| Sounds Like |
Like a blood red sunrise, there's something vaguely unnerving about Brooklyn, NY's cholo. Maybe it's the eerie tonal resemblance vocalist Felipe Flores bears to fellow spine-tingler (Smog); maybe it's the way that Flores and co-vocalist Rosa Bordallo harmonize in the offbeat fashion of John Doe and Exene Cervenka. It could be the out-there saxophone melodies and sharp chords that bring to mind flashes of Big Black and Naked City -- in the end, however, what's most disturbing is how cholo's deceptively catchy hooks and thorny runs get caught in your eardrums like branches in your hair.
Larry Fitzmaurice - SPIN
...In addition to the standard guitar stunts, horns, strings and co-ed vocals take turns as the driving force behind Unlimited’s 12 rambunctious tracks. At times this invokes the kind of dreamy swells that make up an Oscar-worthy musical score; more often it produces a manic frenzy, playful and intentionally clumsy like a three-legged race of artistic concepts. No doubt whichever mood they’re toying with, cholo’s diverse quintet is intent on keeping things interesting while having plenty fun themselves.
What could have been a schizophrenic headache shows just enough restraint and sense of proportion to keep you from punching your speakers out – but at times cuts it extremely close. Assisting this evasion are cheeky lyrics and the candid but skilled musicianship that suggests a killer live show. Rosa B’s lead vocals on “Coconut” and “Blue” conjure American Thighs-era Veruca Salt and breakout Yeah Yeah Yeahs respectively, and “Jose on Vaycay,” a could-have-been love child of Pavement and Cake, proves that any niche there was for energetic, multi-national power performers has indeed been filled...
Eliza C. Kane - Stranded in Stereo
This New York four-piece, comprised of musicians from Guam, Peru, Ireland, and exotic New Jersey have made one hell of a record, albeit brief (nine songs, 26 minutes). Highlights include a killer rendition of Shel Silversteins poem Rock and Roll Band, and 101, a hip song with female to male call-and-response vocals, trumpets, and tons of tremelo. If you like the raw indie-rock of the 90s, you will, most likely, love Cholo. One cant help but wonder why Cholo is unsigned; are they that independent? Regardless of their label status, Cholo is brilliant.
Ryan Shelton - SLUG Magazine
You’ve got the dramatic vocals, guitar strumming that rides the line between 50’s guitar pop and some sort of light flamenco, occasional ooh-ooh-oohs, snaps and claps, surfy drums, and even face-melting guitars – all in just the right proportions
The Deli Magazine
...the songs are short and sweet, but the band makes just about every second count on this nine-song mini-record. Everything is done super lo-fi and the sound is stripped down, super cool rock 'n' roll.
Life in a Bungalo
This Brooklyn four-piece loves to make goofy indie tunes that have a strong kick of guitar. With a strong fixation to The Pixies and The Deadmilken you'll be laughing as you listen to each one of their 9 songs from this debut album.
CRASHIN'IN
“Cholo’s first release…is a solid exercise of indie rock which at times nourishes the conterpoint of melody and roar of the Pixies mixed with the rock and roll amphetamine and intelligence of X and Sonic Youth.” – Translated from newspaper El Comercio in Peru
... Felipe strikes me as sort of the Latin-American Dave Berman (of The Silver Jews) ... Pretty cool stuff. - shmat records |
