Quetzal
Sing the Real

Quetzal is one of those bands that is difficult to define, and even more difficult to quantify. Part of the group’s sound is the sort of glossy pop that’s more befitting of a Sade album than anything from the rock world — a point that’s further exemplified by the slick, adult contemporary ambience of tracks like The Social Relevance of Public Art and Emotions.

On the other hand, Quetzal delves into a cross-cultural fusion of styles, melding Mexican folk with Afro-Cuban rhythms to form an album full of laid-back, sun-baked grooves. And that’s the problem with Sing the Real — for all the beauty that lies in many of the tracks, there’s little to distinguish one song from the next. The pace of each is nearly the same. The percussion, which should be the driving force, generally stays below the surface — not really propelling the songs, but simply guiding them. As a result, only the bubbly Matanzas, the spicy Mia, and the classic rock-tinged Cenzontle stand out from the rest of the pack. And that’s a shame because Quetzal definitely has potential. ½

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!