Posted on 09/23/2005

 

ehh. If you are at all familiar with those at the forefront of the current Latin/Afro-Cuban/boogaloo vibe, it is nearly impossible to picture that forefront without Yerba Buena in the mix. For the cultural essence, Yerba Buena certainly comes authentic and picturesque (that is to say, they paint a clear picture) on their second release, Island Life. It becomes rather easy to picture sweaty, scantily-clad bodies, floating Spanish dialects, warm summer island nights, and getting down to these grooves while Island Life is explored. So where does this record go wrong (and, in this case, terribly wrong)? Three skits—tracks 1, 12 and 16 (cleverly going by the names “Dr. Aneub Abrey’s Island Blues Cure: Parts i, ii, and iii")—immediately hunted down and murdered two questies. God help us if Yerba Buena ever puts away the instruments in dreams of an ambitious screenplay. I kid you not, these may be the worst skits I’ve ever heard on an album from any credible artist(s). However, once you get past the skits (or become accustomed to skipping them), the experience and musicality of Yerba Buena certainly shines through.

Unfortunately, it is quite evident that Yerba Buena has become a bit too digital (for lack of a better word) in the production aspect on Island Life. While it is clear that the structural knowledge of the group's Latin grooves are substantial (and, at times, rather profound), there are times on Island Life when Yerba Buena makes it painfully obvious that they are trying to fit in somewhere else. Whether it be in hip-hop (waters the group should not tread) or the ever-so-accessible club scene, there are times when Yerba Buena is so clean the dirty Latin grit of live instrumentation gets sucked from the music. The grit that is crucial to Island Life is sadly missing. While there are moments of greatness on Yerba Buena’s second release, I was a bit disappointed with the outcome. Notable guests include Les Nubians, John Leguizamo, and dead prez’s M1. eeh.