Vasos Vacíos

Released

This Argentinian ska-punk-Latin-funk band’s biggest hit, “Matador,” was one of the few new tracks on this 1993 album, which mostly consisted of tracks from their six previous full-lengths, some re-recorded or remixed. But “Matador,” with its thunderous samba-inspired drums, punchy horns, and football-stadium chants, as well as its lyrics decrying the suppression of dissent by military dictatorships in Argentina and Chile, is a cri de coeur disguised as a fist-pumping anthem. “Quinto Centenario,” the other new song, blends twitchy ska with an interpolation of “America,” from West Side Story, then launches into a hardcore punk sprint. Meanwhile, older songs like “El Satánico Dr. Cadillac,” “Vasos Vacíos” (featuring guest vocals from salsa legend Celia Cruz), and their cover of “Revolution Rock” (a cover of a reggae song by Danny Ray that the Clash also covered, on London Calling) throw elements of funk and even Hawaiian guitar into the mix.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Funky Kingston cover

Funky Kingston

Toots & the Maytals
Truths and Rights cover

Truths and Rights

Johnny Osbourne
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere cover

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Forward cover

Forward

The Abyssinians
Sunday Coming cover

Sunday Coming

Alton Ellis
FRKWYS Vol. 9: ICON GIVE THANK cover

FRKWYS Vol. 9: ICON GIVE THANK

Sun Araw, The Congos, M. Geddes Gengras