Long Beach Records
2005
Guajiro Ep
About This Album
Guajiro may now call Hialeah, Florida, home, but as part of the Latino diaspora, the quartet's own national roots lie further south -- Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Honduras. Their musical roots, however, are strictly north of the border, mostly the old-school SoCal scene, with some more modern antecedents thrown in for good measure. And so Guajiro add a Latin fire to punk's fury, or, in the case of "Mantanzero," Spanish lyrics to a ferocious Clash hook and incendiary NOFX riff. They mix it up nearly enough to get away with it, and the inclusion of a drum tattoo and anthemic shouts for "Libertad!," à la Stiff Little Fingers or more recently Dropkick Murphys, is so rabble rousing, that you'll be joining their barricades even if you're not exactly sure what they're fighting for (actually freedom in their adopted land). "Mantanzero" is the standout track on the EP, but the sub-Pennywise "Lo Siento" is almost as strong, its pummeling rhythm and searing guitar draped around its fiery Spanglish lyrics. "Simpatico," meanwhile, rips another page from the NOFX songbook, the drums shredding everything in their path, the anthemic melody laying all else to waste. "Domino" is even more aggressive, with more than a touch of the Dead Kennedys around the blazing guitars, bassline, and lead vocals. But once again, Guajiro snatch it back from the abyss, and stamp it with a new-school styling. "Middle," in contrast, is just as vehement, but in a more varied vein. As statements of intent go, Guajiro's couldn't be any clearer, they are determined to reignite punk's blaze with a music as impassioned and powerful as anything that's come before. Once they break the musical ties to their idols, nothing will stand in their way. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 3 and 4)

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