Venezuela has some pretty good ska and rock bands. That's not the only style of music that is produced there either. Hip-Hop has been gaining ground for some time now. It was a true surprise to listen to this rap album. The quality is among the best ever produced in Latin America. La Corte (The Court) presents their second album titled Imperia (Imperial). This album had a variety of beats and sounds that create a buffet of hip-hop that includes popular Latin rhythms, mixes, and beats from the streets of New York. La Corte definitely is among the best hip-hop groups in Latin America. Their songs are really fun and the music is really catchy. They mix good salsa, the old school type, with hip-hop to create something they call "El Salso." The first track is "Hierro (Iron)" and immediately captures your attention. Other tracks are "Guayaba", "Leche (Milk)", and "Cedula (ID)." This Venezuelan group has an amazing talent that can only parallel other groups like Control Machete from Mexico and Tiro de Gracia from Chile. The reason for this comparison is because Imperia captured my attention just like when I heard Control's Mucho Barato or Ser Humano (Human Being) by Tiro de Gracia for the first time. La Corte is made up of 5 persons and a surprise was the inclusion of female M.C. Apolonia is this M.C. which gives opinions from a female's point of view during the album. This is really not common because for one thing there aren't many hip-hop groups in Latin America, much less groups with a female M.C. I can only really think of Makiza from Chile who also has a female. Another one of the members isn't Venezuelan but Cuban. However, behind everything that this group is, lies the brain in the form of DJ 13 alias Tony Armas. He was born in New York City and that East Coast hip-hop sound is totally evident on this album. If you like hip-hop then this is a must for your music collection. Excellent quality by the group who wants to establish it's hip-hop empire in Latin America.
Standout Tracks:
Hierro (Iron)
Imperia (With Ruso 40)
Cedula (ID)
Guayaba
Mantequilla (Butter)
Leche (Milk)
Jugo (With Ruso 40)

Hembra (Female) is the title of the new album by the Peruvian band of the moment, Libido. This is the highly anticipated second album from the band that seems to have suddenly captured the imagination of the Peruvian rock scene. Of course this didn't happen suddenly; they have been working a while now on garnering success and recognition by music fans in their country. This is their first album for the Sony Music Peru label and was produced by famed Argentine producer/musician Tweety Gonzalez. This album was recorded at Estudios Panda in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was engineered and mixed at Scream Studios in Los Angeles by Doug Trantow (Limp Bizkit, Orgy) and Jay Gion. The mastering was also done in Los Angeles. It was done by: Eddy Schreyer (The Offspring, Korn, Fiona Apple) at Oasis Mastering. This record can be cataloged as one to seduce your significant other. It could be called a prequel to their first album, which is more appropriate for when you are already with your significant other. So is this "Episode I"? In reality Hembra (Female) has an excellent quality. The band's lyrics remain sensual, deep, and very symbolic. One can easily notice a more mature band that has more experience under their belt. The album starts off immediately with a bang with the first track titled "Tres (Three)" and this is the beginning of a deep journey that will include songs like "Hembra (Female)", "Nectar", "Eterno (Eternal)," and "En Esta Habitación (In This Room)." This last track is a poem full of sadness and passion. That every song is an event created by your basic alternative pop-rock sounds with a mixture of some heavy and even classical sounds since one can even notice the presence of violins on some tracks. The music and lyrics are exquisitely woven by the incredible vocals of Salim Vera. He has to be one of the best vocalists of any Latin American band that can include others such as Saul Hernandez of Jaguares, Jose Luis Abreu of El Manjar de los Dioses, Gustavo Cerati (ex-Soda Stereo), and Nrü of Cafe Tacuba. Why can this be stated? A reason is that his voice captures a specific energy and he is able to take the lyrics and musical tones to another level that defines his band. He is constant in energy but his voice can rise and fall at levels that aren't normally possible. He creates an aura and a strange mysticism. Hembra (Female) creates the sentiment of desperation, anguish, love, heartbreak, and a throbbing cry all at once. It is complex like the human libido. That's why this band made so much noise with their first album and this second record is just the beginning, if they want, of a very important career in the Latin Alternative scene. Congratulations to them and to Tweety who has been able to bring out the best in them.
Standout Tracks:
Tres (Three)
Hembra (Female)
Sal (Salt)
Nectar
Eterno (Eternal)
En Esta Habitación (In This Room)

The most recent album by this Chilean band leaves you with the desire to listen to it over and over again. Starting with the first track, "Flotar es Caer (To Float is to Fall)" to the last track, Lucybell has created a superb album. They produced the album themselves which is just a hallucinating ride and his some wonderfully executed arrangements. The recording was done in Chile, it was mixed in Argentina, and the mastering was done at Abbey Road Studios in London by Chris Blair. He is known for his work with Radiohead. This album is better than their previous album titled, Viajar (Travel), which by the way was excellent. All lyrics are by vocalist Claudio Valenzuela and the British influence on the music is present. These Chileans create a sound that captures you and doesn't let you go. The melodic and unique voice of Claudio Valenzuela helps to set the mood of this album that is better known as "the red one." It is now obvious that Lucybell just gets better with every album. They are already working on their 4 full-length which will probably continue their success.
Standout Tracks:
Flotar es Caer (To Float is to Fall)
Caballos de Histeria (Horses of Hysteria)
Rojo Eterno (Eternal Red)
Mírate en Mí (See Yourself in Me)
Intento No Marearme (I Try Not to Make Myself Nauseous)
Sembrando en el Mar (Planting in the Sea)