If you sense a certain punkish affect at various points throughout El Mariachi Bronx IV, you’re certainly onto something. Picking up where they left off in 2014, the mariachi ensemble El Mariachi Bronx has ironically been busy releasing albums titled V and VI while rocking the Clark Kent glasses of their more familiar guise, the LA punk troupe The Bronx. Despite the obvious gulf in aesthetic between streamlined hardcore punk and the traditional Mexican sounds produced by their extended octet formation, singles like “Songbird” and “Forgive or Forget” possess a certain instrumental urgency and emotive vocal performance that suggest overlap.
Given that over a decade has passed since El Mariachi Bronx have released an official LP, vocalist Matt Caughthran seems eager to express how each of these 12 songs sourced their influences from realms outside of punk (well, with the exception of an homage to Oingo Boingo and a brief spoken-word passage performed by Fear’s Lee Ving). Instead, mentions of corridos, norteño, and loterías come up throughout his track-by-track breakdown of IV, laying the groundwork for more universal ballads of love, war, freedom, and trauma.
With the record out today via ATO, listen along and check out Caughthran’s full breakdown below.
1. “Forgive or Forget”
This song is about love, loss, regret, addiction, and hope. It was the first song we wrote for the album, so in that way it feels like classic El Bronx. It also has a small psychedelic vibe to it, which I love.
2. “Bandoleros”
This is the battle cry of the album, for sure. I wanted to tap into the mariachi corrido writing style with this one. Corridos are traditionally somewhat of a musical newspaper that tell the stories of revolution, heroes, villains, etc. This song is all about going to war.
3. “Song Bird”
This song is about writer’s block and rediscovering inspiration. It’s the only song on the album that originated in the studio. I was truly stuck at the time trying to finish a couple songs lyrically, and this song snapped me out of it and brought me back to life.
4. “All Things”
This song is about a lot of things, but mostly trauma exchange—that feeling of freedom you get from being honest and open about your past with your partner. It’s about breaking the cycle. The music on the song is so beautiful, soft-layered guitars. Also one of the longest songs we’ve ever written.
5. “El Dorado”
This is a classic feel-good norteño tune about an American dude falling for a Mexican chick with a crazy family. Very inspired by Flaco Jiménez.
6. “Fools Gold”
This is a heartbreaking song about a sad man who’s always being taken advantage of by gangster-ass women. It was inspired by the oldies era and a reoccurring dream I have about drowning in quicksand.
7. “The Takers”
This song is sort of a Western bolero. It’s all about the end of the world, Southern California, and how everybody makes it out to be hell on Earth. The music is so cinematic and beautiful. One of my favorite songs on the album.
8. “RIP Romeo”
This song is about the death of Romeo and the disillusion of love. It’s also about reimagining Romeo as a player instead of a romantic. This has a very classic El Bronx feel to me.
9. “Gamblers Prayer”
This song is about the gambler in all of us. Another sort of Western feel. We had Lee Ving from the legendary Los Angeles punk band Fear do the spoken-word part in the middle.
10. “El Borracho”
This is a song based on the famous Mexican lotería card “El Borracho,” or “The Drunk.” I wanted to write this song forever. A perfect slow waltz to drink and dance to!
11. “Tie You Down”
This is a sad song about a man who is tortured by perspective. The world views him as a hero, but he sees himself as the villain. This song was previously recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 and never used. We’ve always loved it and decided to re-record it for the album.
12. “Into the Afterlife”
This song is all about what happens when you die. It has a bit of an Oingo Boingo “Dead Man’s Party” vibe to it, especially in the outro. I love the electric guitar and violins in the song. Perfect way to end the album.
