Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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Latin rockers Tito and Tarantula were headlined by singer/guitarist Tito Larriva, previously best known for founding the seminal Los Angeles punk band the Plugz. Larriva was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico but spent his early years living outside Fairbanks, AK; his family later relocated to El Paso, TX, where he studied violin and flute as a member of his school orchestra. After high school he flirted with attending Yale University before landing in L.A. during the mid-1970s; there Larriva formed the Plugz, which in 1979 released their debut LP Electrify Me, the first album to emerge from the city's thriving punk scene. Shortly after scoring Alex Cox's 1984 cult classic Repo Man, the Plugz were rechristened the Cruzados, signing to Arista to release a self-titled 1985 LP; After Dark followed two years later, and the group disbanded in 1990. From there Larriva continued writing film music, also turning to acting; with guitarist Peter Atanasoff and a host of other L.A. session vets he eventually formed Tito and Tarantula, which quickly emerged as a major favorite on the local club scene. Among their most vocal supporters was filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, who not only enlisted the group to contribute material to his movies Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn but also found small roles for Larriva in both; Rodriguez additionally helped produce 1997's Tarantism, released on the band's own Cockroach label. Hungry Sally and Other Killer Lullabies followed in 1999.

Biography by Jason Ankeny, Allmusic.com

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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I would have to rate this recording as one of my personal (short list of) favorites. In my opinion this music is among the top 20 rock albums recorded in the twentieth century, it is that good! This album tells a story, there is a flow, a purpose. Not only are you subjected to musical variety, you take a musical journey too. There is nothing about this selection that does not incorporate musical apocalypse. In other words, the journey taken is a journey through human dysfunction and the emotions therein. Having said that, for me, listening to this CD is a kind of discovery. The subject matter is intense folks! I happen to love the way the songs flow, from one theme into the other, like a progression.
Regarding the music, there is a combination of several genres present. You can taste blues, folk, ballad, and pop, all blended in the rock that has that "south of the border" flavor–that is yet difficult of accurate description. The music and melody make the record, but then on top of that there is the performance! The performance gives the already classic music, that edge, that feel. There is a soulful element throughout. If you are a rock fan and you like the music of say ZZTop, Masters Of Reality, Tea Party, Wide Mouth Mason, Cream, Hendrix; in other words, music that has that soulful difference that sets it apart from the crowd, than you may very well love this recording from Tito and Tarantula. This album is the cream of the crop of twentieth century rock.

Paul Fucich, Amazon

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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I gotta laugh. A review from P.A. USA says that most of the songs are not sung by Tito. Well, I got to read my liner notes again, 'cause when the band came to Seattle, Tito SANG ALL OF THE SONGS. This white-hot second effort rocks non-stop . German Fraulein reminds me of the hot stuff Tito and the CRUZADOS used to do. The band sound even better as each song plays. Another rockin' tune, Clumsy Beautiful World will get you jumpin'. Always one for left-field stories, Tito brings us some David Lynch-like storytelling in Hungry Sally. You just got to hear it. Puras curadas. Peter A. on lead guitar does not disappoint. The guy knows his way up and down the neck. I'll drive a thousand miles to go see these guys play. The cd is excellent, the band is outrageous live. Want to go even further back? Check out the CRUZADOS dynamite cd titled After Dark. Tito shines, and is out to keep real ROCK music in all of our ears. I look forward to their third release, and hope it happens this summer, ese.

Amazon Customer

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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It was the band's first album not to feature bassist Jennifer Condos, and showed a major departure from their former style. Instead, they now incorporated the use of synthesizer moog pedals, giving the music a much stronger pop-rock sound. In addition, they recruited the assistance of several female backing vocalists on most songs, instead of relying on the other band members to back up Tito Larriva's vocals. This musical element is something the band also featured on their next album, 2002's Andalucia, which featured bassist Io Perry singing backing vocals on almost every song. The rest of the new elements featured on Little Bitch were mostly abandoned on Andalucia, which returned a sound more similar to that featured on the band's second album, 1999's Hungry Sally & Other Killer Lullabies.

The album also contained songs written by new songwriters. Charlie Midnight, who had co-written Tito & Tarantula's 1995 hit song "Back to the House (That Love Built)", co-wrote the music for "Everybody Needs". Larriva's former Cruzados bandmate, Steven Hufsteter, co-wrote "Crime & Shame", "World at My Feet" and "Super Vita Jane"; and ended up joining the band as a second lead guitarist. The music for "Dead Person" was co-written by Dominique Davalos, who later became the band's bassist in 2005, and played on the album as a session musician, as the band chose not to hire a replacement for Condos to play on the album.

Wiki

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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Andalucia is the fourth studio album by Los Angeles rock band Tito & Tarantula, released in 2002. The album marked several line-up changes in the band, which had previously consisted of lead singer/rhythm guitarist Tito Larriva, lead guitarist Peter Atanasoff, and drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez. This album featured the debut of lead guitarist Steven Hufsteter - who had previously played with Larriva in the Cruzados, bassist Io Perry, and keyboardist Marcus Praed.

The band toured promoting the album for several years. They also filmed a music video for the song "California Girl". However, upon seeing how bad the footage of the video was, Perry threw up, Larriva threatened to quit, and Atanasoff was not seen around for days. So, to compensate, Larriva made his own video for the song using the eight dollars he had in his pocket. In the last 40 seconds of the song "Effortless", Larriva, Atanasoff, and Perry can be heard laughing while they watch the "California Girl" music video.

The song "La Flor De Mal" is a cover of a Cruzados song that Larriva and Hufsteter wrote when they were in the Cruzados.

Wiki

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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I only bought this disc because I'd heard that John "Vatos" Hernandez from Oingo Boingo is the drummer. I had never heard them before. What I found was a great collection of well written and recorded but raw garage feeling songs that just knocked me out! This disc hasn't left the deck in my truck since I bought it 3 months ago. This disc is slick yet gritty, brooding, tender and in your face all @ once. I love it! A lot!!!

Daddy Shark, Amazon

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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This 60 minute DVD is like a good bootleg from the Eighties. Filmed from a small video production firm called "Texas Roadhouse Live" with 3 cameras only in Stereo. It's the first official DVD from the Band but without the guitarist Peter Atanasoff and drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez from the film "From Dusk Til Dawn". Also without the beautiful bass player Jennifer Condos. Tito and Band played the songs very rough, you have the problem to recognize the studio versions of the songs, but that's very interesting.

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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Tito & Tarantula - Albums Collection 1997-2009 (6CD + DVD)

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