La Oreja de Van Gogh Album: “El Viaje de Copperpot”

Sadly, I rarely listen to Spanish music, even though I'm from Madrid. As it often happens with most genres, it has become repetitive, monotonous, predictable and - to say it all in one single word: commercial. My musical tastes range from varied classical music (from Mozart to Schostakovich) to nowadays most contemporary sounds such as Massive Attack, Prodigy or Chemical Brothers. Without forgeting outstanding music authors impossible to find here at Spain such as Phish, oldies like Elton John, and indeed everything that is WELL DONE. Well, after this introductory info about my musical background, you'll probably better evaluate my review about LODVG.

El Viaje de Copperpot is a good example (a very good example indeed) of how to compose good pop music without falling into routine. I've read some reviews giving out little stars to this group, and often making reference to other Spanish or Latin groups. That is in my humble opinion a big mistake since LODVG, although under the pop-rock sound movement, is unique. Their lyrics are unique, and their music is unique. If listened to all of the songs' album carefully (it happens the same on their next album) it is possible to detect a big influence in each song from a different well known group. I personally found many hidden references out of Supertramp style, though when listened for the first time they're difficult to spot.

They needn't complicated - often badly chosen - synth sounds or innovative fx to create the desired athmosphere. Yes, they have keyboards, and indeed they are very very well implemented, but this group is mainly acoustic. They utilize their resources carefully achieving clean, well designed songs, easy to listen and remember, but with harmonies, themes and scores in general well, very well made, varied, non-repetitive but preserving their astounding style.

If you think this might be too much for you, then return to Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin. Otherwise, I highly recommend you give them a chance.

This is simply one of the best CDs money can buy. I first was introduced to Spanish music (not just music with Spanish lyrics) in 1994 when I went to Spain for 2 weeks. I was hooked. The music is so refreshingly different. So, La Oreja De Van Gogh's quality is not surprising to me. I have seen Spain produce groups such as Mecano and El Ultimo De La Fila just to name a couple. However, I recently had a renewed desire to get some more Spanish music so I hopped on amazon.com and followed those links to other artists and eventually found these guys.

I immediately ordered both CDs. I showed the group to a friend who does not know any more Spanish than Adios, Gracias, and 'hasta la vista, baby'. He loved the group too.

I like this CD better than Dile al Sol because they dropped they heavy usage of distorted electric guitars that were used in a few of their songs.

After hearing both CDs, I can tell that they had the potential to be awsome on this CD. They were awsome on the first, but better on the second.

Therefore, buy'em both. You won't regret it

In the spring of 2003, I was in New Mexico (USA) on vacation. I had tuned the clock/radio to a Spanish-language station. One song stood out dramatically among the dozen or so songs I heard that morning. It was a definite "must have." The song was difficult to locate because all I could get from it was "cierra la puerta" (the radio wasn't exactly a top-quality item). Thanks to the Internet and Amazon.com, I finally tracked down "Cuídate," the song I had heard. I immediately ordered this CD. The rest of the CD turned out to be just as "must have" as "Cuídate." I tend to like pop/rock music, especially that of the early 1980s style, and I LOVE the Spanish language, and that's exactly where this CD excels. Amaia Montero's vocals are quite clear and energetic, and the rest of the band does a great job with the accompaniment. My favorite songs on the CD tend to be the livelier ones: "Cuídate," "París," "Dicen Que Dicen," "La Chica Del Gorro Azul," "Desde El Puerto," and the hidden "Tic Tac" (it's after "Desde El Puerto" and about four minutes of odd noises). "Tantas Cosas Que Contar" isn't as bouncy as the others, but has a very nice rhythm to it. Even after having listened to the CD repeatedly, the only song that doesn't hold my attention is "Los Amantes Del Círculo Polar," which starts out with a nice, sort of haunting intro, then goes into 6/8 time, which I tend to dislike. Still, 12 great songs out of 13 is VERY impressive. I wish I could give it more than five stars!

I now own all three currently-available LODVG CDs and highly recommend them all, especially the second (this one) and third ("Lo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías La Dormida"). I suppose I should mention that I'm quite a bit older than the normal audience for this group. I turned 40 several years ago. :-)

¡Y ésta es la historia del "Viaje" de mi viaje!

I understand this is the band's second or third album. Whatever it is, it's a real treat. I have not heard their previous album(s), only this one and the one that came out after (see my review for "Lo Que Te Conte Mientras Te Hacias La Dormida ("What I Told You While You Were Pretending To Sleep") I am a rock fan, always have been. I like some English pop, but I hardly listen to Spanish music anymore (exceptions: Alejandro Sanz and Mexican female rocker Alejandra Guzman... and Juanes) but this album was a real nice surprise. The songs are fun, catchy, the lyrics literate and often romantic and clever. The songs are extremely well-crafted. There is some Beatles influence here; I am referring to mid-60's Beatles, around the time of "Rubber Soul"/Revolver and maybe a touch of "Abbey Road"; especially in the vocal harmonies which are really lovely (and which also recall late 70's Fleetwood Mac) and in the structure of the songs. I first heard the song "Cuidate" (translates as "Take Care of Yourself") on the radio. It was a huge hit in Mexico, (as were "Paris", "Soledad" ("Loneliness") and "La Playa" ("The Beach") ) and I was instantly hooked. The band uses lots of synthesizers, acoustic and electric guitars and sometimes strings. The sound is also kind of "retro"; sort of 60's pop/rock. "Cuidate" reminds me a bit of Madonna's "Beautiful Stranger". Te lead singer's voice is lovely, smooth, soothing and very very sexy!! I don't know her name but she is a total babe!! Some of the songs are uptempo soft rockers, others are ballads but all are finely crafted and extremely enjoyable. La Oreja de Van Gogh is one of the best Spanish music bands today!! If you like Spanish pop music, you will enjoy this album very very much!

As I peruse the official Final Nominations List for the 44th Annual GRAMMY (R) Awards, it seems clear that those that put the list of nominations together are completely out of touch with what America truly listens to and enjoys.

Suffice it to say, they've never heard of La Oreja de Van Gogh. Of course, most Estadounidenses have never heard of La Oreja and their lead singer Amaia. Pity.

The band's sophomore release, "El Viaje de Copperpot" (Sony Discos US), takes its title from the silly 1984 Steven Spielberg kiddie-mystery "The Goonies." While perhaps the lone highlights of that film included the fine acting of Anne Ramsey, a top 10 single from Cyndi Lauper and the chance to stare at Kerri Green for a while, "El Viaje de Copperpot" is a gem. Every song on this album is a masterpiece. If this album were recorded in English, a band named Van Gogh's Ear would be challenging Alicia Keys and U2 for Record of the Year honors. Consider La Oreja de Van Gogh our secret.

The opening track "Cuidate" is the band's first single off this release. Several months after topping the charts in Spain, it was released in Mexico and received warmly. Puerto Rico slowly caught on; Los Angeles' Spanish pop stations finally began playing the song long after its peak elsewhere, and it's still in medium rotation at both Viva 107-1 and Super Estrella.

This single says nothing of the rest of the album. The fast-paced "Soledad," featuring some fancy moog work, is so Madrileno. That's a good thing. "Paris" starts in melancholy fashion but eventually picks up the pace while sticking its sad refrain "Adios, mi corazon."

By far the Song of the Year in just about any language is the 2001 smash "La Playa," a charttopper in Mexico and Spain. A warm tender love song, the lyrics are deep and provocative -- just like the melody. I played this for my dad and stepmom, who are non-Hispanics in Miami that only know basic Spanish, and they fell in love with the band as soon as they heard this song. "Te voy a escribir la cancion mas bonita del mundo...." You just did.

"Pop" takes a stab at the prefab popsters that have plagued the charts. Good fun, cynical stuff. Another gem for Los 40 Principales.

"Dicen Que Dicen" is SUCH a Madrid record. I can picture myself jetting around the city in a white taxi, or rushing through the Puerto del Sol Metro stop on my way to nowhere important. Glorious!

"Mariposa," or "Papillon," or "Butterfly." Another tender love song worthy of Song of the Year honors.

"The Girl With the Blue Bonnet" ("La Chica del Gorro Azul") is a silly little ditty complete with a doot-doot chorus. But it's still fun. "Your Hair" ("Tu Pelo") is a lovely ballad, as is "The Small Things Count" ("Tantas Cosas Que Contar"), the latter of which builds into a forceful, triumphal anthem of poetry.

"The Arctic Lovers" ("Los Amantes del Circular Polar") could be the perfect song for one Dr. Jack Child, professor of Spanish and lover of penguins, at American University in Washington, DC. I can just picture two penguins in love. Well, not really. The song is a stark, haunting piece of art that creeps up on you and carries you into the abyss. A closer look at the lyrics reveals the true secrets of what this song is all about.

"Desde El Puerto" rounds out the listed selections, while a hidden track I've named "Tic-Toc" shows that, while "El Viaje de Copperpot" is a deep, profound masterpiece that deserves top-shelf space with "Revolver" by the Beatles and "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" by Genesis, they can still have fun.

Go buy this album and tell a friend. Or we can just keep this our little secret.