Ozomatli

Perhaps no other band signifies the word "melting pot" than Los Angeles’ Ozomatli. Rock, hip-hop, salsa, and jazz stretch across a strong political/social voice, spilling energy into this fiery collaborative. However, in the past three years since their last album, things have indeed altered with the release of Street Signs. The hip-hop collective side of the band featuring Cut Chemist, went on to perform with Jurassic 5, leaving the band to find a bridge between their Latin flavored debut and the hip-hop fuming Embrace The Chaos.

Pronouncing a Latin sound is present in Ozomati, is about as plain obvious as saying there's a hint of country in Johnny Cash. But Street Signs' emotions and energy is a full spin away from its predecessor. The Praque Symphony guests on the first track "Believe" while the second track "Love and Hope" features a sunny chorus, allowing the song with its symphonic accompaniment to border on Marc Anthony/Ricky Martin strayed gala. Instead of "embracing the chaos", Ozomatli takes a more peaceful than aggressive approach on Street Signs.

There are moments of street wise promise in songs like "Street Signs" and "Whose To Blame," which groove in intense lyrical rhymes. "Who Discovered America?" and "Saturday Night" are both precise in song structure and energy, featuring some solid trumpet and sax playing by Asdru Sierra and Ulises Bella. But with many guest appearances, including jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri on "Doña Isabelle" and "Nadie Te Tira," its almost hard to acknowledge this effort as a band of just a big invite fiesta.

A more aggressive Ozomatli album verse such a festive recording would have been more welcomed in these troubled times. After all, with Rage Against the Machine retired, Ozomatli definitely serves as one of today’s more important riot acts. Optimistically speaking, we’ll just hope the festive tunes on Street Signs are a mere harbinger for all parties involved.