin, That's not a bad thing, especially if you are a fan of that genre, but it is still disappointing. Still a great album though. Best Song: Saturday Night Worst Song: Dejame En Paz
I listened to Ozomatli's first album quite a bit and loved it. I have also seen them live multiple times and they have always put on a really fun show. This is the first time hearing any album after their first album. It's pretty good, I dig it. Not as good as their first album but I would listen to it again.
The first album by this band was such an incredible debut, it sort of put everything else they did in a paler spot. Even their collaborations with groups I really love and respect never seemed to shine as bright. This is probably unfair to the group - on this listen of this album I found a lot more that I like about it than previous listens that were closer in time to its release. I still don’t think they ever hit those same heights, but there’s a hell of a lot to like here.
Wow, glad I was introduced. Finding good songs outside my experience is why I'm doing this. So it's great to see one in the first week.
This is giving early 00s where we threw hip hop at everything. Cool cross-genre songs though, good vibes from this album overall.
Really liked this one.
Very cool, fun album with a mix of sounds.
I've been looking forward to this one. Loved Ozomatli's self-titled debut back in the day, but haven't listened to much else by them. Really liked this one.
7/10… Funk / Hip Hop / *2004
I love a good fusion style and this is great.
There's some things to like here, but it also shows its age, so it's a bit of a wash. Mostly positive, but a wash.
So we're stepping up the difficulty level where I need to find the album myself since it's not on spotify. Anyway looked for every single song on YouTube and what should I say? I really enjoyed that album. I guess I'm into Latina Stuff pendejo HE HE HE didn't find: Te Estoy Buscando -> instead: Kino y Zehki instead, was ok, some Hip Hop Stuff Santiago -> bad quality shakey Concert Video BUT ended with Masters of Puppets Instrumental Cover! Very cool!
This was bloody good once I had finally found a version of it on YouTube. Completely eclectic world infused tunes. I love it! I shall hunt for a copy on ebay!
I was kind of angry that I had to listen to this on Halloween, but somehow it strangely fit the sinister/spooky theme. Really enjoyed this one.
Delicious from start to finish.
Damn good stuff.
As one half of infamous British Latin Funk band Houmous & Chuntey I can really appreciate the struggle Ozomatli had to get over with the mainstream crowds. 4.0 4/13 Who Discovered America?
that was not what i was expecting holi moli def a high 4
Great genre bending album. Hip hop, rock, salsa, latin rock vibes throughout. Really enjoyed this one and loved the horn section! Highlights: “(Who Discovered) America” and “Saturday Night”
While I wish the expanded “world” influences lasted through the whole album, this one is a fun party!
It’s like the Latino version of the Roots. Cool mix of hip hop and Latin music.
This was so fun to listen to especially after the endless stream of rock and hip hop albums we’ve been getting. Every song was super catchy and different from the previous one. I like the switching between languages too. The album takes a really interesting turn on Dona Isabelle. Fav songs: believe, ya viene el sol, cuando canto
Not bad!
I really enjoyed this but it might be just because it was different enough from this run of tepid 70s rock picks
I'm a fan and embarrassed I didn't know these guys. I blame early career workaholism.
Never heard of these guys, but pretty fun album with solid rhythms, understand why this won a Grammy
This album is fucking AWESOME. Albums like this remind me why I'm still engaging in this 1001 Albums project after yet ANOTHER two week run of 70s rock. I could not tell you what genre this is, because it's like 6 genres wrapped into one. I would say I've never enjoyed a foreign language album more than this, but that's cheating a bit because at least half of the album is in English. I know this isn't exactly an intellectual review, but I'm a bit overwhelmed because after the last few weeks, this album is like a glass of water in the middle of the desert.
Really good and fun album! Also I thought this was less popular from the spotify plays but apparently it got a grammy lmao
What a fun album! Pure party music, but it goes hard throughout, with funk, jazz, and hip hop all inflected through a Latin flair to great effect.
This one's just filled with great energy. I love the variety of genre influences on display. It does lose a bit of overall cohesiveness as a result, though that doesn't make the music any less enjoyable. I had a blast! Standouts: Street Signs • (Who Discovered) America? • Saturday Night • Dejame En Paz • Nadie Te Tira
Instant classic. There is nothing I love more than a group of very talented musicians going hard as hell on a variety of instruments. Not every song on here did it for me, but I rarely feel like I'm having this much fun with an album. Catch me shaking ass to this in the future.
Really good fusion of Latin rhythms with other styles. It was entertaining and creative, good instrumentation , lyrics and vocals.
Loved the feel good vibes, and the mix of styles. 7/10
Unexpected and welcomed. An interesting mix of stuff that I had never heard of before, which is all I really want from this project (3.5/5)
wow, this was fun. i don't know if it would've hit the same if i didn't have a 5+ album string of boring dreck before it, but this was like a tropical drink on a hot day. super fun and dancey and just enjoyable to listen to!!
quite good
Ozomantil didn't upload this album on YouTube, strangely enough. (Turns out they did, but it's not available.) I managed to track down most of the songs. The songs I found are excellent, and "Street Signs" deserves its spot on the list. This is the first time I didn't have a complete album to listen to. 4 stars for "Street Signs". (I'll buy a CD of it one day)
believe who discovered america
Sorry I never gave these guys a chance at the time - even saw them live as one of the the openers for DMB at Soldier Field in 2000. I remember they had fun energy, but it wasn't something I was going to run home to buy. This is a fun bounce. It's trapped in early 2000's pop/rap/latin that was super popular at the time - J Lo, Enrique Iglesias mashed with Jurassic 5 (cue Chalie 2na on Who's To Blame), Black Eyed Peas, etc. That makes it feel a little generic listening to it for the first time, but it also still makes it an enjoyable, familiar listen.
This one really took my breath away. Definitely worth a listen.
This one was a lot cooler than I expected. I hit play thinking I’d check it out once and move on, but I ended up running through the whole thing again right after. It’s got a great mix of energy and flow that keeps you hooked. “Love and Hope” stood out right away, catchy without being cheesy, and “Who Discovered America” hit just as hard with its mix of sound and meaning. Both of those tracks really carried the album for me, but the rest wasn’t filler either—it all kept the vibe going. Overall, Street Signs is the kind of album that sneaks up on you. Fun to listen to, easy to replay, and strong enough that I’d come back to it again. Favorite song: Love and Hope
I dug this. So many different styles and sounds and it’s all really well done. I am interested in the history of the band / creative process.
So many different styles and influencs, and it all kind of works. I really enjoyed this all the way through, not sure id go back to it but really interesting record
I found each song to be an interesting pivot from the song before.
This was pretty fun. Songs like "Saturday Night" (hey, I know that one!) and "Ya Vienne El Sol" really had me bopping my head. The instrumentation is interesting, I think this is an evolution of what Santana (the original lineup) would have become. A couple of the tunes overstayed their welcome by a minute or two, but for the most part it was a fun album to listen to. Top tracks: "Saturday Night," "Te Estoy Buscando"
Like a beach Ricky Martin with the occasional Indian flair mixed in
Dos temas que no encuentro por ningun lado. Encima debe ser el primer álbum con letras en Español. Es increíble como te alejas un cacho de la anglósfera y todo suena más humano. Nota: 3.7
I kinda didn't want to like this - it's a bit cheesy and silly. But man is it easy to listen to. I feel like I could put this on most days, most times of the day, for most people, and we would all feel like we had a good time.
I'm not familiar with Ozomatli or this album, but that's a really interesting album cover. I have no idea what this album is going to sound like, but I'm excited to dive into this and find out what it's all about! Street Signs was a very pleasant surprise. The album’s sound was really unique, with excellent guitars, strings, and percussion throughout every track. Other than Santana, I can’t think of anything else I’ve ever heard that has such a fusion of Latin elements and contemporary rock music. As much as I enjoyed the instrumentation, I wasn’t a big fan of the songs that featured rapping vocals. This isn’t the type of album that I normally gravitate towards, and it’s not the sort of thing that I’d fire up again, but it was a fun experience to listen to something so new and otherworldly to my ears. Some notes on individual songs: I loved that opening guitar on "Believe." The strings complimented the guitar really well, and the bass groove was excellent. I really dug this sound, and after hearing that opening track, I was hoping that this unique fusion would continue. The strings made another appearance on "Love and Hope," and I really dug it. Excellent vocals and energy, and I liked the trumpet too. “America" was pretty good too. I liked the horns and guitar playing, and the songwriting was excellent "Saturday Night" sounded incredibly familiar, but I can't put my finger on where I've heard it. I loved the harder and deeper sound, and the percussive elements were excellent. I don't mind the rapping here as much, mostly because the music is so good. The percussion on "Dejame En Paz" was excellent, and I liked the turntable scratching too. I loved the strings and percussion on “Cuando Canto.” This might be my favorite track on the album, and I thought it was a beautiful way to close this album. Listening to Street Signs was a really fun and unique experience. It’s not completely my cup of tea, but it was well worth my time today.
8/10
Solid grooving, genre mashup from hiphop to classic mexican to even the early touches of lofi
the first 5 seconds where enough for me to love it.
I like this. I would definitely listen to them again. Surprisingly enjoyable. Made me think of The Cat Empire.
I was really surprised by how cool this album was. Had some early arabic influences flow through. And then had some more spanish influences come out. Enjoyable.
A score below 3 is not deserved for this. Too many "not on spotify" reviews. Like, yeah of course I would rather listen to the studio version than to a drum cover version on youtube. The music is fun but not groundbreaking and some songs are lacking. Overall very good 4/5
This was funky and fun and different. I felt like it switched it up enough through the album that it never got dull or stale. I would definitely listen again.
Oh I am PSYCHED for this new find! If this music doesn’t have you bouncing in your seat you need more joy in your life.
## In-Depth Review: Ozomatli's *Street Signs* (2004) ### **Context and Background** Released on June 22, 2004, *Street Signs* is Ozomatli’s third studio album, arriving three years after their previous work (*Embrace the Chaos*, 2001). Recorded across seven studios (including The Plant in Sausalito and Music Lane in Austin), the album blends Latin rock, hip-hop, salsa, and—new for the band—North African/Arabic influences. This direction emerged post-9/11, as the band sought musical unity amid political tension . It won the **Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album** and the **Latin Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album**, solidifying their cult status . --- ### **Lyrics and Themes: Unity, Resistance, and Hope** Ozomatli’s lyrics balance sociopolitical critique with celebratory calls for solidarity. Key themes include: - **Social Justice**: "Who’s to Blame" (featuring Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na) attacks systemic inequality, referencing "presidential motorcades" and "Yakuza tattoos" over a Gnawa trance backdrop . "(Who Discovered) America?" subverts colonial narratives, questioning historical erasure . - **Cross-Cultural Unity**: The title track "Street Signs" shouts, "*This is dedicated to the blacks, whites, and Asians / And my Latinos*," framing breakdance culture as a metaphor for communal resilience . "Believe" merges Arabic vocals (by Hassan Hakmoun) with Spanish and English, advocating hope amid "world tainted" . - **Ambiguity and Tension**: "Santiago" sparks debate. Its refrain—"*Santiago de Aztlán / Pienso que eres Superman*"—has been interpreted as a tribute to an INS agent or a broader immigrant anthem. The cryptic "Ago" hook (likely derived from "Santiag**o**") underscores the song’s poetic openness . **Weakness**: Some lyrics veer toward platitudes (e.g., "Love and Hope"), sacrificing depth for accessibility . --- ### **Musical Style: Genre Fusion as Revolution** The album’s genius lies in its seamless hybridization: - **Latin Foundations**: Salsa piano (Eddie Palmieri on "Nadie Te Tira"), merengue ("Déjame En Paz"), and jarocho harp ("Santiago") ground the record . - **Global Infusions**: Moroccan sintir (fretless lute) and qawwali drones on "Believe," tablas on "Who’s to Blame," and Romani violin (Les Yeux Noirs) throughout . - **Hip-Hop/Rock Energy**: "Saturday Night" is a funk-rap party anthem, while "Street Signs" channels West Coast breakbeats . *Key Standouts*: - "Believe": Orchestral strings collide with sintir and rap breaks. - "Te Estoy Buscando": A haunting bolero-tango hybrid dubbed "soul-stirringly beautiful" . - "Ya Viene El Sol (Remix)": Batucada beats fused with electro-dancehall . *Table: Musical Fusion in Key Tracks* | **Track** | **Primary Styles** | **Notable Elements** | |-------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | "Believe" | Arabic Gnawa / Orchestral / Hip-Hop | Hassan Hakmoun’s sintir; Prague Symphony | | "Who’s to Blame" | Gnawa / Rap | Chali 2na’s vocals; tablas; hand-claps | | "Santiago" | Mexican jarocho / Rock | David Hidalgo’s arpa jarocha; acoustic guitar| | "Saturday Night" | Latin funk / Hip-Hop | Turntablism; brass sections | --- ### **Production: Ambitious but Overstuffed** **Strengths**: - **Collaborative Depth**: Production by Ozomatli, T-Ray, and guests (e.g., Cut Chemist on turntables) creates layered textures. Serban Ghenea’s mixing (known for Prince/Justin Timberlake) polishes without sterilizing . - **Textural Richness**: The Prague Symphony’s strings on "Believe" and "Santiago" add cinematic scope, while analog percussion preserves live energy . **Weaknesses**: - **Overcrowding**: Some tracks ("Love and Hope") suffer from excessive elements (Arabic strings, hip-hop, rock) competing for space . - **Inconsistent Flow**: The transition from the political "Who’s to Blame" to the romantic "Te Estoy Buscando" feels abrupt, disrupting narrative cohesion . --- ### **Influence and Legacy** - **Cultural Impact**: Pioneered 2000s Latin alternative scenes, influencing acts like Kinky and Del Castillo . "Saturday Night" appeared in *Madden NFL 2005* and film trailers, amplifying Latin-funk’s mainstream reach . - **Critical Divide**: Hailed as a "revolution" by BBC Music but criticized as "bland fusion" by some (e.g., *1001 Albums Generator* users) . Its inclusion in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* cemented its historical significance . - **Accessibility Issues**: Modern listeners note streaming limitations (only "Believe" on Spotify), hindering rediscovery . --- ### **Pros and Cons Summary** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Bold genre fusion (Arabic/Latin/hip-hop) | Overproduction dilutes impact on some tracks | | Political lyricism + celebratory energy | Inconsistent thematic flow | | Stellar guests (Palmieri, Chali 2na, Hakmoun) | Lyrics occasionally superficial | | Rhythmic innovation (tablas, jarocho, Gnawa) | Limited streaming availability today | --- ### **Verdict** *Street Signs* remains Ozomatli’s most ambitious work: a multicultural manifesto that channels chaos into unity. While its maximalist production and scattered sequencing reveal flaws, the album’s fearless hybridization—Arabic strings meet West Coast rap, salsa meets Gnawa trance—makes it a landmark in 2000s alternative Latin music. As the band declared: "*Music is the key to every culture*" . **8/10**.
4/5
I listened to as many tracks as I could through youtube and Spotify. What I heard gave me an impression of this album being a mix of poppy Latin grooves with some nice Middle-Eastern inspired instrumentation and optimistic hip-hop lyrics. I really liked it. Wish I could hear the whole thing.
I remember loving Saturday Night on the Madden soundtrack as a kid. Still slaps. Other songs I enjoyed here were Street Signs, (Who Discovered) America? (another banger), Te Estoy Buscando, and Santiago. Really was vibing to the Latin-fused hip-hop. Fun album and was better than I was expecting. I think I'm willing to go with a low 4 here.
Really enjoyable mix of rock, latin, and hip hop. Not only was it an enjoyable listen, it was a nice unique album on top of it all. Had me grooving plenty.
Loved the switch-ups on this one while sticking to the Latin vibe. This isn't something I'll most likely come back to, but it did have me vibing throughout and didn't know if it would be in English/Spanish, rapping, or jazzy/funky. Also felt like the production on this was fantastic. Low 4.
This one was a lot of fun! High energy, good beats, nice mix of instruments and styles. Plus, I recognized one of the songs from playing Madden 05, so that was a nice throwback. 4/5
This is why I like new (to me) music. This album here. Upbeat, relevant, and meaningful. I really dug this. Never heard of them or the songs, but I will definitely listen again.
Neat
This was a new one to me. Solid album, especially the Charlie 2na tune!
2004. One of my favorite discovered albums of this project! Very interesting style of Los Angeles. Multicultural and activist.
Happy, good times. Genuinely enjoyed it. 4/5
Very interesting album on the border between couple of genres. I imagine that enjoying Santana's Abraxas is probably quite necessary to enjoy this one.
Based on what I was able to scrounge of this album on YouTube, I really enjoyed this band. They're one of the few artists I've encountered here with hip-hop influences who I can get behind. Believe was a banger. I'd happily listen to more Ozomatli and I'm not sure how they hadn't crossed my path thus far.
Some very good songs here, interesting sound. Five stars conceivable but so is three.
Hard to find
For a band and album I'd never heard of before, I LOVED THIS! I want to check out more by them.
Listened to on YouTube as it's not on Spotify for me. I also could only find 7 out of the 13 songs which sucks a bit. But other than that I like the really unique sound of this album.
I had really low expectations out the gate but this really surprised me. I enjoyed how each song felt very individual but the whole album felt cohesive.
Bangers all around! What a great new discovery
Ozo rocks, instant fan. Love the genre blend Very early 2000’s sometimes sounds like bilingual Black Eyed Peas
Hey, I actually loved this... perfect for my morning workout. I would probably give it a 3.5, but rounding up to 4 as I ended up listening to it twice.
Lovely Mexican fusion cuisine.
Had to go old school and buy a cd in order to listen to the full album as seemingly absent from uk streaming. The album opens with the sound of pure joy. A wonderful blend of styles like an audio street festival. Latin grooves with occasional rapping and shouting whats not to love
Impossible to listen to in the UK on streaming, but after my friend bought a secondhand CD, I've come back in time to review it. Why is this not on streaming?! It's catchy as hell. It merges so many styles, so it's never dull. It's perfect warm weather music. It won a Grammy (Best Latin or Alternate Album) for goodness sake! I particularly like (Who Discovered) America, Who's To Blame and Saturday Night is fantastic. This has been my biggest surprise of this project so far. Clearly given the difficulty of getting hold of it meant I never would have heard it otherwise, but I'm so glad I did. My actual album today was Leonard Cohen, and my goodness, this was the perfect antidote to that... 4/5
Prior to this challenge I had only head "1234" by Ozomatli. A little surprised it wasn't on this album! Overall the sound was good and the beats were engaging. I liked it.
i really enjoyed this
I saw them open for either Rancid or Offspring at Roseland in ‘98 or ‘99. Fun and unique blend of styles.
this slapped
decent
This was not at all what I was expecting. Infectious, driving grooves. The mix of Spanish and English. Cool stuff
Latin inspired Rap
Much more varied and interesting than I expected. All of the songs were well produced and the whole thing sounded great. I always assumed this band was a little more toward the RHCP end of the california fusion rock band spectrum, but it's doing its own thing
Really enjoy this band. I saw them years ago at a music festival and was hooked.
Never heard this band before, and I stank-faced when the rapper came in on the first track. Came out of nowhere and I was totally not expecting it at all. What a unique album. I've never heard anything like it. There's so much to unpack here with influences from latin music, Indian music, hip-hop... honestly a one-of-one kind of album. Honestly, I like A LOT of this album. And I need to save it and show it to others. 4/5
This is a fun album. Good mix of Latin, Funk, Hip-Hop, and (to a lesser extent) Rock genres. 4 stars.
Pleasantly surprised by this album. Very fun and upbeat Latin-rock that is easy to listen to, and very fresh and varied from song to song. Starts to fall off towards the end of the album, but overall very entertaining. Top tracks: (Who Discovered) America?, Who's To Blame, Saturday Night
Favorite Track: Te Estoy Buscando
3.5 Stars
An interesting patchwork of Latin-American sounds. The album is energetic and dynamic. I would say that it can be repetitive and borderline cheesy in spots. While latin music is not my favorite, this was pretty good.
Latin hip-hop fusion kind of thing from the mid-2000s. Even though the writing's maybe not the strongest I found this to be a fairly enjoyable time, especially when it's rapping, but it also makes sense to me that this one didn't survive to later editions of the 1,001 book.
3.5 Stars
Pretty good, funky Latin rhythms. Really like the string arrangements throughout, and its pretty varied too. You'd think this is a few different albums going from Love and Hope to Street Signs to Santiago. I came into this listen with zero expectations, having never heard of Ozomatli, and thankfully the list provided another great addition.
What a groovy album baby yeah! Love me some Latin rhythms. Plus a Chali 2na appearance bumps it up a star all on its own. Music that makes me want to start a revolution against this current dog shit regime
Great mix of sounds, all enjoyable.
Como vez
it's got some classic 2005 weightless production and corniness, but i still enjoyed it thoroughly (although naturally i get my first latin album in like 300 days and it's still an LA band)
No idea how it compares to other albums in the same genre, but it's fun, varied and I enjoyed the vocals.
While it’s not my thing, it was incredibly well done and oozing passion.
Based on one song it might be a decent album. I was in a really good mood when I was listening though
sviđa mi se... mix svega, od hip hopa do jazza i cubano glazbe... lajkam...
latin album that makes me wanna rock out and dance it’s super fun
Not bad at all. Latin grooves with heavy influence from funk and hip hop. Very well produced, plenty to keep the ears occupied. I’ll be revisiting this one for sure. Saturday Night was a notable standout.
I enjoyed how they fuzed so many different styles
Ei oo spotifyssä ja youtubestakin oli aika vaikea löytää kappaleita, joten osa saattoi jäädä kuuntelematta mutta eiköhän suurin osa ja levyn idea tullut selväksi. Aika mielenkiintoinen sekoitelma kaikenlaista, raprokkia varmaan kuitenkin pohjimmiltaan. Kappaleissa oli myös itämaisia ja latino soundeja. Hyvällä tavalla yhdistetty. Parhaat: Believe, Saturday Night, Who's To Blame
I really enjoyed it overall and listening to the fusion between traditional latinx influence, hip hop and pop music. There were songs like Who's To Blame that had great lyrcis, but melodies were a little one note. America was another that had really good lyrics but melodies almost seemed to fun and beach party to stand up to a strong message, but pop music does that all the time so maybe reflecting, I don't mind it. Fortunate Song, Born in the USA, American Woman...they were all doing what this album does really well, make a deep message but cover it with fun catchy melodies that make them hard to not sing and dance to, so we all sing it and pass the message along. My only criticism is sometimes the sounds varied so much that the album didn't feel cohesive (Street signs to America to Saturday Night). But the latinx essence in all songs carried it through enough to be a solid 4.
Great energy! Fabulous instrumentation and love the Latinx beats. My spanish is not good enough to know what they are saying but that doesn't bother me. Great harmonies on the vocals. favorites: Love & Hope, Who Discovered America? (such a cool groove), Who's To Blame & Saturday Night (yaaa y'all), Dejame En Paz (means "Leave Me Alone", great energy!) Ya Viene El Sol (makes me wish I was somewhere warmer. creative song writing!), Nadie Te Tira (means "No One Throws At You", the horns especially shine on this one!), and they finish the album with Cuando Canto (When I Sing My Song). A beautiful song to close on. Good stuff!
Ah man, this was really great, I loved it. It's just such a shame that it wasn't that accessible all in one place. It was really difficult to piece together the different tracks on YouTube, which upset the rhythm of it a bit. And because there is quite some variance between some of the tracks, you wonder if you've even lined up the correct one. Either way, it's just really accomplished. The music itself is really great. Lovely melodies and singing. I like the fusion of all the different elements. I like the pervasive violins throughout, the trumpet, the mixing. It's such a great time. I would definitely revisit more if I could actually track it down. I might have to buy it on vinyl. 4.5 rounded down.
Surprisingly good!
Really surprised me- at first I thought the album was a little overproduced and scattered genre-wise, but as I got deeper I felt a sense of the themes coming together. Really powerful statements on the back half of the album
I was a little skeptical at first, but by the first few bars I was into the pulse this music had to offer. Definitely a groove that's got you head nodding as you cross the metaphorical street. I could probably listen to a whole record of their instrumental jams alone, but I appreciate the added depth and message the lyrics bring. Solid.
Really loved the song Believe and overall was a good album.
A bit hit and miss, but the good stuff is excellent
some songs were very good bringing this up from a 3 to a 4 star
Very interesting stuff. I think it’s awesome that they produced it themselves.
I can't believe this album is rated so low! It's very different from the rest of the list as it has a lot of influences from all over the world. The Latin influences show the most and gives the album a real upbeat vibe. It is very underrated and I think is an album more people should pay attention to on this list.
4- całkiem spoko
What an interesting mix of Latin, rock, and rap. Lots of super catchy choruses that had me head bopping. It was cool seeing Chali 2na pop up too. I wasn't sure what to expect here but ended up really enjoying it.
Except for the rap songs this is a great album. I can’t understand the lyrics but it sounds great.
Enjoyed the vibes. The FIFA Street song definitely gave this album a boost.
This is so good. Artists I was reminded of while listening to this include Carlos Santana, Robert Bradley, the Gorillaz, Linkin Park, Sugar Ray, Chance the Rapper - which is crazy, but it somehow all works.
This is a hard to find album (the one I found was stitched together from various sources on Youtube) but is absolutely worth it
This was a cool album. It was very salsa-y, and I don't listen to a lot of Salsa music. It was almost entirely jams. I liked essentially every song. It's not my favorite sound in the world, but I liked it a lot. 8/10
A hidden gem of an album! Had to go to some extra effort to tick this one off but it was definitely worth it. Latin-flavoured funk/rock with hip-hop elements and just all-round great vibes. Immediately swivelled my head when I heard Chali 2na's guest slot on Who's To Blame (aka the best voice in rap, IMHO) and repeatedly wanted to add tracks to my Spotify playlist but sadly couldn't as it's not on the UK version. So yeah, I bought myself a copy of the CD and can see myself coming back to it often. Reading a bit more about Ozomatli is fascinating too, just a cool group and one I am really glad to have discovered.
I had heard "saturday night" before but never listened to this album (or even heard of the artist, really) before this. This is a good album!
Exciting. Rousing. Passionate. Earnest. These are the first words that come to mind when I think of how to describe this wonderful album. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-street-signs-by-ozomatli?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Knowing a little Spanish helps. I enjoyed it. Not my favorite, but good.
Decent, with one really great song.
Enjoyed the Latin influence. Great to see an album with Cut Chemist and Chali 2na on the list. Pretty fun album overall. 3.5/5 Will listen again
I own the first Ozomatli album and really like it. I never followed the rest of their career, but I was happy to hear this album is great, and I am excited to listen to more of their albums now that I'm reminded of them. Just a great mix of styles, hip-hop and latin styles.
I very much liked this album. I liked how it differed from the other albums I had previously listened to. I was starting to get bored listening to the same genre over and over again. I am glad this album came on when it did! 4 stars!
Not bad. Pleasantly surprised.
There's something for everyone in here
This was fun! Lotta variety here, but I didn't love the rapping focused tracks. 'Dejame En Paz' was my fave.
Was really happy to see the OZO kids when I opened today's album. I have that street sign as a little sticker. Picked it up at one of the shows I saw around the time of this album, really really energetic affairs. Yeah the lyrics can get a little cheesy but they can get a crowd jumping. So maybe it doesn't really capture the vibe when you are not part of the collective delight, or don't know spanish, or have a salsa or rock en espanol affection, but damn I check those boxes and can't (won't) separate now from those occasions. I love this.
I have known of this band, but had never listened to this band. That was my loss. they’re great and this album is great
I knew just a little going into this — somewhere in my past Ozomatli crept into my consciousness. On one hand, I loved a lot of it. Particularly the Latin, Spanish-language fare stands out. The rap, largely, isn't my preferred flavor in the genre and there were other times during the album where it felt a bit forced. So... rating such a beast. The highs were high, and the lows were mid, so the 3.something gets the bump. I didn't love it like a 4, but it was a good soundtrack for the weekend.
Loved this. Thought the album got stronger as we progressed through it.
Funkadellic. I think i like the weird fusion of fast paced music and rap.
Whoa, what a pleasant surprise! It's like taking a bowl, and mixing the ingredients of Latin American Music, as well as System Of A Down, Gorillaz, and a touch of The Flobots. A diverse group of sounds, and genres made this a fun album. Favorite Song: "Saturday Night"
Great album
i usually can’t get into albums that aren’t in english but this was a great listen throughout. cool mix of songs and styles and was never bored with anything going on
(Dancing Face Emoji) Where did they come from?! And why have I never heard them before now?! And how did they mash up those musics and those messages and make it work?! And what have they done to my need to categorize musical styles?! And how can I see them live?! And am I the first person to ever have their mind blown by Ozomatli while making bread and butter pickles?! They’ve raised so many questions…
Genres all over the place - Latin, strains of Bollywood, hip hop, interesting & eclectic
After the first song of this album, I was ready to turn it off. But I’m glad I stuck it out! It was so fun and refreshing to have an album with such diversity of sound! While the lyrics may be repetitive, and not particularly moving, this was a fun 51 minutes. I’d listen again.
This is just amazing. Hit a piece of nostalgia I didn't know existed. I don't know of this record but it and I definitely occupied the same universe. So fun and all inclusive.
Great mix of genres.
Gezellige, niet al te kleffe latino-pop met een snippertje hiphop ertussendoor. De zomer breekt door en je kunt er vast een mooi feestje mee bouwen. Wat wil je nog meer.
Het begint met licht arabische tonen met bijpassende (ook licht) trillende stem. Toch voelt het westerse ritme dominant. De rest van het album voelt meer licht-latin. Wat blijft is de dominantie van de westerse klanken. De band houdt van lage tonen, pop-ritmes en een rapje af en toe. De combinatie maakt het geheel best toegankelijk, maar toch interessant genoeg om niet geestelijk af te haken. Ik heb hier met plezier naar geluisterd en zou het zo nog eens kunnen opzetten.
Alas, Spotify UK only allowed me access to track #1 of the album, so...not able to fully assess the whole thing. But, I "Believe" that I'll be tracking down some other access method, it's sounds damned interesting. A twist of Quantic, a slurp of Yerba Buena and a slug of Tinariwen. An exotic mix.
Not fully sure what to think about it, but I liked it quite a bit.
Latin funk hip hop! Something about this one just brought me joy, the songs feel good. It doesn’t make sense that they aren’t more popular in the U.S., they should be.
The only album I've ever listened to from these guys is their debut album. I remember liking it, but I never revisited it or listening to any of their later albums. This is a fun one. A nice melting pot of hip hop, latin grooves, and I hear some middle eastern vibes at some points. Oh, I recognize the song "Saturday Night." Not sure where I heard it before. My favorite is Dejame En Paz. I don't dance, but it makes me want to shake my tuccus.
I liked this one. To me it occupies the same headspace as Bixiga 70 or Orgone. Moreso Bixiga though, except Bixiga has a more raw organic sound.They do a good job combining traditionally Latin music with hip hop elements and electronic sounds without losing the feel of the two different worlds. It was cool to see Charli 2na make an appearance. My favorite was Nadie Te Tira.
This was a really cool album, for me it was out of left field, surprised and delighted me
J'ai pas mal de rattrapage à faire, alors je vais garder ça bref. Cool album
Difficult to find, but quite listenable once you get to it. Kind of get the feeling that it's trying to hard to be what it is - like, I get the use of non-funk music in hip-hop, but this seems a bit deliberate and cynical.
I mean, it is a bop, but is it just the 2 tracks on spotify?
Really rather good stuff
I'm not gonna lie, this kinda slapped. Definitely saving a few from this album.
This was great as i had just started my holiday in mexico.
Energetic, latinoturkodetroit music that wakes you up
This album has EVERYTHING
Now that's how you blend genes. A fantastic mix of Latin and hip hop. But like a classic kind of Latin. Great stuff
Great grooves. 4 stars
Not much substance, but I love the mix of styles.
May 6, 2024 Hey this guy stole the guy from Jurassic 5's flow- oh, it's the same guy. Cool I'm quite enjoying this. It's trying to be all things to all people, but it's also vibrant and celebratory- & something I needed to accompany some of the first warm weather this year. HL: "Love and Hope", title track, "Te Estoy Buscando", "Saturday Night"
Sono ciò di cui avevi bisogno senza saperlo
That was fun
This album was stylistically interesting with latin rock, middle eastern melodies, and rapping. I enjoyed the cover of Waiting for the Bus by ZZ Top.
10 min langt
Felt like a Saturday Night full of Love and Hope.
This is so CRAZY funky! Saturday Night is a BOP and the record as a whole is so much fun! A perfect blend of rock, funk and hip-hop. A WONDERFUL album overall.