Vallejo

Acousta (VMG)

After five studio albums beginning in 1997, including latest triumph Thicker Than Water, Austin’s brotherly Latin rock throwdown has earned its unplugged respite. “This CD was recorded live with acoustic instruments, no click tracks, auto tuners, or record label execs,” boasts a liner note, and the bass canal and thick swath of violins opening lead-off cut “Snake in the Grass” ticks off the first domino of a pointillistic piñata. A.J. Vallejo doesn’t invest enough vocally on the succeeding “Forever (Is a Long Time),” as if forgetting the absence of electric guitars and big drums, but the acoustic guitar solo makes up for it in a Del Castillo manner. Nor do the Vallejo brother’s harmonies on “Wait for Me” produce their potential. Luckily “So Damn Beautiful,” from 2002’s Stereo, and its original LP mate “You Are” both succeed in part because of the fresh approach to back catalog. Sophomore disc Beautiful Life contributes four tunes, including the title track, whose swampy guitar textures from John Branch fill the ear. Acousta‘s oft overly relaxed delivery benefits “Magnolia Tea Room” from the band’s eponymous debut, while the extended violin tangle on “Immortal” and crackling instrumental closer “Luna Negra” make for a rousing back end. (4:10pm, Hierba Stage.)

*** – Raoul Hernandez

This article appears in May 21 • 2010.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.