Genre: Electr/Latin Year: 2003 Country: USA Official Site: Kinky Details: Tracks & Audio Label: Sonic 360
When your debut album doesn't tank and you didn't have to sell out in order to get people to buy it, the pressure is on the make the sophomore effort a resounding success that keeps the original fans happy and allows you to fish for more without looking like you're begging. The pressure is officially on for the boys from Monterrey, Mexico and they again manage to convert it into pure energy.
With Atlas, Kinky still holds court in the castle of worldbeat music while their wholehearted embrace of pop is a little too effusive at times. They also cut and paste successfully from other genres like house, electronica and trance under an umbrella of percussion-heavy dance music. For the most part, English is their preferred method of communication and they're able to massage the language to suit their own needs. "The Headphonist" sounds like a 70's police caper until the cool monologue and percussion kick in, taking the song in a totally new direction. The guitars on "Snapshot" have an updated Santana feel with the industrial sounds jacked up a notch. For those who miss the accordion from their first release, don't cry because you can still hear it on this song.
While they sound great in English, they sound even better in Spanish on "Salta-Lenin-El-Atlas", one of the strongest tracks on the album that bounces through Mexican geography. Apart from being ripe for dance clubs anywhere in the world, the if-Moby-were-Mexican-fusion-of-electro/Latin "Do U Like It?" looks like it's already marked for a commercial (hmm, maybe for beer or a car?) "Not Afraid" is more of a mindless pop song with some electronic burps; i.e. nothing spectacular. "My God is So Quiet" is a smarter pop song whose rhythms ultimately save it from oblivion. "Minotauro" delves into myth (and a short story by Jorge Luis Borges) with stealthy guitars and with (more!) breezy pop.
Kinky hasn't lost its edge or vigorous fervor on Atlas. And unlike a lot of bands, they sound even better live. In between shows or a live album (hint, hint), Atlas gratifies.
Kinky Atlas
