Easy comparisons to Los Lobos have long dogged New Orleans' own cross-cultural pot-stirrers, the Iguanas. But the band's return from a four-year recording respite here cuts a subtle, distinctive musical swath all its own, ... more »culminating in what's arguably the most rewarding album of their career. While informed on "Machete y Maiz," the evocative "Un Avion," and the haunting slinkiness of "Abandonado" by the same rich conjunto/Tex-Mex/Chicano R&B influences as their East L.A. soulmates, the band's creative axis of vocalists Rod Hodges and Joe Cabral and bassist Rene Coma (powered by drummer Doug Garrison and Derek Huston on sax) has inspired anything but a predictable artistic orbit here. Anchored by the loping, sunny pop daydream "Yesterday" and the title track's gently optimistic radio paean (a collaboration between Hodges and Dave Alvin), the band simmers zydeco, blues, and smart pop hooks into a mix that veers from the sly playfulness of "Sugarcane," "Mexican Candy," and the tragi-comic squalor of "The Liquor Dance" to more traditional party-hearty rhythms of "Flame On" and "Zacatecas." Its production is as subtle and spacious as its evocative songs, a languorous hour of music that evokes the dappled sunlight and fevered grooves of a half-dozen cultures. --Jerry McCulley« less
Easy comparisons to Los Lobos have long dogged New Orleans' own cross-cultural pot-stirrers, the Iguanas. But the band's return from a four-year recording respite here cuts a subtle, distinctive musical swath all its own, culminating in what's arguably the most rewarding album of their career. While informed on "Machete y Maiz," the evocative "Un Avion," and the haunting slinkiness of "Abandonado" by the same rich conjunto/Tex-Mex/Chicano R&B influences as their East L.A. soulmates, the band's creative axis of vocalists Rod Hodges and Joe Cabral and bassist Rene Coma (powered by drummer Doug Garrison and Derek Huston on sax) has inspired anything but a predictable artistic orbit here. Anchored by the loping, sunny pop daydream "Yesterday" and the title track's gently optimistic radio paean (a collaboration between Hodges and Dave Alvin), the band simmers zydeco, blues, and smart pop hooks into a mix that veers from the sly playfulness of "Sugarcane," "Mexican Candy," and the tragi-comic squalor of "The Liquor Dance" to more traditional party-hearty rhythms of "Flame On" and "Zacatecas." Its production is as subtle and spacious as its evocative songs, a languorous hour of music that evokes the dappled sunlight and fevered grooves of a half-dozen cultures. --Jerry McCulley
"The Iguanas' "Plastic Silver and 9 Volt Heart" (Yep Roc) is one groove-y record, laidback, loping and made for a margarita in the summer shade or a cruise with the top down. There's nothing showy to the 13 cuts here, just a remarkably varied collection of easygoing music with healthy helping of Tex Mex stew. If you only own their debut album with the rollicking "Night of Sin," this is a time to take another listen to the boys from New Orleans. The band recorded the disc live in the studio over eight days and it shows how they've progressed over the past decade. They take the timeworn basics of down home R&B, swamp rock and Tex Mex and mix and match, creating something new that fits as comfortably as a well-worn pair of jeans. This is confidently cool music, from the first blast of "Yesterday," a pop tune born of the marriage of Morphine and The Lovin' Spoonful, through the snaking twin sax blasts of "Zacatecas" on to the shuffling ballad that is "The First Kiss Is Free" and into the guitar rock of "I Dig You." Of course, these guys know how to play party tunes. That's why Jimmy Buffett originally signed them to his label. Just listen to the dance-along cuts, "Flame On," which recalls Los Lobos, and "The Liquor Dance," sure to become a David Lindley favorite. With their electronically altered-vocals, they sound like remnants of an old mono rave-up. Songwriter and vocalist Rod Hodges, with help from Dave Alvin on the title cut, has tendered his best set of tunes. And the boys in the band, multi-instrumentalist Rene Coman and Joe Cabral, tenor saxman Derek Huston and drummer Doug Garrison have conjured up a soundtrack for the summer."
Low Voltage High Wattage
Expedient Note | Delaware, USA | 07/21/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Buy this album. NOW! ??? Because, if you don't but it now, you will be kicking yourself later because it went of print so quickly or became instantly unavailable, unless nefarious means of obtention are your specialty. Try getting their album "Superball" now....There are 3 great kick start songs offering immediate listening pleasure. The balance all slip-slide into your daily routine ("...just like "Mexican Candy"..)through the bottom heavy groove that weaves its way thoughtout a finely produced album. No tinkley sounds here; these guys brood with the best of them."
It gets better and better
wine guy | Encinitas, CA United States | 06/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a new Iguanas fan with this album. The track "Mexican Candy" moves between spanish and english seamlessly with the sweetest sax solo in the middle. Lyrics are sublime and the instrumentals are sweet and well-placed. Well produced, with a great sound, I would highly recommend this to anyone with an hankering for rockabilly and a new orleans sound without a heavy zydeco beat. Listen to the samples and check out the great lyrics and cool vibe from these guys."
Bueno,Bueno!!
wine guy | 03/30/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been an iguanas fan since 1993. I have all of their albums,and I believe this might be their best album yet!I was very excited see that the new record was coming out. Although,as said in the reviews, this is a departure from previous albums, but certainly not a radical departure.It still has that signiture tex-mex sound. This is an absolutly delightful listen from start to finish.I highly reccomend this album."
Great highs - bad lows
R. A. Bartlett | Atlanta, GA | 08/24/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"My first exposure to the Iguanas was when they opened for Los Straitjackets in Atlanta; and after seeing their opening set, I wondered how the 'jackets could follow them up - they were that good live. Their blend of styles & instrumentation is terrific. So after special-ordering '9-Volt', my hopes were high. It has some great songs - the title track is especially wonderful. But there are a handful of throwaways - notably 'Flame On' and 'I Dig You' - which have such predictable lyrics, and are so 'rhymey' they draw a wince at every listen. The Spanish language songs and the instrumental sections are terrific, but the singing in English is often trite, and even the studio tricks used to beef up the vocals still can't quite make them sound more than overly conventional."