The remarkable and violent Mexican film Amores Perros boasts an equally exhilarating soundtrack. Producer Gustavo Santaolalla has assembled two discs' worth of Latin rock and alternative music songs that are both included ... more »in and inspired by the film, interspersed with his own original instrumental pieces. The result is an epic, sometimes unwieldy collection, with contributions from usual suspects (Control Machete, Cafe Tacuba) as well as unexpected guests ('60s hit makers the Hollies, female rockers Dover). The first disc boasts past hits from artists, and the second disc includes songs inspired by the theme "amores perros" (roughly translated as "dog loves"). The Amores Perros soundtrack is being marketed as a Latin rock collection, and while it does include solid tracks from traditionalists Fiebre, exciting newcomer Julieta Venegas, and the Trent Reznor-esque Moenia, there's more here than searing guitars and fiery vocals. Salsa queen Celia Cruz's "La Vida Es un Carnaval" sets a passionate rhythm, Titan's "Corazon" rides a funkadelic groove, and "Dime Cuando" is pure bossa nova bliss. --Joey Guerra« less
The remarkable and violent Mexican film Amores Perros boasts an equally exhilarating soundtrack. Producer Gustavo Santaolalla has assembled two discs' worth of Latin rock and alternative music songs that are both included in and inspired by the film, interspersed with his own original instrumental pieces. The result is an epic, sometimes unwieldy collection, with contributions from usual suspects (Control Machete, Cafe Tacuba) as well as unexpected guests ('60s hit makers the Hollies, female rockers Dover). The first disc boasts past hits from artists, and the second disc includes songs inspired by the theme "amores perros" (roughly translated as "dog loves"). The Amores Perros soundtrack is being marketed as a Latin rock collection, and while it does include solid tracks from traditionalists Fiebre, exciting newcomer Julieta Venegas, and the Trent Reznor-esque Moenia, there's more here than searing guitars and fiery vocals. Salsa queen Celia Cruz's "La Vida Es un Carnaval" sets a passionate rhythm, Titan's "Corazon" rides a funkadelic groove, and "Dime Cuando" is pure bossa nova bliss. --Joey Guerra
"FOR EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN LISTENING TO WHAT IS GOING ON iN THE WORLD OF POP-ROCK AND HIP HOP IN LATIN AMERICA THIS IS THE CD TO BUY. THIS FILM IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS BY A MEXICAN DIRECTOR AND THE MUSIC HE CHOSE FOR IT IS AMAZING. EVERY ONE SHOULD SEE THIS MOVIE AND LISTEN TO THIS RECORD CAUSE IT DEFINES THE REALITY OF A YOUNG LATIN AMERICA. THIS IS A MUST HAVE IN EVERYONES COLLECTION. (sorry for my spelling, I'm not american)"
This ain't the sort of music that I normally listen to...
D. A. Hosek | Santa Monica, CA USA | 05/08/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Every so often, an album comes out that redefines how you listen to music. This is one of those albums. I'll readily admit to an eclectic music collection, but I've never particularly cared for rap or hip-hop. This soundtrack (and in particular, the contributions from Control Machete) has caused me to reexamine my view on the genre. I first became aware of the music from the trailer to the film (still haven't seen it yet), and was so blown away by Control Machete's De Amores Perros which appears in the trailer, that I decided that it would be worth twenty bucks just to own that one song. Interestingly, while there's a lot of crossing boundaries, it's the music that's farthest away from my usual listening (the hip hop material) that captures my listening the most and that will almost certainly drive my own writing in new directions.-dh"
Retrato exelente de la pelicula
Enrique Guevara | Monterrey N.L. Mex | 11/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Este CD doble es, una muestra de lo que puede llegar a representar un sound track bien planeado y dirigido, hecho especialemte para la pelicula o con canciones para las cuales estan hechas las pelicula. Tiene desde "La vida es un carnaval" de Celia Cruz, hasta "artilleria pesada" de Control Machete. Estas como canciones ya hechas pero que forman parte de la cinta. Las conciones hechas "a la medida" fueron cordinadas por Gustavo Santaolalla y compuestas por los mejores musicos "urabanos", si se me permite el termino, de Mexico. Un CD que igual puede oirse escucharse o ponerese de Banda Sonora en nuestra vida diaria."
Tremendo soundtrack y punto!
Manny Hernandez | Bay Area, CA | 12/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Esta banda sonora de la pelicula "Amores Perros" es un trabajo increible de recopilacion de material previo junto con trabajos nuevos por parte de algunos de los mejores exponentes del Rock en Mexico y otras voces de America Latina, producido por el fabuloso Gustavo Santaolalla, musico que ha recorrido mucho camino ya, desde sus inicios en los 70 en Argentina (en la misma epoca de Charly Garcia y Luis Alberto Espinetta) hasta su produccion de bandas como Molotov, Cafe Tacuba y otras. Entre los numeros que mas me llamaron la atencion estan todas las piezas interpretadas por Santaolalla (si les gustan, consigan su album "Ronroco" -es fabuloso!) y los temas incluidos por parte de Control Machete, Julieta Venegas y Moenia. Escucharlo es revivir la pelicula, la cual recomiendo tambien ampliamente."
A great intro to Spanish language music
Michael Mcewen | 09/15/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'll never forget seeing the trailer for Amores Perros the first time. The film looked intersting, but the thing that blew me away was the music. Turns out it was Control Machete's "De Amores Perros". I didn't understand a word of it, but I wanted to hear it again and it bounced around in my head for days until I received the CD. I have eclectic music tastes in general, but this CD opened a whole new world of music for me.
The set is divided into two discs. The first contains music from the movie including some snippets of the atmospheric score by Gustavo Santaolalla. The styles veer wildly throughout covering a wide range. There is the remarkable "Si Senor" and "Pesada" by Control Machete. This rap en espanol group absolutely blows my mind. "Senor" is as catchy as can be and "Pesada" has a nice heavy, miltary feel to it. Celia Cruz's "La Vida Es Un Carnival" is a classic salsa track that cannot be denied. There are two solid takes on the pop song "Luchia de Gigantes". Other standout tracks are the featherlight dance cut "Corazon" and new-old style "La Cumbia del Garrote" and "Dame El Poder".
Then there is the second disc! This was my introduction to some of my favorite acts: Julieta Venegas, Cafe Tacuba, and Ely Guerra. "Me Van A Matar" by Venegas is an alt rock track that will appeal to anyone who liked it when Alanis still had some fire in her. Cafe Tacuba starts with the gentle "Avientame" which blends into the more intense and simmering "Dog:God". Ely Guerra contributes the sultry bossa nova "Dime Cuando" (if you like it, go pick up her awesome debut album "Lotofire").
Then, of course, there is Control Machete's incredible "De Perros Amores". This track is unbelievable. It starts with a classical guitar riff. Then Fermin IV lays down these guteral, violent sounding rhymes and then the chorus kicks in and you could almost cry from the beauty of it. Heartrending and I barely understand the language. This is the highpoint of an extremely strong second disc.
Music is universal, so don't worry if you don't speak Spanish. If you are interested in broadening your musical horizons pick this up now. You get all kinds of Spanish language music (and a couple of English tracks). Enjoy!"