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Don't Mess With The Dragon

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On their fourth full-length studio release, Ozomatli serve up a rhythmically seething musical m?lange that serves as virtual mirror to the dizzying cultural contradictions at the heart of their Los Angeles hometown, wrapping it in a studio-polished veneer (largely courtesy of Santana/Ricky Martin producer KC Porter) that only underscores their intriguing reflections. They wear their civic pride as badge of honor on the gritty "City of Angels," a hip-hop-funk-fusion anthem that courses straight from the street to the stars. The joyous "La Temperatura," a tribute to the city's pro-immigrant marches of '06, picks up the local thread and weaves it into the band's longstanding social conscience, one they focus on Washington's inept response to Hurricane Katrina via the savory, N'Awlinz-meets-Norwalk swagger of "Magnolia Soul." The title track hints at a few conquered personal demons, while the sultry, Los Lobos-esque Spanish ballad "Violeta," the infectious 80s-ska-funk-meets-00s-punk-pop of "When I Close My Eyes," and the hip-hop-jarocho stew "La Segundo Mano" (featuring Queztal's Martha Gonzales on vocals) stand as vibrantly disparate testaments to the band's true range of pan-cultural musical fervor and accomplishments. --Jerry McCulley

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Additional Product Information

UPC: 013431230526
Brand: N/A
Product Rating: 72/100 (from 23 reviews)
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23 Reviews

Love it (61%) | Hate it (17%) | On the Fence (22%) | Didn't Rate it (0%)

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From: Amazon Posted: Sep 17, 2007 Type: User Review

It's fire

If you're a fan of Ozomatli and someone who'd never heard of them asked you what genre they are, chances are you wouldn't be able to give him/her an answer (what their very name means is a head-scratcher). But their latest album Don't Mess with...
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4.00/5

From: Amazon Posted: Jul 01, 2007 Type: User Review

This is more mainstream than earlier Ozo

Which may be why some listeners object. "Dragon's" good and it may be their entree into more acknowledgement. "Street Signs" is probably my favorite of their CDs and more indicative of their work, but this is still a great melange of a lot of...
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4.00/5

From: Amazon Posted: Jun 19, 2007 Type: User Review

Actually, 4.5 stars!

Truth is, I barely liked this disk after the first listen. I thought the guys had "sold out" and made a disk that was too pop-ish, slick and lightweight. But then I played it a few more times and, DAMN, these songs are stuck firmly in my head....
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5.00/5

From: Amazon Posted: Jun 12, 2007 Type: User Review

Fantastic, Ecclectic Mix

Compared to the rest of the music Ozo has put out this is probably their most solid integration of various types of music. With a lot more Asian influence on this album I think they hit the nail on the head. Most of the songs get your foot...
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5.00/5

From: Amazon Posted: Jun 10, 2007 Type: User Review

Expanding their musical scope.

Their usual high energy with another "take" on the avenue of employing rap technique that helps someone who is 60 (which I am) appreciate one style of rap as a valid form of musical expression.
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5.00/5

From: Amazon Posted: Jun 06, 2007 Type: User Review

Slouching toward pop - disappointing

I have been a big fan of Ozomatli since their first CD. I rave about them to all who will listen as most people who love this band do. This CD is indeed the turning point toward pop for this band. There are shades of the old band in some of the...
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2.00/5

From: Amazon Posted: May 30, 2007 Type: User Review

Don't Mess With The Dragon

A very eclectic mix of music. A little more mainstream than there last albums but they are still the most exciting band out there.
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4.00/5

From: Amazon Posted: May 12, 2007 Type: User Review

OZO Rules!!!!

Ozomatli is the best "BAND" of our modern generation. True musicians and artists. Great C.D.
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5.00/5

From: Amazon Posted: May 04, 2007 Type: User Review

Disappointing

Per their interview in Paste magazine, Ozomatli set out to make a more commercial, more accessable CD. Most tracks on Don't Mess With The Dragon are clearly aimed at radio play and the club and party crowd. You can't knock them for trying to...
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2.00/5

From: Amazon Posted: Apr 30, 2007 Type: User Review

Uneven

I find this album mixed in quality: some tracks are rather corny and shallow. Others are quite funky and satisfying, if still shallow. They do some nice retro sounds. For example, listen for their homages to Kool & The Gang (Magnolia Soul) and...
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3.00/5

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