I must admit that writing a review of an Airbag album is becoming increasingly difficult for me. They’ve been in the business for over 20 years, with a diverse catalog – this is their eighth album, Siempre Tropical – and a plethora of excellent songs. Because, if one thing is certain, very few bands understand the art of songwriting better than them.
Throughout the album’s 11 tracks, a sense of familiarity pervades. The melodies, Adolfo’s voice, those modern-day customs stories with which we can all identify… Meanwhile, a pleasant sense of assurance flutters, knowing that everything in the Airbag universe is still in its proper place. The people of Malaga sound more like themselves than on any other album, and Siempre Tropical is no exception. They are capable of engulfing a whole J from Los Planetas, who joins them in ‘Finales Alternativos,’ with their own sound.
The hardcore fierce shot of “Todo Mal” is firecracker; the guitars have more distortion than on other occasions. Nirvana comes to mind when you hear the riff from “Siempre Tropical.” Particularly on songs like “La Marmota Phil” or “Una Pena Lo De Mario,” there is a more overt 90s indie vibe. Weezer’s influence is more apparent than ever in “Secretos Chinos”‘ instrumental break. On songs like “Viva John Hugues” or “Andrea,” where they sound 100% Airbag, somehow everything comes back into the fold. You can refer to it as rock, power pop, or indie rock.
It doesn’t take more than 30 minutes to set the stage for excellent listening, like many of the albums I enjoy. I won’t continue because it is best for you to stop reading and listen to the record instead. Even though there isn’t much new to say, there is still a lot to hear.
Since that day, I have been study Latin pop and rock music and have become a Latin pop music historian through the publishing of articles, fanzine, and websites. My goal is to teach people about Latin pop music and the history behind it with my website, Siempre En Domingo.
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