My favorite band hands down is Los Aterciopelados, which roughly translates as The Velveted. They are from Bogota, Colombia, but frequently tour in the U.S.--so look for them. Every album they put out is better than the previous one. They haven't put out an album for awhile because the lead singer Andrea Echeverri had a baby (she has a new album out that I haven't heard yet). In 2001, they put out Gozo Poderoso (strong joy), which is their smoothest and strongest album to date. Their punkish roots and Latin traditions have been a great combination on all their albums, but as I wrote before, each effort is more mature, and better. Check out http://www.aterciopelados.com. Lots of other great groups: Cafe Tacuba from Mexico has hit it really big--and they deserve it. When you listen to them, you realize that no U.S. groups come close to the real rock exploration. Juanes, another Colombian, is huge. Great songwriter. Great rock and roll sensibilities. Very fresh--again fusing rock with Latin sensibilities, which makes most Rock en Ingles sound pretty stale. Jarabe de Palo--probably my second favorite group. Rock that really moves you. Shakira (since we're discussing Colombians) gets a bad rap sometimes I think. She's not a flash in the pan Barbie like Christina Aguilera (another Latina). There's a lot more to her, especially is you check out earlier work like Pies Descalzos (Barefeet). (I have to admit that I like the pop princesses Paulina Rubio and Thalia, both of whom work with great material, but are not particularly rock--don't crucify me for mentioning them.) Another group that's been around for awhile is Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. They remind how a band with a big brass section can totally blow you away. I can list more current great Rock en Español bands than I can gringo bands. Below is a list, I'll try to amend more information when I have more time. Los Jaguares Elefante La Ley Manu Chao (kind of Rock en Español, Enlgish and French) Orishas Sidestepper (a Colombian super-group) Ozomatli Soda Stereo Mana El Tri Caifanes El Gran Silencio Los Amigos Invisibles Heroes del Silencio Bunbury Maldita Vencindad Control Machete That's just a start.

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