
Reactor-7 – El Reto Perfecto
English isn’t even that popular. Not in the grand scheme of things. Only 400 million people speak it as a native tongue, and if you’re counting Americans, many of them are not very good at it. Still, English is the default language for pop music.
Pop music isn’t that popular either. Not in the grand scheme of things. Not when you look at the numbers. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” may have sold 70 million copies. Taylor Swift, the biggest modern pop star, has only sold about 50 million physical copies worldwide.
It all stands to reason that, no, young musicians do not need to make pop music or make it in English. In fact, it looks increasingly like doing so would just be betting on a dead horse.
Reactor-7’s dials things back and takes everything down to the basics, taking inspiration from classic garage rock and punk and using the powerful Spanish language to deliver the message. “El Reto Perfecto” sounds partly like a revolutionary act and partly like an attempt at writing the ultimate Moto gaming soundtrack piece. Either way, this is what you’d call betting on the right horse.
Mr. Limbis – Facing Fear on Mercy Bridge
Everyone wants to be a badass, and nearly everyone who wants to pick up a guitar wants to rage against something. Fortunately for their well-being, most people in Western countries don’t have much to complain about and lack the awareness to find the targets against which to rebel. Unfortunately, this makes for cheesy songs about hating girlfriends, the boss, or the government.
But get a little angry, stand on the edge, risking your sanity, crawl back to safety, and you may finally have something to write about. The best thing about it is that there is no other type of art that is more accommodating to those challenged by anger and acrimony than rock music. You see, the guitar pickups don’t just transmit the riffs being played.
Mr. Limbis’ “Facing Fear on Mercy Bridge” is an alt-rock song with a bit of true grit, real bite and dark humour to boot. It’s not music for people saying that they’d consider burning down the house of their enemies. It’s music for and by people who are probably guilty of much more but aren’t saying it. It’s a strong showing of Stooges-like flair and power, and it’ll stay rattling in your brain for a while after you’ve heard it.