Tropicalbacanal

Bonde Do Role – Tropicalbacanal
Reviewed by Sadie O., 10/26/12
Brazilian pop/punk/garage mashup (if I tried to use all possible descriptors I’d seriously run out of space.) International influences and guests, Brazilian aspects, 60’s pop feel, major electronics (and drums). No two songs are at all alike, but they all have a sort of goofy, utterly non-slick enthusiasm that makes them seriously lovable. All tracks gnarly and bitchen-ass.
FCC – single “fucking” (which could almost be mistaken for part of the “punk” reference, but maybe we shouldn’t push our luck) on track 12.
1. 1:56 ***big drums, squeaky female vocals doing a twist on boot camp exercise chant. Sparse production, but lots of fun.
2. 2:59 ***rockin’ Spaghetti western cover of a 60’s hit I can’t put my finger on right now…
3. 2:48 ***big electronics, downtempo club stomper in Jamaican English, vocals and production a bit like M.I.A. in parts. I shouldn’t like this, but I think it’s the sheer unapologetic noise that does it for me.
4. 2:33 ***cute bleepy uptempo juvenile song, more Soca than anything. All high end and beach feel. Male Grime rap. Abrupt ending.
5. 2:17 ***beeples, slide whistles, drum line percussion, silly male singing in English, goofy Tropicalia.
6. 2:23 ***beatboxing, big cowboy production, slide guitar, female vocals in English, rap from Das Racist. Crazy fun. promo sticker says
7. 2:10 ***60’s pop rhythm, punk vocals, close to Baile Funk.
8. 2:52 ***sweet pop beach party bopper, a hint of Reggae feel, vocals mostly in English, guest spot by Caetano Veloso.
9. 2:35 ***squeezebox and chickens… I guess this is their take on Zydeco! Goes double-time syncopated after a bit, with male vocals in Brazilian Portuguese. Bonkers.
10. 2:26 ***upbeat Caribbean funk groove with the ghost of the B52s.
11. 2:27 ***bleepy electronics, sweet Brazilian chanted vocals. Upbeat and syncopated, much the same rhythm as the previous track but sparse electronic production.
12. 2:20 FCC – single “fuckin” ***yikes! Huge noise, goofy kidlike call and response vocals in English. Yes, you CAN pogo to this. Except for the Delta funk chorus.