Invisible People - Chicano Batman (2020)
Southern California in the 21st century is a melting pot of musical cultures. DJs, producers, jazz players, rappers, R&B acts, and indie rockers all cross paths and create things that are in between any particular genre.
Chicano Batman has carved out a space for themselves by making light, funky, engaging indie-rock-influenced soul music. This record dropped just as the pandemic was shutting the world down, so the band probably didn’t get as much notice as they deserved.
Regardless, it’s a gem of an album. The sound hasn’t changed a ton over the years before and since, but the band really settle into their funky, sunny sound here.
Tracks I Liked
Blank Slate - a great single on an album full of great singles
Manuel’s Story - a harrowing narcocorrido wrapped inside a fun little pop tune
Pink Elephant - a wiry guitar line reminiscent of my favorite Dirty Projectors tracks, but with CB’s distinctive humor and vocal flourish
The Way - some fascinating rhythmic changes underpin a great tune.
