VA - Quiero Creedence (2016) FLAC

Concord Picante's Latin tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival details the California quartet's lasting influence beyond U.S. borders. The band's catalog has not only sold in Central and South America and Southern Europe, but continues to, and has inspired several generations of Latin rockers and pop stars. This set contains 14 tracks by (mostly) veteran artists. Kicking it off is an absolutely sinister version of "Corre por la Jungla" ("Run Through the Jungle") by Enrique Bunbury, Spain's rock & roll king. He's backed here by a crack L.A. session band (he resides between there and Madrid) featuring guitarist Doug Pettibone on a dirty-assed slide; it also includes a brilliant, mean and lean salsa breakdown. Bunbury's a great writer, but here he proves a fine interpretive singer, locating the unlikely place on the map where Iggy Pop and John Fogerty meet. Juan Gabriel's moving "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" marks the first time the legend has recorded a tune he didn't compose. More swamp stompers include Los Lobo's brief rave-up boogie on "Bootleg," Los Lonely Boys' blues-drenched version of "Born on the Bayou," and "Feelin' Blue" by Monterrey, Mexico's A Band of Bitches channels the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Argentinian rock hero Andres Calamaro delivers a slow, garage soul version of "Long as I Can See the Light" assisted by a swirling B-3 and a gospelized backing chorus appending his band. Ozomatli transform "Bad Moon Rising" into a swinging meld of reggae, cumbia, and mariachi. Bang Data stitches hip-hop, electro, and indie rock in a bilingual version of "Fortunate Son." One of the set's truly unique collaborations is the duet between ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and La Santa Cecilia's La Marisol on "Green River," which bridges son, hard rock boogie, and Ike & Tina Turner-style R&B. Mexico's veteran El Tri -- actual contemporaries of CCR -- deliver a rousing, danceable Tex-Mex take on "Proud Mary." Salvador Santana offers "Molina" in a meld of hip-hop and Latin funk. Bogota's Diamante Electrico reimagine "Up Around the Bend" as a slow, neo-psychedelic indie rock production, before Argentinian punk rockers Los Enanitos Verdes close the album with a squalling "Traveling Band" that snarls, churns, and nearly goes off the rails. A couple of other selections are less inspiring, but the vast majority of Quiero Creedence makes for a truly fine and original tribute record. -- Thom Jurek