Santeria – “Year Of The Knife”
Record Label: S/R
Genre: Rock
Band Link: link
Santeria deliver what you’d expect from their name - some black-magic-woman, Deep South rock n’ roll with a Voodoo Chile reverby crunch. What’s surprising is how well they do it.
This kind of southern blues-meets-psychedelic rock was, of course, reinvented during the grunge era, for better (Soundgarden, Jane’s Addiction) or worse (everyone else). More recently, it also made a slight comeback a few years ago in the indie/garage world, but those bands were too consciously hip with muddy, doom rock tendencies. Santeria sound and feel effortless, unpretentious, and unabashedly passionate about their roots influences. Best of all, they avoid grunge melodrama and modern hipsterdom.
They’re mid-tempo but simple rock riffs and catchy vocal lines keep the tunes rolling like a rickety boxcar down a hill. Santeria are also concise with most tunes around 3:30. But even longer tunes, like the mariachi-ish “Mexico” and the twangy “HWY to the Morning Star” are far less hokey than they ought to be.
I tend to dislike retro throwbacks but Santeria tap into what made the original bands so enjoyable. There are no fist-pumping anthems here or oversexed sleaze antics. It’s not new but it’s not ironic. It’s just good ol’ early 70s rock and it’s done very well.
Bottom Line: In less competent hands, this would be run-of-the-mill bar rock.
Notable Tracks: Come On, Baby; Nowhere To Go; You Got What I Need; Sold My Soul (For Nothing)
Overall Rating: 
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Adam…thanks for the great review brother. We all feel as though you really captured the intent of Santeria. We avoid pretention and choose not too try and reinvent the wheel….maybe just place some cards in the spokes to cause a little stir.
Take care and keep rockin!
Primo
I like your metaphor! I’m rarely nostalgic for that kind of 70s rock, but you guys did it for me. It’s a really good album.
I have to agre with Adam on this one. If i have my choice between 90% of the “trendy” music being shoved down our throats these days or Santeria, Ill take Santeria anyday. Fans should also check out House of The Dying Sun, Santeria’s 2002 release. Its definitely on my top 25 “all time” favorite albums list.
My Pick for The BEST of ‘09 (and yes, I know it’s only April).
This album starts out “balls out” and takes NO prisoners…
Major cheers from “Pretention Town, USA.”
Charlie G.
Austin, Texas
It’s official Adam and Charlie are our new CEO’s of marketing for Golar Wash Labs & Records. ha All bullshit aside, thanks guys for the kind words. We really appreciate it!
Primo & Santeria
Oh…and Marc..you too! How could I forget?