Los Difuntos – “S/T”
Los Difuntos – “S/T” –. Despite the skinny ties and standup bass, which is practically inaudible anyway, this album sounds more like a buffed up Jam album, all snappy hooks and impassioned vocals over a rollicking set of songs. Like The Living End, who Los Difuntos are certain to be compared to -- though not entirely accurately -- these songs refine hard rock at their core with smart changes, sharp playing, and a sense of adventure that broadens into anthem rock, for better or worse. But a more accurate comparison can be made with Tiger Army, who also stretches a tough garage sound into dynamic directions without diluting their vision. There aren't many songs that huge throngs won't be able to sing along with in the arenas the band plays, at least in their home tome of East LA. The high quality of the songwriting decreases slightly as the album winds through its final third, but the attack remains dramatic, powerful, and rocking, and the final blowout of "Born, Raised, Passed Way (In East LA)" leaves the listener with a '70s punk-styled fist in the face. There might be too much energy here for U.S. radio to handle, but the Los Difuntos has stepped up to the plate on this self titled release by Nickel & Dime records and hit one, if not quite out of the park, at least to the warning track.
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