Album Review: Austin Music Mezcla 09

Rock y Roll Radio purchased the Latino Music Month/Austin Music Mezcla 09/ Latino Music Sampler at the Pachanga Latino Music Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2009. After listening to the CD numerous times for careful analysis, Rock y Roll Radio stronly recommends you add this sampler to your music library.

This CD is an exceptional compilation of Latin music featuring Austin's best artist and talent. If you're familiar with the Austin Latin music scene, this sampler will give you music from some of our favorite local artist like Brownout, Alejandro Escovedo and also introduce you to new emerging talent like AJ Castillo. If you're not familiar with Austin's Latin music or would like to know what that music sounds like, this sampler will give you a quick but thorough education.

The sampler covers Latin Funk, Tejano, Conjunto, Latin Pop and Rock, Latin Fusion and more.

The titles include:
1. Terre Moto -" Oye Mama"
2. Brownout - "Con El Brownout no se Juega"
3. AJ Castillo - "Todo Me Gusta De Ti," Remix Featuring Lo-Que Dar
4. Los Bad Apples - "El Ritmo Me Manda"
5. Brian Ramos & Michael Ramos - "Tinieblas"
6. Alejandro Escovedo - "Sister Lost Soul"
7. Tortilla Factory - "Niña Linda"
8. Bocastria - "Encanto"
9. Patricia Vonne & Rosie Flores - "Austin Rocks"
10. Vallejo - "Tu Corazon Es Para Mi", Featuring Del Castillo and Zayra Alvarez
11. Conjunto Aztlan -" Rosario"
12. The Executive Life - "Obligatory Movie Qoute"
13. Myrna Cabello -" Un Dia", Featuring Haydn Vitera
14. Frank Gomez -" Candy", Featuring Ruben Ramos
15. The Sweethearts - "Slipping Away"

Rock y Roll Radio's Top Five Artist/Picks:

1. AJ Castillo - Exceptional Accordian musician and Tejano artist. Remix Rocks!
2. Los Bad Apples - A local favorite Latin/Rap mix band with "El Ritmo Me Manda" being their best song to date
3. Brian Ramos & Michael Ramos - Have teamed up and are moving Michael Ramos' melodic Cumbia Lounge music to the next level
4. Tortilla Factory - A Texas legend with a Salsa tune that makes you want to dance
5. Frank Gomez featuring Ruben "El Gato Negro" Ramos - Old school song that makes you want to dance with your best girl and impress her with your best dance moves

If Rock y Roll Radio were to compile a playlist of Austin's best Latin music, the playlist would be identical to the Austin Music Mezcla 09. Thank you Stephanie Bergara . You know what they say, " Great Minds Think A Like." I look forward to next years Mezcla.

The CD is available at Waterloo Records and Resistencia Book Store.

Produced by Austin Latino Music Association (ALMA) and Austin Convention Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Mastered by Michael Ramos for Cumbia Lounge Productions. Artwork by TKO. This Project was produced by ALMA (www.austinlatinomusic.com) and ACVB (www.austintexas.org) with sponsors support from The City of Austin, Gibson, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), Texas Gas Service and The Pachanga Festival.

ALMA Latin Music Month Kick-off Party Video