Richard Fitzgood
Genre: indie
Location: Garden City, KS-USA
Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round for a wild ride through the musical landscape as we delve into the sonic concoction known as El Trevino’s “Greatest Hits.” Hailing from the oasis of excitement that is Garden City, Kansas (yes, we know it’s hard to contain your enthusiasm), these folks are here to deliver a musical experience that’s like sipping a chilled glass of indifference while lounging on your porch swing of introspection.
The album kicks off with “Only Thing,” a song that rides the ’90s grunge train while waving its lackadaisical flag with pride. It’s like the musical equivalent of watching a sloth doing yoga – not exactly intense, but you can’t help but appreciate the effort. The next track “Mad Man” slows it down, serving up a cocktail of depression and angst with a hint of Axl Rose’s low-register serenading. If a rain cloud could hum a tune, it might sound something like this.
From there, “Alberta” saunters in with an airy intro, showcasing more guitar effects than you can shake a distortion pedal at. This slow, plodding number gives you plenty of time to ponder life’s mysteries, like why you can’t find your left sock. I’m now dreading the next song-“Walk Away,” the musical equivalent of dumping a bad relationship like last week’s leftovers. This chill track is laced with just the right amount of angst to remind you that sometimes it’s okay to let go and move on to more exciting things, like watching paint dry.
It starts to look like we’ll get a merciful break from all the ‘meh’ when “Artie Lange” steps in, bringing a bluesy, uptempo vibe-but alas, it’s still still as depressing as a clown at a funeral. The lyrics spin a tale that might make you want to reach for the tissues – or maybe just a stiff drink. And then, “Apology” saunters back in, slowing down the tempo and keeping things mellow and simple. It’s the kind of song you might play while reminiscing about that one time you almost caught a fish.
On to the next track, and finally! Prepare your eardrums for “In Blue,” a louder, more emotional tune that features vocals strained like a teenager’s attempt to explain why they need another video game console. Ozzy Osbourne would be proud. It sucks, but at least it has some life. This is the part of the album where “Tell Me” swings by, balancing between midtempo and melodic like a tightrope walker with a guitar. ***SPOILER ALERT*** That dumbass is gonna fall like a boulder! It’s the soundtrack to that moment when you finally found the last piece of the puzzle and realized it’s a picture of a blank wall. Now hold onto your hats, because after that “Predator” storms in with a ferocity that’ll make you question whether you’ve wandered into a rock ‘n’ roll jungle. Melodic and heavy, it’s like riding a roller coaster that suddenly dives into a pit of hardcore mayhem. The switching of gears with no clutch continues as “Punk Or Drunk” struts in with a heavy southern rock swagger in the verses, only to break into a chorus that’s so indie, it probably wears skinny jeans. It’s like a musical tug-of-war between BBQ ribs and avocado toast.
The band set the stage for a very anticlimactic finale’ as “Another One” revs things up with an uptempo, melodic indie sound. The vocals take monotone to a whole new level, as if they’ve just discovered the joys of beige paint. Finally, “It Goes” saunters in for a laidback, lackadaisical finale. It’s like the band decided to wrap things up by strolling through a musical meadow of introspection, sipping on a cocktail of indifference.
And then, just when you thought the musical journey was over, a voice pipes up, suggesting that “it might be time to lay down.” Well, after this sonic adventure, we wouldn’t blame you if you decided to take a musical siesta.
So there you have it, folks – El Trevino’s “Greatest Hits” will serenade your soul, stroke your introspection, and possibly even inspire you to take a nap. From Garden City, Kansas, these musical mavericks have managed to capture the essence of rocking out in the heartland, where the fields of indifference stretch as far as the eye can roll. So plug in, turn up, and embrace the mellowness – after all, life’s too short to take everything too seriously, especially when El Trevino is here to remind us that even in the midst of rock ‘n’ roll, a little nonchalance and even less talent can go a long way.
El Trevino is not finished sedating your ears. They are currently in the studio tracking a new album, called “Commercial Flop”-a title that is needlessly wordy, since “flop” would have sufficed plenty fine. Anyway, it will be released sometime in 2024.
Apple Music: El Trevino
Bandcamp: @eltrevino
Facebook: @eltrevinoaz
YouTube: El Trevino
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