Gata Galactica – Arrópame (Manto de Luna)
The music magazines and websites that are still in business, and there aren’t many left, would like to convince you that every style of music is exactly equal in value to every other style. But that’s not true, nor are listeners interested in every kind of music. When’s the last time that a musical hall tune became a global hit, and how long do you think it’ll take?
Nah, for the most part, quite frankly, the music made by Latin people is superior to nearly every other style. It’s not easy to explain, sure. But, I think, that it has a lot to do with a temperament that also allows the Latin people to be the best storytellers. And, certainly, it has a lot to do with the difficult, often bloody history of its creation.
Gata Galactica play with Latin grooves and Latin fairytales that occur only underneath a full moon on the entertaining, lively “Arrópame (Manto de Luna).” Here’s the kind of playing that could play on nearly any stage, with a sound that is as much a mix of early 70s Santana, 2025 pop radio, and small town wedding band. It flows beautifully, and the band’s performance helps justify the 7-minute run time.
Mo Troper – The Best Seat In The House
A few years ago, when business would start to slide downhill, the leader of some famous band would ask a famous songwriter to come in, throw in a few hooks, and, maybe, if they could be convinced, co-write a few songs.
The star ghostwriters wouldn’t just do it for free, of course. A few would be negotiated, future royalty payments, plus the ability to whisper gossip to influential people about them being the real reason behind the group’s success.
And since nowadays, seemingly, it requires six to a dozen people to write a pop song, young bands and artists like Mo Troper are better off taking matters into their own hands. Save up on money and deliver some truthful words in the process.
Mo Troper certainly studied and researched great guitar pop songwriting by the sound of “The Best Seat In The House,” an aching song about disconnection featuring the kind of jangly guitars and darn pretty melodies that power-pop greats like Cheap Trick or Big Star would’ve been envious of. Mo Troper has things covered. But those struggling with their own compositions and looking for their very own Alex Chilton-inspired Desmond Child might want to hold on to Troper’s information.
